…by Letitia Fitzpatrick
Fall in love with this fabulous Italian island and enjoy sun, sea and sand, fantastic food, delectable drinks as well as culture and history in abundance.
Sicily is only a three and a half hour flight from Dublin (to Palermo) with www.ryanair.com and from Dublin to Catania with www.aerlingus.com
Because it’s so far south, the weather is great from March to November. Highlights include ancient ruins, medieval churches and towns, prehistoric caves, pristine beaches with turquoise waters perfect for swimming, ancient architecture steeped in some of the Mediterranean’s richest history, towering volcanoes rising out of beautiful countryside, and a relaxed way of life that makes you want to turn any visit to the island into a permanent holiday.
FOOD
As with most of Italy, the food is a major attraction. It’s truly outstanding and shows traces of French, Spanish, Greek, Jewish and Arab influences. The food is spicier than most in Italy, with more emphasis on fish, vegetables and fruit.
The starters, known as antipasti, include caponata and gato di patate (cheese and potato pies.) Maccu is a Sicilian soup prepared with fava beans.
Sicily is the oldest Italian location on record where pasta worked into long and thin forms was part of the local cuisine. Seafood and sardine pasta dishes abound as does cannelloni. After the pasta, the typical Sicilian menu includes a second or main dish based on meat or fish. Desserts and sweets are another specialty, including fruit, granita, and cassata.
ACCOMMODATION
Today, Sicily is one of Italy’s most popular tourist destinations, and accommodation is much more reasonable than IN other parts of Italy. Check out hotel and apartment prices on www.booking.com. You can pay around EUR 50 a night for a basic double or twin room in either a private house or a simple family-run pension, though prices can double in summer at the most popular resorts. There are many campsites and an increasing number of bed and breakfasts. Check out www.bbitalia.it and www.travelsicilia.com
HISTORY
Sicily has been conquered many times over the years, including by the Phoenicians of North Africa, the Islamic Moors, Greeks, Romans, Normans and the Spanish among others. The island boasts sophisticated cities and picturesque villages, plus well-preserved archeological sites and splendid scenery. The towns of Syracuse, Agrigento, with its amazing park of temples, and Selinunte are all Unesco World Heritage sites. Make time for the medieval towns of Noto and Ragusa built of warm, golden stone in a Baroque style.
SIGHTSEEING
Get up close and personal with Mount Etna, an amazing volcano - eruptions permitting - on a tour to the top. You can also island-hop between the stunning yet varied landscapes of Sicily's Aeolian Islands, check out smouldering Stromboli, panoramic Taormina with its amazing ancient amphitheatre, visit Vulcano’s famous fumaroles and go on dramatic lava trials, with natural bubbling mud baths. The Zingaro National Reserve offers magnificent views of the Mediterranean.
The contrast of sea, mountains and volcanoes make a breathtaking backdrop for fun in the great outdoors. Sicily and its many offshore islands offer hiking and climbing, swimming and diving, snorkelling and more.
PALERMO
The capital is Palermo which is set in a wide bay at the foot of a valley. Bustling and busy, it features fine churches, museums and markets where you can sit and eat delicious local cuisine at ridiculously low prices and watch the world go by.
In the heart of the old city is the Quattro Canti or Four Corners, the centre of the medieval town. You will enjoy strolling around the tiered statues and make sure to drop in to the beautiful Baroque church of San Giuseppe dei Teatini with its opulent interior.
Piazza Pretoria boasts a racy fountain from the sixteenth century, and the huge cathedral or Cattedrale which wasn’t finished for centuries, is another major attraction. The Palazzo dei Normanni or royal palace occupies the high ground above medieval Palermo. Most of the interior is now taken up by the regional parliament but you can visit the Royal Apartments, as well as the beautiful Capella Palatina, a private royal chapel and an architectural and historical gem.
The restaurants in Palermo range from very reasonable to Michelin-starred, depending on your budget. There is also a trendy beach in Mondello.
To the east, the Tyrrhenian coast is popular with hikers and skiers who flock to Monti Madonie. Nearby is the chic resort of Cefalu.
Other popular destinations for sun seekers and celebs are the volcanic Aeolian Islands, seven in total including Stromboli, which can be reached by ferry and hydrofoil.
SYRACUSE
This city boasts the finest historical and architectural sites on the island with classical ruins and stunning baroque buildings. Check out the old town of Ortigia where history stretches back more than two millennia and there is a market every morning apart from Sunday. There is shopping on the Corso Matteotti and the Piazza Archimede is surrounded by restored medieval palaces. Sicily’s most beautiful square is here, the Piazza del Duomo where you can admire the beautiful buildings from pavement cafes. The city’s patron saint is Santa Lucia Ella Nadia and on her festival day (December 13) thousands of people crowd into the square to watch her statue being carried through the city. The Duomo or cathedral is well worth a visit too.
CRIME
The control exerted by the Mafia is referred to only obliquely, though it does hit the headlines occasionally. The arrest of leading Mafia figures and the successful use of informers has turned the tide against the organisation. It’s a deep-seated problem but mostly irrelevant to casual tourists. However, as in most European countries, a degree of petty crime exists so avoid back streets after dark and don’t flash bulging wallets or expensive phones and cameras.
FILM
Sicily is famous as the backdrop for the novel and film, The Godfather (1971). Mario Puzo’s compelling screenplay tells the story of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) who comes from Sicily to New York and becomes head of the Sicilian Mafia in the Big Apple. His efforts to keep hold of the family business and traditions conflict with his the values of his son Michael, played by Al Pacino. Much of the first movie in the trilogy was shot outside the beautiful city of Taormina.
Soaking up the scenery, sightseeing, swimming and eating some of the best food in Europe – what's not to like? Get ready to enjoy a sun-drenched, flavour-filled holiday on this extraordinary island.
