When people talk about must-see places in Sicily, one name comes up again and again: Syracuse. If you ask tourists what their favorite city on the island is, many will say Siracusa without hesitation. Naturally, that meant we arrived here with very high expectations. But after traveling through almost the
I will be honest. I was not excited about Catania at all. Before visiting, I had heard the same description many people repeat. Chaotic. Loud. Messy. Impossible traffic. So naturally I expected a city where you survive the experience rather than enjoy it. Instead, Catania surprised me almost immediately. First
In general, if I am being fully honest, I expected not to like the markets in Catania. Not hate them. Just… Not care that much. I even considered skipping the market completely. We didn’t. And I’m very glad we didn’t. La Pescheria We started at La Pescheria,
Some experiences are beautiful. And some feel like you were quietly allowed into something sacred that has been alive for centuries. Our visit to Antica Dolceria Bonajuto in Modica was the second kind. Yes, it is the oldest chocolate factory in Sicily. Yes, it is well known. But what made
San Vito Lo Capo is one of the most famous beach towns in Sicily. In summer, it’s known for its bright sand, clear water, and a tourism season that completely transforms the place. But we wanted to see what happens when the season ends. Not just as visitors, but
When we were still living abroad, Sicily often sounded like some kind of Mediterranean cheat code. Cheap houses, endless sunshine, fresh food, slow life. But once you actually move here, the numbers start to feel a bit more real. So let’s talk about it honestly. Not dream-numbers from old
We did not expect much from Monreale. And I mean that honestly. It was January. It was raining. And it is one of those places every single guidebook tells you to visit. That combination rarely works in our experience, especially in low season. Because of that, we planned to continue
We did not plan to be in Corleone that week. We were supposed to be on the other side of the island. Catania. Syracuse. The east coast. Then Storm Harry arrived. We followed the situation closely. News updates, local reports, messages from people we know. The scale of the damage
Living through winter here We’ve been very happy with winter in Sicily. That’s the honest truth. Yes, some coastal towns do feel quieter. Some places close. Some days are slow. But it has never felt like a problem for us. When we want some city energy, action and
A spontaneous idea that felt reasonable at the time This hike was never really planned. It started as one of those Sicily thoughts that sounds innocent enough. We had a free day. The weather looked dramatic but not impossible. Rocca Busambra is the highest mountain in Western Sicily, so of
Before moving to Sicily, we had a few worries. One of them was the summer heat, which I’ve already briefly touched on in other articles. The other one was winter. Or more specifically, the quiet season. One question kept lingering in our minds. How dead Sicily actually is or
Relocating with a dog always sounds harder than it actually is. At least that has been our experience. And yes, I say this now, confidently, from Sicily, after we’ve already done the stressful versions of moving with a dog before. So here is the honest version. No drama. No
Our first stop in Sciacca was almost accidental. We were driving back from Selinunte and decided to see what Sciacca was about. It was Sunday. It was around 14:00. Which we now know is an almost illegal hour in Sicily. The town felt… dead. Not abandoned, but paused. Streets
Christmas in Sicily has been a genuinely special experience for us. Not because Christmas itself is unique here. People enjoy this season everywhere. But because of how Sicily approaches it. With imagination. With atmosphere. With an eye for detail that feels intentional rather than excessive. The lights are not just
Segesta is one of those places where the first question isn’t what is this, but why is it here. A large ancient temple standing in open hills, surrounded only by farmland and wide sky. No city around it. No dense cluster of ruins. Just one structure, placed with intention
(Terme di Segesta, also known as Aquae Segestanae) We have visited the thermals of Segesta twice now. Mostly because of our own laziness, honestly. These are the kind of places you should be going to weekly if you live anywhere nearby. And every time, the same thought comes back. How
Why this topic matters to us As you already know, Palermo has become one of our favourite cities... Ever. So it honestly hits us almost personally when we see comments online calling it trashy, dirty or even comparing it to ghettos. Some people write things that make you wonder if
First impressions Erice is one of the most recommended places to visit if you are anywhere near Trapani. Every guide says it. Every video says it. Every person who has ever visited the area says it. We used to ignore advice like that, trying very hard to be the kind
What we expected before going Before our first trip to Palermo, we did what everyone does. We read Reddit. We watched a few videos. And the message everywhere was the same. Palermo is dirty. Palermo is full of trash. Palermo is chaos. And, at the danger of being painfully shallow,
Starting over in Sicily Moving here was a dream, yes, but it was also our way out. We had reached a point where our old life felt heavy and stuck and we knew we needed a change. Sicily became that place for us. Where we imagined we could finally breathe,
Everyday Life
Why We Avoided Trapani At First I will be honest, friends, because that is the kind of relationship we want to build here. We kept delaying Trapani. We expected not to like it. We imagined something similar to Cefalù which is beautiful, of course... But at that moment we were
Before coming to Sicily, Villa Romana del Casale wasn’t even on our list. TripAdvisor mentioned it, but there wasn’t much useful information anywhere. We didn’t know what to expect, but certainly not what we found. It was a very hot August day, the kind of heat where
We were looking for a winery somewhere close to Terrasini, nothing too far, nothing too complicated. The plan was simple: my friends were coming over and, honestly, visiting a Sicilian winery is basically mandatory at this point. And, as usual, I started looking way too late. Like “why am I
Enna wasn’t supposed to be a big thing. It started as a simple “let’s stop by” on our way back from the Roman hunting house near Piazza Armerina, the one with mosaics so perfectly preserved it makes you wonder if the Romans secretly had underfloor heating and Insta.