Sicily Essential: Heritage, temples and baroque style

Palermo concentrates Sicily's many souls in a single place, the fruit of Arab, Norman and Spanish rule that can be read in its very stones. The cathedral of composite lines, the Norman Palace with its dazzling Palatine Chapel and the Arab-Norman churches bear witness to a past of multicultural splendour. Between the Quattro Canti and Piazza Pretoria, the historic centre pulses with lively markets such as Ballarò and the Vucciria, where street food — arancine, panelle, spleen sandwiches — is an unmissable experience. The Teatro Massimo, among Europe's largest opera houses, and the noble palaces evoke the age of the leopards. Just outside the city, Monreale Cathedral guards golden mosaics of rare beauty, while Mondello offers an elegant beach facing the sea. Vibrant and full of contrasts, Palermo wins visitors over with its intensity and generous table.

Syracuse was one of the most powerful cities of the Greek world, and still today reveals its glorious past among ancient ruins and Sicilian baroque. The island of Ortigia, the historic heart linked to the mainland by bridges, weaves together lanes, squares and palaces facing the sea: here the cathedral rises on the remains of a Greek temple and Piazza del Duomo opens like a baroque drawing room. The Fountain of Arethusa, with its papyrus, evokes ancient legends. The Neapolis Archaeological Park guards the grand Greek Theatre, still a venue for classical performances, the Ear of Dionysius and the Roman Amphitheatre. Syracusan cuisine smells of fish, citrus and almond sweets. Captivating and luminous, Syracuse blends ancient splendour and Mediterranean charm in a rare harmony.

Taormina clings to a rocky balcony above the Ionian Sea, queen of Sicilian tourism since the nineteenth century. Its symbol is the Ancient Theatre, built by the Greeks and enlarged by the Romans, framing through its arches the view of smoking Mount Etna and the sea. Corso Umberto, lively with boutiques, cafés and medieval palaces, leads to Piazza IX Aprile, a panoramic terrace overlooking the gulf. Lush gardens such as the Parco Duca di Cesarò offer corners of peace, while the cable car descends to Mazzarò, home to the famous Isola Bella, a nature reserve linked to the coast by a thin strip of sand. Local cuisine combines fresh fish, granitas and almond sweets. Glamorous and elegant, Taormina enchants with its blend of ancient history, panoramas and Mediterranean sweet life.