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Sicily literally bursts into life in the spring months of April and May, when fields and nature reserves are sprinkled with wildflowers, and market stalls are piled high with delicate spring flavours. Towns and cities are still relatively quiet compared to some of the tourist-packed cities of northern Italy, and mild temperatures and gentle sunshine allow you to indulge in the first of the season’s al fresco lunches. Need any more reasons to visit Sicily in April? Read on to discover our favourite things to see and do in Sicily in April and May. Spring sunshine The good news is…

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villa-rebecca-wish-sicily

How do you go about planning your family holiday?  Does the destination or the villa take priority? And what about the kids – do you involve them or decide that too many opinions will just complicate matters? Finding the right holiday for all the family is never easy so we’ve tried to simplify things by going through some of the questions which crop up year after year amongst our clients. Can we walk to restaurants and the shops? If you want to keep driving to a minimum, you’ll certainly want some shops and a few restaurants within walking distance. In…

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cooking-sicily-wishsicily

Learn about Sicilian food and culture through cookery classes, market trips and private guided tours with Wish Sicily. Instead of staying in a hotel, enjoy the luxury of staying in a private villa in north east Sicily surrounded by all your favourite people! Wish Sicily’s new Cooking & Culture week is available throughout the year for groups of between 10-30 people. Comments Wish Sicily director, Gioacchino Sortino, ‘We organise a wide range of tours and activities for many of our guests who, increasingly, want to do more than just sit by the pool. We’ve designed this comprehensive itinerary for private…

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culinary-retreat-sicily-wishsicily

What sort of holiday person are you? Are you the first to stake your position by the pool, ready for a week of basking in the sun? Or do you devote months before your trip to planning a week crammed full of activities and researching the best local restaurants? The truth is that while some of us are firmly in either the chill-out or action-packed camp, many of us fall somewhere between the two. Catching up on local culture is always welcome but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you want to spend every day sightseeing. Similarly, while you might like…

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The-Sunday-TImes-newsletter

While Taormina, Palermo and Sicily’s south east grab most of the headlines, the north east coast tends to stay slightly under the radar. If you want to find out more about it, Lisa Kjellsson’s article in the Sunday Times is a good place to start. Based at our Villa Dioscuri, Lisa found herself well-placed to explore the archaeological ruins of Tindari, try wine-tasting on the slope of Mount Etna and to discover the delights of the pistachio-producing town of Bronte. There was also time to hop over to the Unesco-protected Aeolian Islands, all visible from Villa Dioscuri’s magnificent terrace, either…

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times and telegraph - wishsicily blog

We’re thrilled to start 2020 with some excellent coverage for Case Fil, one of our newest properties, in two of the UK’s best-read national newspapers, the Times and Telegraph. The Times kicked off the year with a round-up of the best holidays for Italy for 2020, including Case Fil which heads up the article’s Best for Budget section. The property is ideal for a multi-family stay, thanks to its separate accommodation blocks, stunning 18m pool and starting price of just £431 per family per week. In the Telegraph, journalist Catherine Cooper inspires readers with suggestions for 50 of the best…

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Ortigia-siracusa-wish-sicily

What will your New Year resolutions be when the clock chimes at midnight? If travelling responsibly is one of them, you may be wondering about the best holiday options for 2020. The fact is that plenty of short-haul destinations, from northern France to the most southerly point of Italy, are still easily accessible by train if you’re prepared to spend a little longer getting there. A train journey to Sicily, for example, takes around 28 hours, but when you factor in a night’s sleep, you realise that you won’t actually miss out on that much holiday time. Once you’ve worked…

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sicily-holiday-villas

Are you, or is a member of your family hitting a special milestone in 2020? If so, why not make it even more memorable by celebrating together under one roof? Check in to a villa in the sun and mark the occasion with a relaxing break with all your favourite people. Of course, organising dates and other logistics can be tricky while you’re juggling normal life, when both physical time and mental space are under pressure. However, with time off work and fewer everyday stresses, the Christmas break is a good opportunity to think carefully about what works best for…

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sport-sicily-villa-dioscuri

Do you like to work out even when you’re on holiday? If sport is a big part of your everyday routine at home, the chances are you’ll want to maintain fitness levels while you’re away. The good news is that it’s easy to do that in Sicily where there are plenty of options for anyone who loves an active or outdoors lifestyle. Rocky ravines and spectacular seascapes are obvious backdrops for adventure and water sports and there are also national parks, marine nature reserves and, of course, the thrill of Mount Etna. But the action doesn’t stop there. Find out…

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street-food-tour-sicily

If there’s nothing you like more on holiday than a mooch round a market, Sicily certainly ticks plenty of boxes. Most towns have a market, even if just once a week. At the bigger markets, where coloured tarpaulins provide shade from the fierce morning sun, get ready for a maelstrom of noise, colour and activity. Some of the markets’ names, such as Palermo’s Ballarò, date back to the Saracen rule of the ninth century and in fact the atmosphere isn’t much different from their Arab counterpart. Stalls display a dazzling range of exotic spices, glistening olives and a rainbow assortment…

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sicily-holiday-tours-activities

There are plenty of reasons for getting ahead of the crowd and booking your 2020 villa in Sicily now and here’s one more! If you book a 2020 holiday at one of our Early Booking Villas by 29th February 2020, we’ll give everyone in your party a fabulous free Sicily Experience. The offer is available on all holiday dates excluding 27 June – 29 August. Participating in an activity or excursion is a great way to get a feel for the island and there are so many to choose from. Find out about Sicily’s history and culture, get an in-depth…

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case-fil-wish-sicily-wishsicily

Who’s the driving force in your household when it comes to booking a holiday? Are you all on the same wavelength regarding holidaying with friends? Finding a compromise can be tricky at times, which makes the latest addition to our portfolio, Case Fil, even more welcome. If a holiday for you means having space to do your own thing, this is the one for you. Better still, its layout works equally well for couples or families. With three separate accommodation cubes, each with a master bedroom, bathroom and extra sleeping space for young children, each couple or family get that…

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Fontane Bianche Sicily

When do you usually start planning your summer holiday? Do you start dreaming of white sandy beaches and sun loungers as soon as the evenings draw in, or are you more of a last-minute sort of person? Making sure you get the best possible price for your holiday is likely to be a part of your decision-making.  If you’re booking your own accommodation and flights, then you’ll certainly want to book your flights when they’re at their lowest price, particularly if you’re a family or a fairly large group. However, the flights are just one element of the holiday. and…

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sicily-holiday-villas

So you’ve packed away your summer clothes, sorted your holiday snaps and are squaring up for a flurry of autumn leaves and shorter days. And if we’re anything to go by, you’re probably also toying with ideas for next summer’s holiday! After all, with so many decisions involved, there’s no harm in some early planning. First up, where in the world do you want to visit? And what sort of accommodation will suit you best? If you’re planning to base yourself in just one, or even two places, rather than touring, consider the many advantages of a villa or apartment…

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Villa Taormina | Wish Sicily

We make sure that our villas and apartments come in all shapes, sizes and styles but it’s not often we come across one as spectacular as Villa Taormina. To be honest, we’re still struggling to decide whether the star attraction at this villa is its infinity pool, its inside-outside veranda or its jaw-dropping location! This is a villa where inside and outside merges into one and sea views seem to dominate every room, terrace, nook and cranny. Sumptuously furnished living and dining rooms are characterised by floor-to-ceiling windows that let in the light and lead out to sea-facing terraces and…

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ragusa-ibla-wish-sicily

Enjoy an action-packed calendar of lively local events in Sicily’s towns and cities throughout October when blazing blue skies and warm autumn sunshine provide a backdrop to vibrant and colourful festivities around the island. During this time, everything from Sicily’s bountiful produce to its rich cultural heritage is on show, making it a wonderful opportunity to get behind the scenes and discover a more authentic side to the island. This year marks the 13th anniversary of the Le Vie dei Tesori festival.  The annual event started in Palermo, with the aim of opening up the city’s rich heritage to the…

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le case di tindari - wishsicily

Some of Sicily’s most evocative land and seascapes first found their way on to our TV screens via the popular detective Montalbano series. Written by native Sicilian, Andrea Camilleri, who died earlier this year, the televised novels and short stories are a wonderful snapshot of the island, not least through the fictional detective’s love of great food! There’s no doubt that exploring a destination through its literature is a great way to get a feel for a place before you arrive. So if you enjoy reading, set aside some time as the evenings draw in to curl up with a…

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villa giacona wishsicily

Summer in Sicily continues well into September so if you’re unfettered by school holidays and looking for a romantic break for two, check out what’s available on this sunny Mediterranean island.  While temperatures in northern Europe have generally started to cool down by early September, if you head south, you’ll find yourself basking in warm sunshine on empty beaches.  Apart from the sunshine, there’s plenty of opportunity for romantic sea view dinners, boat trips and leisurely strolls along the sea front and through atmospheric towns and villages. Read on to find out more and visit our collection of villas in…

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sicily-villas-on-discount

Looking for some last-minute September sun? In Sicily, you’ll find that summer doesn’t end as September starts.  Daytime temperatures can still reach the high 20’s and the sea retains much of its summer warmth, but the August crowds have largely dispersed on the beach and at Sicily’s key attractions. Better still, if you shop around, you can find some decent holiday discounts. Here at Wish Sicily, we’re currently offering savings of up to 20% at a range of properties in September and October. Coast and countryside Save 20% at newly-built Villa Geranio (sleeps 8-12) and enjoy a winning combination of…

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Cefalu, Italy - September 19, 2014: View at a parking with people and cars passing by the coast road during a warm summer evening near the old town of Cefalu, Sicily.

If you’ve missed out on a summer holiday, a quick September getaway may be just what you need to get through the winter. Pack your bags for a 4 or 5 day break in Sicily and combine a few days of sunshine with some fascinating city sightseeing. These are our top 5 picks. Catania An east coast stay means there are plenty of towns to choose from. From your base at Terrazza sul Mare, start with the least well-known, Acireale, where fine baroque buildings line the streets of the old town and spectacular views of Mount Etna are on tap…

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