3 Best Sights in Sicily, Italy

It's best to hire a guide to explore the over 5,000 tombs covering limestone cliffs that make up this Iron and Bronze Age burial site. Located on a huge plateau over the Anapo River, the necropolis dates back to between the 13th and 8th centuries BC. If you decide not to hire a guide, be prepared to drive to get here. There are two main entrances: one near the town of Sortino, and the other from the town of Ferla. The entrance by Sortino involves a good walk down the sides of the gorge while the Ferla entrance is more of a gentle stroll along a well-beaten path. Set aside a minimum of two hours for your visit, but it is better to allocate at least half a day; be sure to wear a good pair of walking shoes and bring plenty of water.

The spookiest sight in all of Sicily, this 16th-century catacomb houses more than 8,000 corpses of men, women, and young children—some in tombs but many mummified and preserved—hanging in rows on the walls, divided by social caste, age, or gender. Most wear signs indicating their names and the years they lived, and many are Capuchin friars, who were founders and proprietors of this bizarre establishment from 1599 to 1911. The site is still managed by the nearby Capuchin church, but was closed to new corpses when an adjacent cemetery was opened, making the catacombs redundant. Though memorable, this is not a spot for the faint of heart; children might be frightened or disturbed.

Nobles of the 17th and 18th centuries in this area opted to have their corpses mummified. You can visit the somewhat creepy crypt, located beneath a 17th-century Capuchin monastery, to see their preserved remains and hand-woven silk garments. The catacombs are technically open daily (from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm), but it's advised to call ahead to be sure that someone is actually on-site to let you in.