The 12th century Monreale Cathedral and Gardens, the Palermo Cathedral, the Capuchin Catacombs and the Cappella Palatina are just some of the historic and religious buildings in Palermo. Taormina's Greek Theater and Duomo are also worth checking out. Museums tend to be of the smaller, regional variety. The Marionette Museum in Palermo, Regional Museum in Messina, and the Aeolian Archaeological Museum in Lipari are good examples. There are also plenty of department stores and boutiques to visit, though Sicily is not especially known for shopping.
Seafood is a specialty, as are desserts.
The beach is the main reason people holiday in Sicily. Lipari, with its castle and museum, is the most developed of the group. Vulcano, home of the active Vulcano Fossa, is a rather desolate, but fascinating place. Hydrofoils and ferries leave from Milazzo to the islands. The volcano's massive bulk looms over much of the coastal route south of Taormina.