First post - Sicily

This summer my boyfriend and I decided to spend our first vacation together exploring this marvelous island. 10 days driving around the beautiful west coast of Sicily.

Day one.

Departure from the port of Naples (boarding a car loaded with excitement more than bags), landing in Palermo too early in the morning. So. First things first. A huge breakfast with the most famous desserts: the 'cannolo' and the 'cassata', accompanied by a cappuccino (with extra coffee, 'cause my boyfriend is addicted to it). With a full belly everything works better: picked the right playlist (Rango compilation), we headed to Custonaci (TP). On our way to the house (Airbnb: Loft Rustico), we made a stop at Mondello beach, then at 'Sferracavallo' and finally at 'Isola delle femmine' ...hence... in the afternoon... we were lying on the bed, enjoying the air conditioning. We went out for dinner in a typical restaurant highly recommended by the landlady ('Ci vediamo da Mario') where we tasted the local specialties (the eggplants, oh myyy) and again the desserts with ricotta (do you know how many types of desserts you can make with ricotta cheese?)

Day two.

Ok. I must admit. Day 2 was a lazy day. But laziness is a state of mind all over the country ("la dolce vita"). However, the beach was very close (Cornino beach) and we were lucky enough to find a parking space (the hourly rate is ridiculously cheap). After a couple of hours (more or less as much as I can handle: sun issues) we went home to get ready for one of my favorite parts of the trip: the natural reserve 'Saline di Trapani e Paceco'. I chosen a scenic outfit for the occasion, the best time to enjoy the colorful, the splendor, the ... blablabla, the best time to take pictures is the sunset (#honest). At dinner time, we headed to Trapani city. Trapani was a pleasant surprise. In a square there was a gastronomic event where we ate three different types of pasta in one dish and 2 giant arancine. We enjoyed a delicious drink in a lounge bar overlooking the sea with a panoramic view.

Day three.

This has been a busy day for us, guys. Morning: we stopped in an enchanting, wild place: the whole environment with crystal clear and uncrowded sea was breathtaking (Macari beach). Afternoon: the famous 'Riserva dello Zingaro', one of the most admired natural pearls in Sicily. It is a route of seven kilometers, from Scopello to San Vito Lo Capo, with many stages: Cala Tonnarella dell'Uzzo, Cala Marinella, Cala Berretta, Cala della Disa, Cala del Varo and Cala Capreria, there are many routes and they’re all full of surprises. All we did was walk and dive and dive and walk. At the end of the day we were devasteted but dinner and there we are, rum from a discount and a movie, so nerdy ... and awesome!

Day four.

Our plan was to spend our afternoon in Erice so we decided to stay in that area until then. We had our first "brioche col tuppo" filled with ice cream (all of these adventures needed a good refill, of course). Erice is a beautiful village, rich in traditions and stories of other times: you can breathe all this while walking through its streets.

Day five.

Wonderful beach and fantastic panorama, social life and shopping: where did we go? San Vito Lo Capo, of course. Make sure you pack sunscreen and a large beach towel because one of the hottest things to do here is lie in the sun and relax. The sand is white and very fine, while the clear water of the sea is tinged with different shades depending on the position of the sun, from blue to green to deep blue. We went around town and ended up having the "Sicilian granita" (I think we have a winner hereee).

Day six.

We woke up early, destination 'Castellammare del Golfo'. Castellammare del Golfo should be on your list. Allowing a day in Castellammare del Golfo turned out to be perfect as it let us see this modest town on the north coast between Trapani and Palermo. There is no doubt that the main attraction of Castellammare del Golfo is the old port area. The tourist port, full of fishing boats and yachts, is the heart and soul of the town. The most popular beach is Playa Playa with a real promenade flanked by restaurants and bars. Around sunset we headed to the 'Tempio di Segesta', a very characteristic place (photo below)!

Day seven.

Scopello, pebble beach and a fascinating cliff, from where you can admire a panorama or take a dip in the turquoise waters of the small bay. Curiosity: we found a mini golf course...

Day eight.

Agenda for: relaxation. And for this occasion we have chosen to go once again to San Vito Lo Capo (not just for the granita, believe me). We had one last dinner to enjoy all the delicous food (again and again and again).

Day nine.

Visit of Palermo, the capital of Sicily, one of the richest cities of the island in terms of history and art. We also stocked up on arancine, cassate and cannoli (where? At the oldest and famous rotisserie shop in Palermo: 'Antica focacceria S. Francesco') , there's also the chance to purchase the best souvenirs,  those which can be savoured with relish back home (if they get there...)