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Our season in Sicily and when to travel

Sicily enjoys an exceptional dry and hot Mediterranean climate with the main Summer season being from April to the end of October, when rain is quite rare. The hottest and busiest months are naturally July and August, when many Italians are also on holiday, so don’t expect to have beaches or the roads to yourself during these months.

June and September are very warm and sunny and ideal for plenty of swimming as well as exploring.

April, May and October still offer warm, bright sunny days often warm enough for swimming, especially in May when the weather can already be quite warm. This is a wonderful time for walking, driving and exploring. In the Spring, wild flowers are present whilst in October, although the wild flowers will have gone, the sea may be warmer than in April.

Please note that generally restaurants, shops and beachside facilities (including beach restaurants and bars) are reliant on weather conditions and the number of tourists in the area. You may therefore find that some facilities mentioned are not available outside May – September.

Winter breaks in Sicily

Sicily enjoys mild weather for most of the year and a very short winter with its coldest days around mid January to mid February. This makes the island a perfect destination for breaks outside April – October, when Sicily’s abundance of cultural, gastronomic and natural attractions can be enjoyed during a relaxing touring holiday. Please speak to our Travel Consultants for suggestions on suitable itineraries.

Cultural festivals and fairs in Sicily

Sicily plays host to numerous events throughout the year, many of which are based around Italy’s religious calendar. Many festivals however are also a celebration of local cultural and gastronomic traditions. Many of our properties are well placed for taking advantage of these events, so please speak to our Travel Consultants if you would like to arrange your holiday in conjunction with an event of your choice. The following is a list of some of the festivals in Sicily programmed for 2007, however please note that these can be changed, often at the last minute.

Agrigento: ‘Sagra del Mandorlo in Fiore’ (first week in February) – festival dedicated to almonds, food, wine and liqueurs, which also features folklore groups from all over the world

Bronte: ‘Sagra dei pistacchi’ (October) – festival dedicated to the pistachio nut

Castelbuono: ‘Festa di Sant’Anna’ (around 25/26/27 July) – athletes come from around the world to take part in this ancient traditional race

Castellammare del Golfo: ‘Festa della Madonna del Soccorso’ (around 19/20/21 July) – illuminated procession in fishing boats out to sea carrying a statue of the Madonna followed by huge firework display

Castroreale: ‘Il Cristo Lungo’ (around 23/24/25 August) – procession throughout the town with a statue of Christ, which is 15 metres high; also various sagre relating to food and wine throughout the summer (changes every year)

Enna: ‘Festa della Madonna’ (around 2 July) – procession carrying the Madonna around the town and celebrations with food and fireworks

Leonforte: ‘Festa di San Giuseppe’ (March) – religious festival with food and fireworks; ‘La Sagra della pesca’ (beginning of October) – celebration of the peach in all its forms

Mazara del Vallo: International fish and seafood festival (June): ‘La festa di San Vito’ (beginning of August) – dedicated to the patron saint of Mazara, historic and religious processions through the streets

Marzamemi: ‘Sagra della bottarga’ (end of August) – festival dedicated to bottarga – fish eggs (used in pasta sauces)

Modica: ‘Madonna Vasa-Vasa’ (Easter Sunday) – very old and traditional Easter procession

Noto: ‘L’Infiorata’ (around third week in May) – the town’s streets and pavements are covered with beautiful designs and pictures made with flowers and flower petals

Palermo: ‘Festa di Santa Rosalia’ (mid July) – this is a religious and popular festival (Rosalia is the Patron Saint of Palermo who saved the city from the Plague) It’s the biggest and most colourful of Palermo’s festivals, with dancing and fireworks in Corso Vittorio Emanuele.

Ragusa: ‘Ibla Buskers’ (October) – artists performing live in the ancient streets

San Vito Lo Capo: International couscous festival (Sept)

Scicli: ‘Cavalcata di San Giuseppe’ (March) – torchlight procession of decorated horses and riders and prizes for the best decoration; ‘Madonna delle Milizie’ (May) – traditional festival with actors in period costume reenacting the decisive battle between Christians and Saracens for control of the city.

Siracusa: ‘Ortigia Festival’ (July) - concerts, shows, dancing in old town; film festival (August); ‘Cycle of Greek Plays’ (May to end June) – classical Greek plays are re-enacted in Siracusa’s open-air ancient Greek theatre.

Taormina: ‘Carnevale’ (February) – lively and colourful carnival processions throughout the town; Film Festival (beginning of May); ‘Festa di Venerdi Santo’ – Easter Friday procession along Corso Umberto

Trapani: ‘Processione dei Misteri’ (Easter Friday) – this is the biggest procession of the year

Public holidays

We have compiled a list of the most important public holidays in Italy, when banks, post offices and most shops remain closed. In main tourist centres there will usually be at least a small store, which remains open for at least the morning.

Please also note that most Italians take their holidays in August, deserting the cities for the cooler seaside or mountains. This means that many businesses and shops located in less tourist areas close for at least part of the month, particularly during the week around the 15th August.