Inspired by Sicily – Part 1

Mark Nicholls delves into Sicily’s striking architectural heritage and discovers an island of medieval hilltop towns, cathedrals and artistic inspiration… Sicily is an island that has been stamped by the indelible imprint of all those who have conquered, settled and passed through over thousands of years. It finally became part of Italy in 1860, but […]

Smeg x Dolce & Gabbana: The vibrant new kitchen range

Italian fashion designers Dolce & Gabbana and luxury appliance company Smeg have released a stunning, vibrant kitchenware collection at Salone del Mobile, Milan’s famous furniture fair. Taking inspiration from their heritage, Dolce & Gabbana have unveiled Sicilian-inspired bold colours and intricate patterns into their dynamic ‘Sicily is my Love’ collection. The brand new multi-coloured range, includes kettles, toasters, blenders, […]

La dolce vita in Sicily

Join us for a tour around the Donna Coraly Resort: a glorious Sicilian country escape… Drifts of snowy white roses fringe the approach to Donna Coraly Resort, where the sleek lines of the wide verandah offer shelter from the glorious Sicilian sun. And there’s an even warmer welcome from charismatic Lucia Pascarelli, owner of this […]

A tale of three cities, we visit Syracuse

Dive in to Sicily’s historic and picturesque Ionian Coast, today we visit Syracuse, an area featuring some fantastic ruins and beautiful lanes My final stop involved travelling south once again, to Sicily’s third city, Syracuse. Founded on the island of Ortigia in 734 BC by the Greeks, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a shining Baroque […]

A tale of three cities: Catania

To begin with Chris Allsop took us on a journey through Taormina, today we look at more of the picturesque Ionian Coast On this island of five million people, Catania houses about 300,000 and is referred to as the ‘Milan’ of Sicily; a nod to its economic importance (second only to the capital, Palermo). About half an […]

A tale of three cities, first up we visit Taormina

Touring Sicily’s historic and picturesque Ionian Coast, Chris Allsop takes in the sights while contending with the island’s ever-increasing profile thanks to its superb culinary scene, extraordinary history, and all-round Mediterranean pulchritude… Trips are all the sweeter when there’s an unseasonal Arctic blast forecast for the weekend back home. On this gale of Schadenfreude I breezed […]

Sicily – Holiday on the Italian Island

Jane Keighley learns how best to enjoy the Italian island of Sicily in less than a week, from Palermo to the charming town of Trapani and beyond… In the words of a Sicilian proverb “He who goes to Palermo without seeing Monreale leaves a donkey and comes back an ass”. As I wandered around the […]

Italia Moments – Week 5

Holiday travels seem to be the theme this week, from Rome to Sicily and day to night. Send your photos ready for Italia! Moments Week 6! A couple just returned from ‘an amazing 2-week visit with our dear friends’ View from the apartment balcony in Verona, March 2016 taken by Bettina Weber The beautiful Sunset in Naples captured by Kim […]

Anchovy and mozzarella mini rolls

Second in our new series of Sicilian recipes is the Anchovy and Mozerella Mini Rolls.  Anchovy and mozzarella mini rolls Crispeddi siciliani Makes 12 – Preparation 2 hours – Cooking 15 minutes Ingredients 250g white strong flour 2 tsp fine sea salt 10g fresh yeast, crumbled, or 1 tsp dried yeast 2 tbsp olive oil 150ml water, at […]

Top Tips For Taormina

See below for the best places to eat, what to see and do, where to stay and how to get there to ensure you have the best time in Taormina, Sicily… What to see and do Isola Bella It would be easy to miss out on a trip to Isola Bella if you are on […]