Sicily from Malta: the back story

About Sicily from Malta: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Malta Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Virtu Ferries sails from the Valletta Waterfront to Pozzallo on the south coast of Sicily, with a timetable showing crossings of about 1 hour 45 minutes, and organised coach transfers to Catania (virtuferries.com, checked 25 October 2026). From Pozzallo, the baroque towns of the Val di Noto, Ragusa, Modica and Noto, are within reach by car.

Getting there

Take the morning sailing from the Valletta Waterfront and the evening sailing back, or stay a night. Check the timetable on virtuferries.com: sailings change with the season.

The baroque towns

Ragusa, Modica and Noto were rebuilt in the baroque style after the earthquake of 1693 and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto.

From Catania, trains run north along the coast to Messina and the ferry to the Italian mainland: a slow, beautiful way to continue through Italy.

Further

From Catania, trains run north along the coast to Messina and the ferry to the Italian mainland: a slow, beautiful way to continue through Italy.

Our advice: hire a car in Pozzallo, and keep your passport or ID card with you for the crossing.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Sicily from Malta: the back story before you go.