Palazzolo Holidays

Palazzolo sits high up in the Hyblaean Mountains. It’s an elegantly dressed town that gazes down on the historic city of Siracusa and Sicily’s southern tip. And along with a collection of neighbouring towns, it was given UNESCO World Heritage status for the Baroque architectural style in which it was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693. For days out, the ruins of Akrai and the vine-clad Sicilian countryside are just a stone's throw away.

Along Palazzolo’s main street, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, you’ll find pretty houses with wrought-iron balconies, family-run shops with paint-peeling exteriors, and gas lamps placed at even intervals. On Piazza Popolo, the clock-fronted Church of San Sebastiano has a fanned-out set of steps leading to its Baroque façade. And if you disappear into the side streets, you’ll discover restaurants serving rustic dishes unlikely to be found in Sicily’s larger towns.

On top of its roll call of Baroque churches, the town packs in plenty of palaces, or palazzi as they’re known. On Via Machiavelli, one such palace has been turned into the house museum of poet Antonino Uccello, and celebrates Sicily’s culture and history. But Palazzolo’s most breathtaking sights are in the archaeological park on a hill above the town. A Greek theatre, catacombs, and 12 curious sculptures are all that remain of ancient Akrai, but they’re enough to let your imagination fill in the gaps.

Tanning sessions are on the cards courtesy of Fontane Bianche, a vibrant resort fronted by a long strip of fine, white sand. This family-friendly sweep tees up plenty of bars and restaurants, and the water's ideal for swimming. An alternative to the beach is the Cassibile Nature Reserve, where a series of freshwater pools are connected by tiny trickling waterfalls. They're both about half-an-hour's drive away, and there's an extra spell of walking to reach the latter of the two.