Palermo
In the heart of the Mediterranean
Palermo is a gorgeous city in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. It has very ancient roots, witnessed by the discovery of some rupestrian figures which presumably date back to the Palaeolithic Age. Palermo is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with its long history and its richness of art and traditions.
Monreale
The stunning Cathedral of Montrealer
The village of Monreale was established during the Arab domination in Sicily, by the slopes of Mount Caputo from where it looks over the whole Conca D’Oro valley and the city of Palermo. Monreale shines for the beauty of its Cathedral which has become World Heritage site.
Trapani
Wonderful coastlines and crystal-clear sea
A charming land with wonderful coastlines and lots of archaeological finds of great outstanding: from the Gulf of Castellamare to the coastal village of Scopello -which is famous for its sea stacks and its stunning sea grounds- to the fabulous white sandy shores of San Vito Lo Capo.
Segesta
The charm of history
The uniqueness of this place lies in the fact that it still appears to the many visitors who arrive there in the same way it appeared to the travellers of the Grand Tour. The whole area is, in fact, almost the same as it used to be in that period: huge hills designated for sowing or grazing, and minor reliefs poorly populated except for some lonely trees.
Mazara del Vallo
The ancient scent of Arabia
The old city centre, which was once embraced within Norman boundary walls, contains various monumental churches, some dating back to the 11th Century. Mazara shines for its districts, which resemble the Kasbas, the typical Arab districts with narrow alleys.
Selinunte
The ancient Selinus
The village of Selinunte got its name from the celery which still grows wild today. The city had a very short life of 240 years before felling victim of heavy plunders and collapsing under the Carthaginian.
Marsala
The city of Garibaldi’s Thousand
Marsala rises on a promontory close to the sea. The city centre was long ago enclosed within a nearly squared boundary wall and entering the city was possible only through the massive gates placed along the four sides of the walls.
Agrigento
The magnificence of the ancient Akragas
Established around 581 b.C., Agrigento boasts of being the land where the various peoples who left their mark in Sicily settled. In the area of Agrigento aroused the ancient polis of Akragas, which achieved its greatest glory in the 5th Century b.C., before its decline, caused by the war against Carthage.
Sciacca
A city contended between various dynasties
Sciacca was the reign of various dynasties, and it also was the centre of the Sicilian commerce and one of the main cities of the area. The presence of many castles and palaces is one of the many demonstrations of the sumptuousness and the magnificence of the city.
Guide Touristic Sicilia Occidentale is a trading association of local guides of Sicily, set up by qualified tour guides who have been working in the area for decades.