Sicily - the largest island in the Mediterranean

Published on 2 October 2020 at 19:28

Although Sicily has belonged to Italy since 1860, the inhabitants feel first as Sicilians and only then as Italians. Today, Sicily is an autonomous region with its own parliament. 

 

What you must do in Sicily - rent a car. Sicily has so many beautiful places, it would be a pity to stay in just one place. But don't forget to take out a vehicle insurance. Unfortunately, it is often the case that you park your car somewhere and a new scratch appears. Now I would like to introduce you to a few places that we liked very much and that should not be missing on your Sicily tour.  

 

Cefalù

The popular seaside resort of Cefalù is located just one hour east of Palermo, between a perfectly crescent-shaped bay and the towering La Rocca, a limestone cliff. The convenient location and the breathtaking natural beauty are not the only aspects that speak for Cefalù. The place also offers visitors a range of activities that satisfy very different needs. Beach, shopping, or good restaurants - Cefalù have it all. Stroll through the medieval streets and visit the many small shops. Of course, you can also just lie on the beach and watch the beautiful blue sea.

Expect only the best of Sicilian cuisine in Cefalù. The mild Mediterranean climate provides the perfect conditions for a variety of delicious, fresh products. One of my favourite meals was the Pasta alla Norma with grilled aubergines and ricotta. My favourite restaurant was the restaurant Porta Ossuna. The food was so delicious that we went there twice. Besides, the view from the terrace is great. Make sure you book a table at sunset.

 

Taormina

Taormina is a beautiful and picturesque hilltop town. There is a magnificent view of the sea and the volcano Etna. The two stone city gates of Taormina are connected by the pedestrian zone Corso Umberto, which is a real shopper's paradise. The streets are paved, and the balconies of the houses are decorated with flowers. Everywhere you see artists painting their pictures at the roadside. A must-see is the well-preserved Greco Amphitheatre. The theatre is still very well intact and impressive to look at. Even today, operas and concerts are still taken place. It's about a 10-minute walk, so it's easy to get there. It takes about 10 minutes to walk from the pedestrian zone to the theatre, so it's easy to get there.

Before I travelled to Sicily, I received the tip that I should eat Arancini. An Arancino / plural Arancini is a deep-fried and stuffed rice ball. Arancini are part of traditional Sicilian cuisine, among other things. I did some research on the internet and found out that you should eat Arancini in Taormina. The best place is the restaurant Da Cristina. I'm happy to pass this tip on to you because they were delicious.

 

Siracusa

The historical center of Siracusa is located on the island of Ortigia. The architecture is incredibly beautiful. A mixture of Greek, Roman and Baroque cultures. No wonder that the city is a UNESCO World Heritage. Its long and glorious history ensures that today it is a cultural hotspot full of unique sights. We walked through the old town and admired the architecture. I have never seen anything like it before. The buildings look big and powerful. Stroll through the streets and enjoy the surroundings.

 

Hotel

We spend the whole holiday in one hotel, the Hotel Calanica Resort in Cefalù. The resort has 26 bungalows, inspired by the Polynesian huts, but comfortable and furnished like a modern hotel room overlooking the sea. The bungalows were cute and very clean. They offer enough space, and the view of the sea was fantastic. There is a small table with two chairs in front of the entrance. I could just sit there for hours and watch the sea. The only small drawback was the shower. It could have worked a little better.

The restaurant and bar were great. The food was very tasty and the service was very friendly. Although we were told before the holiday that Sicilians are not always so friendly, I can say the opposite from my own experience.

The beach doesn't get full marks for me. The view is great, the sun loungers and parasols were also very good, but the location was not quite ideal. There was no direct access to the sea. You had to keep going up the stairs and down the other side to get into the sea. It wasn't bad, but I think there is still room for improvement.

 

Rating: 5 stars
1 vote

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