19 Best Sights in The Tyrrhenian Coast, Sicily

Polizzi is full of churches, each one filled to the brim with fascinating artworks, but this one is probably the most gorgeous of all. Its Norman-era foundations have been built upon several times since, including Gothic-era additions by the Ventimiglia dynasty. The centerpiece is an astonishing Renaissance triptych of the Madonna and Child (late 1400s)  by an anonymous, though possibly Flemish, artist. It's sometimes attributed to (though more likely influenced by) the celebrated Flemish painter Rogier Van Der Weyden (1399--1464). As astonishing as it is to see this priceless work of art from northern Europe housed in a church in Polizzi Generosa, its presence gives you a sense of how much wealth was brought to the town thanks to its royal patrons.

Castelbuono is located just outside this 80,000-acre regional park of the Madonie Mountains, which means it is a perfect spot to explore the splendid natural reserve. There are walking paths, camping areas, horse riding, mountain biking, and caving activities to experience. You can even simply take a scenic drive out into the park for a picnic.

This rustic piece of coastline juts out from the naturally formed port of Milazzo, showing off classic Mediterranean scrub, a kind of coastal vegetation common to Sicily. The road leading to the cape is perfect for a scenic drive, and there are rustic beaches you can stop to enjoy along the way. Follow the signs from the city center to reach the cape or follow the main local road toward Palermo.

The second-largest church in Caccamo, the Chiesa dell'Annunziata holds just as much precious artwork as the main cathedral and dates back to the 1700s. The frescoes in the presbytery are by Gianbecchina, while stunning stucco wall decorations are by the famous Sicilian master Giacomo Serpotta and the front altar's design of the Annunciation is by the Flemish, largely Naples-based artist Guglielmo Borremans.

Located right in front of the main square at the heart of Caccamo, the patched-up but picturesque Chiesa dell'Oratorio is one in a series of splendid Baroque monuments in the center of the city. Together with the Chiesa dell'Oratorio, the palace of Monte di Pietà, and the church of the Anime Sante del Purgatorio, it makes up the historic heart of the city's art and culture. The square is used as a majestic open-air stage for events and concerts, and what better backdrop than these splendid examples of Sicilian Baroque architecture.

Yet another beautiful historic church in Castelbuono that is well worth visiting, even for only a moment, Chiesa della Natività di Maria---also known as Madrice Nuova---was constructed in the years straddling the 16th and 17th centuries and rebuilt in the 1830s after substantial earthquake damage. It is characterized by typical Sicilian limestone stonework and an elegant bell tower. Inside it is filled with various reliquaries, gorgeous intarsia work, pious pieces of art, statuary by Filippo Quattroochi (1738--1813), and two 18th-century organs.  

As is usually the case in Sicily, this church is one of the best places in town to see some incredible art. The Chiesa di San Benedetto is decorated with an elaborate and remarkably well-preserved majolica ceramic floor designed and crafted by 18th-century Palermo artist Nicolò Sarana. The decorative gold-highlighted stucco wall decorations make the church glow in the sunlight.

This impressive deconsecrated 17th-century church occupies an entire block of the main street in the medieval quarter and sits beside the Collegio dei Gesuiti, which now houses the Biblioteca Comunale, the town's library, and its civic collections. These include the Civico Museo Archeologico, an archaeological museum with exhibits telling the history and significance of the Abete delle Madonie, an endangered fir tree species; and the Museo del Giocattolo Antico, with poignant displays of antique toys. The church itself is in the standard Greek cross structure. It is filled with marble vaults that host the statues of various saints and is decorated with floral embellishments typical of the extravagant Sicilian Baroque style. Government funding was secured in 2023 to begin extensive restoration of the building. 

In the Middle Ages, Petralia Sottana was under the dominion of the Ventimiglia family, whose immense wealth left behind many stunning public works and buildings in the town. The concentration of this architecture is focused in and around the central square of Piazza Umberto I, which is dominated by this 16th-century parish church, an impressive cathedral dedicated to the Madonna of the Assumption. The interior is filled with sculptures from the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries, including details from Antonello Gangini, a famed Sicilian sculptor who decorated many important churches with his artwork.

On the town's Piazza Duomo, you'll find the parish church of the apostles St. Peter and St. Paul. The church's dominating structure is in the Catalonian Gothic style, with 12 elaborate columns representing the apostles and two bell towers, one Norman and one from the 18th century. The interior is relatively simple, with notable works including an intricately carved, life-size wooden crucifix by local monk Frate Umile da Petralia (1600--1639) and and the Madonie's largest organ, which dates from 1780. Petralia Soprana's most venerated pious objects, the multicolored wooden statues of the apostles Pietro and Paolo (1767) are paraded through the streets on the saint's feast day, June 29.

Castelbuono's main cathedral, located on the central square of Piazza Margherita, was originally established in 1362; the current church is an elegant Romanesque structure dating to the 16th century that is filled with religious art and paintings. The Gothic Catalan bell tower reflects a similar Andalusian style to Palermo's Duomo and is a prominent feature of the town's landscape. A painted altarpiece, with intricate wooden carved details and portraits of various saints, dominates the church interior. The images on the polyptych are from the 1500s, created by Antonio di Saliba, the nephew of the famous early Renaissance Sicilian master Antonello da Messina.

The main Norman cathedral of Caccamo, the original church was built in the 1400s by the Chiaramonte family and filled with artwork from many Sicilian Renaissance masters. The building was expanded and rebuilt in the 1600s in the elaborate Sicilian Baroque style and still houses all the paintings from the previous structure and other artwork from abandoned or destroyed churches in the area.

There's no doubt that the highlight of Castel di Tusa is its beaches, which stretch out from the beginning of the Tusa Cape in the east and end on the other side of the town at the Lungomare di Tusa. The beaches here vary from rocky, pebbly ones to golden sandy ones. Generally, Sicilian beaches are rustic with minimal facilities. Sicilians like to find a secluded spot to swim and sunbathe and might bring something for a picnic along with a simple beach umbrella. The same can be said for Tusa beaches: very basic but with crystal clear waters. Amenities: none. Best for: swimming; walking.

Capo d’Orlando has a long strip of beachfront to explore, stretching out in both directions along the coast. The lungomare is the town's main strip, with plenty to entertain tourists in the high season, including restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and kiosks where you can buy anything needed for a day on the beach. The promenade is especially popular in the cooler post-sunset hours, when locals and tourists alike enjoy a passeggiata, bike ride, or jog. At the eastern end near the lighthouse, the path ends, but you can carefully walk by the road as far as San Gregorio, famed for the 1960s smash hit "Sapore di Sale," and its eponymous gelateria. Farther on is the sleek but soulless marina, which opened in 2017 and is lined with some interesting vessels, a motel, and a handful of uninspiring shops and eateries.

The exterior of this church may seem a bit run-down, but take a step to see the intricate details and explosions of excessive ornamentation. The old monastery dates back to 1450 and is a testament to the wealth derived from the lands and agricultural wealth of Polizzi Generosa. The church is filled with elaborate stonework and intriguing canvases, most strikingly San Benedetto in trono fra i Santi Mauro e Placido by Giuseppe Salerno (1573--1633). Of particular note is the exquisite floral ironwork in the upper choir, a 15th-century statue of Santa Margherita replete with dragon's tail by Domenico Gagini, and a well-preserved and vibrant majolica tile floor.

This secluded natural sea pool is located at the end of Milazzo's long, wild cape. A meandering rustic path will take you on a 20-minute walk down to the unique natural rock formations that create pools of variable depths. You're able to swim in them, but there are no changing rooms, toilets, or places to buy food or drinks so be sure to bring everything you need.

Located in the geographical heart of the Parco delle Madonie about a half-hour north of Petralia Sottana, the hamlet of Piano Battaglia makes a good day trip for anyone hoping to have a true mountain experience. This is where locals, and many Palermitani, come to enjoy the mountains, whether it's skiing in the winter or picnicking in the summer. The visitor center is a good place to find out about any number of summer and winter activities, including snow tubing, sleighing, skiing, mountain biking, and hiking excursions, and to have a snack at Café Fun Park.

This square is the civic center of town and is home to the local town hall, a neo-Gothic style palace that was once a Carmelite convent. Surrounding the piazza, there are important aristocratic palaces, including the Palazzo Pottino, which contains the grand, frescoed, 19th-century Salone Delle Feste, which hosted a dinner dance for Umberto di Savoia, Crown Prince of Italy. The palazzo is open to the public on various Sundays.

This central square houses an elaborate 18th-century Baroque water fountain whose mountain water source has been vital for centuries. The Fontana dei Quattro Cannoli was once the social and commercial heart of the medieval city.