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"Discovering Sicily: A Journey for the Everyday Explorer
- juliaspellman18
- Jun 6, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 21, 2024
Welcome to Sicily, the enchanting island in the heart of the Mediterranean! In this blog, we'll embark on an immersive journey through Sicily's rich history, vibrant culture, mouthwatering cuisine, and breathtaking landscapes. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or a first-time explorer, Sicily promises to captivate your senses and leave you longing for more.
Sicily in a Snapshot
As you drive through the rolling hills of Sicily you are met with a lush green landscape filled with orange trees, lemon trees, olive groves, and blooming grape vines. The large island is surrounded by turquoise blue waters that stretches until the fingers of the blue sky horizon reach down to greet it.
Sicily was one of the first wine growing areas of Italy and cultivates incredible wine, we were fortunate enough to be able to squeeze in an incredible winery tour and tasting on Mt. Etna that you can read about below. Being an island in the Mediterranean, it has been occupied by almost every major kingdom you can think of, the greeks, the byzantines, the arabs, the normans, just to name a few.
The key cities and regions include Catania, Syracuse, Taormina, Agirgento, and the largest and captial city of Palermo. We only had four days to see the island and were only able to visit Catania, Syracuse, and Agrigento, which doesn't even scratch the surface of this rich island.
Sicilian Delights: History & Cuisine
Get ready to experience a tantalizing journey through Sicily's gastronomic wonders when you visit. We unbuttoned our top button and dove right in to all the mouth watering food of Sicily including arancini, cannoli, pasta, pizza, fresh seafood delicacies, and everything pistachio (I just ate breakfast but my mouth is watering just writing this). I highly recommend that you do not hold back and try everything when you are here!
Catania
We arrived in Catania super late in the evening, ordered a taxi and went right to bed. But we awoke to the lovely sounds of birds chirping, vespas' engines puttering, the delightful smells of espresso brewing and fresh pastries cooking. If you have ever been to Europe, they do not really do breakfast like Americans do, especially the Italians. Its an espresso and a pistacchio filled cornetto (croissant). Be prepared for a complete sugar rush, topped with a caffeine spike and BAM! you're off.
The main piazza of Catania is spotted with richly decorated baroque churches, red roofed buildings speckled with volcanic soot, and the daily fish market all bustling under the ever looming and very active Mt. Etna. The weekday fish market is something you cannot miss. The streets are lined with open stalls, small tables and chairs, shoulder to shoulder people bargaining for the best price, and fish, fish, and more fish. We wanted the slightly damp streets oogling at all of the different types of fish while munching on freshly roasted carciofi (artichokes) and stuffed mussels. You can sit behind one of the market stalls and enjoy a nice glass of vino while stuffing your face with these fresh local delicacies. Did I mention my mouth was watering?
The most important item to try while in Sicliy is arancini. These are italian rice balls that are stuffed with various toppings, breaded, and then deep fried. We wandered our way to one that was recommended to us, Pasticceria Savia. If any of you have ever seen the movie Eat Pray Love with Julia Roberts, and remember the scene where she is trying to order an espresso in that hectic cafe --this is what we felt like. It was every local Italian and their mother and brother at the counter waiting for their order. We pulled a ticket and waited our turn, and then ordered a legit feast for four people, whoops, and sat in the park across the street. Cue two spinach arancini, two ragú, and two pizza slices for the two of us -- woof. Absolutely worth the pain.
Our last local delicacy to recommend is the wine. The ever active Mt. Etna looms and dooms over the city, yet it provides the most fertile soil for vineyards. Layers and layers of volcanic eruptions provide rich nutrients for some of the best grapes to flourish. We were able to sneak in a beautiful winery tour and tasting, which was perfect for our rainy day, at I Vigneri. A beautiful, family owned vineyard dating back to 1435, cultivated on the slopes of Mt. Etna. The wine was incredible, the tour and the owners beyond knowledgeful. Needless to say, we bought a lot of wine.
Syracuse
Syracuse is an absolute MUST. We were only there for a night and a day (and a half), and it was no where near long enough. Our apartment host alone sent a massive list of must do visits, eats, and drinks. For next time, I suppose. The following things are what we recommend as MUST do's in Siracusa:
Mercato di Ortigia The historical center of Siracusa is located on an island callled Ortigia and plays host to beautiful white marbled market plazas surrounded by the Siracusa cathedral, the Temple of Apollo, Arethusa Spring and one of the best outdoor markets I have ever been to. The tight walkways are filled with wall to wall stalls, fresh fruits, meats, seafood, crafts, local spices and delicacies, candies and SO MUCH MORE. We walked through the stalls and ate our way across the market. Behind many of the fresh food stalls you can order a piatta misto (mixed plate) of all their goodies and a chilled bottle of wine at a little table amongst the locals and tourists combined. If I could bottle the vibes, the smells, the food and the general feeling of this mercato, I'd sell it to you right now.
Neapolis Archaeological Park
We have slight obsession with Greek and Roman history in our house, and Sicily is studded with loads of it. We pre-booked ourselves a private tour of archaeological site filled with ancient Greek architecture and Roman relics. A private tour is not necessary, but as we were on a bit of a tight schedule and wanted to make the most of our time, it's what we did. Word to the wise, if you do want to book a tour, private or group, I highly recommend booking ahead of time and booking straight through their website.
Passeggio Aretusa at sunset
Walk along this promenade at sunset while indulging in a brioche con gelato, taking in the simple meandering of people, the Aretusa fountain, the red glow on the walls of the Piazza Duomo and Syracuse Cathedral as the last rays of sun touch its pearly columns. Follow your stroll up with a delicious wine tasting at Evoè wine bar shop where you can indulge in amazing wines, homemade focaccia with fresh burrata and donkey mortadella (sounds so weird but it was quite the delicacy), or pop into one of the wood-fired pizza trattorias.
Agrigento
Our last full day and a half was spent exploring the southern coastal and town of Agrigento. It's definitely a quiet gem tucked away, but the drive out there alone was almost worth it alone. Citrus groves turned mountainous green hill sides, speckled with small villages and farming communities. The town of Agrigento is a hilltop village known for its ruins of the ancient city of Akragas in the Valley of the Temples, its museums, and famous white limestone Scala dei Turchi. We visited around Easter time, and were lucky enough to stumble into the Cattedrale di San Gerlando before dinner and were blessed to witness a full Easter mass occuring. The inside of the cathedral is by itself a wonder, topped with a full orchestra, choir, and the massive pipe organ --cue goosebumps to last me a lifetime. Listen to the video below with your sound up!
Our top recommendations for visiting Agrigento are:
Book a guided tour of the Valley of the Temples
Wander around the hill top village eating pizza, shopping, and exploring the old architecture.
Walk along the beach and respectfully explore the Scala dei Turchi.*
*Limestone can be a very sensitive and quickly degrading surface. The Turkish Steps are a wonder to behold and absolutely stunning. There are many signs and fences posted asking/restricting people from walking along the stones in order to preserve them. On the internet and social media you can see lots of photos of people walking and sunbathing on them. While we were there it was clear people had ripped the fence and proceeded to walk on the stone. Please be respectful of these wonderous areas so that we might be able to continue to explore this magnificent planet.
Sicily is a land of contrasts, where ancient ruins stand alongside modern cities, and traditional customs thrive in a contemporary world. Whether you're drawn to its fascinating history, tantalizing cuisine, stunning landscapes, or warm hospitality, Sicily promises to enchant and inspire. So pack your bags, and let's embark on a journey to discover the magic of Sicily together!
Check out this watercolor I did of the Cathedral in Catania. You can purchase your own digital copy today!
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