Laid-back and lush, this is a land that enjoys the best of earth and sea. We were there, so it’s our pleasure to point you to the best of Sicily.
By Shubhra Krishan
The queen of the region is Palermo, a gorgeous city that offers everything that a good city should: lots of shopping, serious history, and abundant nature just a heartbeat away. My first impression when we hit Palermo was one of pure surprise. Here is where the rural-at-heart Sicily suddenly turns glam girl and seduces you with street style and nightlife that can compete with the best of Europe.
My wonderful and well-informed guide Andrea Calabrese of Mosaica Travel, himself a Palermo man, described how the people of Palermo like to spend their entire day by the sea, enjoying the delicious Mediterranean weather and home-cooked lunch. Sure enough, one saw scores of happy families dotted across the golden sands, taking their fill of the stunning land they inhabit. Only a sprinkling of these were tourists, which in my book makes a place even more charming.
The promenade along the seafront, under tall maritime pines, between palm trees and sporadic houses in the Art Nouveau style, invites you to relax, jog along the beach or simply breathe in the beneficial scent of the sea, rich in iodine.
Sponsored Ads
After all that driving, I was hungry, and the good Andrea knew just the place to take me to. The heart of the city, where locals sat enjoying street food.
The words stop in my mouth when I try to describe those flavours. Being vegetarian, I tried potato and chickpea-based snacks, named Cazilli and Panelle respectively.
The potato fritter is light and fluffy, and the chickpea pancakes are soft and pillowy. They are gently salted and absolutely divine. For meat lovers, of course, this is paradise. The street food tour is a must along with the tours of the ancient markets of Palermo, Vucciria, Ballarò, il Capo and Borgo Vecchio, nowadays animated by the city’s nightlife.
Know Before You Go: Do not miss walking down the open farmers’ markets in Palermo: they house some of the freshest and most prized herbs and spices, and you won’t find those friendly prices anywhere else in Italy!
Then there is Catania, sitting under the moody Etna
As soon as you land on the runway of Catania’s Fontanarossa Airport, you can’t help but notice it: Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano, situated between the Alcantara and Simeto rivers, towers over the whole of Sicily.
This extraordinary natural oasis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the “most emblematic and active volcanoes in the world”.
An exclusive destination for summer hikers visiting the active craters on the summit areas, in winter this volcano offers an amazing opportunity for snow sports, just a few kilometres from the sea and with a breathtaking view of the Ionian Sea.
Excursions on foot climb along the paths of the Etna Park, through woods and verdant orchards, up to the highest altitudes with fascinating views of lunar landscapes, age-old lava flows, caves and active fumaroles, revealing all the fascination of this area.
While the volcano fumes, the city rocks. The nightlife here is high-octane! During daytime, you can drive up to Etna. The landscape there is dramatic and sobering.
And Taormina, a short drive up from Catania, will charm you with its winding lanes and vibrant shopping. It’s the quintessential European town, best explored on foot. It is ridiculously easy to fall in love with the delicately named Taormina, which drapes itself sinuously up on the Tauro mountain.
The climate is beautifully balmy, and the views of the sea are exceptional. Taormina lies on a terrace, with a view of the ancient Amphitheater against a backdrop of citrus groves. Mount Etna is close by and the Ionian Sea lies beyond.
A walk on Corso Umberto among elegant shops and outdoor bars, a visit to the Greek Theatre, a cable car trip down to the fantastic Isola Bella and an excursion to the top of the nearby village of Castelmola will remain impressed on your soul.
Quick Quiz:
Additional information courtesy Visit Sicily
