Rural Sicily

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean, still relatively unspoilt especially in the huge interior made up of rugged mountains and surrounding natural countryside with olive and citrus groves, vineyards, forests and nature reserves.

Enjoy a short break or longer holiday in the peace and quiet of the Sicilian countryside.

Just Sicily offers a selection of countryside hotels, agriturismi and apartments for a relaxing holiday away from the bustle of the towns and coastal resorts, to experience the authentic Sicily lifestyle, meet the Sicilian people and taste the fantastic local food and wine.

Whether you are looking for a small personal hotel in which to unwind, or a farm with traditional cooking and horse riding, Just Sicily have a wide range of personally chosen rural accommodation suitable for all tastes and budgets. Most of the hotels offer any day arrival, any length of stay (subject to availability) for short breaks, tours or longer holidays.

Rural sicily suggestions

exploring rural sicily

Mountains

The contrasting mountainous interior has far reaching views of the island and the spectacular coastline from the summits of the Nebrodi and Madonie Mountains in the north of the island.

Monte Speziale within Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve, just south of San Vito Lo Capo on the north west tip is great for trekking with magnificent views and trails down to deserted coves and beaches.

There are lakes, waterfalls, gorges, fascinating geology and the native flora and fauna to discover in the Iblei Mountains in south east Sicily.

Horse riding

A number of hotels across the island offer their guests the opportunity to go horse riding with excursions to explore the local area. Some countryside hotels have their own stables or can organise trekking to enjoy the spectacular scenery and offer the chance to ride along the coast. In the north east, some hotels can organise riding in Mount Etna National Park.

vineyards

Wine is an integral part of the Sicilian culture and a number of Sicilian restaurants pride themselves on their extensive local wine lists and well stocked cellars.

Among the local wines, try the Etna red, white and rose produced in the fertile soil of the volcano's vineyards. Full bodied red or white Cerasuolol comes from Vittoria, near Ragusa. From vineyards near Palermo, Donnafugata is a fruity white wine. In the west Bianco di Alcamo is an honourable white wine popular around Trapani and Marsala from Marsala is the most famous of the island’s dessert wines.

There are a number of guided vineyard tours with wine tasting across the island where travellers can learn more about the production and varieties of Sicilian wine such as Santa Anastasia Winery in Castelbuono, Corvo Winery in Casteldaccia near Palermo, Florio winery in Marsala, Scilio Winery in Linguaglossa and Baglio del Cristo at Campobello di Licata near Agrigento.

nature reserves

Sicily boasts a number of coastal nature reserves, ideal for bird watching, hiking, swimming and snorkelling. These include the beautiful Plemmirio Nature Reserve near Syracuse where fauna and flora can be found in abundance along with numerous marine species including dolphins and sperm whales.

Vendicari Nature Reserve also on the south east coast is home to Herons, Cranes, black Storks, Pelicans and home to a flamboyance of Flamingos in its lagoons, marshes, dunes and beaches.

Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve on the north west tip of the island is another beautiful coastal park and is home to several beautiful little secluded coves surrounded by the sea, worn limestone cliffs as well as 700 varieties of Mediterranean trees, shrubs and flowers and 40 different species of birds.

volcanoes

Sicily is home to Mount Etna, Europe's highest (3,323m) and most active volcano, (see Mount Etna >) and is close to the Aeolian Archipelago with several active volcanoes on Stromboli and Vulcano.

There are various trips to view Mount Etna which can be arranged by most hotels in the north east with tours of the national park, treks and 4 wheel drive excursions. 

Stromboli and Vulcano islands can be accessed by ferry or hydrofoil and feature natural springs, mud baths, craters, dramatic cliffs and on Stromboli nightly shows of molten rock spewing up into the sky every 20 minutes or so.

wine & oil tasting

A number of rural retreats are situated on their own estates with their own vineyards or olive groves, providing guests with the opportunity to try home grown produce, including wine and olive oil.

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