Visited 6/1/25 Valley of the Temples is AMAZING site and a…read moremust see if you are in Sicily. This visit was the highlight of my recent trip to Italy. The park is one of the most outstanding examples of ancient Greek architecture. The site is located on a ridge outside the town of Agrigento, not really a Valley! This is also the largest archaeological park in Europe and the Mediterranean basin and a UNESCO World Heritage site. There are remains of 7 temples ( Doric Style) dating back to 510-480 BC Other: Big tourist site, expect crowds. A lot of walking on uneven terrain, no seating, not a lot of shade.

Went here with my husband because he won't ever shut up about the Roman Empire (haha) and now I get…read moreit. Jokes aside, this place was quite impressive, in size and engineering, especially as these temples and structures have withstood 2400 years for us to marvel at today! Overall, it was roughly 3.5 miles round trip to walk the entirety of the temples. Completely worth it, in my opinion! There is free parking nearby and tickets to get in are 15 euro per person. Highly recommend visiting if you find yourself visiting Sicily for any amount of time!

What a wonderful experience at Lounge Beach at Scala dei Turchi! We arrived before lunch service…read moreand enjoyed a lovely glass of rosé while relaxing on the lounge sofas overlooking the beach. The staff was incredibly accommodating and made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. Lunch was outstanding--we especially loved the Caprese salad and pasta--but what truly set this place apart was the exceptional service. Every member of the team was attentive, friendly, and genuinely focused on making our experience memorable. A special mention goes to the sommelier, who was incredibly knowledgeable about the wine list. We are quite particular about our wines and especially enjoy California-style Chardonnays, which can be difficult to find in Sicily. He took the time to understand our preferences and recommended the perfect bottle. The combination of outstanding food, impeccable service, and the breathtaking setting--with views of the sea and the magnificent Scala dei Turchi--made for an unforgettable afternoon. Everything was exactly what we had hoped for. Highly recommended!

Being a highly sought after tourist spot, I had higher hopes for Scala de Turchi, the Stair of the…read moreTurks. They are white cliffs, but weren't necessarily anything extra special. Apparently this is a high tourist spot due to the cliffs being mentioned in a series of books about Commissario Montalbano. There is a lot of nearby restaurants on the beach, as I am sure this place is extremely busy during the summer/high tourist season. My husband and I weren't overly impressed, so wouldn't say it's a must see spot in Sicily.

I cannot even put in words how beautiful the Valle dei Templi is…read more Visiting this side will 'transport' you back in time and leave you in awe. Most of the temples are in exceptional condition making it easy to imagine how life must have used to be during the Roman/Greek times. We arrived in the morning and spent about 3-4 hours waking the site. I was worried about not bringing enough water since it was a super hot and dry day. Fortunately the park has water fountains though out. Tip: Make sure to wear comfortable shoes, sunshades and weather appropriate clothing. There is not much shade and you will be walking a LOT :)

Came here on extremely hot early July day. I agree with the previous reviews that reading the…read moreinformation stations is helpful enough, and that you do not need a guide.

Great place. One part (park) is free and it is divided by great gates from this Botanic Garden…read more Both are nice and should be visited. Free park first and then paid. In free park you'll see the old entrance to Botanical Gardens with great statues. It was too many plants for me. Way too much, but some of them left me with an open jaw. The tree with spikes all over it! I call it three hedgehog. There are toilets. Great place for romantic walkaround. Ticket €5! This is oldest botanic garden in Europe! 200 years old.

I dropped by here almost by accident when I was exploring the city, it was only €5 for entrance so…read moreI thought heck why not take some time to explore it and try out my new macro lens I bought for my digital camera. The gardens history can be traced back to 1779 making it the oldest garden in Europe and now covers 10 hectares, the gardens has certainly been run down which is a shame. The garden has a number of Australian plants which always makes you a little homesick such as the Moreton Bay Fig. There is also a free garden next door that you can also explore, if the weather is good or far too hot I would suggest dropping by the gardens to cool down as there is plenty of cover to escape the heat and plenty of paths to explore.

This lovely park is located not far from the Cattedrale di Palermo and the Norman Palace along Via…read moreVittorio Emanuele. Paved paths, a fountain at the center and lots of greenery. Many of the trees are palm trees because of course, Palermo is on the Mediterranean Sea and even in January there will be green. In the Summer, I would imagine that this would be quite the spot to hang out and get out of the bright sun. But for us in winter, it was just a pleasant spot to pass through on our way to lunch. [Review 12823 overall, 138 of 2020.]

Via Vittorio Emanuele is the oldest road in the city of Palermo, running from the seaside up to the…read morecathedral. At the cathedral, Porta Nuova protects the city from one end. At the water, Porta Felice protects the city from invasion from the water. This monumental gate is in the part of the city known as the Foro Italico. In 1581, the Viceroy of Sicily decided to build a monumental gate at the (then) new water-side entrance of the Cassaro. The gate was named after the wife of Colonna, Felice Orsini. Groundbreaking took place in 1582 and complete in 1637. It was later damaged by bombing during World War II but has been restored. From one gate to the other, it's a wonderful walk and then you have the beach and the park at the Tyrrhenian Sea to enjoy! [Review 12836 overall, 151 of 2020.]

Such a beautiful experience, great natural reserve that we totally enjoyed. I highly recommend it…read moreand, obviously, with a car.