Sicily boasts seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, more than any other region of Italy. The best way to experience them is with a professional tour guide who is trained as an historian, art historian, archeologist, naturalist, or other tourism professional. He or she will reveal a remarkable world to you. Equally important to enhancing your trip to Sicily is the...

Throughout Sicily there are various ceramic centers that developed over the centuries around natural sources of clay. Of course, the raw material is one thing, but more significant, however, are the artists and painters that produce and imagine the remarkable designs and/or playful scenes found on plates, bowls, pinecones, heads of men and women, vases, soap dispensers, tiles, beads ......

Over the last ten years, Sicily's tourism industry has matured and grown, and the amount and diversity of accommodations available to tourists is abundant. In a city like Ragusa, for example, right here in the old town of Ragusa Ibla, there exists everything from Locanda Don Serafino, an historic hotel with luxurious rooms furnished inside ancient caves to A.D. 1768...

Give yourself the kiss of fresh air rushing through your hair and the sweetness of cobalt waters enveloping your body as you jump off a catamaran into the Tyrrhenian Sea. Lo Zingaro Nature Preserve in northwestern Sicily is just one of many places where such deliciousness happens. Enjoy the stunning coastline from the water as your skipper plays groovin' tunes...

Sicily is the land of myth. Indeed, you'll find points of interest recalling ancient myths throughout the island. For example, this Giulio Moschetti fountain created in 1906, the Fontana di Diana, is an obvious one. It illustrates the story of the water nymph Aretusa and her protector, the goddess Artemis/Diana, whose cult played a significant role in the lives of...

Throughout Sicily exist charming mountain-top villages like this one pictured, Licodia Eubea. Often sporting timeless architectural elements and supporting populations of less than 3000 people, such places take on a special ambience, one where it seems everybody knows your name. As you stroll down the main "corso," you are bound to encounter different characters who play archetypal roles in a...

Considered by many to be the "Sistine Chaple of Sicily," the Chiesa di San Domenico in Castelvetrano in western Sicily is an unspoiled spectacle. Originally built in the 1470s, artist Antonio Ferraro da Giuliana and his sons spent three years from 1577-1580 creating the stucco scene above the altar titled “Albero di Jesse,” or the Tree of Jesse. Jesse, or...

You Always Know What's In Season. In Sicily, just look around and you'll know what crops are being harvested and what you should order for dinner, because on many street corners, you'll see the farmer selling his current bounty. Here, it's garlic and onions, so it's late spring. In early summer, it will be zucchini flowers, cucuzza, and basil (for...

There is simple joy in exploring new territory on foot or bicycle. Sicily has many walking and hiking opportunities: Everything from walking along rolling country roads between villages in the Madonie Mountains to coastal hikes in Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve with dips in the sea for refreshment. Spring is a beautiful time to take in the Iblean Mountains' wildflowers up...

Sicily was home to many princes, princesses, and barons prior to the Republic of Italy’s founding in 1946. Palaces (palazzi) of noble families constructed during different eras exist all over the island, and many are open to the public. My favorite, which is about a half-hour’s drive from Palermo, is Villa Palagonia. Originally the country home of the fifth Prince...

If you want to practice your Italian language skills, there are usually a few new-friends-to-be-made around the piazza with whom to talk. Don't be shy! They want to tell you about their nephew in San Francisco or the time they traveled to New York City. Start with "Salve!" or "Buongiorno" and the conversation can go from there. These will be...

Southeastern Sicily’s Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto impress with the sophistication that we Americans imagine when conceptualizing a trip to Europe. When strolling through the “stone garden” city of Noto, for example, you may feel as if you’ve been transported to an enlightened era when you stand in the grandeur of its elegant 18th century cathedral and...

Throughout Sicily, you can delight in an explosion of flavors and textures, whether from eating crunchy and gooey arancine (rice balls) in Palermo, spiced sausage made from chestnut-eating black boar of the Nebrodi Mountains, savory pistachio pesto from Bronte, crusty bread from a family-run bakery in Agrigento province, sweet gambero rosso (red shrimp) from Catania and Siracusa’s markets, or my...

When looking to take time to regroup and get away from it all, the village of Contessa Entellina offers a centuries-old monastery that is now a boutique hotel complete with Gregorian chant piping through its corridors and a garden labyrinth in which you can gleefully get lost, miles of walking trails through sweeping mountain-scapes, curious locals and talented artisans, seasonal...

Going off the beaten path in Sicily is easy. In just a few minutes' drive from larger cities and towns, you can discover yourself in the midst of flora and fauna: fields of millions of wildflowers, curving roadways that lead to forgotten hill-top villages, striking rock formations jutting out of the earth's crush, and the spontaneity of the lush natural world. There's...

L’Istituto Nazionale del Dramma Antico (INDA) has presented masterpieces of ancient Greek theater in Siracusa since 1914 at Siracusa’s Teatro Antico -- the same stage on which some of these works may have been premiered centuries ago! Attending these performances between May and early July each year, is, as one of my clients pointed out, magnificent: Walking through the historic...

In Sicily, you can enjoy gelato to the maximum because it's not only gelato, but gelato served in a sweet brioche that is shaped like a breast (i.e. mother's milk!). Think ice-cream sandwich but 100,000 times better! And, it is absolutely acceptable to eat it for breakfast. Need I say more?

When driving east along the SS 113 from Palermo city center, you'll come across this intriguing building that could be modern, could be Arab-Norman, and could be ancient. What exactly is it? Built in 1905, Stand Florio was constructed for the industrious Florio family as a daytime seaside resort for their friends and associates - - members of Palermo’s nouveau...

In the southwestern, multi-cultural Sicilian city of Mazara del Vallo, there is a kasbah -- that is, a maze of narrow alleyways with high walls that one usually finds in North Africa (It was designed for safety -- the locals know where to go, but invaders don't!). It's true, this fascinating town has an entire neighborhood in its historic center...

On May 23, 1992, in Capaci along Sicily’s autostrada between the Punta Raisi airport and Palermo, a half-ton of explosives was detonated under the highway, killing anti-mafia prosecutor Giovanni Falcone, his wife Francesca Morvillo, and his police detail including Rocco Dicillo, Antonio Montinaro, and Vito Schifani. The blast, which registered on earthquake monitors, was the masterwork of the Sicilian mafia....

The main piazza in Grammichele is one of the most sweeping public spaces you'll encounter. When taking a stroll through it, you'll recognize that it's a hexagon that sits in the middle of the planned town, which was constructed after the devastating 1693 earthquake of southeastern Sicily. The baroque streets radiate from this marval of gleeming pavement. Do an image...

In Sicily there are infinite stunning sea views and heavenly mountain panoramas and expansive volcanic valleys and magnificent deep gorges and crystal clear natural springs ... you get the idea! Not to mention with the seasonal changes of this sub-tropical climate, a place could be splendid in spring for one reason and remarkable during summer for another reason. Because I...

Sicily's 3000 years of human history offers a fascinating tapestry of heritage. Even today, cultures mingle in the streets, as illustrated by this modern signpost in Palermo's Centro Storico written in Italian, Hebrew, and Arabic. It marks Via Lampionelli, the area where small, tin lanterns (called lampionelli) were hand crafted, bought, and sold for hundreds of years during which the...

Turn the corner, and there's a good chance you'll encounter something ancient, like these Doric columns of the ancient Greek Temple to Athena that have been incorporated into the construction of the Duomo of Siracusa on Ortigia. Built in the 5th century BCE, the house of the goddess of war and wisdom was transformed into a Christian basilica by the...

Soccer culture is alive an well in Sicily, and although "Rosa Nero" (Pink and Black), Palermo's Football Club, has its ups and downs, cheering for the local team alongside "calcio" fans is always invigorating and definitely an off-the-beaten-path experience. Catania's Elefanti Football Club engenders the same amount of fanaticism. So put on your pink and amunì allo stadio!

Sicily in ancient times was Magna Grecia (Greater Greece), and today at first glance, you might have thought this photo was Greece, but in fact, it's Levanzo, an island off of western Sicily. Yes, it's this gorgeous, and so are the other Egadi Islands (Marettimo and Favignana), the Eolian Islands (There are seven of them!), and Ustica, Linosa, Pantelleria, and...

This post was supposed to be about how in Sicily you can find outstanding modern, gourmet cuisine. And you can. I have eaten at some of Sicily's best haute cuisine restaurants like I Pupi in Bagheria, Bye Bye Blues in Mondello, Ristorante Cortile Arabo in Marzamemi, and others. And yes, these are excellent restaurants with eye-popping menus and artistic presentations. But...

Sicily is a bridge where east meets west, especially in Palermo where north African and middle-eastern sensibilities blend with European ones, as illustrated by the Arab-Norman heritage of Palermo. The Arabs were in power in Sicily from roughly 827 to 1061, and many Sicilians will tell you they are proud of the cultural and technological advances they brought to the...

Demeter, the goddess of the grain, female fertilization, and the harvest, who is the mother of Persephone, represents the great matriarch in ancient Greek mythology. Her power to cultivate the bounties on the Earth's surface for us are illustrated significantly during the myth of Demeter and Kore/Persephone. Before the Christian era, the Eleusinian Mysteries (as they are known today) were...

There are many different approaches to accessing the water in Sicily: beaches (both sandy and rocky), off of sea walls (such as in Ortigia/Siracusa), off of natural rock formations (like near where my cousins live in Bagheria, on Sicily’s north coast), in nature preserves (such as Lo Zingaro in Trapani Province or at Cava Grande in Siracusa Province), in sulphuric...

Strolls through public gardens offer a different kind of exploring. Villa Giulia, an oasis of greenery in Palermo that was commissioned in 1777, presents you with a geometric layout accentuated with neoclassical band shells and allegorical statues. In the midst of the park, is the Villa Giulia version of the Genius of Palermo, or the “Fontana del Genio a Villa...

Castles and their stories pervade hilltop towns in Sicily. This castle pictured, Il Castello di Caccamo in Palermo Province, presents travelers an especially interesting glimpse into Europe's medieval past. Scholars think the site has been home to some kind of fortress for millennia, meanwhile, this impenetrable iteration, the largest in Sicily, was built by the Normans in the 12th century....

There are extraordinary pieces of ancient art throughout Sicily--even in the smallest of museums. One example is in the Museo Whitaker of Mozia off of Sicily's west coast. The world-renowned “Youth of Motya” or "Motya Charioteer" is a mid-5th century BCE statue made of Parian marble. It was uncovered on the Island of Motya (or Mozia) in 1979 under a mound of...

Being driven by agricultural, when you go off the beaten path in Sicily, you are bound to meet all kinds of locals ... from Modican cows to Girgentane goats - - beautiful animals that, like their owners, will be very curious to know more about you! Sicily's sprawling countryside (especially during the luscious springtime) and the inhabitants of its small...

The salt flats of western Sicily with their iconic windmills offer a remarkable position for you to enjoy a glass of vino while watching the summer sunset. Breathe deeply... Trapani province awaits.

Pasta! Need I say more? Well, of course I will! Let’s start from the beginning, and by that, I mean 1154 CE when the court geographer under Norman King Roger II, Muhammad al-Idrisi, documented that a pasta factory existed in Trabia, a coastal town east of Palermo. He explained that out of semolina flower they made in large quantities a...

Sicily’s community rituals will enchant you. Case in point: Yes, that is a big artichoke! Because annually on April 25, the town of Cerda (Palermo Province) celebrates the Sagra del Carciofo or Artichoke Festival, in honor of their main crop. Cerda's party is one of tens of such sagras or food/harvest celebrations that take place throughout Sicily each year. And...

The craftsmanship and tradition of Sicilian carts radiate a rainbow of joy. And today especially, for the Feast of Saint George (April 23), colors and ritual meet, for San Giorgio is the protector of cart drivers and their horses. So, when you encounter a cart, like this one pictured, you'll often see San Giorgio depicted on it (note his image...

Sicily as a wine region is sublime. The island hosts one of the oldest wine producing regions in the world thanks to the ancient Phoenicians and Greeks. It possesses 70 native grape varietals that are 100% Sicilian. Nero D'Avola, Grillo, Nero Mascalese, Perricone, Cattaratto, Insolia, Frappatto, Zibbibo, Marsala ... look for these varietals and more to make your pallet dance. With...

Sicily's second city Catania recalls Roma, while holding fast to its local character. Its historic downtown boasts broad avenues that are lined with baroque palazzi and that lead to sweeping views of the volcano, Etna. The center not only supports its beautiful cathedral dedicated to Sant'Agata and Liotru, the lava elephant at the center of the Piazza del Duomo's fountain...

After dinner, you can see the world during a passeggiata down the Corso Umberto in Taormina. On one pedestrian friendly street in one of the world's most beautiful towns tourists from around the globe adorn their favorite outfits and stroll. Add in a (insert your preferred flavor here) gelato with panna (whipped cream) on top, and you are living la...

There is only one thing close to eating cannoli with sweet cream made from ricotta made from fresh milk from the sheep "over on that hillside." That one thing is if you made them yourself at home. So, since we can't travel to Sicily to partake in the glories of #11, join me online next Sunday, April 25 at noon...

The crowds slip away quickly in Sicily and what's left are delightful discoveries. In accessible off-the-beaten-path towns like Sciacca in Agrigento Province, for one example, you will encounter something engaging when you least expect it, such as a work of street art, a votive altar for the Madonna on someone's home, or a stairway with unique ceramic designs on each...

Sicily’s iconic landmarks give you pinch-me moments, like this one at Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, a UNESCO recognized site that plays host to the ruins of seven ancient Greek and Roman temples. The magnificent Doric-style Tempio di Concordia (pictured) was erected by the ancient Greeks between 440-430 BCE. Archeologists don't have evidence to whom it was dedicated. At...

In Modica, you can taste more than a dozen different flavors of chocolate at the chocolate factory. That's because in the 16th century, Spanish nobility in the southeastern Sicilian UNESCO recognized town were blessed with cacao beans and an ancient Aztec drink called xocóatl, brought from the New World. Their chefs thought the bitter xocóatl would taste better in concert with the...

Europe's largest, most active volcano, Mount Etna, reminds us that we are guests here. She is a living thing that morphs according to the latest volcanic activity. The slopes of this "mountain," which isn't really a mountain, offer microclimates that give us bold grapes for wine-making, outstanding porcini mushrooms for delectable pasta dishes, apples, pears, tomatoes, pistachios, chestnuts, citrus ......

In Sicily, "fairytales" about knights and ladies and kings and queens are not fiction. Throughout the island exists displays of centuries of royalty. In fact, you'll find castles seemingly on every hilltop with a view! Perhaps the most particular evidence of majesty is illustrated by the crown of Constance of Aragon (1179-1222), who was the wife of stupor mondi Frederick...

Sicily is full of surprises. Check out the Jewish baths of Siracusa! Huh? You ask? Yes! Before the Spanish Inquisition of 1492, when Sicily was under Spanish rule, scholars believe 7 to 10 percent of Sicily's population was Jewish. Thriving neighborhoods existed in Palermo, Mazara del Vallo, and Siracusa (to name a few cities). The island's multicultural heritage is fascinating...

People make places memorable, and therefore, Sicilians are a reason you'll love Sicily. This photo, taken in Caltabellotta, shows Paolo, a shepherd and cheesemaker; Riccardo, an entrepreneur; and Anna, an inn keeper. They are stuffing cannoli. But it's not so simple. I was in Anna's kitchen after she fed me a fresh frittata made with wild asparagus that was foraged...

When talking coolness factor, the city of Palermo goes to 11. It's European. It's north African. It's exotic. It's got flirtatious nightlife (La Vucciria open-air market becomes a people-watching hub after dark and in nearby Ballarò, jazz clubs take over the alleyways.). It's got high-art -- the city is home to one of Europe's largest opera houses, Teatro Massimo. Come...

Taking a daytrip on the train from Palermo to Cefalù (or from Cefalù to Palermo) is convenient and offers excellent people watching (both at your destination and on the train itself). The north coast rail corridor between Messina and Palermo presents a reliable schedule and very prompt trains (Arrive early!). Remember to stamp your ticket in the machine on the...

From January to early May, Sicily's hillsides and mountainsides are emerald green with waves of growing grain, fuschia with sweet Mediterranean clover (ask the sheep!), and golden with sinapis alba (white mustard) flowers. Palma di Montechiaro, Agrigento Province