How History and Movies Can Help Choose a Sicily or Sardinia Small Group Tour
When you’re deciding between a small group tour of Sicily or Sardinia, it’s completely normal to feel a bit overwhelmed. Both islands offer unique experiences, and it’s essential to find the one that resonates most with your interests and the type of adventure you’re seeking.
Sicily and Sardinia, Italy’s two largest islands, each have rich histories and cultural influences that shape the experiences you’ll have on a small group tour, while sharing the cost of luxurious inclusions with your fellow travelers. You may find comfort in knowing that these islands have been shaped by various rulers over the centuries, and they retain their unique charm, traditions, and artistic legacies, waiting for you to explore.
The stunning landscapes of both islands have caught the eye of filmmakers, who have used their natural beauty as breathtaking backdrops in many beloved films. This only adds to the allure of visiting these magical locations.
Our small group tours are designed to provide a blend of can’t-miss highlights and hidden treasures, ensuring a comprehensive experience of each island. While exploring history, outdoor activities, and rural life are common threads in both journeys, we want to help you feel confident in your choice. The following insights can assist you in understanding what you can expect during each tour.
If your heart is drawn to classic historical sites, such as Greek temples, vibrant cities like Palermo, and charming farms, then a tour of Sicily might be the perfect fit for you. On the other hand, if you feel an adventurous spirit that yearns to explore ancient monuments from Neolithic times, stunning rugged landscapes, and connect with proud locals, a Sardinia tour could be your ideal escape. We want you to choose the experience that truly speaks to you.
A Sicily or Sardinia Tour? Common Facts in the Islands’ History
Until America was discovered, the Western world revolved around the Mediterranean. That alone explains why Sicily and Sardinia were desired islands by all rulers who dominated the stretch of sea between Spain, Turkey, Northern Africa, and mainland Europe.
Conquering Sicily or Sardinia meant controlling most of the trades across the Mediterranean and gaining access to natural resources that often could not be found elsewhere. For example, Sicily was considered a granary for the ancient Greeks who found the island’s fertile plains more productive than their rocky mainland. Sardinia’s quarries, minerals, and precious stones proved to be of great interest for centuries.
When choosing a tour of Sicily or Sardinia, many archaeological sites left by early rulers are highlights of our small group tours.
Phoenician Colonies in Sicily and Sardinia
One of the first civilizations to settle along the coasts of both Sicily and Sardinia was the Phoenicians, who were attracted to the farming opportunities, and quickly developed several colonies.
In Western Sicily, the island of Motya, located off the coast of Marsala, is one of the most significant Phoenician colonies in the Mediterranean. Today is the backdrop of the salt pans. Here, the afternoon light reflects on the white salt piles in a unique and emotional landscape.
Sardinia, on the other hand, boasts the archeological site of Nora, once a Phoenician colony, later acquired by the Romans. The peninsula that stretches into the sea and the nearby lagoon are breathtaking locations that help one imagine the arrival of these foreign conquerors after days of sailing. We top off the late-afternoon tour of the ruins with a fine dining experience in the beach‘s twilight.
The Roman Ruins in Sicily and Sardinia
In the 6th century B.C, Carthaginians sailed from their homeland on the northern shores of Africa to Sicily and Sardinia and began an invasion that left them with all the power. After many years of struggle through the famous Punic wars, the Romans took control of Sicily and Sardinia in the third century BC and ruled for the next seven centuries.
Roman ruins of public and private buildings, roads, and infrastructure can be found around the Mediterranean from west to east. In Sicily or Sardinia, we can appreciate how the Romans never destroyed whatever their predecessors built and adapted their models to the local on-site construction material available.
In the city of Cagliari, ruins of the Roman Amphitheatre can be seen in Stampace’s old district, along with Nora’s domus floor mosaics and other remains.
Agrigento‘s Valley of Temples, located in the heart of Sicily, features some structures that were partially rebuilt or restored during the Roman era. The Neapolis archeological park of Siracusa, besides the famous Greek Theatre, boasts a Roman Amphitheater and other buildings.
Sicily’s Greek Temples or Sardinia’s Nuragic Sites?
Besides some common historical background, Sicily and Sardinia offer different experiences based on the unique architectural marvels that each island preserves, which can only be found on one or the other.
Sardinia is home to stone towers dating back to Neolithic times, with traces of a Bronze Age community still found on the island in the form of large burial sites and massive stone columns. Su-Nuraxi is the most iconic of these Nuragic civilizations that we visit on our Sardinia trip. An evocative labyrinth of passages and access to thousands of towers that our Sardinia-native guide brings to life in an engaging visit.
On the other hand, being closer to Greece, Sicily, and most of southern Italy became part of the so-called Great Greece, where independent Greek colonies competed against each other and failed to maintain a healthy relationship with their motherland, Athens.
That turned out to be the cause of a lack of cohesion and weak military strategies, allowing the Romans to take over the Greeks quite easily.
For these reasons, some of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world are actually in Italy. Agrigento boasts the incredible Valley of Temples, which our guests can see even at night, as the luxury resort we stay at during the middle of our Sicily tour overlooks the archaeological site. Although built with a different kind of stone, Greek temples can also be found in Paestum, as part of a fun and educational day trip from the Amalfi Coast to the region where buffalo mozzarella is made.
Sicily or Sardinia, both offer the chance to delve into breathtaking Unesco World Heritage Sites, whether it is Su-Nuraxi or Agrigento’s Valley of Temples.
Monreale, Noto, Barbagia: Contrasting Highlights in Sicily and Sardinia
Sicily and Sardinia tours offer a range of contrasting highlights, from artistic masterpieces to authentic interactions with locals. Whilst small group tours share the common practice of traveling from urban centers to the countryside, in Sardinia, the outdoors is a predominant element.
In Sicily, many examples of Arab, Byzantine, and Baroque art and architecture can be admired in cities and towns, as a consequence of the tumultuous history throughout the Middle Ages up to Italy’s Unification.
Sardinia was left isolated until the 11th century, when Pisan and Genoan troops ended the Arab domination. After falling under Catalan rule in the 1400s, the island eventually joined the unification of Italy in 1861, although Catalan is one of the strongest influences still evident in the food, the dialect, and other aspects of the culture.
Contrasting Highlights in Sicily and Sardinia Small Group Tours
The highest cultural points reached in Sicilian history came in the XII century with an era of political and economic prosperity led by the Normans. This rule left, among several churches, the Cathedral of Monreale, completely decorated with golden mosaics representing scenes of the Old and New Testament, a masterpiece of Byzantine art, and one of Italy’s most breathtaking religious sites.
Sardinia boasts a wild and remote central mountain range, an area where our small group tour spends two nights. This is a unique opportunity to visit a part of the island that is hard to reach and to interact with local hosts, such as the shepherd who cooks a rustic, fire-roasted lunch exclusively for our guests.
Even the town of Orgosolo, in the heart of the Barbagia region, is surprising. Walking down the streets, our guide shows a unique collection of murals that focus on the 1960s struggle of local inhabitants to stop the construction of a military base, expressing civic rebellion against the centralized government.
The Baroque artistic style shaped many Sicilian towns, particularly Noto and the island’s southeastern corner. The reconstruction that followed the 1693 catastrophic earthquake benefited from the Baroque round lines and extravaganza typical of the Sicilian Baroque. Much more theatrical than the one in Rome or Turin, this style gave Sicily a distinctive character, hardly found in Sardinia.
The House of Savoy from Piedmont to Sicily and Sardinia
The Savoy family ruled Piedmont from the mid-1500s and rose from a minor noble family to royalty through centuries of strategic marriages, warfare, and diplomacy.
As Dukes of Savoy, they played a balancing act between France, Spain, and Austria. After successfully defending Turin from a French siege in 1706, during the War of the Spanish Succession, the family was elevated to the status of Royal House. In fact, all other European monarchs wanted to recognize the brave military strategies of Victor Amedeo II, Duke of Savoy, by offering him the title of king a few years later, in 1713.
Such a victory marked a major turning point in the family’s ambitions, helping them secure their rise in European politics, and it later involved the role of the House of Savoy in Sicily and Sardinia.
The Savoy briefly controlled Sicily from 1713 to 1720 after the Treaty of Utrecht, which ended the War of the Spanish Succession.
However, their presence in the largest Italian island didn’t last long, as in 1720, they swapped Sicily for Sardinia with the Austrian Habsburgs, as part of a European power realignment. The House of Savoy acquired the Kingdom of Sardinia from Spain in a diplomatic agreement (Treaty of The Hague).
After this, the House of Bourbon (Spanish branch) took control of Sicily and later created the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, which included Naples, the whole Campania region, Calabria, Puglia, Basilicata, and Sicily.
The Impact of the House of Savoy in Sicily
In a Sicily or Sardinia tour, the House of Savoy comes up as an important player in the island’s history.
Their rule in Sicily was too short to leave a lasting mark. Sicily remained culturally and administratively tied to its Spanish past, with the Bourbon dynasty later restoring Spanish-style governance. Unlike in Sardinia, where Savoy ruled for over a century, Sicilians barely felt Savoy’s influence.
Even after the Unification of Italy in 1861, Sicilians never considered King Victor Emanuel II to be their representative, and the House of Savoy felt more like a foreign conqueror than a leader.
At first, many Sicilian elites, liberals, and revolutionaries welcomed Giuseppe Garibaldi and his “Thousand” (I Mille) as liberators. That helped Garibaldi’s army, backed by local uprisings, quickly defeat the Bourbon forces. Soon after, in October 1860, a rigged referendum was held, officially annexing Sicily to the Kingdom of Italy.
The general hope was to end the Bourbon rule, seen as corrupt and oppressive, and to receive funds from the new Kingdom of Italy for economic modernization and investment, as Sicily was still in feudal conditions after centuries spent under the Spanish and Bourbons.
Sadly, disillusionment spread quickly after unification, among peasants and common people who felt betrayed by higher taxes, including a crushing grain tax, and worsening poverty. Many Sicilians were forced into the Italian army, which they resented, and rather than improving Sicily, the House of Savoy tended to focus on the industrial North, leaving the island underdeveloped.
This historical background is key to understanding two fundamental elements of modern Italian society, the cultural roots of the Mafia and the emigration from Sicily toward America and later, to northern Italy.
The impact of the House of Savoy in Sardinia
So, unlike Sicily, Sardinia became a long-term possession of the House of Savoy and played a key role in the birth of Italy. The Savoyards ruled Sardinia for over a century, forming the Kingdom of Sardinia, which later expanded to include Piedmont, Nice, and Savoy.
Despite renaming their state the “Kingdom of Sardinia”, the Savoy family stayed focused on Piedmont, where the city of Turin was heavily rebuilt to be considered the capital of a Royal House and compete with other European capitals such as Paris or Vienna.
Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, on the other hand, remained a smaller city, and the Savoy mostly ignored Sardinia’s needs. The Savoy introduced centralized administration, replacing the old Spanish feudal system. However, just like the Spanish had done for centuries in Sicily, they never invested in the local territories, leaving Sardinia’s infrastructure, agriculture, and economy poor and underdeveloped compared to mainland Piedmont.
Sardinia’s Struggle for Autonomy
The Savoy sent Piedmontese officials to govern Sardinia, often ignoring local culture and interests, and in 1847, they officially integrated Sardinia into the Savoyard state, destroying the feeling of pride and autonomy that the island had retained until then. Heavy taxation and military conscription led to resentment among Sardinians.
Between 1794 and 1796, anti-Savoyan revolts occurred in Cagliari and Sassari, with locals temporarily expelling Piedmontese officials. Local resistance came not only from the lower social classes but from Sardinian nobles and intellectuals. However, the Savoy crushed the uprisings and tightened their grip on the island.
Those events left a strong imprint on Sardinian culture for the following generations. As many felt neglected by the Savoy, seeing them as foreign rulers, their traditions and identity remained strong. This sense of autonomy and pride is still very much present with locals who carry on the tradition. Our Sardinia-native local guide shares stories and facts that outline this unique way of being, which marks a distinct difference from the rest of mainland Italy.
In 1861, King Victor Emmanuel II became the first King of Italy, uniting Sardinia with the newly unified country. While Italian is the main language spoken on the island, the Sardinian language, Sardo, is still widely used, with different aspects varying between villages and towns.
Even the Christian religion, which, like in any Italian region, is an important element of the culture, in Sardinia is often celebrated in events that retain a hint of pagan influence.
Inspirational Movies for a Sicily or Sardinia Tour
Sicily and Sardinia’s dazzling beauty, historic towns, and vibrant culture have made them a popular filming location for many movies and recent TV shows.
Watching Sicily’s ravishing landscapes or Sardinia’s pristine beaches on a screen can inspire future travel and enlighten curiosity about visiting places just for the fun of saying “I was there” like a famous actor or for hunting a certain vibe felt in a movie.
It’s notorious how the power of cinema and television magnifies the perception of any destination, but when it comes to the mix of culture, natural beauty, and iconic spots in Sicily and Sardinia, these islands become captivating and irresistible for a tour.
From the 1992 production of The Godfather (and the 1990 film The Godfather Part III) to the recent HBO hit White Lotus, Sicily’s popularity owes a great deal to Hollywood. Its undeniable allure has been the perfect framework for plots of family sagas, love affairs, and adventure movies.
Palermo appears in many scenes of The Talented Mr Ripley (along with other Sicilian locations), Ocean’s Twelve, and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Many more Italian movies were inspired by Sicily’s gutsy soul, such as Malena, Il Postino, and Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, just to mention a few.
Sardinia as a Movie Set and a Retreat for Actors
Sardinia’s remote and rugged central mountain range has become a retreat of peace and privacy for many Hollywood stars, often staying at the same country-chic boutique hotel where our Sardinia tour spends two nights.
Madonna was one of the first to stay in that area during the filming of Swept Away, Guy Ritchie’s 2002 remake of Lina Wertmüller’s 1974 cult Italian classic, Travolti da un insolito destino nell’azzurro mare d’agosto.
This story of a woman and a man who get lost on a small boat for days needed a prime location with breathtaking coastlines and crystal clear waters that both the original movie and the remake found in Sardinia, although in two different locations (Tavolara Island and Maddalena Archipelago).
Another older Italian classic Red Desert (Il Deserto Rosso, 1964) directed by Michelangelo Antonioni, features the industrial landscapes of Cagliari.
Sardinia also appears in 007: No Time to Die, The King’s Man, and numerous other films.
Choosing between a Sicily or Sardinia small group tour
Our small group tours offer an intimate and authentic experience, curated to unveil the hidden gems of these iconic Italian islands. Whether you seek to meet local hosts like a winemaker in Sardinia or a pistacchio farmer in Sicily, Meet Piemonte small group tours create lasting memories amidst the captivating landscapes and cultures of Italy’s enchanting islands
