The large city of Palermo is the islands busy bustling capital. It dates back to the 8th century B.C. when it was established as a Phoenician colony but previous settlements had been founded there by the Sicanians, Cretans and Elymians. Since then the city has known Carthaginian, Roman, Vandal, Ostrogoth, Byzantine, Arab, Norman, Swabian, Neapolitan, Angevin, Aragonese, Austrian, Spanish, and Bourbon rule before becoming part of unified Italy thanks to the efforts of Garibaldi. So Palermo has known many influences and this is visible in the architecture, cuisine, culture and cosmopolitan feel to the city.

Palermo has an impressive cathedral as well as many beautiful churches and chapels. Other places to admire include the Liberty villas, the Monastery of the Capuchins with its catacombs and corpses, the Royal Palace (Palazzo dei Normanni) and the Teatro Massimo, one of the most prestigious theatres in Europe and famous for its opera. There are some good museums, many excellent places to eat out, lush gardens and a large well connected port. North of Palermo is La Favorita park dominated by the huge and beautiful promontory of Monte Pellegrino and further on the extremely large sandy beach of Mondello Lido, a favourite Palermitan beach resort. Other small resorts include Isola delle Femmine and Sferracavallo. Palermo enjoys a good central position from where it is possible to easily visit the East, West and South of the island. Its airport, Falcone Borsellino is located West of Palermo at Punta Raisi.

Segesta, set in scenic Sicilian countryside, provides a profound historical experience for the steady stream of visitors of all ages annually, who come individually or in groups. It has a rare combination of antiquarian attractions, and also well-organised site access arrangements with supporting book, gift shop, restaurant and refreshments. High on a hillside slope opposite and outside of the ancient city of Segesta an impressive, well-preserved 5th century BCE Doric temple dominates the scene, with a total of 36 columns intact, 14 on each long side, and the whole building being 61m (200 feet) long x 26m (85 feet) wide.

Above the ancient once powerful Elymian city, imagined from a few physical remains or scanty written records, is a mountain-top Hellenic styled theatre still used every summer for performances of classical Greek dramas. Other remains of urban habitation have been unearthed near the theatre and lower down on Mount Barbaro. At around 400 metres (1312 feet) above sea-level the theatre’s stage has a breathtaking backcloth of landscape views that stretch across to the Tyrrhenian Sea at Castellammare Del Golfo and beyond.

Castellammare del Golfo is the largest town on the gulf which takes its name, and has a charming harbour, Cala Marina, nestled beneath the backdrop of imposing mountains and protected by its impressive Aragonese castle. Strolling along the harbour, the elevated esplanade skirting the town, or dining at one of the stylish restaurants in these areas, provides a commanding viewpoint of the amazing inland or seaward scenery, not least of the many highly regarded sandy beaches. Although a peaceful place today, Castellammare was once notorious for mafia feuding, a folk history that inspired the writing of ‘The Godfather.’ Contained within this colourful town, combining culture and customs, as well as a good supply of shops, bars and restaurants, one appreciates a way of life that is a conscious blend of past and present. It is well-connected by fast roads to other parts of the island, is less than an hour from Palermo airport, and is a good base from which to explore the sites and scenery of the surrounding province of Trapani.

The name of the village ‘Scopello’ is said to mean ‘reef’ or ‘rock’ and its unspoilt natural beauty certainly derives from its rocky or craggy coastal formations, in another age providing cover for pirates who could launch raids on unsuspecting victims. These rugged contours, sunny skies, an environment coloured and scented by olive groves, pines and wild flowers form the picturesque setting for the appealing historical village of Scopello, which grew up around the tuna fishing industry. The village’s central square is at the end of the ascending coastal road from Castellammare del Golfo some 10 km away and is bordered on one side by an 18th century "baglio” (basically a simple fort) with a courtyard, entered through an archway, and housing a bank, restaurants, gelateria and a pizzeria. There is an ample supply of places to dine both in the village and in nearby locations enabling the sampling of local Sicilian food and wines. Scopello is the ideal get-away-from-it-all holiday destination with its little harbour, superb sandy and shingle beaches (like: Guidaloca, Cala Rossa, Cala Bianca and Cala Mazzo) ideal for sunbathing, swimming, fishing, snorkelling and diving. A recommended place for swimming is below the ‘tonnara’ the old tuna fishery. There is also horse riding and coastal walks in the Zingaro Nature Reserve which stretches 7km along the coast towards San Vito Lo Capo and contains a great variety of plants and bird species. Scopello is a convenient base from which explore the region.

‘Lo Zingaro’ nature reserve stretches some 7km along the craggy coastline of the western side of the Gulf of Castellammare, starting from Scopello in the south, or, via San Vito Lo Capo, from Cala Tonnarella in the north. Set pathways and signs naming beaches ensure that the best views of sea and mountainous landscape are enjoyed, and that excellent spots to bathe are not missed. At either end there is a car park, a designated picnic area and a museum, one of which is about the reserve’s plants and wild life, and the other about activities associated with the sea. Lo Zingaro offers a visitor unspoilt natural beauty, tranquillity, a variety of vegetation, birds and animal life, colours and scents, all healthily satisfying the senses.

San Vito Lo Capo, a delightful low-key seaside resort with arguably Sicily’s best beach, is located at the northern most tip of the West part of the island. The charming white two-storey houses are laid out in a grid-like pattern of streets and are adorned with bright flowers. There are some excellent restaurants here and plenty of places to sit out and have an ice cream and there is always a good atmosphere. The main piazza has an unusual square- shaped castle, specially fortified to withstand pirate raids, that is now used as a church - the Sanctuary of San Vito the Martyr. The almost 3km long beach is what makes San Vito really special though and it has often been awarded the coveted Blue Flag award. The waters are clean, turquoise and transparent, the golden sands are soft and fine and sparkle with minuscule fragments of coral. All this is overlooked by the huge and striking mountain of Monte Monaco. The other side of the Mount is an old tuna fishery and the panoramic but deserted road leads to the north entrance to the beautiful Zingaro nature reserve. A walk here is truly a delight - there are no less than 7 small coves and plenty of unspoilt landscape to explore. Other attractions include the little port, a working lighthouse, a museum of the sea containing the cargo of a sunken Norman ship and the Grotta Racchio, a cave with ancient paintings. San Vito Lo Capo has a distinctly North African flavour in both its landscapes and cuisine, and in late September people come from far and wide to celebrate the Couscous Fest - an occasion definitely not to be missed, not least for the free tastings!

Macari is a small village with a couple of shops, a restaurant and a church. It is located before San Vito Lo Capo and the drive there is truly panoramic featuring mountains, landscapes and sea. It is the ideal location for those who want a peaceful and quiet location with extraordinary views whilst being in easy reach of all that the young town of San Vito has to offer. The beautiful coastline near Macari is unique with its strange rock formations and there are many little rocky coves to explore as well as a small sandy beach. The landscape is dominated by the magnificent looming headland of Monte Cofano - a truly dramatic sight.

Over 750 metres (2945ft) above Trapani, Erice is a medieval hilltop town with heaps of character that boasts stunning far reaching views of sea, landscape, cities and the Egadi islands. It is so high up that it is usually a few degrees colder than elsewhere in Sicily and often becomes suddenly enveloped in cloud - an atmospheric experience for the visitor as the mist makes it hard to see more than a few feet ahead. It is especially atmospheric at night walking around the cobbled streets when the day-visitors have departed and there are some excellent restaurants to try out. It makes a lovely day excursion though for the views, the pasticcerie selling marzipan fruits, the Norman castle and temple, Tempio di Venere, its medieval tower, Torretta Pepoli, the cathedral with belltower, the 19th century gardens and the museum. Below Erice is the sandy beach of San Giuliano.

Below the Erice headland and with views out to the Egadi archipelago, Trapani is the capital of the western province of the same name. It has an important port for commercial, fishing and tourist use and is well connected by hydrofoil and ferry to the enchanting Egadi Islands. It is famous for it saltpans and windmills that stretch south past the Stagnone Islands to Marsala. The old quarter of the town is located on a promontory of land shaped like a sickle, with an imposing watchtower at the tip. Much of the old centre is pedestrianised and lined with elegant shops and good examples of Baroque architecture and there is an old Jewish quarter with labyrinthine alleys. There are some impressive large buildings along the seafront and port area and large palm-lined squares. It is a good holiday base for exploring the West of Sicily and for sailing – Trapani recently hosted the America’s Cup. In addition, there are some sandy and rocky beaches and some good places to eat out – we recommend trying the Pesto al Trapanese and the Trapani version of the famous Sicilian cassata.

Marsala is a lively and likeable town famous for the dessert and cooking wine of the same name, which was actually created by a soap merchant from Liverpool! In fact, if you love wine and other alcoholic treats then Marsala is surely the place to be. There is a whole road dedicated to the wine experience in the old centre called the Strada del Vino and there are various Enotecas that offer tastings accompanied by tasty appetisers. The town is also famous for being the place Garibaldi first landed in order to begin the unification of Italy. The old centre is entered though large city gates – the Porta Garibaldi or the Porta della Vittoria - and boasts a large piazza with examples of Baroque architecture, excellent cafes, cake shops and restaurants and smart boutiques. The town springs to life at the hour of the Passeggiata when Marsala’s inhabitants come out to wander through the main street and square, often buying a coffee, ice cream or evening aperitif.

Other things to do include a trip to the Florio winery to learn more about Marsala wine, a visit to the Archaeological Museum which houses the renowned Phoenician galley discovered sunk nearby, a walk around the Roman excavations near Capo Boeo or simply relaxing on one of the long stretches of sandy beach out of town to the South. Marsala is also a good base for exploring the ancient civilisation of Mozia on the nearby island of San Pantaleo. You can reach the island by canoe – or wade if you prefer! Daily hydrofoils also take you for day excursions to the delightful island of Favignana.

The pretty African-facing coastal resort of Marinella di Selinunte, near the modern town of Castelvetrano, is also home to the famous Selinunte archaeological park, the largest site of Ancient Greek temples combined with civic remains in Europe. Around the resort with its central marina and fishing boats are superb sandy beaches, like Lido Zabbara, and La Pineta the lovely long beach in the Belice Nature Reserve, where in season marine turtles sometimes lay their eggs. A wonderfully complete place to holiday, being ideal for sight-seeing, walks, bathing, boating, fishing, golf and tennis, and among its amenities there are a good choice of restaurants, bars, and a supermarket for typical Sicilian products.

Selinunte became a vibrant, influential town in ancient Greek times. The impact of the invading and settling Greeks can be seen today in the remains of an urban complex, an acropolis and temples, on hillsides overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Today, this extensive area adds up to being Europe’s largest Ancient Greek archaeological site and a popular tourist destination.

On leaving the car park, you proceed to the ticket office and entrance through a gift shop, and emerge again into the light to be immediately overpowered by the awesome sight of a reconstructed 5th century BCE Doric temple. Beyond this lie the ruins of other temples and on the far hill across the valley that dips down to the sea you can visit the acropolis, walk along the cobbled streets within the city walls, scan the ruins of dwellings and temples and marvel at the skills and technology of the ancients. This is one experience you will be glad not to have missed. In fact, whilst in archaeological mode, why not connect these constructions, by a much briefer visit, to the column supplying quarries at Cave di Cusa just 10 km drive away, near Mazara del Vallo? The partly cut columns were left in situe when the quarry was abandoned following the destruction of Selinunte by the Carthaginians in the first half of the 6th century BC.