Sicilia, Italia

Having never been to Sicily before, I wasn't sure how different it would be from the mainland of Italy. During our trip in 2013, we travelled with some longtime family friends. It was a great way to start our Italian vacation, especially since our friend Louie grew up there.

Header: Sambuca di Sicila via Steph Kelly / Wine barrels at Feudo Arancio / Arancini / Sunset in Sciacca / Crown decorations from Festa della Madonna in Sambuca via Steph Kelly / Freshly made pizza and Sicilian wine at Antico Mulino 

Sicily definitely has its own flair, and I highly recommend making this a stop on your trip. Here are my 10 favorite things about Sicily:




1. The wineries. Italian wineries just can't be touched. They are absolutely incredible, with such delicious wine. We visited Feudo Arancio, on the hills of Sambuca. With an amazing view, we sat and listened to music in the courtyard, soaking up the sun. We even had wine glass holders!

2. Sciacca. Sciacca is a beautiful, quaint port town on the western coast of Sicily. This is worth the short drive. There are plenty of outdoor markets in the piazzas, along with the most ornate ceramics. Watching the sun set over the port is straight out of a postcard.

3. Arancini. These rice balls of goodness are a Sicilian specialty. They are usually stuffed with ragú and mozzarella, rolled in bread crumbs and fried. A slice of heaven, right?

4. Antico Mulino Pizzeria. This felt like a speakeasy of pizzerias, if pizza was ever considered illegal. Tucked away on a side road in Sambuca di Sicilia, we were wondering if we were lost in the darkness of the Italian night. Much to our surprise, this was the place to be on a Friday night. And the pizza was out of this world, so fresh!

5. Sambuca di Sicilia. Our family friend Louie is from this small town about 40 miles southwest of Palermo. It was really a treat to see where he grew up. We were able to see the house where he was born and meet his sister and brother, who own a salon and pizzeria in town. It was the perfect way to start the trip, and we were shown such Italian hospitality. We had just missed the Festa della Madonna, which is the biggest festival of the year for the town. Next time!

6. Hotel Don Giovanni. Needless to say, with how small Sambuca di Sicilia was, the options for places to stay weren't plentiful, but we found a gem of a place. Cute, tucked away on the hillside. They had a little vineyard on site. Beautiful architecture and everyone there was so welcoming. 

7. Sicilian Specialties. I love finding regional specialties when I travel. It makes me feel like I'm experiencing something unique. Sicily had their own specialties, including a lot of pastries. Louie's family bought many to show us when they invited us over for a homemade Italian dinner. (I know!) I ate way too much.

8. Teatro Massimo. This is one of the main attractions of Palermo, and really beautiful. Being an opera house, they have wonderful displays of great costumes and paraphernalia dating back to the 1900s. It's a worthwhile historical stop to check out!

9. Gelato. This needs no explanation. Just eat it every day if you go.

10. Palermo's Purple Trees. Walking through the streets of Palermo, they had these beautiful flowering purple trees. I have no idea what they are called, but they were stunning. It sort of felt like walking through a world of Dr. Seuss. :)

Purple trees of Palermo via Steph Kelly / Louie outside of his childhood home / Hotel Don Giovanni / Ceramic artist in Sciacca / Minni del Virgini Sicilian pastry / Teatro Massimo via Steph Kelly / Steph and me overlooking Sciacca