Sciacca holidays

Holidays to Sciacca take you to a town of traditions – from fishing and ceramic painting to bathing in thermal waters.

A Sicilian all-rounder

Sciacca, on Sicily’s south-west coast, has more than one string to its bow – it’s famous for its thermal waters, a thriving fishing industry, hand-painted ceramics and an all-singing, all-dancing carnival. The town’s home to a handful of historical sites, too. They include a Baroque cathedral and a picturesque staircase finished with ceramic tiles. And if you’re coming here on holiday, you’ll be just a short hop away from some of the island’s least crowded beaches.

Healing hot springs

People have been coming to bathe in Sciacca’s ancient thermal waters since Greek and Roman times, and today, you can still benefit from the water’s rumoured healing properties at one of a handful of sites in and around the town. One of the most popular spots is the caves of San Calogero. The vapour from the sulphurous water here reaches 40 degrees, and it’s said to be great for easing joint pain in particular.

Seafood and ceramics

Fishing’s big business in Sciacca. The port’s a hive of activity every morning, when fishermen reel in the catch of the day – like squid, swordfish and crayfish. If you fancy trying some, you’ll find it served up in restaurants all over town. Once you’ve filled your stomach, you can head out for a mooch around the local shops for some retail therapy. Bright, hand-painted ceramics are something the town’s well known for, and they make great gifts or keepsakes to take home.

Hidden-gem beaches

Thanks to its tucked-away spot in the south-west of the island, Sciacca’s a good base for hopping between some of the quieter beaches in Sicily. Drive west, and you’ll soon reach some of these crowd-free spots where flour-like sand and 4K-clear water marry up in true Sicilian style. Spiaggia Lido Fiori is about 15 minutes’ drive away, and Spiaggia di Porto Palo is another 15 minutes along the coast.