A holiday in Sicily is always a fabulous adventure. The end of June saw the London premiere of the fifth instalment in the Indiana Jones series of films and the return of Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Whilst we are certainly excited to see a return to the film franchise after a 15 year gap, we have to admit that we are possibly even more excited to have the chance to view so many Sicilian locations that were used as a backdrop for filming. The film really does show Sicily at its best. The main six towns featured include Cefalu, Castellammare del Golfo, Marsala, Segesta, Tonnara del Secco and Syracuse.
CefalĂš
Situated on the North West coast of Sicily, approximately an hour to the east of Palermo and an hour west of Capo dâOrlando, CefalĂš is one of Sicily’s most evocative locations. Whilst its origins go as far back as the ancient Greeks, visitors will find a real mix of architectural styles in CefalĂš today which makes it an excellent location for a holiday in Sicily.
At the heart of CefalĂš is the beautiful Norman Duomo. This cathedral was commissioned by Ruggero II (Roger II). One of Italy’s UNESCO world heritage sites, it dominates the historic centre of the town with its two massive bell towers and its intriguing luminosity created by its luxurious gold walls and the reflection of precious mosaics. Also in the historic quarter of CefalĂš is a fascinating Medieval washhouse and a number of other churches and palazzos. CefalĂš also boasts a stunning sea front whilst towering above the whole of the town is La Rocca (The Rock).
In short, CefalĂš is definitely a âmust seeâ when staying in one of our Sicily villa rentals. Find out more about what to see and do in Cefalu in our handy Cefalu travel guide or check out our incredible Cefalu villa rental – Casa Terre di Bea.
Castellammare del Golfo
A charming and attractive seaside town on the north west coast of Sicily, Castellammare del Golfo is set around its historic fishing port â Cala Marina – where it’s still possible to watch fisherman bringing in their daily catch. This really is an excellent location for a traditional Holiday in Sicily. Visitors can see the fishermen mending their nets on board or opt to purchase some of their daily catch being sold on rickety tables on the quayside.
The port is set below a steep mountain slope and boasts a picturesque curved harbour at the foot of a headland topped with a castle (which incidentally is home to an interesting Ethno-Anthropological museum).
Marsala
A coastal town in the west of Sicily, Marsala is a charming spot to enjoy a stay in one of our Sicily villa rentals. It is arguably most famous for its wine, whose origins owes much to Liverpudlian John Woodhouse. He came across the local wine in 1773, loved it and thought that his native Englishmen back home would enjoy it too. However, to ensure it survived the long journey overseas, he fortified it, thus marking the origins of Marsala wine. These days, visitors can visit the town’s historic wine cellars to sample it for themselves.
There is much more to Marsala than its wine though. Beautiful Renaissance and Baroque buildings line the port where Garibaldi and his thousand men (the Mille) landed on May 11th 1860, an event that led to the unification of Italy. And its pedestrianised Baroque centre is charming. Wander through its streets to discover the beautiful cathedral dedicated to Thomas Becket, the Piazza della Repubblica (Marsala’s most elegant square), the central fish market, the tapestry museum displaying Flemish tapestries and the Convento del Carmine which is home to the museum of contemporary painting.
Head along the coast northwards slightly to find the infamous salt pans, one of the most spectacular places anywhere on Sicily’s long coastline. A real must-see on your holiday in Sicily.
Segesta
If you’re a history lover, you’d certainly want your Sicily villa rental to be within easy reach of Segasta since it’s home to one of the best preserved Greek temples in the world. The Temple of Segasta is a 36 columned Doric temple measuring 61 metres long and 26 metres wide. It sits atop a hill surrounded by beautiful countryside that stretches down to the sea. On a nearby hill â Monte Barbaro â sits another Greek ruin. The semi-circular theatre here dates back to the same period. The wonderful views that it enjoys provide a stunning natural backdrop to performances which are held here each Summer. In fact, Segesta’s setting is stunning from any angle. It is surrounded by lush rolling hills, incredible vegetation and distant mountain ranges. In the town itself, visitors will find more recent historical art and artefacts including the ruins of a Norman castle, a small church and a mosque. If you are a fan of visiting Italy’s historical sites then you will certainly also enjoy this Valley of the Temples Skip The Line & Guided Tour.
Tonnaro del Secco
Until not that long ago, Sicily’s coastline was dotted with tuna fish factories known as tonnarra. Unfortunately, in recent years these have gradually closed down, impacted by aggressive industrialisation and the decline of the local fishing industry.
Some of these were subsequently converted into luxurious properties whilst others were left abandoned. Tonnara del Secco was one of the latter but, these days, it seems to captivate visitors with its charm and natural beauty. The atmospheric ruins of the ancient tuna fishery here sits between rocky cliffs and crystal clear azure blue waters and is a testament to Sicily’s past.
Syracuse
Once described by Cicero as the âgreatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all,’ we still think Syracuse is a rather magical base for any Sicily villa holiday. â It’s Piazza Duomo is certainly one of the most beautiful squares anywhere in Italy. This is where you will find the Baroque facade and Doric columns of the cathedral, built on the site of an ancient Greek temple. Try and see it as the sun sets when it looks particularly beautiful. There are a labyrinth of streets to get lost in in Syracuse. Explore them to discover the Church of Santa Lucia alla Badia, home to one of Caravaggio’s many masterpieces and the Santuario della madonna delle Lacrime.
Syracuse is also home to a number of ancient ruins in the Parco Archeologico della Neapolis. Here you’ll find a 140 metre long Roman amphitheatre, the huge altar of Hieron II and the catacombs of San Giovanni Evangelista. Syracuse is also where you will find an ancient Greek theatre dating back to the 5th century BC. This can seat 15,000 spectators in 59 rows, allowing it to lay claim to being the largest auditorium (cavea) ever built. It is still used for performances today and an annual festival of Greek theatre runs from mid May to the end of June each year.
Beyond its incredibly rich history, Syracuse is breathtakingly beautiful. Its Medieval streets lead down to the clear blue sea nearby and to Sicily’s beautiful coastline. We recommend booking a boat trip in advance here to see this stunning part of Italy from the sea and to get to those super secluded spots.
A visit to Syracuse is number 21 on our list of 60 things to do in Sicily. Or discover more about Syracuse in our A to Z of Sicily. Both make perfect partners as guides to your holiday in Sicily.