Sicily

Transported

This trip to Sicily was my first time traveling to Europe. Arriving on this island felt like stepping back in time. The combination of the amazing historical buildings, preservation of the culture, and location on an island separated from the rest of mainland Italy transported us into a different world. Beyond the stunning landscape, the slower pace of life and the pride and passion the locals expressed for their work stand out in my memory even though six years have passed since this trip. In this photo, I looked out across the city of Cefalu and soaked in the spectacle of the new location.

Golden Mosiac

The bustling streets of Palermo are alive with traffic, horse carriages, vendors, and pedestrians. Nestled on top of a hill subtly covered in cacti, however, lies the majestic Palatine Chapel. This structure lies within a larger building, notable for its high archways and vast central courtyard. After circling through the outdoor balconies towering above the courtyard, you will reach the tall, handcrafted wooden doors that lead into the religious sanctuary within. Upon closer inspection of the doors, you will find its intricate details include expressive faces and winding vines surrounding the regal central image. This delicate carving, however, represents only a small piece of the beauty that lies beyond the doors. Entering the Palatine Chapel is similar to stepping foot inside the most extravagant mosaic you can imagine. Its walls are covered in row upon row of brightly covered designs that range in pattern as they stretch across the walls. They closely resembled a woven quilt, but were substantially more impressive because they were individually cut pieces of material set in stone in a flawless design. Above these mosaics were glowing images of Christ and his disciples. Most eye-catching, however, were the walls surrounding the altar. Although this area was restricted from the public, its glowing golden walls on which members of the Holy Family were affixed could not have been missed. The fine, intricate detail and care taken in this part of the church was planned out down to the smallest marble statue at the top and the base surrounding pillars. Finally, looking up at the ceiling, you will see a beautiful handcrafted wooden masterpiece. The pattern dipped higher into the rooftop in a fashion that resembled a glorious egg crate. There was not one square inch of wood that had not been carved specifically into an overall, continuous design that stretched across the length of the chapel. The Palatine Chapel is a wondrous structure that’s incredible design will captivate any clear-sighted audience.

Golden Glow

The beauty and details in the buildings of Italy showcase a appreciation for art and design.

Segesta Temple

It amazes me that ancient structures such as this still exist. Relics of historical times, they serve as evidence that older societies lived much different lives where the cultural norms of today were irrelevant. Walking around the grounds, observing the building from all angles, you might wonder who had walked this path before.

Taormina

Turning through the streets of Taormina, one might never really know what to expect.  Around a bend one might find an open piazza with sweeping view of the sea, a hidden restaurant wafting in the scents of fresh pasta, or a narrow hallway opening up into a bright hand-crafted and painted pottery shop.  On one early morning in Taormina, we climbed winding staircases, turned down a long street lined with vendors and found ourselves at the gates of an ancient ruin.  As our guide swiped our tickets through the turnstile, we continued up the hill to find the beautiful Ancient Greek Theater. By this point in the trip, we had encountered numerous temples, which were beautiful in themselves, but becoming repetitive.  This vast theater, however, won me over with the natural backdrop of Mount Etna towering over the theater in the distance.  This landmark, crumbling and covered in moss in several places, had been restored years ago to help it retain its original shape.  As I wandered through the stadium seating, I thought back to the extravagant shows that once graced this stage and the throngs of historical people who once gathered in those very seats.  As we sat down to listen to the stories of the theater, however, I discovered its history might be more recent that I realized. This ancient theater was still used for modern performances!  Recently, the Italian classical artist, Anthony Bocelli, performed on this very stage.  While performing at one show, his crowd suddenly erupted into cheers and howls.  Confused at why anyone would interrupt him in the middle of a performance, Bocelli stopped singing and stared at the audience with anger and hurt.  Before he could walk away, however, his attendants shouted to him to turn around.  Mount Etna was erupting and spewing hot lava during his act!  While modern pyrotechnics and fireworks may have come a long way, there is no substitution for a volcanic eruption rousing a crowd at a live performance.  The mixture of the Ancient Theater with modern art and music is a unique gem, making the island of Sicily ever more fascinating.

Castelbuono Snow Caps

On this island off the coast of Europe, floating in the Mediterranean Sea, breathtaking beaches scattered the shorelines while snow capped mountains, even including an active volcano, erupted from the center. Set as the backdrop of the quaint Sicilian town of Castelbuono, the mountainous view created a scene from a fairytale. After walking through the streets, sipping blood orange soda, seeing this landscape in the distance inspired me to capture the image and commit it to memory.

Which Way?

Happily wandering the streets of Italy, it didn't matter which way we turned. Everything was exciting and enticing. The modes of transportation were particularly memorable as they ranged from tiny, European cars that could only fit one at a time through the narrow, cobblestone streets to donkeys pulling along a cart behind them.

Island Ride

Cruising through cobblestone streets on a motorcycle sounds like the quintessential European experience. The open air and spring breeze contribute to the vibes as you have an open view of everything occurring around you. This form of transportation is especially ideal on an island where the coastline never ends.

Italian Espresso

Taking a sip of the local flavor, I enjoyed my Italian espresso in the middle of the busy city center of Cefalu. We found the cafe outside a gorgeous cathedral and as we sat and sipped our drinks, we watched a parade of people assembling in the streets. As a holiday tradition, the local community carried large statues of saints through the streets to celebrate. In the moment, we truly got a taste of this historic culture.

Cefalù Seaside

Adding to the unique charm of Cefalù's seaside structures, this scene was featured in a movie my class and I had watched prior to our trip departure. Had we not seen the movie, this stunning view may not have been recognizable to us. While Cefalù may be a popular tourist destination, it is less common among American travelers, making the discovery of the city all the more enticing to me. Cefalù specifically was one of my favorite locations on the island.

Island Escape

The city of Cefalù is located on the island of Sicily, south of mainland Italy. This Mediterranean gem displays coastal charm and maintains its historic features. Not only are you able to escape to an island on a trip here, but you're also able to escape time. Traveling to an area that retains the slow and gentle speed of life, you may forget what year it currently is. With a glimpse at the ocean and the unique costal architecture, it becomes clear that Cefalù is a preserved treasure.

Sicilian Countryside

Driving across the Italian countryside, on our way to Palazzo Adriano, I felt captivated by the rolling green landscape. Each twist and turn in the road brought a fresh set of mountains, buildings with architecture I had never seen, and even animals roaming the land. At one turn, we encountered donkeys grazing on the hillside. Noting the American girls' fascinating, the driver pulled over and happily allowed us to exit the bus to take photos. This experience may have been normal for him, yet meant so much to us. Simply walking along the grass and taking in the scene was a refreshing moment that reminded us all what an adventure it is to travel.

Green Gateway

Walking through the streets of this Italian city transported us back in time hundreds of years. The uneven, cobblestone road kept our feet guessing while the narrow roads barely allowed enough room for a mini European car to pass through. The buildings had so much character with doors, steps, and windows in unexpected places. Turning the corner down a narrow alleyway, this bright green door caught my eye instantly and its green plants offered a fresh dose of nature to the city.

Sicilian Lemon

It was the last day in Taormina, the last day in Sicily, the last day in Italy. After spending the day venturing down to a local shopping market, wandering the streets of downtown making our last purchases, and eating as much gelato as we could fit in our stomachs, the tour group met on the patio of a quaint restaurant to share our last meal together. This meal, dubbed the Lemon Lunch, was the perfect way to conclude our time. Beginning with a light lemon risotto, we indulged in the fruity flavor. The dish was a tasteful and tart, with the savory aftertaste leaving our mouths feeling as though we had just had dessert. Next arrived lemon meatballs swathed in olive leaves. The leaves served both as a decoration for presentation purposes and also a method to retain the heat and flavorings of the meat. Although it was one of our smaller meals, the meatballs filled my stomach after eating just two. (Then again, maybe it was the healthy portions of gelato I had devoured just before lunch.) Finally, after the dished has been cleared away, a uniquely abstract shaped bowl holding sweet lemon custard graced the table for dessert. As a lighter alternative to gelato, this was a new and welcomed texture. Finally, our wait staff surprised us with the Sicilian specialty, Limon cello. We shared this drink together, under the awnings of the little restaurant tucked into a steep cobblestone stairway in Taormina. It was a sweet, refreshing, and celebratory way to conclude our time in Sicily, as well as our carefully planned Lemon Lunch.

Planeta Winery

Leading us around his winery following lunch, the owner showed us the inner-workings of the winery. We toured the heart of the business, seeing the factory and production side of the business. He took special care to explain in fine detail the processes the grapes undergo and concluded his tour by taking us into the cellar. Lastly, we experienced an authentic wine tasting on the outdoor patio. Beginning with a sweet white and ending the fourth tasting with a deep, oaky red wine, our palates experienced a wide range of flavors. My favorite was the sweet white infused with mango and pineapple, however I opted to purchase the Rose, which we had not had the opportunity to taste. As we left Planeta Winery, we all purchased their olive oil, which was the best and most fresh that we had tasted in Sicily. The vineyard encompassed the slow food movement we had learned about and also reflected the Italian nature of blending life and business with one’s passions.

Sicilian Vineyard

Planeta Winery is a symbol of Sicilian culture and life. The rolling green vineyards next to the water stretch uniformly over acres of land. At the heart of the vineyard is a series of small adobe buildings with tile roofs. Each building serves a different purpose. From bathrooms to a dining area, small shop, outdoor picnic area and a kitchen, the array of rooms are each unique in their own way and break the traditional mold of one large restaurant building. This reflects the Italian nature of putting care into each aspect of life.

Glimpse of Sicily

Lunch at the Planeta Winery was also simple, yet tasteful and elegant. The meal was served in three courses, one plate at a time. This allowed us to enjoy each dish’s individual flavoring and not become overwhelmed by a rush of food. It was served in a fine dining styling and was coupled with two types of wine made on the premises. The owner of the Winery sat at the table with us, treating us as close friends and showing the special care he put into his business. He made a strong effort to speak English, but had a thick Italian accent that added to his genuine charm.