Before I jump straight into the Sicily diaries, let me mention our whirlwind layover in Milan. We hit the jackpot with accomodation, staying in the apartment of the ever accomodating Lorenzo, right in the heart of the city. With a couple of hours to spare in the morning, we set off towards the famous Duomo di Milano, admiring the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and impeccably dressed locals along the way.
Not so much a history or architectural buff myself, even I was impressed with the intricate details of the carved spires and statues throughout the cathedral’s terraces 🙂
We then took a midday flight over to Trapani, Sicily, hopped in a car, and made a beeline towards the beaches of San Vito Lo Capo.
Spaggia Del Bue Marino
Arriving in the midst of the annual couscous festival, we lapped up the hustle and bustle of San Vito Lo Capo’s streets, enjoyed our first (and best!) cannolo of the trip, and savoured the Sicilian cuisine, ft. pasta and couscous arancini of the crustacean variety. The following morning, we set off towards the north entrance of the Riserva Naturale Dello Zingaro, Sicily’s first natural reserve, brimming with coastal hiking trails and rocky beaches.
From museums and grottos to hidden ‘casas’ and secluded beaches, there is plenty to explore! Entry is 5€ pp, and the entire length of the reserve takes approximately 2 hours to walk. Alternatively, pack your beach towel and enjoy a short walk to the first couple of beaches for a refreshing swim.
Cala Tonnarella Dell’Uzzo
Casa Forestale
Heading 2.5 hours south towards Realmonte, we were pleasantly surprised by this picturesque lookout over Castellammare del Golfo, getting us in the mood for a week at sea with MedSailors!
The main objective of the day however, was to climb the Scala dei Turchi, a series of chalky white cliffs that have been eroded into steps, forming a brilliant white staircase. A perfect sunset spot, we enjoyed the late afternoon sun before dinner by the beach.
Image courtesy of @wanderingmistakes
Next up – Taormina and Castelmola! With constant views of Mount Etna during our 2.5 hour drive northeast, the journey up to these cliffside towns is picturesque, albeit via roads that are very narrow and windy. *Props to Maria for navigating us safely around Sicily* 🙂
The streets of Taormina are filled with cafes and boutiques, perfect for a bit of retail therapy and souvenir shopping. As such, they are busy with tourists even at the end of summer. A must-see in the area is the ancient Greek amphitheatre, as well as a funicular ride down to Isola Bella, a pretty pebble beach at the foot of the town.
Entry into the ancient theatre is 10€ pp, and a one-way ticket on the funicular is 3€
We stayed at the apartment of Grazia in Castelmola, a quaint, multi-story home with its own rooftop terrace and views of Mount Etna (one of the most active volcanos in the world, and the highest in Europe!) What made the stay at B&B Chiocciola so special was the hospitality of Grazia herself. Despite her lack of English and our lack of the Italian language, she was able to help us out with the parking ticket we got, navigate us to a carpark down the narrowest streets in the village, show us around the apartment and cook a superb breakfast atop the spiral staircase. In our opinion, she charges way too little for everything that she does so be sure to leave a tip 🙂
Driving in Sicily
Speed limits on the highways sit at a ‘comfortable’ 130hm/hr, with locals zipping past at even more incredible speeds. There are a few toll booths out east where you pick up a ticket upon entry, and pay when exiting the highway.
Stay tuned for the upcoming Sicily video, as well as content from the Norway portion of the trip. Meanwhile, here’s another stunner from Realmonte 🙂
