One of my 2017 highlights was no doubt when I was given the opportunity to visit Sicily in September and I’m overdue in sharing more about the trip. It was a spot that hadn’t even been on my wanderlust radar but I’m now dying to go back. It is magical. The week was filled with so much good food (some of the best I’ve ever had!), lovely wine, breathtaking views and the warmest people. I can’t recommend this gem of an Italian island enough and hope you’ll enjoy some of the snaps I captured while I was there!
Some of my favorite wineries that we visited were Firriato, Planeta & Stemmari. Each have beautiful spaces for tasting and Firriato and Planeta in particular have fantastic restaurants that I would absolutely return to on my next visit. Planeta also has a boutique hotel with the most beautiful gardens and pool.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about the wines of Sicily be sure to check out this post.
The seaside town of Menfi was absolutely beautiful and offers so much amazing fresh seafood. We had an amazing beachside meal at Le Quattro Stagioni.
The food is truly remarkable on this island. They are famous for pasta alla norma, arancini, pasta with anchovy and bread crumbs, busiate pasta (I loved this pasta type so much I brought some home!), panella, cannoli and caponata.
I absolutely loved Palermo! The largest city on the island is so vibrant and historic and I loved touring the markets, cobblestone streets and seeing the Palazzo dei Normanni featuring the stunning Palatine Chapel (below).
The above is the stunning view from the aforementioned winery Stemmari.
This fountain in Palermo was just stunning and I was told that Dolce & Gabbana did a runway show on it earlier in the summer!
Sicily’s history is a rich one and Selinunte archaeological site is mesmerizing. It has multiple temples and ancient town walls and truly feels like stepping back in time.
I couldn’t get enough of the fresh seafood! This octopus dish in Menfi was so fresh and delicious.
This outdoor space near the Cattedrale di Palermo was breathtaking.
One of my favorite places I visited in Sicily was the hilltop seaside town of Taormina. It feels like out of a movie! There are beautiful beaches dotted with colorful umbrellas, gorgeous resorts, winding streets full of shops and some excellent people watching. When I return to Sicily I will be definitely booking a few days at one of Taormina’s beaches.
Al Duomo was absolutely fantastic for lunch. If you go request one of these patio tables to overlook one of Taormina’s charming squares.
I found such an appreciation for salt after visiting the sea salt pans of Marsala. It’s worth a visit to see how the salt is harvested and be sure to buy some of their flavored salts as gifts. It is delicious and I now use it in all my cooking. If you go to Marsala be sure to also visit Donnafugata.
Have you ever been to Sicily? I hope one day you can visit this remarkable place!
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