Wish Sicily, Author at Blog Wish Sicily

Gen 20 2022

Sicily’s Tastiest Foodie Retreats

Sicily’s Tastiest Foodie Retreats selected by Suitcase magazine The gastronomic scene in Sicily is continuing to expand, becoming ever more adventurous whilst still remaining true to its traditional roots. And the good news is that you don’t need to head for a Michelin-starred restaurant to experience it – you’ll find fantastic ingredients on market stalls and simple but delicious dishes at the local trattoria. But what if you want to dig deeper into Sicilian gastronomic culture, to find out what to buy at the market and learn how to prepare some of the dishes for yourself? Cue Cooking & Culture, a…

Gen 19 2022

Summer holiday dreaming

Top things to look for in your Sicily holiday villa Have you started thinking about your summer holiday? Of all the things guaranteed to lift your spirits in January, booking a holiday is right up there! And with life beginning to feel that it could be approaching something like normal, we’re delighted to see so many people already taking a peek at what’s on offer in 2022. So what are the main things to look for when it comes to picking a villa holiday in Sicily? We’ve listened to your top requests and comments, all of which add up to…

Gen 10 2022

Evening fun in Sicily

2022 adventures from the inewspaper Ready for an adventure? After almost 2 years of holiday uncertainty, the prospect of a big trip in 2022 is infinitely appealing and this weekend’s press was full of inspiration on where to find adventure. The i Newspaper delivered a great round-up of tempting ideas, from family adventures in Jordan and Costa Rica to a gastronomic tasting holiday in Siri Lanka. And having recently launched our new collection of adventure experiences in Sicily, we were delighted to see our 4×4 ‘Bandit Tour’ included in the feature! The tour’s a great option if you’re one of…

Dic 22 2021

Christmas in Sicily

Traditional festive Christmas and New Year celebrations Christmas is coming and with it, a sparkling display of nativity scenes, twinkling lights and a selection of foodie treats. As you’d expect, the Christmas period in Sicily is both traditional and religious but you’ll also find plenty of festive fun. It’s also a brilliant opportunity to get a real insight into life in Sicily without the tourists. Weather in Sicily at Christmas In spite of Sicily’s proximity to Africa, you’re not going to find soaring Mediterranean heat. Temperatures tend to range from around 11 to 16˚ but this can vary further depending…

Dic 10 2021

Dreaming of a summer villa holiday in Sicily

oasivera-vendicari-sicily-villa-wishsicily

6 villas in Sicily to put on your radar for 2022 As we hurtle towards the year end, it’s a good time to reflect back on the past 12 months, but also to look forward. Once again, the year has not been without its share of challenges but with lows come highs and we’re confident that 2022 will bring plenty of those. So while you may not be ready to book a 2022 holiday, having a little rummage around to see what you might fancy can be useful and is certainly very enjoyable! To help get you started, we’ve pulled…

Dic 07 2021

New adventure experiences in Sicily’s national parks

Villa specialist Wish Sicily has added a range of jeep, mountain bike and horseback adventures in Sicily’s spectacular Madonie and Nebrodi national parks to its 2022 programme. The villa operator has also introduced a selection of new coastal villas. JEEP MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES Wild safari jeep adventures, night-time bandit tours and jeep trails to the peaks of the Madonie mountains promise to take guests deep into the heart of Sicily’s national parks. There are also sunset jeep excursions with a barbecue and a tour to the Valle di Halaesa, home to Europe’s largest contemporary open-air sculpture park. Family adventures Set off…

Nov 26 2021

Discover Sicily’s fascinating interior

5 reasons to stay inland in Sicily How much do you know about Sicily’s extraordinary interior? While most visitors to Sicily flock to the coast, shunning its mountains and rugged landscape for its beaches and inviting seas, its heartland remains delightfully unexplored and tourist-free. Venture inland and you’ll find mountain ranges, limestone plains, hilltop villages, and olives groves and vineyards that stretch as far as the eye can see. If you choose to stay on the coast, you can of course still easily access the island’s interior but if you’re looking to get under Sicily’s skin, then inland is the…

Nov 16 2021

Sicily Summer holiday inspiration

The best Sicily holiday ideas for 2022 As the world starts to peer cautiously round the corner, just the thought of booking a summer holiday for 2022 is one that fizzes with excitement. Where to book? The sunny shores of the Mediterranean are tantalizingly close, but perhaps something that promises a little more activity or culture might be more appealing. A city break perhaps? Or an away-from-it-all destination where you can delve deep into the local culture or natural world? The good news is that Sicily ticks all these boxes, so read on for inspiration. The family holiday Pick somewhere…

Nov 02 2021

Catania – Sicily’s second city

Catania town main square center (Piazza del Duomo)

The best things to see and do in Catania Catania may technically be Sicily’s second largest city but its lashings of Baroque style, dark lava stone buildings and elaborate architecture elevate it to one of Sicily’s must-see destinations. Undeniably lively and perhaps slightly chaotic, the city today blends history and art with contemporary living, showcasing extravagant palazzi and churches, authentic markets and designer boutiques. In the 17th century, the city was devastated by a volcanic eruption and, less than 30 years later, a major earthquake, resulting in much of the city being rebuilt into one of black and white palazzi…

Ott 18 2021

A multi-generational holiday in Sicily

Is Sicily the best place for a big family holiday? After 18 months of uncertainty, enforced lockdowns and at worst, oceans between us, there’s never been a better time to plan a holiday with our loved ones. If you’re one of the unlucky ones who have missed out on sharing those landmark moments with the special people in your life, this is your chance to catch up on memory-making. Close the generation gap Let’s face it – no one’s going to spoil your kids as much as their grandparents! If you’ve got young children who have been deprived of the…

Ott 05 2021

Ten of the best half-term holidays

The Guardian recommends a half-term break in Syracuse, Sicily Who wouldn’t enjoy some October sunshine, a last chance to swim in balmy seas before winter sets in and a daily fix of a brioche bun crammed with gelato? Those are just three of the reasons the Guardian chose to include Sicily, and specifically Syracuse, in its recent round-up of ten best half-term holidays. Guests at Casa a Ortigia in October can hop over to the urban beach across the road from the villa and enjoy dips in waters that still retain some of the summer heat. Alternatively there are baroque…

Ott 02 2021

Six of the best things to do in Sicily

Experience Sicilian food, culture and nature If a holiday in Sicily has been on your radar for a while, you’ll already know how much there is to do. Long lists of ancient temples, baroque churches and Roman amphitheatres trip off the tongue and before you know it, you’re feeling stressed about how you’re going to fit everything into a mere week on the island! But what about activities that don’t involve traditional sightseeing? It seems that while many visitors may not necessarily want to delve back into ancient history, they may equally want to do something other than flop on…

Set 27 2021

Catch the last of the autumn sun in Sicily

The Guardian recommends Pozzillo for a late sunshine break For anyone desperate for a few last rays of sunshine and a change of scene, the Guardian’s recent round-up of autumn sun holidays is packed with inspiration. Sarah Baxter picks 10 of the best characterful locations where you can live like the locals, and still enjoy sea dips, beach excursions and lingering alfresco meals in balmy temperatures. If it’s authenticity you’re after, Pozzillo ticks every box. This tiny fishing port on Sicily’s east coast is close to some of Sicily’s most popular attractions, but also perfect if you want to experience…

Set 16 2021

Luxury break in Palermo

Take an alternative Italian city break With one of the biggest historic centres in the whole of Italy, atmospheric markets, a fascinating food culture and the second largest opera house in Europe, Palermo is increasingly a strong contender when it comes to Italian city breaks. At times, it can seem a little rough round the edges but that’s all part of the attraction and quickly overshadowed by magnificent UNESCO World Heritage architecture and a buzzing restaurant scene which sets the city up as the perfect introduction to the rest of the island. When is the best time to visit Palermo?…

Set 06 2021

What’s Sicily like in October?

5 of the best Sicily villas for an October half-term break The summer sunshine tends to linger just that little bit longer in Sicily compared to the rest of Italy, which means that October is still a very pleasant month to holiday here. Days can still be warm and sunny, with temperatures reaching up as high as 25˚C, and the sea temperatures, at around 23˚C, tend to be higher than in May. The summer crowds, however, have all headed back home which means that you get to see the real Sicily. Enjoy the luxury of having beaches almost to yourself…

Set 02 2021

Late summer sun in Sicily

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Save up to 20% on Wish Sicily villas Italy’s recent announcement that it has dropped its 5-day quarantine requirement for fully vaccinated Britons puts Sicily firmly back on the holiday map. Villa specialist Wish Sicily is offering up to 20% off selected apartments and villas in September and October when, given Sicily’s location just 100 miles or so northeast of Africa, you can expect temperatures in their early 20’s and sea water that has been warmed by the summer sun. Discounts are available on the following holidays: City break in Syracuse Feeling culture starved? Make up for lost time with…

Ago 24 2021

There’s still time to enjoy a holiday in Sicily

Wish Sicily featured in the Telegraph’s 20 Italian villas The announcement at the end of last month that the Italian government was extending its 5-day quarantine mandate for UK visitors to the end of August was bitterly disappointing for many, but as the Telegraph reports, an initial 5-day enforced respite from the outside world may not be such a hardship. According to the Telegraph, the secret lies in picking the right villa. Once you’ve got that sorted, the prospect of chilling over leisurely breakfasts on the terrace and catching up on poolside reading, rather than dashing off to the beach…

Ago 12 2021

Flavours of Sicily

Close up of a surface texture of a creamy green Ice cream.

Welcome to our world of gelati, granite and cremolate It’s crazy to think anyone would plan a holiday in Sicily based on ice-cream, but who doesn’t give a little whoop of joy at the thought of everyone flocking from far and wide for a scoop of gelato from your local gelateria! Sicilians take their gelati very seriously and even if you’re not a mad ice-cream fan, we suspect you’ll struggle to resist this frozen treat. Historically, gelato was probably first introduced to Sicily by the Arabs and was more of a granita than a creamy ice cream. Mount Etna came…

Ago 03 2021

Delve deep into Sicily

Discover some of Sicily’s lesser-known sights If you’ve holidayed in Sicily in the past, you’ll know just how many extraordinary sights and experiences are lurking round each and every corner. Few other Mediterranean islands manage to pack in quite so much in the way of architecture, nature, history and culture. Marvel at the Byzantine treasures of Palermo and the baroque architecture of the southeast, then feast your eyes on the smouldering backdrop of Mount Etna or the blinding white steps of the Scala dei Turchi. The truth is, Sicily never fails to dazzle. But if you’re on a second or…

Lug 14 2021

Best of the West in Sicily

5 of the best things to do on the west coast of Sicily Given that Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and around a fifth the size of England, it’s not surprising that the vibes on its west coast are very different to those of the north and east. This is partly due to its lack of obvious tourist hotspots. Compare it to the east coast where Taormina takes centre stage, or the north coast which is dominated by Cefalù. However, its proximity to north Africa (Tunisia is less than 100 miles away) is also a key factor…

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