Browsing CategorySicily holidays

luxury-villas-in-sicily-to-rent-wishsicily

Indulgent extras in your Sicily luxury villa Not surprisingly, we’ve all got our own very individual tick box when it comes to selecting a luxury villa in Sicily to rent and what’s essential for one person may not have even occurred to someone else. Great views, infinity pools, outdoor kitchens, jacuzzis … while any of these might be completely indispensable for your best friend, you may be more interested in checking that every room has an ensuite bathroom. However, while many of these features are a given, there might be just one extra detail that you didn’t even realise you…

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Family holiday for Easter in Sicily A holiday in Sicily at Easter always feels like a bit of a bonus – a chance to bask in some unexpected sunshine way ahead of the main summer months – so the Times got a big thumbs-up from us at the weekend for including us in their round-up of Easter family holiday ideas! Amongst the suggestions for holidays in the Bahamas, Costa Rica and the UK, the Times agreed that a holiday on the southern tip of Sicily ticked every box for families looking for early spring warmth combined with sightseeing and countryside…

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Looking for holiday inspiration in the Med? With a mild climate throughout the year and an average of up to 7 hours of daily sunshine as early as April, Sicily is a great place to make up for lost time by squeezing in an extra sunny break. While most tourists, including Italians, flock to Sicily in August, the island is at its best between April and June, and later in the year during the autumn months. Easter celebrations and a villa with heated pool Enjoy all-out luxury at half the price of an August holiday on a family Easter break…

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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…

sicily-villa-holiday-2022-wishsicily

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…

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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…

rent-villas-in-sicily-inland-wishsicily

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…

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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…

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…

villa-cecilia-trabia-wish-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…

Piazza Pretoria, Palermo in Sicily.

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?…

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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…

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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…

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…

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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…

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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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10 of the best Sicilian villas with beach access With 1500km of coastline, you’re never too far from a beach in Sicily. But what if you want to hit the sand without the hassle of loading up the car with all the beach paraphernalia? In Sicily, there are plenty of villas and apartments that are right on the beach, with the sand or sea directly accessible from your back door. Take your pick from some of our favourites, dust off your flipflops and pack your bags! Dedalo, Sciacca New to the Wish Sicily fold, Dedalo is located on the outskirts…

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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…

best-beaches-sicily-wishsicily

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…

perfect-holiday-week-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…