Visit Sicily Italy

The city of Agrigento certainly holds the fascination of many tourists. It is the site of some of the best preserved Doric Greek Temples that are around. Event he poet Pindar called it one of the most beautiful cities of the mortals. This may certainly be true today with its many palm trees and historic architecture this city can still capture the hearts and imaginations of many who visit here. However staying here can be tricky. It seems like some places like to have grand hotels as their main attraction. So for those on a budget there is a limited amount of places you can stay. However these hotels are clean and well maintained and am sure to satisfy most everyone. Hopefully you will find this listing of hotels useful if you should choose to stay here.

Hotel Villa Nicoletta

Via Rosmunda, 16

92100 Agrigento (AG)

Tel..(+39) 0922 412632

Not so much of a hotel but a bed and breakfast but that certainly should not dissuade anyone from staying in this charming hotel.

Hotel Belvedere

Via San Vito 20

Agrigento

Tel (+39) 0922 20051

Located near just about everything this is a very small and quaint hotel with not too many amenities but you will stay in a very comfortable and clean hotel. The customer service is quite good with a great breakfast that is sure to keep the Americans happy during their travels.

Hotel Costazzurra

Via delle Viole,2 (san Leone) – 92100

Agrigento

Tel. (+39) 0922 411222

This hotel is located centrally near the Valley of the Temples where most of the tourists go. A charming hotel with many scenic views this place will surely capture your heart if you stay here.

Although many tourists just go through this town in a day and do not stay overnight I feel that this is there loss. There is much to see here and that is beyond the many tourist attractions and historical sites you may come to visit. I would recommend staying at any of the above hotels and exploring this part of Sicily.

The island of Sicily is certainly not one of the most expensive places to stay in Italy. However it is also not the cheapest as well. If you want ot stay in comfort it will cost you as it would anywhere else. But there is an alternative. If you can handle roughing it for while and stay in a hotel that is clean and comfortable then you can really save some money.

The capital city of Palermo certainly has many things to see and do. That is why it is very important to keep as much of your money as possible. So in that effort I have comprised a listing of some of the better budget hotels in Palermo. Hopefully you will find it useful.

Hotel Gallery House

Via Mariano Stabile 136

90139 Palermo, Italy

Ph. +39.091.612

This hotel is centrally located in the heart of Palermo. Nearby the Politeama and Massimo theaters it would be an ideal location for those that want to take in that type of entertainment. The rooms are elegant and clean with a distinct Italian and Sicilian flair.

Hotel Ambasciatori Palermo

Via Roma, 111 – 90133 Palermo

Tel. +39 0916166881

Another centrally located hotel in the heart of Palermo. This hotel has many spacious rooms with plenty of light that makes for a charming stay that is sure to stick in your memories. One of the highlights for many Americans is the Continental breakfast that is served every day.

Maxximo Plaza Hotel

Via Maqueda, 437 90133 Palermo

Tel. ++39 091325657

This hotel is centrally located near the main shopping centers of the city. A charming hotel with spacious rooms the customer service is second to none.

While this is certainly not as an exhaustive listing as I originally wanted this will surely get you into a hotel that is not only within most travelers budgets but also in a very clean and comfortable establishment. If you have any further suggestions as to where to stay please let me know so I can update the listings.

Traveling today can be a pain in the neck. If you have kids that can be amplified by a great amount. However if you plan ahead and really consider your kids ages and their needs you can all have a wonderful time in Sicily.

I would never discourage anyone to go to Italy but there are some ages that make traveling with kids all that the more difficult. Smaller children are more portable and easier to carry however they are also the most demanding as well. Their small size makes them more dependent upon you and if something should happen to you during your travels they are going to suffer.

There are some really great websites that tackle this issue and I have found their information to be accurate and a good value. The first website I would check out is Italiakids.com as this is a resource guide specifically for various types of kids when visiting Italy.

You can even get help on your travels through some of the various services that specializes in this. The first one that comes to mind would be CiaoBambino.com as they offer various resources for the busy families. What I found to be the most interesting is that all the hotels listed in this site offer cribs in the rooms. This should make it much easier to travel to Italy with kids.

As far as what to do with your children while you are there that is really dependent upon their age group. A older child would or might appreciate some of the sights well as someone younger might find them boring and be a great distraction to all in the tour group. If you can find tours that offer activities for children as well as adults then you are pretty much set. However I have yet to come across such a tour operator.

The island of Sicily is surrounded by many other smaller islands that are often overlooked by well worth the visit. Because many tourists are not aware of them they are somewhat untouched by the crowds and hordes of on lookers who only want to visit for a short time period. This makes them an ideal place to just hang out and get to know some of the locals and how the real people of Italy live day to day.

The Island of Listica is just a short 67 km distance away from Sicily so it makes for a quick get away if you want to escape for a short rest bit. There is a small village called Ustica which is a nice example a typical smaller Italian village. If you want you can even spend some time inland to explore the Fortress of Falconara Head which was built in the 17^th century.

The Islands of Le Pelagie are located on the south west coast of Sicily. These islands are comprised of Lampedusa Linosa and the deserted island of Lampione. These islands are small and are of mainly the working people of Sicily with not too many tourist attractions. It is just some small fishing villages and ancient monuments of the Greek and Roman time periods.

The island of Pantelleria is the largest of the islands that are surrounding Sicily. This island is basically all that remains of a giant volcanic eruptions so it is a great place to grow crops. The town is situated with the Barbacane Castle and both go hand in hand together with each other. It is well worth a visit to spend some time here as not many tourists make there way into this area and it is some what well preserved from that type of traffic.

There are actually some other smaller islands surrounding Sicily but I am going to cover those islands later as each have their own particular attributes that would be better served with their own coverage. If you do find yourself wanting to get away from the crowds of tourists then these islands may just be your ticket.

It is very tough job to try and quantify the top ten sights in any country. There are just so many factors to consider. So I am in a quandary here in how I should justify my selections. Since I consider the majority of the people who visit this site to be busy travelers I think that should be my primary motive in the selection process. So I have broken down some of the most popular tourist sights in Sicily.

The first sight to check out in Sicily would be the city of Taormina as this really is a jewel of a city in Sicily and perhaps one of the most frequented sights. There is a ancient Greek-Roman theatre and is the largest in the whole of Sicily.

The second sight to see is the town of Selinunte which boasts one of the largest archeological parks in the whole Mediterranean. This is actually the starting point for many sightseeing tours in Sicily as this makes for a great introduction to the island.

The third sight to see is the city of Segesta. This city was founded by the Greeks and has a great example of a Doric temple. Here you can actually see a still active salt mine that is of ancient origins.

What is a visit to Sicily without a visit to the fourth sight to see, Mount Etna. This is perhaps one of the most famous Volcanoes in Europe and certainly the most famous volcano in Italy. Still active Etna rumbles and roars away during various times in it s history. Just be careful when visiting this sight as it can be dangerous because after all it is an active volcano.

A visit to the Sicily without going to Palermo is actually quite impossible as this is the way many enter the island. There are just too many things to see and do in this city to list. Suffice it to say that this is one sight you should not go without seeing at least a bit of.

A visit to the famous Benedictine Abbey of Monreale should make the list for most. This is a great example of ancient Mosaics that depict both the New Testament and Old Testament. You can really see the care and attention that these artists put into their work by admiring the care and detail they put into every detail.

The town of Cefalú is one of the richest cities in Italy in its archelogical gems and art work. This can make the list for many travelers as you can really see the best works of art throughout the centuries by just visiting this one town.

If you want to have a great time relaxing then a good city to visit would be Catania. Having numerous sights to pass your time and some of the best hotels in Sicily this town is a great place to stay if you want to soak up the sun or just do some sightseeing.

The last two sights to see are the small towns of Siracusa and Agrigento because these two towns have some of the best examples of ancient ruins in the island. Not only this but they are great to visit for a time as not too many tourists stay there for too long.

Why should anyone want to visit Sicily? That is a good question! Hopefully you have your interests beyond the just the superficial reasons. There is just so much history to be seen on this island that is it really just worth visiting just for this reason.

Many people go to Sicily to see what Italy used to be like. This is really the case if you go to some of the smaller villages in the rural areas of the island. Not only can you witness living history but some of the people are some of the best in the whole of Europe. They are some of the friendliest and warm people you will ever meet.

Perhaps if you have children you can given them an education without them actually realizing it. Everywhere they will look they will see history right in front of them. This alone can make for a great place to visit if you have kids.

Sicily also has a proud tradition of supporting film artists and other forms of expression so you will be able to mingle with some of the most talented in Europe. Regardless of what type of music you enjoy it is practiced on this island. It is certainly worth spending some time going to see some of the shows that are put on a daily basis by some of the best performers.

If you are into geology then this will be a true gem for you to visit as the still active Volcano Etna is one of the most frequented tourist destinations. But just be careful as this mountain is temperamental at best and you could get into trouble if you are not careful.

There are just too many reasons to see Sicily that you will find yourself really missing out if you do not stop on this island and take a look around.