How History and Movies Can Help Choose a Sicily or Sardinia Small Group Tour
When choosing between a Sicily or Sardinia small group tour, one should consider personal interests and the type of experience wanted.
Italy’s two largest islands own historical facts and cultural influences that shaped what we can visit and do in our small group tours.
Both Sicily and Sardinia have a rich and fascinating history, sharing the same central position in the heart of the Mediterranean. Throughout centuries, both islands had different rulers and today retain their unique vibe, traditions, and artistic heritage.
Moreover, the cinema industry has been inspired by the two islands’ natural beauty using them as a perfect backdrop in famous works that contribute to the fame of these destinations.
Our small group tours to Sicily or Sardinia blend the must-sees with offbeat experiences providing a complete overview of each island. Although history, outdoors, and rural life are common elements of both small group tours, the following paragraphs can help better understand what to expect in each itinerary and help choose the right fit.
If you’re looking for classic historical sites such as Greek temples, larger cities like Palermo, and farmers then a Sicily tour is the best option. Whereas much older examples of ancient monuments dating back to Neolithic times, mixed with wild and rugged outdoors, and interactions with proud locals, make Sardinia tour a different tour experience.
A Sicily or Sardinia Tour? Common Facts in the Islands’ History
Until America was discovered, the Western world rotated around the Mediterranean. That alone explains why Sicily and Sardinia were desired islands by all rulers that 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 Sicily or Sardinia tour, many archeological 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 came attracted to the farming opportunities, and quickly developed several colonies.
Our Western Sicily & Siracusa Tour includes a visit to the island of Motya, off the coast of Marsala, one of the most important Phoenician colonies in Sicily, located in the middle of the salt pans. We sail on the lagoon to spot some ruins of that early domination and enjoy the afternoon light reflecting on the white salt piles in a unique and emotional landscape.
On day 2 of the Sardinia Small Group Tour, we visit 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 is a breathtaking location that helps to 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 Romans 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 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, in the heart of Sicily, boasts some structures that were partially rebuilt or restored during Roman times. 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 or Sardinia can offer different experiences based on unique architectural marvels that each of the islands preserves and that can only be found in one or the other.
Sardinia is home of stone towers belonging to the 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 in maintaining a healthy relationship with their motherland Athens.
That turned out to be the cause of a lack of cohesion and weak military strategies so the Romans took 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 that our guests can see even at night, as the luxury resort we stay at in the middle of the Sicily tour overlooks the archeological site. Although built with a different kind of stone, Greek temples are one of the highlights of our Naples, Positano & The Amalfi Coast Tour in Paestum, as part of a fun and educational day trip 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 small group tours feature contrasting highlights ranging from artistic masterpieces to interactions with locals. Whilst we always travel from urban centers to the countryside, in Sardinia the outdoors is a predominant element.
On the contrary, Sicily boasts many examples of Arab, Byzantine and Baroque art and architecture 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 Catalonian 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 strikes for the wild and remote central mountain range, an area where our small group tour spends two nights. That is a unique opportunity to visit a part of the island hard to get to and to interact with local hosts like the shepherd who cooks a rustic fire-roasted lunch exclusively for our guests.
Even the town of Orgosolo, in the heart of the Barbargia region, is surprising. Walking down the streets, our guide shows a unique collection of murals focused on the 1960s struggle of local inhabitants to stop the construction of a military basis, and 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 benefitted from the Baroque round lines and extravaganza typical of the Sicilian Baroque. Much more theatrical than the one in Rome of 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 was a major turning point for the ambitions of the family 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 islands 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, 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 Wien.
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 but, just like the Spanish did 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 retained until then. Heavy taxation and military conscription led to resentment among Sardinians.
In 1794–1796, there were anti-Savoy revolts 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, and guests on our Sardinia Small Group Tour will interact with locals who carry on the tradition. Our Sardinia-native local guide shares stories and facts that outline this unique way of being that marks a difference from the rest of mainland Italy.
In 1861, King Victor Emmanuel II became the first King of Italy, making Sardinia part of the newly unified country. Whilst 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 that, 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 on a screen Sicily’s ravishing landscapes or Sardinia’s pristine beaches can inspire future travel and enlighten curiosity of 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 Sicily and Sardinia’s mix of culture, natural beauty and iconic spots, these islands become captivating and irresistible for a tour.
From the 1992 production of The Godfather (and the 1990 The Godfather Part III), to the recent HBO hit White Lotus, Sicily’s popularity owns a lot to Hollywood. Its undeniable allure has been the perfect framework to 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 remote and rugged central mountain range became a retreat of peace and privacy for many Hollywood stars in the same country-chic boutique hotel were our Sardinia tour spends two nights.
Madonna was one of the first to stay in that area during the shooting of Swept Away, Guy Ritchie’s 2002 remake of a 1974 cult Italian classic by Lina Wertmüller, 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 many more.
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
