Rome

No vacation with children is complete without a trip to the zoo.  The Bioparco is one of the finest zoos I’ve ever visited.  There is a stunning array of animals including amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.  My children were especially fond of the capybaras and the pygmy hippopotamus.  However, the Bioparco is more than just a zoo.  It’s also a botanical garden featuring many exotic plants from around the world.  There’s a sweet little train that runs throughout the zoo and gives tours.  It was a fun way to give our feet a break.

Lion in Bioparco, Rome, Lazio, Italy by Bruno

The Sistine Chapel may seem like an unusual place to take your children, but at four and seven, my children were both in awe of the impressive architecture and the stunning artwork.  As a former art nerd, I couldn’t help but tear up as I viewed Michelangelo’s frescos and Raphael’s tapestries.  No matter what your age, this beautiful chapel is well worth a visit.

It’s almost a requirement to visit ancient ruins when in Rome.  While the Colosseum might seem like the obvious choice, I recommend the Pantheon.   Built in 27 BC by Marcus Agrippa, the Pantheon was a temple for all the gods of ancient Rome.  When you enter the building, the first thing your eyes are drawn to is the massive cupola.  Despite its age, the Pantheon’s dome is still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome.  The oculus opens into the sky allowing natural light (and sometime rain) to enter the building.  It is truly breathtaking.

Pantheon, Rome, Italy by Claire for Europe Explored

Venice

The Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) is an absolute must see in Venice.  I recommend taking a guided tour so you can get a detailed history of this magnificent palace.  My husband and I enjoyed the art and architecture while our children were most excited by the Bridge of Sighs and the prisons.

Take a relaxing ride in a gondola on the Grand Canal. It’s the best way to see the gorgeous architecture of Venice.  My son was so soothed by the water that he fell asleep in my arms!

The Lido di Venezia is a fabulous place to let your kids be kids.  They can play in the sand and surf while you and your partner enjoy a private beach hut.  Be sure to get some delicious gelato while you’re there!

Gondolas on Grand Canal, Venice, Italy by Claire for Europe Explored

Sicily

Ancient ruins aren’t just a Roman specialty.  The Temple of Concordia is amazingly preserved and the grounds are positively lovely.  Surrounded by olive and almond trees, there’s a real sense of serenity surrounding the ruins.  Local legend is that newlyweds who visit the temple on their wedding day will have a peaceful marriage.

The Museo Archeologico Regionale Eoliano was so entertaining that we spent four hours exploring its fascinating exhibits.   With artifacts spanning 5000 years, there is so much to see that it might seem overwhelming,  Take your time and look over all the exhibits, be sure to visit the church and climb the steps to see the dazzling view from the cliffs.

If you’re traveling in Sicily during the summer, a great way to beat the heat and see something endlessly captivating is to visit the Catacombs of St. John.  My daughter was so enthralled that it was all she would talk about for weeks afterward.  The tour is incredibly informative and the guide speaks English extremely well.  Although there are no bodies, photography is still prohibited.

Temple of Concordia, Agrigento, Sicily, Italy by Berthold Werner

If you’re planning on taking your family to Italy, be sure to visit some of these amazing destinations.  You’ll create memories that will last a lifetime.

As a freelance writer for Holiday Place, Susan Crown spends an inordinate amount of time chasing her children through crowded airports.  When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, sailing and eating her body weight in gummy worms.

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Sicilian rich history is confirmed by a series of preserved monuments from ancient times. Here you can find about half of all such monuments from all over Italy. If you add a beautiful piece of nature to it, then you can certainly count with a perfect sightseeing holiday.

Sicily is a popular destination always well prepared for the tourists. You can get there by all possible means of transport. There are two main airports in Palermo and in Catania or you can use the ferry which take your car or bus over the Strait of Messina. Very interesting is getting there by train, when the whole train get on board of the ferry.

The entire island is covered by dozens of known and lesser-known resorts. Hotels offer a wide range of additional services that are at a very high level. Local people highly appreciate tourists, as they are in fact the main source of income.

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Each corner of the island has its own charm and has something interesting. The main season lasts from early May to late October, an ideal time for swimming and diving. The sea here is similar to that in Italy, however, is considerably cleaner. For travelling across the island you can use some of the car or scooter rental services (about 40 euros / day).

If you wish to discover southwest side of the island, then the town of Campobello di Mazzaro is the right place for do so. A few kilometers away you will find the ancient quarries. The stones from here were used for building an important ancient city of Selinunte.

The best starting point for discovering the beauty of the north-eastern parts of the island is the town of San Saba, which lies near Messina. Not far away is worth visiting Capo d’Orlando and Brolo, lying opposite Aeolin Islands. Popular tourist resorts are attractive mainly because of the beautiful countryside and many historical treasures.

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Where you definitely need to go and what should you know?
Taking a train to Giardini Naxos is a real experience. It lies in the middle of the bay, surrounded by steep cliffs.

Another interesting tip is traveling to the shrine in Tindari. Ancient sanctuary, situated on the hill above a large sandy beach, was considered a miracle. It contains one of many Byzantine Black Madonnas in Southern Italy. Tindari is also a place of rich archaeological excavations. You will find here the Greek theater and gymnasium, situated between the grassy slopes falling into the sea.

Up to Etna, the queen of volcanoes!
The highest active volcano in Europe has its place in the eastern part of the island. Nearly circular base has a diameter of an incredible 40 kilometres. There are two routes leading to the top – south (from Rifugio Sapienza at an altitude of 1900 m) and the North. For quite a big amount of money you can rent a jeep or go to the summit with a guide. Very nice walk is also to the craters of Monti Silvestri, where you find many souvenir shops. Absolutely unique view of Mount Etna offers a town of Taormina.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Richard Leeming

Sicily is rich in all aspects of life
One of the most beautiful places in Sicily is considered the Valley of the Temples located near the ancient city of Agrigento. It is famous for the remains of seven Doric temples, built on a rocky ridge at the coast. In addition to historical sites, this location boasts beautiful sandy beaches, inviting to romantic evening strolls.

Sicily also has its own capital – Palermo, which is absolutely different from any other city in Europe, and according to me it is also the craziest city in Europe. The streets are full of hustle and bustle, and with the name of Palermo many of us imagine Sicilian Mafia. Despite all of this, the city has an irresistible charm and in any case worth a visit. Among the most beautiful sights in town is the Palatinate Chapel in the Royal Palace and the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary. Very romantic is the ruin of the monastery of San Giovanni degli Eremiti. The local archaeological museum is one of the most important in Italy.

Not far from Palermo, in a small provincial town of Monreale, stands one of the most beautiful sights of the old Norman kingdom – Cathedral of Monreale. It was built in the 12th century by the most powerful Norman King William II as a symbol of his enormous power.

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Do not forget to visit medieval town of Cefalu, which is situated on the north part of the island.

The last stop on our journey through the ancient cities of Sicily, is Syracuse, formerly one of the most powerful in the Mediterranean. Besides its medieval square attracts visitors mainly for the remnants of the ancient city (theater, amphitheatre, remains of temples). Notable is the archaeological museum with unique finds from around the island, or underground catacombs.

Is it enough, or did I miss something? If you are curious about other great destinations in this island, just go through our tips in the section of the Most beautiful places in Sicily.

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Visitors of Scillato can admire the typical Sicilian Baglio house from the 19th century. Its owner is old aristocratic Sicilian family since its inception. It is surrounded by extensive parks full of rare trees and centuries-old trees. This house is nowadays used as a hostel for tourists and there is even a swimming pool with cloak-room. The house stands on the edge of a protected natural park, the Parco delle Madonie and is situated near a large golf course.

Do not look for the sea in Scillato (in fact, not all of the places in Sicily offers swimming in the sea), but if you have a car, you can go to the beach town of Cefalu, which is located approximately 40 km away. Cefalu preserved its picturesque and medieval atmosphere. Above the town rises interesting reef La Rocca resembling a fortress, which was once overlooked by the temple of Diana. Cefalu’s dominant is the cathedral of 1131, which was originally a royal tomb, and the main temple of the kingdom of Sicily. The coast is lined with some beautiful sandy beaches.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Leandro Neumann Ciuffo

The main feature of the town is Acireale Cathedral. It dates from the 16th and 17th century, however it was rebuilt in the 18th century. The facade is from the 17th century, which is the work of Giambattista Basile and has a beautiful portal of marble and alabaster (17th century). The majestic interior has a dome and is richly decorated with frescoes (created in the 18th century).

The city’s heart is a Piazza del Duomo, where this cathedral is situated. There is also the Palazzo Comunale, which is building from the second half of the 17th century built in a typical Catalonian Baroque style. There is also a Basilica dei Santi Pietro e Paolo from the 17th century. It boasts a beautiful architectural design with ornamental decoration.

You should visit also the public gardens and Villa Belvedere. Here you can enjoy really a beautiful panoramic view of Mount Etna and the sea. You can then take a pleasant walk through beautiful scenery and exciting surroundings, along the steep slopes of The natural reserve La Timpa and get to a picturesque fishing village – Santa Maria la Scala.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Leandro Neumann Ciuffo

Acireale is also known for a famous Carnival, which attracts people from around the world. It is considered the most beautiful carnival in Sicily. For 2012 it is planned from the 4th to 21st of February.

The city has two patrons – St. Venera (celebrated on the 26th of July) and St. Sebastian (celebrated on the 20th of January).

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Archeological site is located west of the railway station Selinunte and consists of two areas: Templi Orientali (Eastern temples) and the Acropolis. Tour through the locations takes 2-3 hours.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Chiara Marra

The first area includes three temples, which probably originally had a common protective wall. North Temple, situated at the entrance to the complex, was one of the largest Greek temples ever (113x54metres). Construction began in 550 BC but due to a continuing war threats, the temple was never completed. Only one column survived of the originally 46 columns. On the opposite, southern side of the road leading to the acropolis, is another temple (66x27metres), built between 560-540 BC. It had originally 30 columns. In the purest Doric style is built its southern neighbor (the early 5th century BC). It measures 70x28metres and is reconstructed, so we can admire its 36 columns (four beautiful metopes are stored in the National Museum in Palermo).

From these three temples, you can follow the 1.8 km long winding road leading along one of two Selinunte’s ports to the acropolis. During the way you pass the remains of two other temples that were built in 490 to 480 BC. Then you can find there the Hellenistic temple (the largest and oldest temple in this area, 64x24metres). It dates from the mid-sixth century BC (42 columns of the original 12 left, three metopes are in a museum in Palermo) and finally the last temple (56x24metres) from the years 570 to 554 BC. Furthermore there are the remains of ancient dwellings in the neighborhood. At the northern end of the Acropolis you can see the remains of the former main gate of the ancient fortifications. About a mile away there are the ruins of the Sanctuary of Demeter Malophoros and the remains of three other shrines.

Today the village of Selinunte is a small fishing village with nice beaches.

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Monte Cofano Nature Reserve (La Riserva naturale orientata Monte Cofano) offers to Sicilian visitors an unspoilt beauty and presents a significant value for natural and anthropological features.

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The mountain is formed by a combination of dolomite, carbonate rocks that are the oldest outcrops in the province and date back to the Triassic, about 200 million years ago. They are separated from neighboring area Gnarosa Marcato by a small saddle. You can follow the marked trail starting from the beach Cala Buguto that leads all around the perimeter of the mountain. From the top of the mountain you can enjoy a splendid view of the coastline.

There are many signs of human presence in this area since prehistoric times as evidenced by the graffiti and stone tools which were found in caves Miceli, Buffa, del Crocefisso and Mangiapane.

In June 1991 the area was declared a nature reserve.

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Sanctuary of the Black Madonna, Tindari, Sicily, Italy / Photo by Claire for Europe Explored

Later, the city was restored by Romans who built new buildings, schools, spas, theatre, markets and restored and remodelled the old building. The theatre, built by the Greeks, was remodelled and equipped at the request of its new audience. But then followed the period of decline, during which the part of the city was destroyed by the Arab raids in the 9th century.

Today there is still a Greek theatre, Roman houses, public spa and the remains of the fortifications. The museum shows statues of Hellenic and Greek and Roman ceramics.

Near the town there is the Sanctuary of the Black Madonna (Santuario della Madonna Nera). Black Madonna has been venerated since Byzantine times, and in the 60′s of 20th century her statue was placed here, which can be found in this sanctuary.

Beach in Oliveri with Tindari on the hill, Sicily, Italy / Photo by Claire for Europe Explored

The archaeological site – the remains of ancient town

The route that leads to the top of Capo Tindari, passing along the defensive walls built during the reign of Dionysus, which later was redesigned and replaced with double walls of stone blocks. In the southern part of the town there is a spa area, restaurants and stores, including the great aristocratic house with well-preserved mosaic. There are also some remains of buildings from which you can see the perfect elegance of the original site. The remains were identified as remnants of the basilica or the place where people meet for religious purposes, but its real function is unknown. In addition to this area is the theatre, built by the Greeks in the 4th century and was also a place of gladiatorial contests.

The tongue of sand (linguetta di Sabbia)

Under the archaeological site and the Sanctuary you can see a strip of sand, stretching 1.5 km into the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is in the shape of the tongue, the highest point is about 4 m above sea level. The plot creates a kind of lagoon and several small lakes, thus providing the ideal home for large numbers of plants and animals (now it is a nature reserve). The location is ideal for swimming or walking, but also an ideal place for watching the sunset. Here you can get from a village of Oliveri.

If you are driving a car, you can also visit the remains of Roman villas in Patti.

Linguetta di Sabbia, near Oliveri, Sicily, Italy / Photo by Claire for Europe Explored

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The main characteristic feature of the landscape Nebrodi is a great diversity of landforms, rich vegetation and wetlands. The Arabs called Nebrodi as “Island in the Island” and the reason was the richness of forests, green pastures, quiet lakes and bubbling streams – the country so different from the image of dry and sun-scorched Sicily.

Nature Reserve (Parco naturale) Nebrodi was founded in 1993 and covers the most important and largest forested area of Sicily (about 50,000 ha). Despite of the deteriorating conditions of environmental, Nebrodi still offers the greatest wealth of fauna from all over Sicily. Some species have disappeared, unfortunately – the last wolves were killed at the end of twentieth century, the population of vultures extinct during the 60′s due to poisoned baits for foxes. Among the current, often scarce inhabitants of Nebrodi are porcupine, wild cat, pine marten, greenish turtle, mud turtle, frog, and colorful green jumper. Area of Nebrodi includes 150 bird species, many of them are endemic.

The hiking trails lead through the protected area from the west to the east. In the ridge you can find the only wetland in Sicily, which offers also the beautiful natural scenery.

The highest peak of Nebrodi is the Monte Soro (1,817 m).

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The city’s history dates back to somewhere in the 200 BC, when it was strategically advantageous area at an altitude of 185 meters above sea level, inhabited by the Romans. They built massive walls around the settlement and built a city named Melita. Later also the palace, where they placed the headquarters of the government.

In 870 Mdina was occupied with the Arabs and was divided into two parts. The central part was surrounded by walls and deep moat, and was renamed Medina, which in Arabic means “city”. The remaining part called Rabat, which is now an independent city, or more like a suburb of Mdina. Due to the walls, Medina was not able to expand further, therefore, it remained almost unchanged. After leaving of the Arabs its name was changed to the original one – Mdina, and even today has the character, who in the 16th and 17 Century imprint Maltese nobles, which I later withdrew from the island.

In 1571 Valletta became the capital of Malta and Mdina was further often referred to as the Citta Vecchia (Old City). This name comes from the Middle Ages, when this place was home to many aristocrats and their descendants from Norman countries, Spain and Sicily. Many people at that time left the city, but most aristocratic families still lived in their residences. This made it possible to maintain their homes still in its original beauty. Most of the buildings in Mdina dates back to the 14th and 15th centuries. The paradox is that most younger baroque monuments were destroyed by an earthquake in the 1693.

Today Mdina is a traditional city with only less than 400 permanent residents. The town is called “Silent” or “Silent City”. It is caused by the fact that it is forbidden to enter the city walls by any motor vehicle. The city is ideal for walking and relaxing. Mdina is, with the city of Rabat, very attractive place, especially for the history lovers. You can walk through the ancient streets or enjoy spectacular panoramic views of Malta from the city walls.

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The town of Monreale has today around 25 thousand inhabitants. Thanks to its location near the Sicilian capital city, Monreale has almost become one of the turbulent suburbs of Palermo. But if you visit this site, you should definitely visit The Cathedral of Monreale, which is thanks to its mosaics one of the greatest treasures of this Italian island.

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The Cathedral of Monreale is a kind of monument to Arab, Norman and Byzantine art and architecture. Its construction began in 1172 at the instigation of King William II, who wanted to use the cathedral as his tomb, after his death. Therefore, a court architects tried to overcome other royal temples. Not only the building itself, but also the decor was influenced by French, Islamic and Byzantine designs. The cathedral is a massive three-nave building, 102 meters long. However, it looks quite modest from the outside. West facade is, except of the portal to the ornate gates, very curt. Cathedral is in addition covered by a largely urban area with an adjacent monastery.

You can see the beautiful bronze door from 1186, which are decorated with 42 biblical scenes. There are features of a lion and a griffon here, which were symbols of the Norman royal family. On the left side of the church you can see another bronze door from the year 1179, which are mainly influenced by Byzantine art. But the main attraction is the cathedral’s interior.

So if you’re interested in art and history, the Cathedral of Monreale should really be included on the your must-see list.

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