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Sicily Overview

Sicily makes a wonderful fly-drive destination for more adventurous Eurocampers. Situated at the end of the ‘boot’ of Italy, Sicily holidays offer endless Mediterranean sunshine in a dramatic landscape, all within driving distance of both Palermo and Trapani airports.

While the centre of the island features that towering mountain range, the island itself is surprisingly lush, especially around our parc at El Bahira, with fragrant flowers and orange groves everywhere. The northern coast of Sicily also offers a fascinating range of places to visit; from Palermo with its lively open air markets and fascinating Capuchin Catacombs to the volcanic Aeolian Islands that lie off the coast.

The town of Termini-Imerese is another must-see attraction in northern Sicily, where in addition to the lovely town itself, you can choose to see the ruins of a Roman ampitheatre and aqueduct, as well as the remains of three ancient Greek temples.

Yet that is one of the most fascinating things about Sicily as a whole: the remains of many ancient civilisations can be found here, and there are almost as many Greek buildings here as you might expect to find in Greece itself.

And away from the ruins, you will find that Sicily also has many villages of outstanding beauty that are still inhabited, such as the picturesque Garaci Siculo up in the mountains and the ancient sea port of Cefalù.

While traditional Italian cuisine is offered on the island, you should also watch out for Arancine, which translates as ‘little oranges’, but are actually balls made of rice and peas stuffed with ground ham. You will also find plenty of seafood on the menu here, and the gigantic tuna and swordfish steaks served with mint and almonds are absolutely fabulous. With all this on offer, it is easy to see why Sicily holidays are so popular.

Another popular option are our holidays in Sardinia with a number of parcs to choose from.

Places to visit - Sightseeing

With its flawless climate and superbly preserved history, camping on Sicily offers you a host of fascinating cities and ruins to discover:

Mount Etna
As one of the world’s most active volcanoes, Mount Etna really has to be on your list of things to see here, with a little extra time set aside to explore the hills and gorges that surround it. Make sure to take warm clothes though, even in high summer.

Palermo
A major port since it was first settled by the Phoenicians in the 7th century, Palermo is a fascinating city with a wealth of antiquities to discover. With its blend of Moorish, Byzantine, Roman and Norman architecture, it is simply a gem.

Siracusa
Once one of the most important cities in the ancient world, Siracusa (or Syracuse) retains much of its ancient Greek and Roman history, with a host of ancient ruins to be found here, as well as more recent structures such as the wonderful cathedral.

Trapani
Gateway to the nearby Egadi islands, Trapani offers a host of cultural treasures, including the seventeenth century Giudecca Palace, the Romanesque-Gothic Church of Sant'Agostino and the Pepoli Museum, with its huge range of medieval artefacts.

Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve
A huge area of protected grassland where you will find a huge variety of rare flora and fauna, with everything from eagles to weasels and lizards roaming free. You will also find ancient cave paintings here at the Uzzo Cave.

Erice
This historic town enjoys a splendid location atop Mount Erice, and offers you walls and other remains from the Elmyian, Phoenician, Moorish and Norman periods of the island’s history, including the Pepoli and Venus Castles.

San Vito lo Capo
When you want to enjoy a pretty seaside resort that remains resolutely unspoiled and untouristed, head for San Vito lo Capo, to enjoy its glorious valley setting and some of the finest restaurants on Sicily.

Ficuzza
In the mountains to the south of Palermo, you will find Ficuzza, a hamlet in the midst of a great nature reserve with mile after mile of gorgeous parkland. Unusually, the hunting lodge at its heart is built in the Baroque style favoured in England at the time.

Great for younger kids

Bioparca di Sicilia
This unusual biopark has a host of things to see and do, especially for younger visitors. With play areas, a Dinosaur Land and aquarium, it’s the ideal place to discover evolution as well as conservation.

Great for older kids

Nebrodi Adventure Park
If your teens want to try orienteering, rope climbing and high wires in a superb, woodland setting, they’ll love the Nebrodi Adventure Park at Longi. It’s also a great place to see wildlife including eagles and vultures.

Places to visit - Activities & events

Diving
The waters around Sicily really are crystal clear, and offer plenty to see underwater too. You’ll find dive schools at Isola Bella, the Blue Grotto on the Ionian coast and at the Grotta del Bue Marino on the tiny island of Filicudi.

Golf
Surprisingly for an island that can suffer water shortages, Sicily has no less than five 18-hole golf courses, with the very beautiful Le Madonie being the closest to the Eurocamp parc at El Bahira, and perhaps the best.

Hiking
With its rugged scenery and wide open spaces, Sicily is a great place for hiking and walking. However, few trips here would be complete without discovering the gorges around Mount Etna on foot, not to mention the delights of Taormina.

Cycling
While hilly in places, Sicily is a delight for cyclists, particularly on the roads that meander around the northern and western coastlines. You will find wonderful views at almost every turn, though careful planning is required to avoid some steep ascents.

Unmissable events in Sicily

Taormina Film Festival
For more than 50 years now, Taormina has hosted a film festival in mid-June. What makes it so unmissable is the choice of venues, with films screened in the ruins of the magnificent, ancient Greek theatre.

The Myth Festival
Between June and September you can enjoy a host of pop, classical and theatrical performances amidst the wonderful backdrop of ancient ruins in the Valle dei Templi, or Valley of the Temples, in Agrigento.

San Paolo Festival
This delightful festival takes place in the Piazza del Popolo of Palazzolo Acreide every June, when a wooden statue of St Paul is paraded through the town amidst wild celebrations.

Seacily Jazz Festival
From June to September, the Brass Group hosts a series of classical music concerts here, starting in Palermo, then moving out to entertain audiences across the archipelago, with the help of an international cast of musicians.

Places to visit - Eating out

While there is a certain amount of typical Italian fare to be found here, Sicily also has a cuisine all of its own:

• Caponata – This salad is often served as an appetizer, based on either aubergine or artichoke, and topped with celery, olives and capers.
• Crocché – Croquettes made with potato, eggs, parsley and cheese.
• Milza sandwiches – Made with Veal Spleen, this is a curious but nonetheless tasty delight for more adventurous gourmands.
• Wine – Sicilian wines are generally excellent, though if you want to try something unusual, the Marsala fortified wine, native to the island, is particularly wonderful.

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