15-Day Sicily Self-Drive Tour

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Medieval Erice is perched on a mountain top, watching over Trapani. Here, you can walk the narrow and winding streets, admiring medieval arches and decorated courtyards. Follow the town walls to the 12th century Castello di Venere with sensational sea-and-valley views and visit the Real Duomo with the 19th-century neo-gothic interior. The best place to rest after climbing around Erice's steep streets is in Piazza Umberto I, the hub of the small town and try some almond biscuits and pastries.

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Leave your car at home and follow your guide riding a bike from Trapani to the salt pans south of the city. Most of the salt pans were entrusted to the WWF from privately owned salt pans, where salt is extracted according to centuries-old traditional techniques. The landscape is very photogenic with windmills and scattered salt mounds and as the sun sets behind the Egadi Islands, the entire landscape is coloured red, orange and yellow with the white pearls of the salt.

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Continue your Sicily self-drive tour travelling to Marsala, a city of history, wine and sea with museums telling the story of its prestigious past. Marsala has many events throughout the year, historical and archaeological itineraries, art trails, concerts and exhibitions. After exploring Marsala, you'll travel to Selinunte, an ancient Greek city has the largest archaeological site in Europe. Here you can enjoy its golden sandy beaches then lastly, make the 40-minute journey to Sciacca.

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Sciacca is a lively seaside town with a fishing port, famed for its ceramics, thermal baths and religious festivals. There is also an interesting museum about olive oil soap. Today, you can visit the Enchanted Castle and eccentric garden filled with artwork and walk along the Corso Vittorio Emanuele shops full of the beautiful, colourful majolica plates and tiles. Finish your day at the Torre Salsa Nature Reserve with chalk cliffs and golden beaches where loggerhead turtle lays their eggs.

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Today, you'll travel to Piazza Armerina, making several stops en route. The UNESCO-listed Valley of the Temples is the most fascinating monument of Agrigento. The park preserves the remains of the ancient city of Akragas and the surrounding territory. Next up, you'll visit Villa del Casale, a magnificent rural residence with enchanting mosaics, considered the best-preserved of their kind. Tonight, you'll stay at a lush farm stay with panoramic city and mountain views.

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Today, you'll travel to Ragusa, a UNESCO-listed Baroque hilltown where the modern city meets ancient Ibla. You'll visit the Duomo di San Giorgio with its stained-glass windows and the ornate Ragusa Cathedral, a Roman period museum of religious art. It's then a short drive to Modica, one of the most important feudal states in Southern Italy. Here, you'll wander quaint streets with elegant buildings and learn about chocolate making, a 17th-century tradition.

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This morning's drive takes you to Noto. Here, you can wander along the streets and take in the enchanting Baroque façades of Noto’s palaces, churches and convents. Do not miss the Nicolacci Palace, Townhall and the theatre. It's then a short drive to Vendicari Nature Reserve, a picturesque area which is great for birdwatching, especially the migrating flamingos. There are walking trails you can explore before leaving for Syracuse, where you'll stay tonight.

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Once the largest city in the ancient world, Syracuse delights with piazzas and ancient Greek ruins. Walking around the city you admire Baroque buildings and ancient temples and soak up all this history over a coffee or glass of wine in the piazza. A must visit is the open-air museum Archeologico Neapolis where artefacts range from the Bronze Age to Norman domination. Enjoy the great Mediterranean flora with olive trees, cypresses, pines, palms, carob trees, pomegranates, oranges and lemons.

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Today, you'll travel to Catania, one of the least known cities undeservedly. The city has an impressive Baroque cathedral, dedicated to St. Agatha. Worth a visit is also the Opera House (dedicated to V. Bellini), Castle Ursino and Villa Bellini. Let yourself be tempted by the local specialities, the Granita and the Arancino. Then take a refreshing drive along this wonderful coastline, an area full of stunning beauty, landscape, geology, history, myths and legends to Riposto.

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Today, you can say goodbye to Riposto for the day and travel the short distance to Taormina, a beautiful medieval town overlooking the sea, with its incredible Greek theatre. Here, you can walk to the hilltop village of Castelmola and take in the magnificent views over the Ionian coast. Alternatively, you can stroll around the narrow streets of Taormina with many boutiques or go for a swim in the Isola Bella Natural Reserve.

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Today, you'll drive a little further to Cefalù, a city built on a promontory dominated by a sheer cliff. The city has preserved its ancient appearance. The narrow streets of the historic centre with their medieval character overlook palaces embellished with architectural decorations and many churches. Of particular charm is the seaside village, with the old houses overlooking the sea, and the long beach of fine sand, one of the most beautiful of the entire northern coast.

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The city of Monreale is located on the slope of Monte Caputo, overlooking the valley filled with orange, olive and almond trees. Visit one of the greatest examples of Norman architecture, Monreale Cathedra, built in 1174 by William II of Sicily. The cathedral features some of the most beautiful mosaics of the 12th century. Whilst at the cathedral, you'll also be able to visit the abbey cloister which boats over 200 ornate and intricately designed double columns decorated with glass mosaic.

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Palermo's rich history and great religious tradition are expressed in its beautiful and characteristic churches. Remarkable traces of the dominions and families that have followed one another over the centuries have left traces along the main streets and in the historic buildings, many of which can be visited. The whole territory is full of artistic treasures, enchanting natural landscapes and evocative remains of ancient civilizations.