Favorite memory or experience in Sicily

I will give you a few from our Fall 2023 trip
Syracusa-Neapolis Archaeological Park
Etna 3000 emotion tour by go Etna tour
Cefalu- all of it, especially La Rocca hike
Between Trapani and Palermo, Zingaro national reserve coastal trail
Palermo- streaty food tour and anti mafia tour

First trip was at Christmastime 11 years ago, so April won’t have quite the same atmosphere as the holiday food and preparations and events that were our single favorite memory, but there are several other things that stood out on that trip, and on the second visit a few years later. These include:

• Food. The butcher in Valderice, the fruit carts and markets in many towns, the B&B that served us a special panettone at breakfast, the Maria Grammatico bakery in Erice, dinner one night in Modica, taking the ornate, tiled staircase in Caltagirone to and from dinner. Christmas Day lunch at the agriturismo where we and one other family were staying was served to what seemed like 200 other people, all Sicilians. We sat at one of the big, round tables with several locals who’d come for lunch, all dressed up. It was clearly the place to be in the area for lots of folks.

• The charming, welcoming, and pretty town of Modica, in the southeast corner. There’s a special chocolate shop there, in the lower town, and stairs and winding streets connect with the upper town.

• Amazing ancient Greek temples at Segesta and outside of Agrigento.

• The amazing ancient Roman palace, Villa Romana del Casale, near the town of Piazza Armerina. The mosaics on the walls and floors are stunning works of art.

• I mentioned the agriturismo earlier. Try to stay at an agriturismo part of your trip.

We loved our waterfront apartment on Ortigia overlooking the marina harbor. Every morning when we woke up we’d see new boats that had arrived in the harbor overnight flying the flags of different countries from all over the world.
Shopping in the open air food markets on Ortigia.
The Temples in Agrigento.
Noto, a Baroque city.
The walk up cannoli window in Ortigia, just off the Piazza Duomo which became a daily stop. Three flavors!
Our first view of snow capped Mt. Etna as we drove north.
The delicious meals we had throughout Sicily, especially swordfish. And the cannolis too!

The whole island is special and it’s hard to pick out a favourite…but near Segesta with its temple is a small Greek theatre perched on top of a hill with stunning views across the countryside, that was a standout. Well worth the steep climb!

From our wonderful trip to Sicily in 2022: Walking the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento at sunset. Totally awesome!

These are lovely. Thank you.

Siracusa, Ortigia market. The sandwich guy.
Of course we had heard about this and we went. Of course, a line, but not too bad. Standing there for our theatrical sandwich. Most people get their sandwich and go. There are tables. We were lucky enough to snag one when a waiter pointed it out. So glad. We got a charcuterie board, out of this world. The bigger thing was we got to watch the sandwich man’s theatricals without standing in line. And, you will stand in line for a long time because the sandwich is more about the presentation than the servicing of the line.
So, if you go, don’t stand in line, forgo the sandwich for something else or you will have a long wait.

Doing a day trip on Mount Etna with the company called ETNA PEOPLE.

There was snow on the mountain, and they supplied hiking poles, and warm clothing. Small van with only eight people then afterwards stopped at a wonderful winery for a beautiful lunch. Roberto was our tour guide and he was the best ever.

And the price was very reasonable, it was one of my best days in the three months I spent in Italy last year.

Oh, so many good memories:
-private tour guide to see the temples at Agrigento
-sunset at Scala dei Turchi
-spending a foggy morning exploring Erice
-a day spent strolling and chocolate tasting in Modica
-anywhere in Ortygia
-wine tasting at Donnafugata (loved the Ben Rye)

Enjoy Sicily and it's many pleasures.

Staying in San Vito lo Capo and hiking the zingaro reserve 20 plus years ago. Piazza Armerina (villa romana del casale) for the mosaics on same trip - very off the beaten path at the time.

Erice! During my only trip to Sicily, I spent my first 2 nights in Erice, on the northwest coast, a beautiful and ancient stone town. I especially loved the early morning and evening hours, when the town was very quiet and shrouded in a mysterious mist. Had a memorable and delicious first dinner — couscous di pesce, grilled lamb chops with a Sicilian red and typical dessert. Still leaves me drooling, years later!