Undiscovered Sicily - 10 Beautiful Hidden Gem Towns
Hi lovers of Sicily! My name is Mirco and I’m a local guide based in the city of Catania in the east of the island. I’m also a Go Ask A Local expert for Sicily!
I'm happy to write you this article about 10 of the best hidden gem Sicily towns. But before I start, I want to tell you that in this article I’ve focused above all on eastern Sicily because this is where I live and it’s the part of the island I know the best.
I’ve spent the past 5 years as a guide traveling all over my island and like to think that I’ve developed a deep knowledge of the entire region, including the history, peoples, distinct cultures, and local food and traditions of the countless towns and villages.
As you read through this list, know that these places are true hidden gems. They won’t appear in tourist catalogues, on “25 best” lists from bloggers, or on Instagram!
These places are almost entirely unknown to foreigners and little known even to most Sicilians! Located far from major cities, they’re often surrounded by mountains or nestled in valleys, and part of their beauty, for me at least, is the wonderful journey you’ll go on to get to them.
Pronto? Andiamo!
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Millions of visitors come to Sicily every year, but that doesn’t mean that you need to be surrounded by crowds during your visit. Hidden gems and secret places still exist, you just need to know where to look!
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Map of my favorite hidden gem towns
1. Casalvecchio Siculo
Casalvecchio Siculo is a municipality in the province of Messina, located in the Agrò Valley. It’s about 30 minutes drive from Taormina. I could go on for hours about this place, but I’ll be quick!
The oldest town of the area, Casalvecchio has fewer than 1000 inhabitants. The town is made up of a series of villages which are spread out over about 20 km. Some of these hamlets, like Misitano Superior or San Carlo Superiore, are genuine ghost towns now and are completely abandoned. Others, like Rimiti, exist in almost perfect harmony with nature.
In the hamlet of San Pietro, you’ll find the the most important monument of the Agrò Valley: the church of Saint Peter and Paul Agrò (Chiesa dei Santi Pietro e Paolo d'Agrò), built in the 12th century during the Norman’s reign in Sicily.
This monument is the synthesis of different cultures, combining Norman, Greek, and Arab features. The result is a polychromatic structure with pointed arches, towers, muqarnas (a type of Arabic/Moorish vaulting), and a walkable roof/ walkways from which soldiers could defend the area.
From Casalvecchio we can also climb to the top of Mount Kalfa mountain (Monte Kalfa) to catch some great views over different villages. One of the best viewpoints is over the village of Roccafiorita, Sicily’s smallest village (both in terms of area and population, with under 100 inhabitants).
Turning your back to Roccafiorita and looking over the opposite side of the mountain towards the seaside, you have a stunning view over the town of Savoca, made famous worldwide by the film the Godfather, which shot some scenes there.
The resultant fame has, in my opinion, caused Savoca to become far too tourism-oriented, losing it’s identity in the process. For this reason, without any doubt I prefer and much more recommend Casalveccio Siculo!
2. Capizzi
This little village is full of history, pretty sights, and lovely landscapes. Here, we’re in the southwestern corner of Nebrodi Park (Parco dei Nebrodi), the largest protected natural area in Sicily.
Capizzi is, first of all, famous for the incredibly warm welcome given by the locals, which simply will leave you without words.
It’s also home to an interesting little baked good, a particular type of cookie, that is only made in town. The cookie has various names but is usually called one of the following: “biscotta niviri”, “biscotta 'ncilippati” or “lumacheddi”.
But the real reason to come here is the feast and procession of Saint James (Festa di San Giacomo di Capizzi), celebrated on the 26th of July.
The festivities actually last 10 days, beginning on July 16th, but the 26th is the highlight. On this day, the statute of Saint James is paraded through the center of town by the bearers, who sprint through town (no joke - they’re actually running!) all the while followed by a brass band playing without stopping.
During the saint’s procession, the faithful offer St. James gifts of various kinds, from white sheets to the typical provola cheese. Here you can see a video of a part of the procession.
Just outside of town, you have countless fantastic roads and driving routes on weaving throughout the Nebrodi park. During your drive, make sure to stop by the Tassita forest, one of the most beautiful forests in all of Sicily.
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3. Nicosia
Located in the province of Enna, Nicosia is an ancient town which has conserved most of its historic beauties. Famous for its noble origins, Nicosia was historically known as the “town of the 24 barons”. Side note - if you like beer, a few years ago two guys opened a brewery with the same name “Birrificio 24 Baroni”, which uses the water that flows from the Nebrodi Mountains.
In Nicosia, locals still speak the Gallo Italico language, which is spoken in fewer than 10 towns of Sicily. This language comes from the Norman period, when Count Roger brought some families from distant parts of northern Italy in order to populate uninhabited areas of Sicily.
Over time they mixed with the locals, and the result is a culture that combines aspects of typical Sicilian culture along with that or Northern Italy as well as a dialect that intermingles Sicilian, French, and northern Italian variants. If you find Sicilian difficult to understand, just imagine Gallo Italico!
A rich area from a gastronomic standpoint, Nicosia is renowned for its local food products, such as their distinct cannoli which is handcrafted using fruit peels. No visit to the town would be complete without trying a cannoli at Bar Diana, famous throughout Sicily.
Bakeries have loads of other special treats, like Nucatoli (cookies made with a mixture of flour, eggs, lemon zest, and almonds) and “S” cookies which are long leavening.
Not far from Nicosia there is a lovely nature reserve which I always recommend - “Riserva Naturale Sambughetti Campanito”. It’s home to one of the most important high-altitude wetlands in Sicily where, in addition to numerous small ponds, you can admire the Laghetti Campanito, lakes situated at between 1200 and 1350 meters above sea level.
The lakes are set in a splendid forest of conifers, poplars, and oaks. Just above the first lake, you can find a second lake, smaller in size and covered in the summer months by a green layer of duckweed.
4. Troina
Probably one of my favorite gems, Troina is also located in the province of Enna and is often included in the list of the “most beautiful villages in Italy” (Borghi piú belli d’Italia).
Considered the first Norman capital of Sicily, even before Palermo, Troina nowadays is split into two parts: low Troina (which is new and modern) and the upper Troina (the ancient village). In the cittá alta (upper Troina) you’ll be able to meander through an incredibly atmospheric maze of narrow streets and alleyways.
Great explored on foot, it is practically impossible to arrive by car. Unless you want to get stuck on a narrow street, on an incline, with no ability to go forward or back, park in the lower part of town!
The local celebration of Saint Silvester, on the third week of May, is a lovely festa and one of the best times to visit the town.
A must-try tasty treat is the typical “Vastedda co' Sammucu”, produced only in town. It consists of a stuffed focaccia prepared with leavened dough to which are added fried pork cheek and elderflower. Buonissima!
Be sure not to miss the photography exhibit on display in the Robert Capa Museum which opened in 2021. It houses photos taken by world-famous photographer Robert Capa during the so-called “Battle of Troina” which took place between July 31st and August 6th 1943, during the Allied invasion of Sicily during World War 2.
5. Randazzo
Located at the intersection of three different parks (Etna, Nebrodi, and Alcantara), Randazzo is a well-preserved medieval village with buildings made from volcanic stone.
Walking in the streets of this village you can admire three huge churches exclusively all built with lava stone, colorful streets decorated with rows of flowers and plants, and a stunning and important remnant of Sicily’s Norman heritage, the beautiful street of arches (via degli Archi).
For something totally unique and unlike anything else you will see in Sicily or anywhere in Italy, I highly recommend a visit to the “La Casa della Musica” museum in town. The owner, curator, and artist is a man named Giuseppe Severini who is a “luthier” - a make of stringed instruments.
The museum (his house) is a collection of hundreds of musical instruments from the Middle Ages. Some are originals while others are his own reproductions. Giuseppe is able to play almost all of them and the visit is a walk into Sicily’s ancient past.
Also not to be missed is a visit to the amazing Alcantara Gorge, a canyon formed by an eruption of Etna millenia ago that is carved through by the Alcatara river. In summertime you can have a refreshing bath in the river and pools!
6. Buscemi
Located in the mountains (alt. 750m) near Siracusa, Buscemi is a small village not far from the famous Unesco Heritage town of Palazzo Acreide.
The name Buscemi is of Arabic origin, and probably comes from the Arabic phrase qal'at abi sama, which translates to “Castle of the man with the mole”, which refers to the Prophet Mohammed. Over the centuries, the name was Latinized and became Abuxama, Bussemae, and in the end, the modern Buscemi which we still use today.
In this small village I suggest you to walk and enjoy the silence of the area, where the only sounds you’ll hear are the rustling of the breeze and the merry tinkling of sheep bells off in the distance.
Every house in town has been built the same local stone and the result is a village that is almost entirely grey.
My favorite attraction in Buscemi is the baroque church of Sant'Antonio da Padova, which was never finished and is missing it’s upper area and steeple. It’s a wonderful example of 18th century Sicilian baroque, and it’s unfinished state only adds to the allure.
Another fun curiosity, Buscemi is also the surname of the famous American actor Steve Buscemi, who of course has Italian origins!
7. San Mauro Castelverde
Located in the mountains of the Madonie Natural Park, San Mauro Castelverde is a very small town in the province of Palermo that is far from practically everything. The nearest town of any size is 30 minutes by car!
The medieval town is picturesque and charming and affords beautiful views over the Madonie park and seaside.
A curiosity of San Mauro Castelverde is the presence of various sundials. Immersed in nature and so far from anywhere else, local farmers and shepherds used the sundials practically into modernity to know when it was time to end the day’s work and rest!
Along the Pollina river are the Gole di Tiberio, a series of 450 meter long gorges inside of a deep canyon. The geologic formation dates back to the Upper Traissic period almost 200 million years ago.
Also on the route to or from town, you can find emerald green lakes with splendid plays of light that form on their waters.
With its overgrown walls and rich biodiversity, this area represents a unique piece of the Madonie area, so much so that it was included in 2004 by UNESCO in the Global Geoparks Network.
An absolutely must-do experience here is the zip line offered by ZipLine Sicilia, a one and a half kilometer long “flight” that crosses the valley of the river Pollina.
With spectacular views of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Nebrodi and Madonie mountains, this is the only zip line in Sicily and it is the only one in Italy to be placed at an altitude of almost 1000 meters. The start of the line is 925 meters, the end at 669 meters, and the maximum speed is 130 km per hour! It is a shot of adrenaline and wonderful!
Connect with a Sicily travel expert for help perfecting your itinerary, answers to all your travel questions, and fabulous local tips for a better visit!
8. Gibellina
Moving into Western Sicily, we now enter one of my absolute favorite areas of the island; the Belice Valley. In 1968, a powerful earthquake hit, causing major damage to the villages and nature of the this valley, including the town of Gibellina.
In 1970, the town’s mayor, Ludovico Corrao, saw the possbility for a sort of rebirth and new beginning for the town. In his vision, creating a town with an art-focused design would provide a sort of social redemption and breathe new life into the town.
So, the city administration created a plan for the reconstruction of the town and invited internationally renowned artists and architects to set about building an anti-seismic town that would also resemble an open-air museum.
The project developed an urban plan that changed the layout of the city, focusing on highlighting and promoting collective life, and included over 50 works of art, sculptures and permanent art installations all throughout town.
Among the numerous artists who participated, free of charge, Alberto Burri is perhaps the most famous. His work of art, the Cretto Burri is probably the most well-known piece of work that was developed for the project, and it is now a major draw for visitors to the region (and one of the largest art installations anywhere in the world).
9. Poggioreale Antica
Not far from the art installation of Cretto di Burri there's another hidden gem I want to share with you: it is the town of Poggioreale. This little village, much like Gibellina, was completely destroyed by the earthquake of 1968, and the entire old city was abandoned in order to rebuild a new town a few kilometers away.
Locals preferred to build in a new area, instead of rebuilding at the site of the original town, to keep costs lower. So, the the town was rebuilt downstream from the original, but the citizens were not enthusiastic about it for a host of reason, chief among them the architectural choices made which did not in any way replicate the traditional style of the area.
Unfortunately, the combination of economic ruin inflicted by the earthquake and the proceeding discontent with the newly constructed town led to a mass migration of entire families from the area. A slow and gradual depopulation took hold here, and the vast majority of residents emigrated to Northern Italy or abroad.
So then, why visit? What I want you to discover is not the new Poggioreale, which as nothing special to see, but the old one; a ghost town unlike anywhere else in Sicily that was left completely abandoned practically overnight.
The feeling you get when you enter Old Poggioreale (Poggioreale Antica) is sur to be astonishment. Walking through town, you can feel the radical effect of that single event in distant January of 1968. The town sits there now, a place utterly frozen in time, providing a window into a past and the many lives that were upturned.
As you wander, you’ll be able to peer into houses, shops, and restaurants with furniture and furnishings left exactly as they were in the moments surrounding the earthquake.
For cinephiles, you just might recognize the town as some scenes of the Italian film “The Star Maker” by Giuseppe Tornatore were filmed there. Here is a link to some scenes.
10. Fiumara d'Arte
Fiumara d’Arte is not actually a town, but rather a project of monumental artwork that encompasses various small, unknown towns in Sicily’s northern area.
Here, although technically we are in the province of Messina, we’re really much closer to Palermo. To be precise, we’re in the Alesa Valley, which stretches from the foot of the mountains out to the sea.
The idea of Fiumara d'Arte was born in 1982 when a wealthy local businessman, Antonio Presti, shaken by the death of his father, decided to honor him by commissioning a work from famed Sicilian modernist Pietro Consagra.
4 years later, in a dry riverbed at the mouth of the Alesa (or Tusa) river, a finished sculpture titled “La materia poteva non esserci” (Matter could not be), measuring 18 meters in height was installed.
From what was initially to be just one piece of art, Antonio Presti had the idea to continue and push it further, creating an open-air sculpture park that would encompass the entire valley. Thus was born the Fiumara d'Arte project.
To date, the project has 12 monumental works, among which the most famous are the Labyrinth of Arianna and the Pyramid 38 parallel.
If you are on the road between Palermo and Messina, Fiumara d'Arte makes for a good stop and is not far from the famous town of Cefalù. You can read more about the site and its interesting history here.
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