Taormina is not just a place, it’s a feeling Before arriving in Taormina, people told me it was “the pearl of Sicily.” But no one warned me that it would make me feel so small—like stepping into an ancient theater where every stone has stood still for centuries, staring at Mount Etna without blinking. In this city, nestled between cliffs and sea, time takes a different path. It doesn’t rush. It lingers beside you and waits. Waits for you to notice the scent of bougainvillea, the echo of footsteps on […]

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Whether you’re an art lover, a history enthusiast, or simply looking for a relaxing getaway, Eastern Sicily has something for everyone. In this small guide, I’ll take you through the must-see sights and hidden gems you can’t miss on your journey through this captivating part of the island. Let’s discover what we can’t miss in Eastern Sicily! 1. Noto Noto is one of those small, compact towns in Sicily. But it’s also one of those places that, in just a few square kilometers, concentrates a beauty that’s comparable to a […]

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Cefalù Cefalù is not exactly on the western coast of Sicily, but it’s not too far from it, and it would be a shame not to visit. So, I decided to include it in the must-see places of western Sicily. Cefalù is a beautiful gem set on the Sicilian sea. So beautiful that crossing its gaze, made up of narrow streets, alleys, and glimpses of the sea, causes a sense of embarrassment. The little hill that distinguishes it seems to have been created by the skilled hands of an artist […]

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If you find yourself exploring Trapani and are on the lookout for authentic spots to savor local dishes, you’ve found the perfect guide! Here, you’ll discover hidden gems that will make you fall in love with Trapani’s culinary traditions. You’ll learn which dishes are absolutely unmissable and where to taste the culinary treasures this remarkable cuisine has to offer. Before arriving in Trapani, I made sure to get advice from a local expert on what I simply had to try, and her recommendations proved invaluable. Thanks to her insights and […]

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It’s always difficult trying to find reasonably priced holidays in the summer school break, so when I spotted this package deal to Malta I snapped it up for me, my husband, Tom and my two daughters, Eva, 12, and Lily, 10. I wasn’t sure what to expect, as Malta used to have the reputation of being a destination for older holiday makers, rather than families, but it seems the island is trying to change all that. Our resort, Mellieha, has the longest beach on the island, so perfect for the […]

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Last summer when I mentioned to people I was planning a trip to Cyprus (Northern Cyprus as well), I often received blank stares or the question “where is Cyprus”. A little geography is in order; the island is in the Mediterranean Sea – in the far eastern reaches south of Turkey and just west of Lebanon. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean after Italy’s Sicily and Sardinia. I flew from Beirut, Lebanon – there are certainly plenty of other flights to the islands, especially from the UK. […]

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Malta is a series of tiny islands located about 80 kilometers south of Sicily and east of Tunisia in the Mediterranean. The country has a rich cultural history with both Islamic and Catholic influence. It was a part of the British Empire until 1964 when it gained independence. The charming capital city of Valletta is Europe’s smallest and with 450,000 people living on the islands Malta is one of the world’s densest populated countries. Valletta is a charming city with great views of the water and historical architecture. Because it […]

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Author Swick highlights “the seven joys of travel” in seven chapters – anticipation, movement, break from routine, novelty, discovery, emotional connection and a heightened appreciation of home”. This book is about his experiences, people he meets on the road and the resulting stories from travel when one is open to experiencing these seven joys. These seven chapters are followed by seven additional chapters focusing on personal stories from Swick’s own travels. Two highlights of these subsequent chapters are “My Days with the Anti-Mafia” during time he spends in Sicily and […]

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John M. Edwards takes a ferry boat, complete with a small steamer trunk and a traveler’s liquid pride “In Sicily, it’s fine, you can change money everywhere,” the lanky traveler lectured, popping the tab on his beercan, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. A white floppy sunhat, popularized by British sunbathers in Brighton, shaded his head from the fierce Mediterranean sun, though we were hidden in the subterranean hold of a ship bound from Syracusa to Valletta. He reminded me somewhat of an Australian version of Gilbert […]

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I take a deep blue look at the Mediterranean Sea. Barcelona is so beautiful in the summer. Everybody knows that; everybody’s written about it. Oh no, am I one of them too? It’s so beautiful here in Parc de Montjuic; I have the whole hill to myself. I walk inside the fortress, pretend there’s still something to protect. I watch the port activity from up high while I eat my juicy nectarines. The containers look like Lego bricks, the cranes are the only dinosaurs not yet extinct. Nobody is around […]

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A soft breezy sunrise rouses me as my ship nears the coast and moors at the docks of Maguino-o, off the city of Calbayog Western Samar in the Central Philippines. Sheer weather of the early morning meets the island’s pristine seawaters. And I feel like a sixteenth-century explorer reincarnated. “There you are,” I whisper upon sighting the shores of Samar. Believing I could reach the location only through history books. One of the very destinations I often read about and even long to visit since I was seven or eight. […]

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Ispani, Italy — October 2010 — Thousands of ancient watchtowers – ‘torries’ in Italian – survive along the coasts of Italy, but very few people (even those who live near them) know much about their fascinating history and purpose. Barbarossa and the Towers of Italy, a new documentary film, reveals the never before told story of their rich history. And now Barbarossa and the Towers of Italy earns another award recognition: The Award of Merit: Short Documentary from The Accolade. The Accolade recognizes producers, established and emerging, who demonstrate exceptional […]

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Moon Italy by Alexei J. Cohen Another one of the classic Moon Europe Handbooks. Comprehensive yet to the point, this book covers A-Z from Milan to Sicily. Each section of Italy is color coded on the main map in the front of the book and covered in detail. There is no shortage of sights in Italy and Mr. Cohen has done a remarkable job of highlighting not only the tried and true Italian attractions but also the often overlooked spots. Visiting Italy would not be Italy without their famous cuisine […]

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Breakfast Cafe du Monde ,located at 800 Decatur Street, is an ideal location for breakfast. This is the original Cafe du Monde location – with a number of other branches mostly in and around New Orleans, as well as a large international presence exclusively in Japan. The cafe is located near the shores of the Mississippi River in the French Quarter this is where you come for French-style beignet pastries and coffee. You can drive here or walk from the Hotel Monteleone – its about 10-15 minutes depending on how […]

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Separated from the Italian mainland by the Strait of Messina, Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean. Multicultural and cosmopolitan, its history stretches back 3,000 years. Fought over by warring nations for much of its existence, the island has been colonised by Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Normans. These diverse influences, all of which have left distinctly noticeable traces, have shaped the island’s character into the truly unique place it is today. There is plenty to keep the visitor occupied on this fascinating island, but certain places simply should not […]

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