City: Sicily
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The 10 Best Sacred & Religious Sites in Sicily, Italy
Sicily (/ˈsɪsɪli/ SISS-i-lee; Italian: Sicilia [siˈtʃiːlja], Sicilian: Sicìlia) is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is an autonomous region of Italy, in Southern Italy along with surrounding minor islands, officially referred to as Regione Siciliana.
Restaurants in Sicily
1. Basilica di San Sebastiano
2. Valle dei Templi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17,409 reviews
This region is one of the most important archeological sites in the world with many great temples such as Hera (Juno,) Lacinia, Concordia, Heracles (Hercules) and Olympian Zeus (Jupiter,) all dramatically perched along a long rocky scarp.
Reviewed By alikarim - Dallas, United States
This is an extremely well preserved set of ancient Greek temples that you can visit over a mile long walk. Best thing to do is to park yoru car at the bottom of the valley; at the exit of the site. Then take a local taxi (3 Euros/person) to the top of the site, the main entrance, where fro about an entrance fee of $13.50; you can start at the top temple and walk leisurely down to the bottom sites, exploding multiple temples and ruins in great shape. Lots of tourists here, but well worth the visit. It will take several hours to complete this, so plan for a min half day here. A must do in Sicily.
3. Chiesa di San Domenico
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 352 reviews
This baroque church, built in 1640, is noted for its bell-tower decorated with Maiolica ceramic tiles from Caltagirone.
Reviewed By 873AmyB873 - London, United Kingdom
This church in a small square is simply stunning to look at. It’s also got the tomb of one of the anti-Mafia judges who was assassination by the mob, which is very interesting and also moving.
4. Oratorio di Santa Cita
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 676 reviews
Reviewed By conrad57 - Ieper (Ypres), Belgium
A must see in Palermo. Religious baroc architecture, overwhelming beauty of religious / historical sculptures and baby figures. Take a brocure or a guide to read and know more details about the figures and art, it will for sure make your visit more interesting and detailed
5. San Giuseppe dei Teatini
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 610 reviews
Reviewed By AlexSwallow - Sheffield, United Kingdom
Palermo has lots of stunning churches, but of the ones I saw this is the standout for both architecture and atmosphere. Really worth a visit.
6. Basilica Catedrale Sant'Agata V.M. Catania
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,857 reviews
Reviewed By ArmyRangeratMIT - Wayne, United States
The city of Catania is a wonderful afternoon visit, with parking quite easy right outside the piazza… Heading towards the cathedral you see the iconic statue in the middle of the piazza that quite often symbolizes all of Sicily… Plenty of pictures can be had here and you can walk in almost any direction to find shops and stores… And of course the cathedral looks beautiful in the afternoon sun whether or not you go inside or just enjoy the beauty! Pick a spot to have a bite to eat and enjoy your glass of wine and your good luck finding a lovely afternoon in Catania!
7. Tempio di Segesta
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,888 reviews
This unfinished fifth-century Doric temple has everything but a roof and an interior, and the huge structure seems unaffected by time. A small theater atop a nearby hill offers visitors a stunning view of green hills and the deep blue hues of the sea below.
Reviewed By M2334NTgaryk - London, United Kingdom
I visited the Segesta Site yesterday the 18th of June 2019. I had read all the whining reviews about the free car park at entrance that drivers were being directed away from, and decided to test this. I drove straight to the front gate of the site carpark. I was stopped by a uniform security guard... This car park at site entrance is for disabled drivers or archaeological site staff and is also the drop off point for the shuttle bus. all the cars parked here have staff or disabled passes displayed on their dashboards. I was then politely directed to the tourist carpark at bottom of hill. The facilities at the car park (toilets etc.) are free and clean. 5 euros to park car, free bus shuttle to (and return) site entrance every 15 mins (prompt) 6 euros per person entrance to the site, the temple is a 250m short walk from entrance, the amphitheatre is a long slog up a winding road, you would be mad not to take the theatre shuttle which is only 1.50 euro a person each way. and again runs back and forth about every 15 mins.. The amphitheatre is fabulous and provides a wonderful view, there are also other fascinating ruins dotted about the hillside. The Temple at the bottom of hill is breath-taking and wonderfully preserved, this area is a must see if you are holidaying local. The site was immaculately clean, there are bins for different variations of rubbish everywhere. The tourist car park, the shuttle and the site were efficiently run and clean, the staff were friendly … using all available shuttles, you can (at a leisurely amble) see everything in under 3 hours. ------- reviewers should check their facts before making false and stupid statements that could affect local’s livelihood! --------------
8. Church of San Francesco of Assisi -Chiesa di San Francesco d'Assisi
9. Oratorio di San Lorenzo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 583 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
This is a tiny but stunning chapel to the left of St Francis’ church. I might have overlooked it but I was intrigued by the story of the stolen Carravaggio painting that was taken from the altar of the small chapel one night in 1969. Listed on the FBI’s list Top 10 Art Crimes, the nativity scene is the most valuable still-missing work of art in the world. Who stole it remains a mystery and it’s never been recovered. To add to the poignancy, it was one of the last paintings Carravaggio did. A year after completing it, he had died in unknown circumstances at just 38 years old. A life-size copy hangs in its place instead. Although it was the art-heist story that drew me in initially, the oratory really was very beautiful. Splashes of gold around the altar highlight the pure white of the rest of the oratory. The interior is entirely covered with snowy white stucco ‘putti’ (cherubs) and scenes from the lives of St Frances and St Lawrence. I’ve heard it called the cave of white coral. It really does look a lot like that. It is only small (just the one room) but the decoration is so detailed that we spent some time there. The cherubs are a playful tangle of chubby limbs and baby wings and are just gorgeous. It struck me that it would be impossible to concentrate on prayer and not be distracted by these fanciful, lively creatures. Other details include the exquisitely detailed mahogany pews, patterned with mother-of-pearl and ivory and the gruesome scene of St Lawrence who was painfully and slowly martyred by being tied to an iron grill over a fire of coals. In a brilliant display of bravado, he is supposed to have said before dying, “I am well done. Turn me over”. TIP - the ‘Circuito del Sacro’ ticket gives you a discount off the entry price for this and a dozen or so other churches. Just ask for it at the first church you visit.
10. Cattedrale di San Bartolomeo
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