Our group had many laughs during a market tour and cooking experience with Smile and Food. Alessia is always entertaining with excellent tips, like how to peel and cut a prickly pear without getting the thorns in your fingers. That afternoon we descended three stories below the street level to the ritual Jewish baths in Siracusa. Amalia Daniele, who discovered the site 25 years ago, hosted us for the visit.

Yesterday, we bid Siracusa adieu and drove to the Sicani mountains in the center of Sicily. We stopped in Caltagirone to ascend the 142 stairs outfitted with ceramic tiles, and then were amazed by the mosaics of the Roman Villa of Casale in Piazza Armerina. So much to share!