by Judy Bereza, guest blogger

“Sicily is not Italy.” 

That is the mantra we heard repeated frequently by Sicilians.”

They will remind you that they are an island unto themselves with their own heritage, language, and culture. It is an fascinating paradox of a people proud of their history, and yet, we discovered, anxious not to dwell on their troubled Mafia past. 

We visited this historic island with two long time friends in early May, and were swept away.Every day provided a new awakening to a culture formed by centuries of occupation by over a dozen forces, which while controlling the land, also fostered a rich and varied history and a diverse culture. An interesting fact:  Palermo, the Capital of Sicily, has the distinction of being the most conquered city in the world.   

Palermo

We landed in Palermo, a crowded and congested city in a beautiful setting on the northeast side of the island along the sea.  Our trip was planned through a local travel agency called Bellagio, which means “Beautiful Land”, a perfect description of the island.  The itinerary took us through much of it, starting west with a van and driver, traveling around  the coast, and ending in Catania, on the eastern side, close to Italy.

In each location we were met with local guides.  History unfolded with grand cathedrals with Byzantine influences, Greek and Roman ruins, and some structures not ruins at all.  Several Greek theaters on the island are still being used for plays and concerts.  

We visited private villas and gardens, and were welcomed by the owners.  We toured vineyards and sampled wines.  We even managed to get in a few rounds of golf.  One course was on the shoulders of Mount Etna.  If your ball bounces against some lava, forget it.  

The transit from one location to another was a travelogue of beautiful scenery.  One driver treated us to an authentic Sicilian lunch she had prepared.  The beach setting was perfect, the lunch divine, and we had an opportunity to experience true Sicilian hospitality.

Ah……the food!

And the food!  As to be expected, when you are on an island, seafood is paramount.But fish is just the beginning of traditional Sicilian food.  Let’s move on to squid, pasta with squid ink, octopus, raw red prawns, or for those with sensitive stomachs, there are other delicacies.  Olives, figs, lemons, artichokes, eggplant, almonds, these are all delicious staples of a Sicilian diet.  The variety of food, flavors, and spices can be traced to the multiple ethnic people who conquered and inhabited the island.

If your interests converge around UNESCO sites, you will not be disappointed.  Severalancient cities founded in the Greek and Roman eras have evolved over the centuries, surviving a catastrophic earthquake in the 17th century, and rising from the ashes in glorious Baroque style.  Ragusa and Siracusa are especially noteworthy.

Lovely Hotels

Now for the accommodations.  This was a very special shared anniversary trip for us,so we did splurge on our hotels.  If you think Sicily is a rustic destination, you will be bowled over by exquisite and historic hotels.  Add incredible settings, some. overlooking ancient temples and others perched high above the sea. Then add the incomparable view of Mount Etna, seen from the patio of the Grand Hotel Timeo, and you have all the elements of a perfect holiday.

Judy Bereza is a retired interior designer/kitchen expert, constant walker and “Nana” to five adorable grand children. With friends she has hiked in Wales, Cornwall, Switzerland, Smokey Mountain National Park, Ireland and California.

Occasionally she veers off the trail to explore a different kind of travel adventure that includes her husband and good friends.