# Sicily loop: temples, Etna and Baroque towns

> 7-day round trip of about 674 km (419 mi) with 10 stops, starting and ending in Palermo. About 9 h 18 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/sicily-baroque/

**At a glance:** 7-day round trip of about 674 km (419 mi) with 10 stops, starting and ending in Palermo. About 9 h 18 min of driving in total. From Palermo along the north coast to Etna and Taormina, then south through the Baroque towns to the Valley of the Temples.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 674 km (419 mi) |
| Driving | 9 h 18 min |
| Suggested days | 7 |
| Stops | 10 |
| Route | Palermo → Palermo |
| Countries | Italy |
| Updated | September 20, 2026 |

## Route description

From Palermo, the A20 motorway, which has tolls, follows the north coast east to Cefalù, a seaside town with a Norman cathedral below a huge rock. Continue east and then south to the flanks of Etna.

Europe’s most active volcano can be approached by road from Nicolosi to Rifugio Sapienza at about 1,900 m; from there, take the cable car or walk among old craters. Access to the higher slopes depends on volcanic activity, so check the current situation locally. Taormina, on a terrace above the sea, has a Greek theatre with views of Etna; the town has limited traffic, so use the car parks below.

Further south, Syracuse has a Greek theatre and the old town on the island of Ortigia. The route then turns inland to Noto, rebuilt in honey-coloured Baroque after the 1693 earthquake; climb the cathedral steps at dusk. Ragusa, with its old quarter of Ibla on a ridge, is another of the Baroque towns of the Val di Noto.

On the south coast, the Valle dei Templi at Agrigento is a ridge of Greek temples among almond and olive trees, among the best preserved outside Greece. Just west, the Scala dei Turchi, a white marl cliff, steps down into the sea; go late in the day, when it glows against the blue water. The road back to Palermo crosses the interior, and summer heat makes early starts sensible.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Palermo** (Italy)
2. **Cefalù** (Italy)
3. **Etna – Rifugio Sapienza** (Nicolosi, Italy): Europe’s most active volcano. Drive to about 1,900 m, then take the cable car or walk among old craters.
4. **Taormina** (Italy)
5. **Syracuse** (Italy)
6. **Noto Cathedral** (Noto, Italy): The centrepiece of a town rebuilt in honey-coloured Baroque after the 1693 earthquake. Climb the steps at dusk.
7. **Ragusa** (Italy)
8. **Valle dei Templi** (Agrigento, Italy): A ridge of Greek temples among almond and olive trees, among the best preserved outside Greece.
9. **Scala dei Turchi** (Realmonte, Italy): A white marl cliff that steps down into the sea like a staircase. Go late in the day, when it glows against the blue water.
10. **Palermo** (Italy)