Holiday bucket list: Sicily
Ever since I watched Alex Polizzi’s Secret Italy on Channel 5 last year, I’ve wanted to visit Sicily. The little island just off the toe of Italy keeps popping up in travel magazines I read and I’m just desperate to go and visit. I think what I love about it is that it has everything: gorgeous coastline; fabulous, ancient cities; and wonderful, vibrant food markets.. It’s one of those places (along with Cuba at the moment) that’s very high on my travel bucket list.
I’ve recently discovered Scent of Sicily Villas, and when they asked me to pick a few of my favourites, I was happy to oblige. While watching the show I was entranced by Sicily’s capital, Palermo. The faded pastel houses, grand old palazzos and piazzas all demand to be explored, and what better place to base yourself than the gorgeous Villa Oasis, close enough to the city to be a great base for sightseeing, yet far enough away to be a tranquil retreat. And just look at that pool!
Villa Oasis, Palermo
Or have a look at Antico Forno (literally ‘ancient oven’ - and it does indeed have one). This gorgeous, historical house is right down in the south of Sicily, near the town of Modica, nestled in a rural setting, but still within easy driving distance of beautiful, baroque towns and gorgeous beaches.
Antico Forno
The little island of Pantelleria fascinates me as well. Roughly half way between Sicily and Africa (they say you can see the African coast on a clear day), it looks remote but is easily accessible (there are daily flights and ferries from Sicily). I’m especially tempted here because of the Zibibbo wine that’s produced on the island. The island is dotted with ancient stone houses, called ‘dammusi’, and Villa le Zighe, nestled at the northern tip of this fascinating little island, is a stunning example.
Villa le Zighe, Pantelleria
Getting there
If, like me, you fancy a trip to one of these luxury villas in Sicily, it’s so easy to get to. Of the four airports in Sicily, quite a few airlines fly to both Palermo and Catania, including EasyJet, Ryanair and from April this year, BA will fly to Palermo from Heathrow twice a week.
My husband and I saw “the mummies of palermo” four years ago and decided to go and decided to go for our honeymoon.
We went by train from Rome to palermo first class not at all expensive much the same price as second class. we crossed into Sicily via villa San Giovani into messina, wow factor +++++ the ferry is included in the train ticket if you want take the ferry with your car it’s €37 for a single €72 for a 90 day return . you can take your motorcycle and caravan please check the prices for all tickets.
Staying in Milazzo for 3 weeks at Villa flavia, Milazzo is a town with a recently renovated castle and from the harbour you can reach the Aeolian islands, volcano, panerea and it’s little shops and medieval ruins also Stromboli where it’s possible to see the volcano come to life at night time with erruptions and lava being spewed out.
We returned to Rome on the night train 3 weeks later.
Our second visit was to palermo via trapani with Ryanair.
Our apartment was in beati pauli where a market has taken place for about 800 years.
This area was once mafia occupied, and looks run down and in need of a face lift but so exciting.
Our apartment was only a few minutes walk from the duomo (on certain nights, for a fee, you can walk on the roof of the duomo) we discovered this whilst watching from the apartment window.
The Norman palace is within easy walking distance also.
Mondello, a beautiful beach, isn’t that far away reachable by bus, also Montreal again reachable by bus is a must see.
The anti mafia museum in Corleone is worth a visit.
Bagheria (where the film baaria was filmed, English subtitles ) is just a stones throw from palermo reachable by train and bus and cars. Santa flavia is reachable on foot from bagheria where there’s a beach ( all the beaches mentioned are blessed with clear waters) and fish market most if not all days.
Try booking through booking.com / owners direct and homelidays for accommodation.
Paula, this is AMAZING! Thank you so much for all this incredible information. I’ll make sure to come back to it when I finally take my trip 🙂 xx