One evening earlier this month, during our Stunning Sicily tour, I was fortunate to be accompanied by Giovanni, Vincenzo, and Pepe as I (impromptu) sang “Cu ti lu dissi” (Who Told You) for our group. “Cu ti lu dissi” is a love lament that was made popular by Sicilian singer Rosa Balistreri. It is one…
Tag: october sicily tour
Stunning Sicily October 2021, Day 11
Ciao from Stunning Sicily, Day 11! Crossing to western Sicily is dramatic. The landscape changes west of Palermo. Steep and sweeping mountains rose before us along the Costa Gaia. Views of Castellammare del Golfo offered wonder (and great photo opportunities!), but so too do those from the top of Mount San Giuliano, which hosts Erice….
Stunning Sicily October 2021, Day 9
Ciao from Stunning Sicily, Day 9! After bidding farewell to our wonderful hosts in the Sicani mountains, we made our way to Bagheria to the fantastic Villa Palagonia. There our guide Giulia Scalia explained the curious Villa of the Monsters and its historic owner’s motivations for the mysterious statues that decorate it. The hall of…
The Road To Italy Is Open | Spend October in Sicily
The road is clear … let’s celebrate our independence. Italy is open to vaccinated Americans! That means you can now travel to Sicily. Quarantines are no longer necessary when you fly on a designated “COVID-Tested” flight. Hotels, restaurants, sites, museums, shops, entertainment, and excursions are open and welcoming guests. Masks are no longer required outdoors….
Angelo Is Waiting For Us In Sicily
“Angelo, arriverò presto!” Italy is now open to vaccinated travelers from the United States, with no need to quarantine when you take COVID-tested flights with Alitalia, Delta, American, and United airlines from New York and Atlanta. Importantly, the mask mandate for outdoors will be dropped on June 28. With about 30 percent of Italians over…
Feel Like Royalty In Sicily
Castles exist all over Sicily. And on our final day of Experience Sicily’s October 2020 Sicily tour, you’ll have time to ascend the stairs of this one at Castellammare del Golfo after we’ll have taken a boat excursion on the magnificent Tyrrhenian Sea. Inside is an outstanding ethnographic museum. When you cross what once was…
Sicily’s Roman Villa Illustrates Life
Fisherman are hard at work getting the fresh catch for all of your feasting the next couple of days! This image from the Roman Villa of Casale in Piazza Armerina, Sicily, a 4th century AD estate that boasts 43,055 square feet of mosaic tile floors, shows us how they did it in ancient Roman times….
Shopping For Ceramics In Caltagirone
Speaking of shopping… You’ll have time in Caltagirone, Sicily during our October Stunning Sicily tour, where you’ll find hand-crafted, one-of-kind ceramics of items you didn’t know where possible to make from earthenware. The UNESCO recognized Baroque town of Caltagirone boasts a rich ceramics center with artisanal shops every few feet. Navigate to Via Monsignore Saverio…
An Entrée To Community and Culture In Sicily
You don’t have to be a fancy cook to enjoy participating in a hands-on cooking class during one of our small-group tours. So much of the experience is working together and learning about Sicilian culture and family culture. Here, our group was making Sarde Beccafico, fresh sardines stuffed with breadcrumbs seasoned with olive oil, raisins,…
The Alleys Of Ortigia
The alleyways of Ortigia Island in Siracusa are purposefully designed as a type of labyrinth, and there is a good reason for it. Strategically speaking, if you are planning to defend your village from invaders (The island of Ortigia was invaded many times, most egregiously by the Arabs in 877-878.), curved streets not in a…