Culture, History & Heritage

Italy stands as the world's largest wine producer, crafting approximately 50.3 million hectolitres annually—nearly 20% of global wine production. With over 1.73 million acres under vine cultivation spread across all 20 administrative regions, Italy's viticultural landscape is as diverse as it is extraordinary. What truly distinguishes Italian wine, however, is the country's staggering genetic treasure: over 2,000 indigenous grape varieties, of which approximately 400 are in commercial production. This represents more native varieties than France, Spain, and Greece combined.

Sicily boasts multiple world heritage sites, immense coasts and an active volcano. See our top five wonders of Sicily and explore our exceptional Sicilian villas.

Learn more about the ways we are embracing a more sustainable future for luxury travel in Sicily, by supporting projects from the Sicily Environment Fund, as part of the Conservation Collective.

These are the best books about Greece, Corsica, Sicily and Puglia to help you immerse yourself in the local culture and enhance your time away.

Discover the fascinating history of the Sicilian towns of Syracuse, Gibellina and Poggioreale and learn how human influence and nature have shaped them.

We explore the Romans in Sicily, the Sicilian Vespers and British and Jewish history in Sicily to uncover the troubled and glorious past of this beautiful island.

Sicily stands as one of the Mediterranean's most culturally rich destinations, boasting an extraordinary collection of seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sicily that span millennia of human civilization and natural wonder. From ancient Greek temples to active volcanoes, these protected sites offer unparalleled insights into the island's remarkable heritage at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia.

“C'e' acchi cosa di cchiu' beddu p'un populu d' 'a lingua di so' 'ntinati?” (What could be more important to a people than the language of their forefathers?)

With Archaeologists in Sicily dating pottery back to at least 2,400BCE, we explore the rich history and multi-national influences behind Sicilian ceramics.

Between 1876 and 1915, nearly 1.4 million Sicilians emigrated. A similar exodus occurred in the 1950s, when nearly half a million (over 10% of the population) left home in search of a better life. Read on to find out more about this fascinating slice of Sicilian history, which weaves together poverty, bravery, disasters, wars, intolerance, romance, and dreams that come true.

Sicily's multi-millennial history at the crossroads of the Mediterranean has left it with an enormous and varied range of archaeological wonders. Phoenician, Elymian, Greek and Roman sites abound, and no matter where you're staying on the island, there'll be a world-class ancient treasure or two nearby. Dig deeper with us.

Uncover our favourite historical sites in the Mediterranean, including UNESCO Sites in Italy, ancient monuments in the Greek Islands, and mediaeval citadels in Corsica.