{"id":2758,"date":"2019-07-19T10:05:58","date_gmt":"2019-07-19T10:05:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wishsicily.com\/blog\/?p=2758"},"modified":"2026-04-01T14:57:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T12:57:52","slug":"off-the-beaten-track-in-north-sicily","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wishsicily.com\/blog\/off-the-beaten-track-in-north-sicily\/","title":{"rendered":"Off-the-beaten track in north Sicily"},"content":{"rendered":"

Often overlooked in favour of the baroque splendours of south east Sicily, the mountainous Madonie and Nebrodi national parks and neighbouring coast is the place to be if you\u2019re looking for a truly authentic experience of Sicily.\u00a0<\/strong> From awe-inspiring views to extraordinary contemporary sculpture, this fascinating area is guaranteed to give you a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the island. Read on for suggestions of some of the best things to see and do.<\/p>\n

Visit Italy\u2019s most beautiful villages<\/h3>\n

Choose from a collection of stunning hilltop towns and villages including Gangi, winner of the \u2018Most Beautiful Village in Italy\u2019 accolade in 2014 and still very much a living breathing town.<\/strong> Mums and kids congregate in early evening at the playground close to the magnificent Ventimiglia Tower while the elders of the village gather to watch the world go by.\u00a0 Don\u2019t miss the Church of San Nicol\u00f2 (connected to the Tower), the magnificent frescoes in the Bongiorno Palace and the Chiesa di San Paolo, but leave time also to just wander leisurely through the narrow winding streets. For the most memorable views over the terracotta tiled rooftops and the Madonie Park, head for the piazza near the Ventimiglia Tower or dine al fresco on the lovely terrace at the Trattoria Sant\u2019Anna in the historic centre.<\/p>\n

Ceramics in Santo Stefano di Camastra<\/h3>\n

Continue eastwards along the coast into Santo Stefano di Camastra where many of the shops showcase the local hand-crafted pottery and ceramics.\u00a0 Many of the ceramics display a vivid orange-red base, overlaid with white and blue patterns. Not surprisingly, communal areas in the town are decorated with brightly-coloured tiles and there is also an interesting ceramics museum. Stay at Casa Franchina, a 4-bedroom villa with pool, table tennis and play area situated a short drive from Santo Stefano di Camastra and within walking distance of the shops in Acquedolci.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Casa<\/a>
Casa Franchina, Acquedolci<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Contemporary sculpture at the Fiumara d\u2019Arte<\/h3>\n

Of all the attractions of this region, few are as dramatic as the Fiumara d\u2019Arte<\/a>, Europe\u2019s largest outdoor sculpture museum. The collection of sculptures by different artists, scattered over a broad coastal and rural landscape, was initiated by Antonio Presti in 1986. Start your journey at the striking \u2018La Finestra sul Mare\u2019 close to Santo Stefano di Camastra, before heading into the hills, past \u2018La Materia Poteva non Esserci\u2019 and up to the \u2018Piramide al 38\u00b0 Parallelo\u2019. The pretty medieval town of Castel di Lucio is conveniently located close to three more sculptures, the most famous being \u2018Il Labirinto di Arianna\u2019. Stay at Villa Olmo, a 6-bedroom villa with pool in Castel di Lucio.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Villa<\/a>
Villa Olmo, Nebrodi Mountains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gelato giant<\/h3>\n

Admittedly, finding great ice-cream in Sicily isn\u2019t one of life\u2019s big challenges, but even in a world where ice-cream reigns supreme, a really outstanding experience can pop up just when you\u2019re least expecting it.\u00a0 At Castel di Lucio\u2019s Max Bar, slurp your way through a memorable pistachio ice cream courtesy of Guido whose delicious flavours won him an award at the 2017 internationally-acclaimed Sherbeth Festival.<\/p>\n

Blue flag beaches<\/h3>\n

Avoid the crowds that flock to Cefal\u00f9 and head instead for the smaller beaches favoured by locals. \u00a0With skyward views of the Fiumara d\u2019Arte\u2019s Pyramid sculpture, the tranquil Blue Flag Le Lampare beach sits in the shadow of the ancient castle at Castel di Tusa overlooked by a beachfront restaurant.\u00a0 Choose from a selection of villas, including Casa Turchina, a 3-bedroom villa with pool near Finale di Pollina.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\"Casa<\/a>
Casa Turchina, Finale di Pollina<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Often overlooked in favour of the baroque splendours of south east Sicily, the mountainous Madonie and Nebrodi national parks and neighbouring coast is the place to be if you\u2019re looking for a truly authentic experience of Sicily.\u00a0 From awe-inspiring views to extraordinary contemporary sculpture, this fascinating area is guaranteed to give you a behind-the-scenes glimpse […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2763,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2758","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-where-to-stay-in-sicily"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nOff-the-beaten track in north Sicily<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"the mountainous Madonie and Nebrodi national parks and neighbouring coast is the place to be if you\u2019re looking for a truly authentic experience of Sicily.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wishsicily.com\/blog\/off-the-beaten-track-in-north-sicily\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Off-the-beaten track in north Sicily\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"the mountainous Madonie and Nebrodi national parks and neighbouring coast is the place to be if you\u2019re looking for a truly authentic experience of Sicily.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.wishsicily.com\/blog\/off-the-beaten-track-in-north-sicily\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Wish Sicily - 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