10 Must-Visit Medieval Villages: Uncover Sicily’s Timeless Charm This Summer
During the Second World War, Sicily was thought of as a huge airplane carrier in the middle of the Mediterranean. An island that was destined to be the place where people, cultures, and armies moved through on their way to other places.
Because of its strategic location, the Mediterranean has a number of coastal towers and villages built on hills to avoid the bad effects of repeated pirate attacks over hundreds of years.
Many of Sicily’s (medieval villages) are in the north-eastern part of the island, where the mountains have created the perfect environment for the growth of small, isolated villages.
So, where can you find these lovely towns? What are the 10 most beautiful towns on the island of Sicily?
- Petralia Soprana (Palermo)
- Erice (Trapani)
- Castelmola (Messina)
- Cefalù (Palermo)
- Scicli (Ragusa)
- Geraci Siculo (Palermo)
- Sambuca di Sicilia (Agrigento)
- Sperlinga (Enna)
- Castiglione di Sicilia (Catania)
- Montalbano Elicona (Messina)
Starting in the Messina region, for example, we find Savoca, which is called “the village with seven faces,” as well as the beautiful town of Novara di Sicilia, which is on the slopes of the Rocca Salvatesta, which is 1340 meters above sea level and dominates the landscape.
You can also go to the village of Castelmola, which is near Messina. From there, you can see Taormina and the shape of Mount Etna in the distance.
The “U Cannizzu” tower, which was built between the 12th and 14th centuries and is in the province of Catania, is the symbol of Castiglione di Sicilia. As we move toward the Nebrodi and Madonie mountain ranges, we come to the village of Montalbano Elicona. King Frederick II of Aragon lived in the castle there.
On the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea is Brolo, which is known for its castle. Not far away, tourists love to visit San Marco d’Alunzio, which is known for its churches and the remains of the ancient Greek city’s Temple of Hercules.
Still on the coast, heading toward Palermo, is one of Italy’s most famous villages: Cefalù, a jewel squeezed between the sea and the mountains. It’s worth going to see its cathedral, which is a great piece of Norman art that King Roger II really wanted.
Inside, among the solitary peaks of the Madonie, Geraci Siculo rises in a spectacular place. As you move further inland, the village of Gangi has many churches and some very charming old buildings, like the Torre dei Ventimiglia and the cylindrical tower (or Saracena). Gangi was named Borgo dei Borghi 2014 because of its beauty that has stood the test of time.
In 2019, the honor went to Petralia Soprana, another town in the province of Palermo. It is known for its belvederes and the beautiful church of Santa Maria di Loreto.
The village of Erice is in the province of Trapani. It is on the top of the mountain with the same name. The walls and the beautiful Castello di Venere, both from the Middle Ages, can be found there.
In the central-southern part of the region, tourists visit villages like Sambuca di Sicilia in the Belice Valley, about 90 km from Agrigento, and the charming medieval village of Sutera in the province of Caltanissetta.
Ragusa Ibla, the old city center of Ragusa, is the Baroque heart of Sicily. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with nearby Scicli and the other late Baroque cities of the Val di Noto, such as Caltagirone, Militello in Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Noto, and Palazzolo Acreide.
We’ve already talked about a few seaside towns on our list, but there are many more that are just as charming. For example, Marzamemi in the province of Syracuse, Aci Trezza in Catania, Favignana in Trapani, or Sciacca in Agrigento.
Aside from the seaside resorts, it’s clear that visitors can find new things to do almost anywhere in Sicily, which has always been thought of as one of the most beautiful and historically and culturally rich places in Italy.