Sicily: temples and cathedrals
Around the island from Cefalù to Taormina: Norman cathedrals in the north, Greek temples in the south, baroque towns in the east.
- 11 stops
- 673 km by road
- 11 h 42 min of driving
- 6 days
Distances and times are calculated on real roads (OpenStreetMap), with no stops and no traffic.
The route goes into the planner with its stops, split over days: move, remove or add stops, see the times and look for a place to stay. Or open the whole route in Google Maps.
The stops, in order
Open in Google MapsBefore you set off
A car for this route
Hire the car where you arrive, at the airport or in the first city, and check that it can be returned where the route ends.
- Car hire Hire a car in Italy and reach the places the trains do not. On Localrent
- Airport transfer A driver meets you at arrivals and takes you to your door in Cefalù, at a price fixed in advance. On Kiwitaxi
- eSIM for Italy Mobile data from the moment you land, with no roaming bill. Installed on your phone before you leave. On Airalo
These services are sold by our partners: you book and pay on their sites. Viaqui may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
About the route
Sicily was Greek, Roman, Arab and Norman before it was Italian, and this route passes through all of it. It begins with the Norman cathedrals of Cefalù, Palermo and Monreale, with their gold mosaics, then follows the west and south coasts past the Greek temples of Segesta, Selinunte and Agrigento. Inland, the Roman villa near Piazza Armerina keeps one of the largest sets of floor mosaics anywhere. The last days belong to the east: baroque Noto, Syracuse with its cathedral built into a Greek temple, and the theatre of Taormina facing Etna.
The route has 11 stops in Italy, in Sicily. From the first to the last there are 673 km by road, which is 11 h 42 min of driving with no stops. The numbers on the map and in the list are the same order; press a stop to see it on the map, or open its page for the description and the address.
The route is a suggestion, not a schedule: you can drive it the other way round, split it over more days or take only the stops on your way. Every stop is also on the attractions map of Italy, together with everything else there is to see around it.
How long does the route take?
The driving alone is 11 h 42 min. With the stops, it depends how long you stay at each. We suggest 6 days, a pace that leaves time to go inside, not only to drive past.
Is the distance by road?
Yes. The 673 km and the 11 h 42 min are calculated on real roads, not in a straight line, with OpenStreetMap data. They do not include stops, traffic or detours.
Do I pay at every stop?
No. Some of the stops are free to enter; where a ticket is sold, it shows on the page of the place. Opening hours are set by whoever runs each place, so check them before you leave.
Can I change the order?
Yes. The order here is the one that keeps the drive short, but the route works just as well backwards or in pieces.
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