The Freely guide to summer in Sicily (away from the crowds)

Summer in Sicily is a time to return to the simple pleasures of life. It’s savouring the warmth of sunshine on your skin. It’s popping Involtini di melanzane into your mouth and licking the sauce off your fingers. It’s swimming in pristine rock pools and hearing the tinkle of shells as they’re gently swept along the sea floor. It’s staying in a grand farmhouse amongst olive groves and learning how Sicilians produce the oro liquido (liquid gold) we all know and love.

One of five autonomous Italian regions, Sicily is an island – and a densely populated one at that. Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, towers in the eastern part of the island; the countryside is dotted with vineyards, olive groves and citrus orchards; and the coastline is stunning whether you’re enjoying it from land or sailboat.

While it’s always been a holiday hotspot, the cult television series White Lotus brought intensified attention to Sicily, with its second season taking place in Taormina’s luxurious San Domenico Palace. Since then, many-a tourist have sought a taste of this luxury for themselves and flocked to the area.

In the case you’d like to avoid these crowds, we’re letting you in on some of Sicily’s better kept secrets for your summer adventure.

‍From Australia:

You can fly to Italy from several major airports in Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. In total, 43 airlines currently offer a route there – among them Scoot, Virgin, Qantas, Thai Airways and Malindo Air.

There are no direct flights to Sicily from Australia; in fact, you’ll have at least two connections in various Asian and European cities. You’ll land in either Catania Airport in Sicily’s south-west, or Palermo in the north.

Travel time varies – from Perth you could arrive in around 25 hours; from Sydney, you’re looking at about 28.

From Italy:

Given Sicily is an island off Italy’s eastern coast, many people choose to travel from the mainland using one of the various ferry routes. It can be useful to have a car in Sicily (especially if you’d like to get off the beaten track away from those crowds!), so there are regular car and passenger ferries running from locations such as Napoli, Reggio Calabria and Salerno.  

Alternatively, you can hire a car once on the island if you choose to fly. (Check out Freely’s Rental Vehicle Insurance Excess Boost if you decide to hire a car.)

‍Must tries:

Sicily is renowned for its street food – sample mouth-watering stuzzichini (appetisers) like panelle (chickpea fritters), sfincione (Sicilian pizza), and arancini (rice balls). The particularly fertile Sicilian soil means that local ingredients are fresh and full of flavour – vendors will slice plump tomatoes and drizzle them with olive oil for you to enjoy. Seafood plays a prominent role in Sicilian cuisine, and your tastebuds will lead you to straight to spieddini di pesce as it grills on an open flame. A major highlight of your time in Sicily will be the food – we promise!

A bit of background:

Sicily has a long and complex history – all the way back to the Paleolithic period in fact. Excavations at Grotta dell'Uzzo have uncovered flint tools, animal bones and evidence of fire use, suggesting that it served as a shelter for prehistoric hunter-gatherer communities.

In more recent history, the island has been ruled by various empires, each which has shaped the Sicily that exists today. While it is now Italian territory, this unification only occurred in the 19th century. Sicilian culture is a blend of Greek, Roman, Arab, Norman and Spanish influences, evident in its architecture, language, music and cuisine.

Home to 4.8 million people, Sicily is a diverse and thriving island. Sicilians are known for their warmth, hospitality and strong sense of community.