Whether you’re an art lover, a history enthusiast, or simply looking for a relaxing getaway, Eastern Sicily has something for everyone. In this small guide, I’ll take you through the must-see sights and hidden gems you can’t miss on your journey through this captivating part of the island.
Let’s discover what we can’t miss in Eastern Sicily!
1. Noto
Noto is one of those small, compact towns in Sicily. But it’s also one of those places that, in just a few square kilometers, concentrates a beauty that’s comparable to a star on the verge of exploding.
What to see in Eastern Sicily: Noto
The metaphor might be a bit exaggerated, I admit, but I couldn’t think of anything else that could describe the beauty of this small town packed into such a tiny space.
What to see in Eastern Sicily: Noto
The buildings that define Noto hide interiors with colors and paintings that truly leave you enchanted. And after discovering one room, you can’t wait to explore the others to keep marveling.
Not to mention Caffè Europa, a true institution when it comes to food, breakfasts, snacks, and light meals. Once you try it, you won’t be able to live without it. And once you leave Noto, you’ll feel nostalgic with sweet (but also bittersweet) memories.
I know, now you can’t wait to visit Noto.
2. Pachino, Marzamemi & Portopalo
Leaving Noto is difficult, but knowing that soon you’ll have the chance to see places as beautiful as Noto can ease the pain.
If you’re in the vicinity of Noto, I recommend renting a car for at least one day and heading to the places of Pachino, Marzamemi and Portopalo.
Yes, Pachino, the place known for its great tomatoes! Here, you can even visit family-run businesses that will quickly offer you liters of sauce under the pretext of a small tasting! After all, it’s well-known that the further south you go, the more abundance you’ll find on the table!
Then there’s Marzamemi, a small village now made famous by influencers and bloggers. A village you can explore in just a few hours, but one that will give you incredible emotions with the vibrant colors of its main square and endless views of the Sicilian sea. Oh, and here you’ll also find a hidden little oasis with pink flamingos!
Portopalo is worth visiting if you’re passing through Marzamemi because they’re just a stone’s throw from each other, but if you’re in a rush, it’s a good excuse for your next trip to Sicily. It’s an excuse I’ve been using for years to justify my addiction to Sicily, something even methadone wouldn’t break.
3. Ragusa Ibla & Modica
I don’t know if you’re ready for these constant lightning strikes of love, but trust me, I’ve gotten used to it. Every time I arrive in Sicily, I expect at least twenty love affairs between me and this land.
Well, the Cathedral of Ragusa Ibla gave me that feeling. It was true love, love at first sight. When I saw it in front of me, I felt wonder flooding me, and I didn’t know how to act. I didn’t know whether to keep staring at it in the hope of staying close to it for a bit longer or whether to make the sudden decision to move on, knowing that this lightning bolt would eventually end.
It was a difficult moment, but as always, I survived because I knew, and still know, that in Sicily, there’s always something even more beautiful waiting to amaze me. You just have to keep traveling through Sicily.
Well, Modica, when you look at it from above, gives you a similar feeling to the cathedral of Ragusa. Seeing all those houses and churches shaped like tiny puzzle pieces, perfectly fit together, almost as if artificial intelligence had passed through there hundreds of years ago, really leaves an impression.
And then there’s Modica’s chocolate, which is unlike any other chocolate you’ll ever try in your life. It comes in every flavor you can think of, one for every element in nature. There’s a flavor for every taste that even the wildest imagination has never managed to design.
4. Syracuse & Ortigia
Even Syracusewill stay in your heart. This city, whose heart beats strongly and it’s called Ortigia, won’t disappoint you.
Syracuse is beautiful, yes, but it’s in Ortigia that everything happens. An infinite number of intertwined alleys where life is always shining brightly. The white marble that makes Ortigia glow.
Here, you’ll find many works of art to visit and unique historical sites, an imposing cathedral, and street artists who will fill any potential sadness you might feel.
5. Catania & Acitrezza
I must admit that Catania wasn’t love at first sight. Honestly, I never fell in love with it immediately.
Catania is one of those places that gets to you over time. It’s an intellectual kind of love that I have with Catania. It’s a slightly sneaky love because at first, you think nothing will ever come of it, but then…
Well… then you fall for it, and once you’ve climbed the steps leading to the Dome and you see Catania from above, you think, “Why didn’t anyone warn me about the extreme beauty of this place?” And there you are, staring at it, wondering about the strange feeling that ties you to this city, which seemed non-existent but it actually is strong.
And then, one fine day, on one of those typical tourist tours with the red buses that are in every city, they take you to Acitrezza.
And you wonder what those stones in the sea mean.
Well, those were thrown by the giant Polyphemus. You’re right in the middle of a legend as old as time. That’s why those stones are in the sea.
Acitrezza, where I ate one of the best clams pasta dishes of my entire life. Maybe it was also because I can’t forget the depth of the blue eyes of the restaurant owner.
6. Taormina & Isola Bella
I don’t believe there’s anyone who can truly describe the beauty of Taormina with words. And I don’t even understand how Taormina can be so beautiful.
I only know that once I thought, “If I could be reborn as a city, I would be Taormina.”
I spent an entire day there, and I remember regretting not spending at least two or maybe three days.
But time was tight, and I had to leave it behind reluctantly, without having visited its Isola that could only be called “beautiful” (Isola Bella). That was because the entrance closes at 7, and I arrived too late.
Taormina is truly one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever seen. And I don’t think it’s a good idea to plan a tour of Eastern Sicily without including Taormina as a mandatory stop. For no reason in the world.
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