Top 10 photography spots Sicily
Sicily is a stunningly vibrant island at the foot of Italy. Besides Mount Etna and relaxing beaches, Sicily boasts a lot of artworks, colorful cities and rich history. Here’s my top 10 for the best photography spots of Sicily!
1. Erice
Erice is a historic town built on top of Mount Erice (750 meters). The road up is already a scenic masterpiece. The town of Erice is often covered by clouds but when it clears, you’ll be able to see all round. The town itself feels like taking a step back in time with old stones and narrow streets.
Castle of Balio is one of the main attractions. You can simply walk up to the castle after parking your car.
I walked around for only one hour, but I think 1,5 to 2 hours would fit better to properly explore the town of Erice.
2. Cretto Burri
Cretto Burri, or "The Great Crack", is an Italian artwork in the mainland of Sicily. The concrete artwork is built on the ruins of the town of Gibellina, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1968. The lines represent the old lay-out of the town.
The artwork is pretty far from the coast, so plan your visit accordingly. When in the area, I’d recommend visiting the historic Catedral of Montevago as well.
3. Gangi & Centruripe
Gangi and Centuripe are two interesting-shaped towns along the road from Catania to Palermo.
Gangi is built on the side of a hill and looks like Architects went full Tetris-mode with their designs.
Centuripe looks very normal from the ground but nothing is as it seems when looked at from above. The town looks like a person laying on top of the hill: head, arms, legs and everything.
4. Valley of Temples
The Valley of Temples is one of the main attractions of Sicily. It’s an archeological site with ancient temples, ruins and a museum.
You can park near the ticket office and start your journey from there. As there’s not a lot of shade, I’d visit during the morning on hot days.
The Valley of Temples is very close to Scala dei Turchi (10th on this list). I’d recommend visiting both when in this part of the island.
5. Taormina & Castelmola
Taormina and Castelmola are arguably the most touristic parts of Sicily. And with a good reason. The town Of Taormina is located about a 1 hour drive from Catania (toll road!). Castelmola is located just above Taormina and adds another 10-15 minutes to your itinerary.
Taormina is wonderful, especially during sunrise. Be sure to bring a visit to the Amphitheatre too.
Want to park your car? Be sure to come early or make a reservation as the city can be extremely busy and parking nearly impossible.
6. Labirinto di Arianna
It might be a little off-route for most roadtrips, but Labirinto di Arianna is quite the view. This labyrinth is placed on top of a hill overseeing in the town of Castel di Lucio. And yes, you can enter the labyrinth and walk to the middle.
7. Cefalù
Cefalù can be added to the touristic list along Taormina. Though, known for its Norman Cathedral, Cefalù is the perfect place for a swim and some ice cream. The narrow streets and wide variety of shopping possibilities also make it a worthy stop.
8. Palermo Cathedral
The top 10 couldn’t go without the Cathedral of Palermo. In the middle of the city, the cathedral stands out with 4 bell towers dating from the 1100s.
Although I didn’t go myself, you can climb the roof and look out over the city. This option can be purchased at the entrance of the Cathedral.
9. Etna
In clear weather, Mount Etna can be seen from many places along the island. Etna is an active volcano close to Catania and can be reached by foot or cable cart (leaving from Rifugio Sapienza).
The grounds are volcanic and many craters can be seen around the area. Back in March, there was fresh snow at the top, but for most of the touristic season the top is clear.
10. Scala dei Turchi
Also known as “Stairway of the Turks”, this sea cliff stands out with its bright rocks. On each side of Scala dei Turchi, you can find a beach to relax on.
To the east of Scala dei Turchi (right on the pictures above), you’ll find a parking spot, as well as restaurants and a way to the beach.
That’s 10 of the best places go! Enjoy your trip!
Cheers, Mike
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My name is Mike Tesselaar, in short MiTe. I’m a photographer from The Netherlands with a heart for traveling and adventuring.
I write blogs about photo- and videography, travel, freelancing and personal related stories. Hope you’ll find inspiration and feel welcome to stick around a little longer!
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