Sicilian Vacations: Unique Destinations to Visit
A popular Italian vacation destination is Sicily, an island located in the southern Mediterranean. Sicily has some beautiful ancient sites, and the island is the biggest situated in the Mediterranean sea. It is a relaxing spot for folks who love history, museums, medieval towns, and classic architecture.
A week is required to visit all the important places in Sicily and therefore people visiting the island should plan accordingly and not visit for a day or two.
Also located in Sicily is Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe. Visiting Mount Etna would be part of the tour for any vacation to Sicily.
Sicily - ties to ancient Greece
"Ear of Dionysius", an ancient quarry and a Greek theater are a pride of the town of Syracuse which is on the southeastern side of the island. The quarry used for the "Ear of Dionysius" came from The Valley of the Temples on the southern coast of Greece, which boasts the largest group of classical Greek ruins. Many of these ancient Greek temples and structures are still in existence today. When you take up a Sicilian vacation, it is a must for you to see those temples and monuments which are very well preserved.
Dating from the 6th century BC, the numerous ancient ruins of Ortygia Island in Syracuse are part of Greek mythology and lore. The ruins' two main features are the Doric Temple and the Apollo Temple.
Your journey to Sicily wouldn't be complete without a trip to the medieval town of Erice, situated 755 meters above sea level, which is filled with cobblestone roads and quaint courtyards which invoke the era of the Middle Ages.
The Aphrodite which is dedicated by the temple at the top of Erice acts as a light house for the sailors. Underground crypts near the Porta Nuova in Palermo known as Catacombe dei Cappucini (Cappucian Catacombs) can be an additional part of your trip to those who like to see things out of the ordinary. If you're easily spooked, you might want to avoid the numerous narrow corridors, which house over 8,000 mummies.
Savoca and Forza D'Argo are two Sicilian cities not to be missed on your Sicilian tour if you are a movie aficionado. For people who watched and loved the movie The Godfather, it will be a wonderful stop to visit these cities where some scenes of the movie was filmed.
So if you are stuck on figuring out an Italian vacation itinerary, you should consider Sicily as there are so many historical and cultural areas to visit on the island. In order to find the best Sicilian vacation for you, meet with your travel agent to review all the possibilities. You may be able to see the places that appeal to you the most.
About the Author
Larry Aiello is a travel enthusiast from Florida that loves to share his knowledge about Sicily and Italy such as how to rent a car in Milan. He also loves to teach people how to learn Italian for free at http://www.FreeItalianSchool.com.
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