2 ▶ fall 2013

Serenity of Sicily

This unique island lies just off the toe of the Italian peninsula and is rich with culture and adventures for visi-tors who have a weekend to spare. From volcanoes to castles and from cathedrals to ethnic cuisine, this island is full of delights that avid trav-elers must experience.

After a busy week visiting Florence, Rome and Naples, travelers can look forward to a relaxing week-end on the island of Sicily. The port at the straight of Messina is a short trip south from the most popular destina-tions in Italy. Many ships leave this port daily in route to the island. As you arrive, you will find several cozy hotels on the coast in the province of Messina. The next morning you are can enjoy a beautiful sunrise over the beach and board a bus to begin your tour for the day. Fred Rodio is a trav-eler who chose this route in exploring Sicily. He commented, “I wasn’t sure what to expect in Sicily, but from the first morning there I knew that I would not be disappointed.”

Sicilian Smiles and CuisineAs you begin your day on this enchanting island you will notice the friendly and inviting atmosphere. It is easy to interact with native Sicilians as you pass through the different

cities in Sicily. Although not everyone speaks Italian, smiles and handshakes exchanged are worth a whole con-versation. These natives are eager to share their food and talents through their personalized dining nooks and shops along the way. Fred shared how his group had time in the morning to browse small shops along the streets and eat lunch at a family owned res-taurant on their way to Taormina. This restaurant served a tasty rendition of eggplant, artichokes, mushrooms, beef, and peppers. Sicilian food is rich in flavor and tradition. Fred said, “I really enjoyed the restaurant we ate at for lunch. The flavors were really dis-tinct and the yummy meal made me ask for more.” There is no better way to end a meal than with one of Sicily’s famous cannoli desserts.

Ancient Theatre of TaorminaA popular tourist route is through the beautiful city of Taormina, which lies partway between the cities of Messina and Catania. There you can visit the ancient Greek theatre of Taormina and meander through the little shops lining the streets of the city. The history of the Greek influ-ence on this island is evident as you explore this historical city. As you sit in ruins of the theatre, you are

taken aback by the breathtaking view beyond the Greek pillars of the theatre. You can see the bright blue and turquoise waters wrapping along the green covered coast that is lined with the outskirts of the city. From this experience Fred’s daughter Reana expressed, “I loved seeing the beauti-ful water that hugged the coast of the island. It made the island feel special and different from what we had seen in Italy.”

Catania’s Neighboring VolcanoCatania, another enchanting Sicilian city, is the gateway to Mt. Etna. Mt. Etna is the tallest volcano in Europe and it is one of the most active vol-canoes in the world. Many travelers take buses up to this volcano and they are able to wander around the volcanic paths and rocks. Because of the height of this volcano, Mt. Etna is often covered in snow. The heat from the volcanic activity causes steam to rise across the snow-capped peaks, a favorite shot for amateur photogra-phers. You can visit little shops that sell souvenirs that are made out of rocks from the volcano. There are few locations in the world that offer jew-elry and trinkets made out of volcanic material right from the site.

Sicily is an island that offers a sense of serenity and wonder for travelers who have a love for natural beauty and rich cultural experiences. Each of the nine provinces is com-posed of interesting facets that make the island unique and wonderful. A weekend on the island of Sicily leaves a lasting impression on all travelers who have the opportunity to experi-ence its matchless beauty. You may find that just one weekend will leave

you eager to plan your next visit!▶▶ http://www.italia.it/en/discover-italy/sicily.html

—Sky Nuttall

On a typical sunny afternoon, tourists and locals enjoy the beautiful streets that wind through each province of Sicily.

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