You may have noticed that with each year that passes, your holiday demands shift a little as different interests, energy levels and mindsets creep in. The need to tick off destinations from a list may have dissipated, but equally, as a mature traveller, holidays may have become more about seeking multi-layered authentic experiences, with comfort and the familiar balanced with more than a hint of gentle adventure.
Where do you stand on seeking adventure? Instead of disappearing completely, it’s not unusual for our sense of adventure to become slightly muted, leaving us, nonetheless, with a desire to push boundaries and experience something different while still enjoying a relaxing holiday. As a result, finding a destination such as Sicily, which balances familiarity with a touch of the unexpected, is always a bonus.
Sitting at the southern tip of Italy, the island is very much part of Italy, yet its geography, fascinating layered history and general atmosphere makes it stand out in no small way from the rest of mainland Italy.
Mediterranean Living – Familiar but Different
Who doesn’t love the Mediterranean lifestyle? Café culture, sunlit piazzas, olive groves and an outdoor lifestyle that stretches all the way from April to October is infinitely appealing. The peak summer months of July and August can be scorching but in May, June, September and October – often considered the best time to visit Sicily – life unfolds in the fresh air, in the local piazza, at cafés or in outdoor spaces where long lunches, slow evenings and a generally unhurried pace makes for the perfect relaxing holiday.
Exploring the local food scene is a big part of any holiday and while Italian food is certainly familiar, you’ll find some interesting twists in Sicily. Stay in a private villa and enjoy preparing food in an outdoor kitchen, where a hob and sink remove any need to go indoors, not even to make your post-lunch espresso!
In Sicily, the healthy Mediterranean diet – think tomatoes, olive oil, grains, fish – still dominates but Sicilian food is quite different to that of the tourist powerhouses of northern Italy such as Venice, Florence or Milan. Instead, thanks to the island’s location between Europe and Africa, its cuisine has strong echoes of the Middle East.
Get ready for Arab influenced couscous instead of pasta in western Sicily, and sweet and sour (‘agrodolce’) flavour combinations in dishes throughout the island such as the signature ‘caponata’ aubergine dish, sardines stuffed with hints of raisins and pine nuts, and salads featuring oranges and olives.
Delve Deep into Layers of History
If you’re familiar with the classic beauty and symmetrical perfection of architecture in northern Italy, you’ll immediately be struck by the more imperfect appearance of Sicilian towns. Towns are more haphazard in their layout, adapted over the centuries rather than planned at the outset. Wherever you turn you’ll find layers of history, often with multiple cultures encased in one building. In addition, buildings are designed to protect against the fierce heat of a Sicilian summer, with courtyards and honey-hued, sun-bleached exteriors.
But while Sicily may appear less polished, be prepared for unexpected dazzling displays of mosaics, elaborately ornate facades, and single buildings that reveal Greek, Roman, Arab and Norman influences.
Enjoy the Thrill of the Sicilian Landscape
Sicily’s landscape also differs from that of mainland Italy, volcanic in parts, with dry interior hills and, of course, mile upon mile of coastline. Even in towns and at historic attractions such as the Greek temple at Segesta, the sense of a less manicured feel than in Italy or elsewhere in Europe adds a rather raw, but distinctly authentic dimension.
There’s also plenty of opportunity to elevate your adventure-seeking leanings one step further with a jeep tour across the rugged volcanic slopes of Mount Etna or a hike in one of the mountain ranges in the north of the island. You’ll also find plenty of gentle adventure options that allow you to appreciate the landscape. Boat trips and wine tastings introduce you to hospitable locals, proud to show off their island; and cooking classes and visits to markets or local producers enrich your holiday with a deep dive into Sicilian food and culture.
Leave the Checklist Behind
In past years, you may have walked miles through the corridors of Florence’s Uffizi, gazed in awe at St. Peter’s in Rome, and dined on ‘cicchetti’ in Venice. Sicily is different – rather than presenting a checklist, a holiday here is about breathing in the atmosphere, mindless wandering or watching the world go by, and getting to know the island by burrowing through tightly packed layers rather than ticking off tourist sights.
It’s about settling into a different pace of life, one which removes the need to rush. Palermo, of course, as any capital city, has pockets of frenetic activity, but overall, Sicily is a place to settle into the rhythm of life and enjoy a quiet, enriching holiday without the often-overwhelming demands found in busier, more developed tourist destinations.
Questions for You:
How adventurous are you on holiday? Where would you recommend for gentle adventure? Have you ever visited Sicily?
