TRAVELING TO SICILY
My family and I stayed 3 weeks in Gioiosa Marea, a small town near Messina. We rented a small car since the streets are so narrow in many Sicilian towns. Having a car gave us so much freedom to do day trips and see many different places. It was definitely the best decision we made. I loved the atmosphere in Sicily. We were at the beach in the mornings and in the evenings we went for walks , had ice cream and enjoyed ourselves.Some towns in the area had some outdoor activities for the kids. My kids loved staying up late and having fun. After spending couple of days in Gioiosa Marea,we decided to take a trip to Lipari for few days. We couldn't drive there so we took a ferryboat ride. It took1 hour to get there and kids enjoyed the ride very much.
LIPARI, SICILY
There are many beautiful places to visit in Sicily, and one of the jewels is Lipari. I enjoyed being here with the family very much. Lipari is the largest of the Aeolian Islands, a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea north of Sicily. Here you'll find beautiful scenery,great beaches,volcanoes, castles,boats, good fishing and, of course, some great sea food! Yum!.Lipari is a very pleasant place,with small streets that are full in the evening, it is perfect for a nice walk. The town has a very cheery atmosphere, there is music playing in the evening and there are a lot of cute little shops selling souvenirs. There are some elegant historic houses with balconies bedecked with flowers. The local people in Lipari are very friendly and welcoming.
MUST TRY GRANITA!
I know everyone loves the Gelato in Italy, but when in Sicily have some granita! Granita is basically a sorbet style dessert with fresh organic fruits like strawberries,lemons or mandarins. They even have flavors like pistachio or almond. My favorite is pistachio, it is also dairy-free and tastes so creamy and refreshing!Sometimes it’s served with brioche. Usually people eat it for breakfast. Kids loved it so much that we had it EVERYDAY!
TOARMINA, SICILY
If someone asked me what to see in Sicily, I would without hesitation say Toarmina. This wonderful town is full of charm and beauty, surrounded by mountains that meet the blue and crystal-clear Mediterrean Sea. It is a hilltop town on the east coast of Sicily. The town is overflowing with culture,traditions and history. It's a peaceful town with charming restaurants and stunning views.
It is very touristy and gets pretty crowded in the summertime. While many think Toarmina could be seen quickly in a day, I would suggest spending a couple of days, not only to cover the town itself, but surroundings as well. We liked Toarmina so much that we came twice! There are plenty of little nearby towns,shops and restaurants to see.
Dinner is usually eaten late in Sicily. It is very common to find different specialties in different areas. Here are some food and sweets I liked: Arancini- rice balls stuffed with meat,sauce,sweet peas and cheese. I had one of these by the beach in the morning.Yummy! Sea food- They have fresh sea food daily! Try Sea food and pasta! Cannoli- This famous pastry is from Sicily! Its a tube shaped shell of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet creamy filling using ricotta cheese and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Tastes like heaven! Gelato- They have so many different flavors! I loved the hazelnut and pistachio flavors, my daughter loved the lemon and my son was crazy about the cream flavored ice cream. It was definitely the best ice cream we ever had!
The main attraction is the Greek-Roman theater (Anfiteatro Greco).This 1800-year-old amphitheater is still in use for shows and concerts, Toarmina is famous for hosting music and film festivals throughout the year.. The kids loved being here,the view from here is breathtaking, you can admire the beautiful view of Mount Etna.
CEFALU, SICILY
Another great little trip we took was to beautiful Cefalu. It gets very crowded during summertime, but that didn't stop us from coming. The squares,streets and churches of this medieval town are so pretty! The beach called Lungomare is just a short walking distance from the town's main road. In Sicily most beaches have rocks not sand, but this one was blessed with some golden sand.If you ever come visit Sicily, Cefalu should be on your list! The sandy beaches, beautiful little shops, restaurants,and centuries of ancient history is a must see.We hated leaving Sicily but we can't wait to go back and see other beautiful places we haven't seen.
