The Mediterranean Basin is renowned as one of the most attractive tourist macro-areas of the world. This is due to its peculiar climate, that tends to remain mild and temperate for many months. More specifically, along the coasts of South Italy, Greece, Costa del Sol, North Africa, Cyprus, Malta, Turkey, Lebanon and Israel, weather and atmospheric temperature are suitable for bathing and even sun-tanning for a period of time ranging between 6 and 9 months per year. And all of this shows up to the tourists without any paroxysm, which is – on the contrary – a characteristic of many other notorious seaside areas all over the world.
In the Mediterranean Area, you don’t have rainy seasons or tropical storms or hurricanes, the weather is relatively dry and the temperature hardly touches unbearable levels. This is due to the fact that the Mediterranean is a sea, but yet it’s more like an enclosed lake, being separated from open waters – notably the Atlantic Ocean – only by the Strait of Gibraltar. This is the only sea of the world that has such a distinctive feature, enhanced by the fact that it receives hot air from the Sahara, while the Centre Europe’s mountain ranges – Alps, Balkans, Pyrenees – serve as natural barriers against cold winds coming from the north.
Among the many Mediterranean-overlooking territories, Sicily is one of the richest and surprising ones. From a tourist’s point of view, it is able to match history, a complex blend of cultures (Arab, Spanish, French, Northern European, Northern African, Hellenic, Roman) and the a wide range of beaches of immeasurable beauty. Even the island’s hinterland is full of tourist attractions, starting from the Etna, the highest Eurasian tectonic plate’s active volcano.
Another vantage point of Sicily is the relative ease with which a tourist can walk through the island, following one of the several predetermined routes proposed by the many tour operators active in its territory (such as, for instance, ItalyXP), or even managing the trip autonomously. In less than a week, a tourist can visit a wide range of places, including both historical towns and natural surroundings. The best choice would be to split the trip in two segments, moving from the eastern side of the island, going from north to south, and then moving northwards to the west side, cutting through inland or driving along the coast.
This way, a tourist could experience a brief but yet immersive experience through the most renowned and attractive Sicily’s locations. Along the East Coast, cities like Catania, Taormina and Siracusa can discover to the visitor the beauty of their ancient civilizations’ remains. Taormina’s Greek Theatre, as well as Siracusa’s historic centre, are two Sicily’s must-sees, but they’re not the only attractions spread on this side of the island: the small town of Noto, for example, features a particularly striking old town core, with a lot of impressive monuments.
Moving to the western side, the remains of ancient dominations alternates with the brutally stunning beauty of unspoiled nature, both on the seaside and inland. The epitome of this trip can only be Palermo, Sicily’s capital and largest city, whose centre is like an open air museum.
Sicily is a region that has still many hidden nooks to reveal. Pleasant climate, warmly welcoming people and – of course – excellent food (tasting Sicilian local specialties is almost compulsory for every visitor) can make even a brief stay an unforgettable experience. And unlike many other Mediterranean locations, the average cost of a vacancy is suitable for all budgets, from low-cost to luxury accommodations.
