My Week in Sicily
Cefalu and Palermo
It will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that Ital is my top choice for a holiday in Europe. Italy NEVER disappoints… and Sicily is no exception. I have been coming to Italy since I was in my late teens – often jumping on a train to travel overland on an impromptu trip. To this day I have never fallen out of love with this beautiful country. So where better to celebrate my husband’s birthday than the vibrant island of Sicily ?
Our week in October started with a direct flight from Newcastle to Palermo – who would have thought that possible ?– Sicily from our local airport. We landed in Palermo then took a short train ride hugging the coastline to the delightful town of Cefalu. It is 20 years since we holidayed in Cefalu and whilst it is still as charming as ever, with wide golden sandy beaches, picturesque cobbled lanes, this town has certainly upped its game when it comes to restaurants and hotels.
We spent our days reading on the beach in perfect temperatures and flawless skies followed by an afternoon stroll exploring the historic centre enjoying our daily gelato and/or a cool glass of Grillo, the delicious Sicilian white wine – almost unaffordable here in the UK but at €4 a glass, it would be rude not to.
Every evening, we dined al fresco amongst the winding ancient streets surrounding Cefalu’s wonderful Cathedral. Cefalu caters for all pockets, from a simple pizza starting at only €9 to an array family-run fish and seafood restaurants. We were spoiled for choice – and all at very affordable prices.
But Sicily has so much more to offer , so keen to get some culture we head off to Palermo, for 4 nights. Steeped in almost 3000 years of history Palermo is a melting pot of cultures, having been invaded and ruled over the years by the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, and Normans. The architecture is stunning. At every corner you are faced with beautiful and majestic buildings, palaces, churches, not to mention Palermo’s Cathedral, often described as a grand architectural medley displaying Norman, Gothisc, Renaissance and Neoclassical features.
Back to the food ….. renowned for gastronomy you are spoilt for choice and yet again, even though this is a capital city , the prices are astonishing. Aperol Spritz at €3 -amazing. The historic famous street food markets shouldn’t be missed – Ballaro and Capo being the largest, both chaotic and fascinating.
We took a day trip to the lovely beach resort of Modelio, 6 miles north of the city. This fashionable town with its abundance of restaurants curving around the sweeping sandy bay is the perfect place for a relaxing lunch.
The crowning glory of Sicilian culture - AGRIGENTO, The valley of the Temples. Two hours by road from Palermo this is well worth the time spent to get there. Not being a history buff, it’s hard to get your head around standing next to Greek Temples which were built 590 BC and being in awe.
And finally, I can't resist a shout out to all the fans of the series of White Lotus set in Sicily; these fellas are seen everywhere and are synonymous with the wonderful island.
Give me a call if you are interested in Sicily or Italian mainland; I would be delighted to help plan your next trip!
