Road trip: discover Sicily, from Palermo to Syracuse
Discovering Sicily by car offers you the opportunity to explore the largest island in the Mediterranean and fully immerse yourself—from Palermo to Syracuse—in its characteristic charm, a kaleidoscope of ancient civilizations, Eastern and Western medieval influences, and appreciate the grandeur of the baroque style.
Travel the island at your own pace and in complete freedom, taking advantage of its quality road network and Mediterranean climate to linger in the cosmopolitan and exuberant cities, often celebrated by illustrious painters, singers, or filmmakers. Discover the many facets of this Italian jewel where volcanic lands, sunny beaches, remarkable cultural and architectural heritage, and culinary delights are all assets for a memorable stay.
Along your route, alternate between two-lane highways and less-traveled roads to discover the treasures of Sicily.
From Palermo airport, it’s only a 30-kilometer journey to reach the city center. Be sure to admire the magnificent historical buildings and baroque monuments that add to the charm of the Sicilian capital, a warm site in a vast bay between sea and mountains.
On the road to ancient Sicily via Agrigento
To reach Agrigento from Palermo, you can take part of your journey on the highway to Erice, a magnificent town emblematic of ancient Sicily. Then, change your route by following the coast lined with salt marshes and windmills before arriving in Agrigento. Located halfway between Palermo and Syracuse, the archaeological site of Agrigento remains a major attraction in Sicily, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its Valley of the Temples and the remains of an ancient city will transport you from the current century to antiquity.
Syracuse, the essential stop on your Sicilian journey
It only takes two and a half hours to cover the approximately 200 kilometers and discover Syracuse, a maritime city rightly considered the most beautiful city on the island. You’ll understand why when visiting its magnificent monuments, whether it’s the cathedral, the Greek Theater carved into the rock, or the Ear of Dionysius, a cave located in an ancient quarry. Besides its exceptional scenery, Syracuse offers delightful culinary surprises such as spaghetti with tuna bottarga, sausages with white wine and fennel seeds, or cannoli, delicious sweet pastries filled with ricotta cream.
A stop in Taormina, between the sea and the volcano
Once you have explored every corner of Syracuse, head to Taormina, about 120 kilometers further along the east coast. Being free to plan your itinerary, consider visiting the city in the late afternoon and mingle with the locals who, at this hour, dress up, stroll through the streets of this Sicilian Saint-Tropez, stop for an ice cream or a latte di mandorla. In the upper part, Taormina reveals many architectural and cultural gems: its medieval village, its Gothic palaces, and its ancient Greek theater where performances are still held today.
If you prefer nature escapes to cultural tourism, Taormina also offers a fantastic viewpoint overlooking the sea on one side and facing Mount Etna on the other. In the lower part, you can access dream beaches by taking sandy paths. Similarly, by taking the time for an excursion to the volcano, you will likely have the chance to witness one of Etna’s frequent eruptions, a unique and impressive spectacle that is well worth the detour!
Marsala at the crossroads
Continue your tailor-made road trip by turning towards the province of Trapani, on the western Sicilian coast. Along the way, the numerous viaducts offer incomparable views of the varied charms of a coastal and agricultural region, where long beaches and dizzying cliffs alternate with vineyards and orchards. From Marsala, several unique routes offer you the chance to discover an unusual side of Sicily: Connect Marsala and Agrigento via the Cala dei Turchi, a panoramic coastal road that winds through a quarry transformed over time by sea winds into a pristine chalk cliff.
Save in your GPS the famous wine route that serves all of western Sicily from this province where high-quality nectars, delicious muscats, and Marsala wine are produced, a liqueur renowned for its artisanal production quality, historically known as the wine of Venus and used in Italian kitchens as a key ingredient in tiramisu.
Before concluding your journey by returning to Palermo, follow the Via del Sale along the coast, this typical salt road of the region where old Dutch windmills and salt marshes stretch over more than 900 hectares from Marsala to Trapani.
