Wish Sicily, Author at Blog Wish Sicily

Giu 09 2021

Sightseeing in Sicily

Should I book a guided tour in Sicily or explore independently? One of the things that really sets Sicily apart from other Mediterranean islands is the sheer volume of things to see. Stunning beaches and an enviable climate certainly make it a natural choice for a fly and flop holiday but the island is also a favourite for anyone interested in exploring beyond the nearest stretch of sand. The problem is that with so much to see, it can be quite tricky to fit everything into a week’s holiday! Efficient planning can help but inevitably, unexpected issues arise and trips…

Mag 31 2021

Beach bliss in Sicily

Which are the best beaches in Sicily? June in Sicily is beach time and we’re the first to grab any opportunity for a quick dip and an hour or two soaking up the sun. Fortunately, for those of us based in Palermo, we’re rather spoilt for choice. Our favourite beach is at Mondello but the sandy bays and seafront restaurants around Castellammare del Golfo are also tempting when we have a little more time available. Which type of beach do you prefer? Do you head straight for the luxury of the nearest lido, with traditionally Italian regimented rows of sun…

Mag 18 2021

Late summer sun in Sicily

5 reasons to visit Sicily in September and October Here in Sicily, we’re hopeful that travel discussions are moving in the right direction. In Italy, we’re getting ready to welcome overseas visitors with open arms and without the need for quarantining. But if you’re still a little nervous about travelling abroad, why not plan ahead and book a September or October break? Here are 5 good reasons why. The last of the summer sun After a challenging winter, the idea of extending summer as long as possible is hugely appealing. Luckily, our southerly location just 100 miles northeast of Africa,…

Mag 11 2021

Fancy some September sunshine?

The Times includes Casa del Carrubo in its September suggestions It’s no secret that there’s nowhere we’d rather be in September than in Sicily, so we were thrilled to see the Times newspaper include a Wish Sicily holiday in its recent round-up of top September breaks for 2021. With temperatures reaching up into the mid-20’s and the sea pleasantly warmed by several months of sunshine, a September holiday in Sicily will extend your summer well into the autumn months. Beaches at this time are blissfully quiet and the atmosphere in towns pleasantly laidback. On cooler days, you can step back…

Mag 06 2021

Sicily is back on the holiday map

Italy’s recent announcement that British holidaymakers who have been vaccinated, test negative or have immunity, will be able to travel to Italy from the second half of May without having to quarantine, puts Sicily back on the holiday map. Catch up with friends and family – new villa for 2021 Escape to 5-bedroomed Oasivera, set on the edge of the Vendicari Nature Reserve in south east Sicily, and spend time with the people you’ve missed most over the past year. The recently refurbished villa still retains much of its traditional Sicilian charm, with shady covered dining spaces, a spectacular tiled…

Apr 28 2021

Chartered yachts, wine-tasting and a private chef in Sicily

We’re ready to organise your perfect week in Sicily! How many times over the past year have you daydreamed about past holidays? More to the point, what are the high spots that most stand out within those memories? Maybe a really outstanding meal, an extraordinary artwork, or perhaps even something as simple as a scenic drive? Often, of course, it’s the people that we remember, perhaps a friendly local shopkeeper or a tour guide, who are frequently responsible for breathing life into a holiday destination. They can, in fact, enrich your holiday in so many ways, from showing you how…

Apr 13 2021

Off the beaten track in Sicily

Alternative summer escapes in Sicily Mention a holiday in Sicily and up pops an image of Taormina in many of our minds. Just a hop from Catania airport, the town has been a tourist destination since the 18th century and a firm celebrity favourite since the 1970’s. Add to that its impressive clifftop location, glamorous Gucci and Prada window displays, and pretty squares and alleyways, and it’s not hard to see why it continues to be a winner. But if you’ve ever been to Sicily, you’ll know how much more there is to the island. Travel beyond the best-known towns…

Mar 30 2021

Sicily for the soul

Nourish your inner self with a break in Sicily Travel for most of us is off limits right now but that doesn’t stop us dreaming – or indeed planning ahead. While we may not be able to jet off in the near future, a week in Sicily in late summer or early autumn, when there’s still plenty of sunshine, is just what we need to re-boot and pep up depleted energy levels. After over a year of restrictions, the benefits of escaping to a completely different environment are immeasurable. Different food, culture and a new environment are a sure fire…

Mar 16 2021

Visit Sicily in June

Our top 5 Sicily villas for an early summer break June is one of our favourite months in Sicily and in many ways, the perfect month for first-time visitors. The intense heat of July and August is still some way off and you can take your pick of powder-soft sandy beaches and visits to awe-inspiring Greek temples without worrying about crowds. So it’s good to hear that, depending on where you live, overseas travel in June is increasingly looking like a possibility. What better time than now to start looking forward and planning a trip to the sun? Here are…

Feb 24 2021

Five reasons to book a villa break in 2021

Share special moments on holiday in Sicily If you’re finding yourself spending a disproportionate amount of time reminiscing about your last holiday, then it could be time to start planning the next one! The big question, of course, is what’s the best holiday to book this year? For many of us, the last year has turned our world upside down and the last thing we want is more uncertainty. So while you may at one point have earmarked 2021 as the year for the big adventure, here are a few reasons why we think it may be better to settle…

Feb 11 2021

Five of the best small villas in Sicily

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Sensational Sicilian villas for smaller groups It’s easy to get swept up by the idea of planning a grand scale villa holiday for a large group. After a year of minimal socialising and even more limited hugging, reconnecting with friends or family seems irresistible. Plus those tantalising images of sprawling country estates, infinity pools and mini-gyms, together with poolside yoga and in-chef dining add-ons, are enough to send us into meltdown. Planning those big group holidays, however, can be complex and 2021 may just be the year to keep things simple. The good news though is that if you’re looking…

Gen 29 2021

Best romantic breaks in Sicily

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Add these Sicily holidays for two to your post-lockdown bucket list In any ‘normal’ year, slipping from January into February can be a bit of a pendulum swing. Suddenly days are longer, spring is just round the corner and romance is in the air as Valentine’s Day looms. Things are far from normal in 2021 but perhaps that’s even more reason to treasure the prospect of spring and to add a romantic break for two to your post-lockdown bucket list. If you need inspiration, consider Sicily, where sensational sunsets and dramatic sea views, sun-drenched vines and food bursting with flavour,…

Gen 20 2021

Wellbeing and relaxation breaks in Sicily

Re-charge mind, body and soul on a villa holiday in Sicily January is often the time we take stock and assess our sense of wellbeing. Have we managed to achieve a healthy balance in our lives? Even in the midst of the turmoil of a pandemic, do we manage to find a little time for ourselves? Whether it’s home-schooling that’s getting you down, a stressful job or simply the need for a change of scene, this is the time when, for so many of us, thoughts turn to getting away from it all. In fact, rarely has there been a…

Dic 18 2020

What are the best things to see and do in Sicily?

Cefalu at the north coast of Sicily at twilight

Plan your holiday to Sicily now So you’re vaguely planning a holiday in Sicily but aren’t sure about the best things to see and do, or how easy it is to get around. You’ve heard about the long hot summers, of course, and the delicious food and wine, but where are the best beaches and are some parts of the island better for sightseeing? The truth is that you’ll find great beaches and interesting thing to see and do wherever you stay in Sicily, but these are just a few ideas to get you started. Experience Sicilian street food Nothing…

Dic 11 2020

Dreaming of sandy toes and warm sea breezes?

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Stay in a seafront villa in Sicily with pool Who’s thinking about 2021 holidays? If you missed out on a holiday this year, the chances are you’ll be desperate for a change of scene, whether that’s in a city, in the mountains or by the beach. We may be biased, but right now, nothing seems quite as appealing as waking up to the sound of the sea and throwing open the shutters to bright sunshine and a brilliant blue seascape! Then coffee on the terrace and perhaps a dip before breakfast … it’s the stuff dreams are made of. Sicily’s…

Nov 25 2020

When is the best time to go to Sicily?

Take a look at some of the highlights of each season in Sicily Dreaming of a 2021 holiday in warmer climes? Just 100 miles from north Africa, Sicily’s location means that sunshine’s on tap for a good part of the year. Throw into the mix sandy beaches, delicious food and wine, stunning nature reserves, and a fascinating history, and you’ll soon see why Sicily is such an appealing destination for so many. In fact the biggest decision is not where to go in Sicily but when to go! Naturally, what you enjoy doing on holiday will have a bearing on…

Nov 16 2020

A Sicilian Feast

Take a mouth-watering culinary journey in Sicily Spend any length of time in Sicily and you quickly realise that no milestone passes without a substantial feast … and what a feast! Sicilian cuisine wisely makes the most of what nature throws its way, packed with flavour-busting vegetables, fresh fish, and dishes and delicacies crammed with home-grown almonds and pistachios. Yet it’s also a cuisine that draws on its multi-layered history and so, in common with all Italian regions, has its own set of very unique flavours, traditions and recipes. In Sicily, for example, you may find yourself starting the day…

Nov 12 2020

Sunshine in Syracuse | Wish Sicily in the New Zealand Herald

Dreaming of a 2021 getaway? We guarantee you’ll be inspired by this review in the New Zealand Herald, in which Anna King Shahab describes her stay with us in Syracuse! Amidst all the heartache and anxiety that has accompanied 2020, many of us have recognised the important place holidays hold in our lives. Exactly what we miss is, of course, hugely personal. It may be as simple as the warmth of the sun or a break in routine. While for others, it could be the pleasure of exploring new places, eating different food and experiencing another culture. Which is where…

Nov 10 2020

Getting set for 2021

Oasivera featured in the 21 recommended pool villas by The Sun As we creep towards the end of a rather unpredictable year, it was heartening to see the Sun newspaper’s new series on planning for 2021 holidays. Just what we all need to look forward to! The series kicked off with 21 fabulous villas for 2021. Recognising the importance of having our own space, each of these villas has its own pool and plenty of room to kick back and enjoy the sunshine. Take your pick of villas from a selection that spans countries and continents, from Barbados to Portugal,…

Ott 30 2020

Syracuse and Ortigia

A practical guide to Syracuse and Ortigia, Sicily Unlike Rome, Florence and Venice, Syracuse – or Siracusa in Italian – still manages to hover slightly below the tourist radar, in spite of its enormous cultural wealth. At the height of its influence, it was the most important city of Magna Graecia with a population at times in excess of 500,000. Today, the city, with its 120,000 or so inhabitants, still boasts some of the finest Baroque art and architecture, and Greek and Roman ruins, although there’s also plenty to do beyond the cultural attractions. Basically, if you’re planning a holiday…

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