Stories, places and local knowledge from Dream Island. Find inspiration for your next journey across Sicily.
All stories
SICILY
IS A STORY.
Between the late eighteenth century and the early twentieth, Sicilian architecture changed its appearance in streets, theatres and residences. Neoclassicism redirected attention to proportions and forms inspired by Greek and Roman art…
Sicilian Baroque is encountered in facades, in squares, in interiors, and in the way a street sets up the view of a building. Between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries the island became a great architectural laboratory, especially…
Read the story
The Renaissance reached Sicily through people, works, and ideas that traveled between the island and the other Italian centers. In the fifteenth century new impulses reached the various arts, and one aspect is decisive: external…
Read the story
Sicilian Gothic is not a single image to be recognized in every church. It was a movement capable of enduring for a long time and of taking on different forms depending on the territories and contacts with other areas of the…
Read the story
The monasteries of Sicily help us read a part of the island's history that often remains in the background of the great political narratives. They were complexes intended for the life of religious communities and, for this reason, brought…
Read the story
Norman-era architecture in Sicily arose from an encounter that can be observed directly in the buildings themselves. The arrival of the Normans in the eleventh century brought new Western cultural references, accompanied by Arab and…
Read the story
The Arab influence in Sicilian art is best seen when considering the island's entire medieval experience. The conquest of Palermo in 831 and that of Syracuse in 878 accompanied a profound cultural transformation. Palermo became a leading…
Read the story
The Byzantine presence in Sicily belongs to a precise phase in the island's history, but its artistic legacy cannot be confined to a single date. The Byzantine era began with the conquest ordered by Emperor Justinian in 535. During that…
Read the story
Entering a Sicilian church often means crossing several eras within a few steps. The facade may belong to one season, the floor plan to another, the altars and decorations to still later interventions. This layered character is a useful…
Read the story
The ancient theatres of Sicily are best understood when viewed as buildings constructed to bring people together. Syracuse, Segesta, Catania, Taormina, Tindari, Heraclea Minoa and Akrai offer examples of ancient theatres in different…
Read the story
Temples are among the most visible legacies of ancient Sicily, but they acquire meaning when placed back in relation to the cities that built them. The Greek presence on the island left behind sanctuaries, theatres, walls, dwellings, and…
Read the story
A visit devoted to Sicilian art can begin before the engravings of Levanzo and end before a canvas by Caravaggio. Between these extremes one encounters temples, theaters, mosaics, sculptures, and paintings created for very different…
Read the story
Sicilian history between the late Middle Ages and the twentieth century is made up of different governments, but also of problems that resurface in new forms. At the beginning of the fifteenth century, the stable presence of sovereigns on…
Read the story
The Sicilian Vespers of 1282 occupy a special place in the island's memory. The Vespers were a great popular uprising, capable of changing the political balance of the Mediterranean. To understand their significance, one must begin with…
Read the story
Frederick II inherited a Sicily already transformed by the Normans into an important kingdom. His story therefore begins before his reign, in the dynastic choices that bound the Sicilian monarchy to the House of Swabia. The marriage…
Read the story
The arrival of the Normans in Sicily took shape while Arab power was going through a phase of crisis. Conflicts among the emirs and various insurrections weakened Muslim authority, creating conditions that facilitated a new conquest.…
Read the story
The Arab conquest of Sicily was a long process, not an event concluded in a single year. The conquest began with the landing in 827 and proceeded in different stages: Palermo fell in 831, Syracuse in 878, and Taormina in 902. This…
Read the story
The end of Western Roman power opened a phase of shifting governments in Sicily. The island controlled important passages between the Italian peninsula and North Africa: whoever held its ports could move ships and supplies across the…
Read the story
Christianity spread in Sicily while the cities still preserved the institutions, buildings, and traditions of the Roman world. The earliest recognizable traces are linked above all to communities and burials; the great visible churches…
Read the story
The passage of Sicily under Roman rule was the result of a long contest for control of the Mediterranean. The Roman conquest must be read against the backdrop of rivalries among Sicilian cities, the Carthaginian presence, and the new…
Read the story
Syracuse was one of the richest and most powerful cities of the Greek West. Its position and its resources attracted the attention of Athens and set it in competition with Carthage. It was in this city, already tried by wars and political…
Read the story
The word "tyrant" today primarily evokes the violence of personal power. In the world of the Greek cities of Sicily, it denoted a form of government born under specific political conditions: one individual succeeded in concentrating…
Read the story
Naxos, Megara Hyblaea, Syracuse, Gela, Agrigento, and Selinunte shared a language and many religious practices, but they did not have the same history. Some were born directly from expeditions that set out from Greece; others were founded…
Read the story
The Greek colonization of Sicily began in the eighth century BC and changed the distribution of settlements along the coasts. The Greeks looked to the island for its anchorages, its cultivable land, and the opportunity to take part in the…
Read the story
Looking at Sicily on a map immediately reveals why so many peoples sought to reach it. The island lies between the eastern and western shores of the Mediterranean, close to the Italian peninsula and open toward Africa. Its three vertices…
Read the story
Before the Greek cities gave the island monumental temples and theaters, Sicily was inhabited by communities with their own histories, territories, and customs. The names Sicani, Siculi, and Elymians appear often when that period is…
Read the story
Sicilian prehistory is not an empty time before the arrival of the Greeks. Caves, graffiti, artifacts, and necropolises tell of a long human presence, far older than the cities that today attract most visitors. Among the places mentioned…
Read the story
Discover Rifugio Citelli on Mount Etna: history, views over the Ionian coast and the ideal starting point for the Valle del Bove and the Grotta di Serracozzo.
Read the story
Discover the wonders of the Alcantara Gorges, a unique lava canyon in Sicily featuring stunning black rock and crystal-clear water.
Read the story
Book your exclusive Etna Private Tour. Customize your trip with the Alcantara Gorges. Departures from Taormina, Catania, and accommodation. Find out more!
Read the story
Discover Etna in January: a complete guide on weather, trails, and Jeep tours. Experience the winter volcano with Dream Island experts.
Read the story
Etna North or Etna South? The differences between the two sides, landscapes, craters, crowds and starting points to choose the right excursion.
Read the story
Monte Conca Restaurant at Piano Provenzana on Etna North: an alpine-style wooden lodge with mountain food. Booking advised on holidays and snowy days.
Read the story
Learn more about the Ragabo Refuge in Linguaglossa on Mount Etna North: trails, foothills, e-bikes, rooms and guided tours. Open year-round.
Read the story
Discover Don Vito Corleone's story, the ultimate Godfather. Life, power philosophy and authentic Sicilian locations between Savoca and Corleone.
Read the story
Discover the story of Michael Corleone, the iconic Godfather character. Curiosities, evolution, and the Sicilian filming locations in Savoca and Forza d'Agrò.
Read the storyDiscover the importance of Etna refuges for your safety. A comprehensive guide to history, bivouacs and vital support points for your excursions on the volcano.
Read the story
Discover everything about Rifugio Sapienza Etna. History of eruptions, how to get to 1910 metres and the best trails to explore the southern slope.
Read the story
Walk into the legend with Dream Island's Godfather Tour. Exclusive access to Castello degli Schiavi, Savoca’s Bar Vitelli and hidden movie secrets in Sicily.
Read the story
Beyond Isola Bella: quieter beaches in Taormina, beach club prices, stress-free parking and how to get there. An up-to-date practical guide.
Read the story
Discover the story of the terrible 2002 Etna Eruption: the day the volcano destroyed Piano Provenzana. An emotional tale of memory, geology and rebirth. Read more.
Read the story
The 10 things to see in Taormina: the Ancient Theatre, Isola Bella, Corso Umberto, Castelmola and views of Etna. Route and practical tips.
Read the story
Isola Bella in Taormina: the story of the islet, how to get there, the beach, opening times and the boat trip along the coast. Plan your visit.
Read the story
Sicily’s Godfather and White Lotus filming locations, from Fiumefreddo to San Domenico Palace in Taormina, and the world of Pirandello and Sciascia.
Read the story
Sicily between Etna, the Alcantara Gorges, Savoca, Forza d'Agrò, great wines and cuisine. Ideas and tips for an unforgettable trip.
Read the story
From Etna to Stromboli, the 5 most spectacular volcanoes in Italy: hikes, landscapes, and excursion ideas for your trip to Sicily.
Read the story
Guide to Piano Provenzana, the heart of Etna North: trails, craters, skiing and refuges above Linguaglossa. What to do and when to go.
Read the story
What to see and do in Taormina: the Ancient Theatre, Corso Umberto, Isola Bella, Castelmola and Etna excursions. A guide from people who live here.
Read the story
The story of Castello degli Schiavi in Fiumefreddo, Godfather film set and Don Tommasino’s villa: the film, local legends and how to visit.
Read the story
The life of Wolfgang Sartorius, the German volcanologist who mapped Mount Etna in the 19th century: journeys, discoveries and the craters named after him.
Read the story
Where Mount Etna is, how to visit it and how high you can go: the volcano’s sides, the summit craters, access rules and guided excursions.
Read the story
The Godfather Part IV: plot, cast and trivia about the new chapter of the Corleone saga, with mafia, family and the Sicilian film locations.
Read the story
Living Sicily offers stunning landscapes, rich history, and amazing food. Taste granita, arancini, and more—Sicily will captivate your senses!
Read the story
Discover the Myth of Polyphemus and how his rage shaped Sicily’s Faraglioni. Explore the legend of Aci and Galatea in this land of myth.
Read the story
More and more young Italians are returning to farming: sustainability, wineries, agritourism and experiential travel, on Etna too.
Read the story
Read how the 1693 Sicily earthquake shaped cities like Noto, inspiring a Baroque revival. Read about architecture and stone jewelry Sicily!
Read the story
Find the best Alcantara Gorges prices! Book an all-inclusive Etna & Alcantara tour for €80 with free hotel pickup.
Read the story
What it is like to live at the foot of Mount Etna: villages, vineyards, ash, festivals and food of the people who share their days with the volcano.
Read the story
Explore Savoca and "The Godfather" with Dream Island. Visit historic churches, Capuchin crypt, and the Castle of Slaves. Book now!
Read the storyNo articles match your search.
TRAVEL COMPANIONS
Over 100,000 travellers in 15 years: real people, real days out in Sicily. Thank you for exploring the island with us!
EN
Italiano
Français
Deutsch
Polski
Nederlands
Español
日本語
Čeština
简体中文
Русский
Português
한국어
Magyar
Norsk