Sicily is a favourite tourist hotspot.

Sicily is a favourite tourist hotspot, with visitors swarming to its beaches, mountains and cities to enjoy the local culture.

When it comes to food, restaurants and big hotels such as the UNAHOTELS Capotaormina will serve gourmet versions of authentic dishes, like sardines lightly dressed in lemon juice, elegant seafood, and plates of delicious pasta, gnocchi and risotto.

However, Sicilian streetfood vendors tend to specialise in more robust delicacies and offer a variety of tasty and sometimes surprising treats. The street vendors can be found by following their beckoning shouts to the customer, the smell of grilled meat and queues of locals waiting to order. Don’t always expect sausages, steaks and burgers, though – in Sicily, come of the meat dishes are made with offal!

Different kinds of street food and where to find it.

Sfincione.

Soothe into your culinary experience with a slice of this squashy oily pizza, garnished with tomato sauce, caciocavallo cheese and onions.

Arancine.

These juicy lumps of saffron-scented rice are usually fried to a crispy golden brown colour. Fillings range from ragù (meat sauce) or butter to more complex combinations like spinach with smoked cheese or shrimp with pesto. The size of your appetite can help you decide where to taste the delicacy.

Stigghiola.

If you want something more adventurous, you can try these brined and skewered goat or sheep intestines, flavoured with onions and parsley and cooked on the open grill.

Gelato con brioche.

No meal would be satisfying without dessert. While it is not quite a streetfood in the conventional sense, Sicily’s gelato con brioche is a must-taste.

Pani ca Meusa.

Plainly translated, this typical sandwich is ‘bread with spleen’. 

For more tips on travelling (and eating!) in Italy, check out our other articles as well as our full catalogue of luxury Gruppo UNA hotels on our website.