Sicily is among the most distinct regions of Italy. Many conquerors from various parts of the world have at some time called the island home. The Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and Germans who populated the island shaped it significantly into what it is today: a fascinating location with so much to offer its visitors. There are lots of vacation homes in Sicily where visitors can stay while on vacation. Staying in a "home far from home" makes it simple to take a look at these top Sicilian destinations.

Mount Etna

No trip to Sicily would be total without a visit to the famous Mount Etna. This is Europe's greatest mountain and is truly a remarkable sight to behold. Since it is still an active volcano, getting close to its centre is not constantly enabled. However, the mountain makes a sensational background for pictures and makes for a stunning topic with an elevation of 3,350 metres.

Taormina

When you're choosing amongst the many wonderful vacation homes in Sicily you should consider Taormina, popular for its beaches, dining establishments, and abbeys. This mountain top town is one of the island's tourist magnets not least since of the spectacular Greek amphitheatre, which still plays host to shows and plays. The theatre provides breath-taking views from its amazing location. Taormina is usually filled with tourists from the month of May to September, so if you're not into crowds the very best time to visit is from October to March.

Agrigento

Also referred to as the "Valley of the Temples", Agrigento is renowned for its abundance of olive groves and almond blossoms. Located on the southern coast of Sicily it is house to eight spectacular ancient temples. If you're into the architectural remnants of the past, Agrigento should be in your schedule when you holiday in rental properties in Sicily.

Wine Nation

Sicilian wines are well loved for their unique flavour. The island has more vineyards per square mile than and other area in Italy; however the paradox is that Sicilians take in the least amount of wine compared to other Italians! The Masala wine is among the most popular white wine ranges here. If you arrive around November, you might remain in time for the White wine Festival, which begins on November 11, the very same day as the celebration of Saint Martin.

Palermo

Palermo has a history returning around 2,700 years, and its delightful Mediterranean weather attracts millions of tourists every year. It is the centre of Sicily's economy, culture, and finance and is the perfect destination for those who like history, architecture and excellent food. It has a variety of stunning churches including Palermo Cathedral, San Cataldo, and San Giovanni degli Eremiti, which is known for its brilliant red domes. Palermo is also the website of the largest theatre in Italy, the Teatro Massimo.

ou don't need a time machine to vacation in the past agreekadventure.com/europe/italy/ - all it takes is to book among the wonderful vacation homes in Sicily. After all, it has actually been said that if one wants a general glance of the history of Western civilization, this is the place to examine. This remarkable island is awash with history, art and architecture.

With over 10,000 years of history, including ancient cavern graffiti, breathtaking Doric temples, Sicilian Baroque and the numerous masterpieces by the various painters, carvers and more through the years, extraordinary experiences are absolutely nothing more than simply a stone's throw away from any of the rental properties in Sicily. Places to take a look at remain in Taormina, Palermo, Syracuse, Monreale, Cefalù, Agrigento, Piazza Armerina, Caltagirone, Noto, Ragusa, Modica, Segesta, Selinunte, Erice, and the Eolian Islands. In fact, there is an universe of early art and architectural work of arts from ancient civilisations nearby.

Prehistoric Art

If you're thinking about doing a chronological history of art, among the rental properties in Sicily might take you to the Renaissance or Middle Ages, however a walk around will take you countless years further than that. In reality, the island has actually been an art centre considering that ancient times, as proven by the rock paintings and graffiti in the Addaura collapses Palermo and in Messina, along with Grotta del Genovese on Levanzo. Most sicily of the illustrations are of wild animals, such as deer and horses. Even the tuna and sardines found in the waters around the area are recorded for posterity.

Greek Art

From the 8th century B.C. onward, the arrival of the Greeks declared terrific contributions to art; while many of these works were damaged by conquerors and pillagers that came after, numerous can still be seen without venturing far. Fine examples of Greek impact on the island can be found in the best-preserved Doric temples in the Western world, the Valley of the Forehead in Agrigento. Other places to see are the destroyed city of Selinunte, the archaeological gardens at Syracuse, and, last but not least, the splendid temple at Segesta.

Other works of art from the Greek conquest can be seen in the archaeological museums dotting the island. Tours can be rather informing when you arrange visits to repositories of artefacts such as ceramics and amphorae, sculptures and metopes, and bronzes and carved ornaments from temple structures.

The Romans

While the Romans did not leave a creative tradition as great as the Greeks, their influence is still highly visible. The Roman rental properties in Sicily, such as the one in Casale, outdoors Piazza Armerina, are a prime example, with vibrant flooring mosaics from the 3rd century A.D

. Other examples can be found in Palermo, at Durrueli near Agrigento, at Tellaro near Noto, and in Patti on the northern coast, while the amphitheatres of Taormina, Syracuse, and Catania, and Syracuse's Christian catacombs are likewise history lessons in themselves.

That's simply half of the art and architectural history you'll find on this fantastic Italian island. Come and see the total story - including the Normans, the Arabs and everybody else that followed who served to influence the colourful culture.