Sicily and the Aeolian Islands with Travel Department

Sicily is beautiful and I only saw a fraction of it. There is so much to love about this island (the largest in the Mediterranean). Our trip to Sicily had everything I want in a holiday: some sightseeing and history, beautiful scenery and architecture and pretty towns with lots to see and do, great food (and excellent wine), and days to relax and unwind.

TRAVEL DEPARTMENT GUIDED TRIPS

Regular readers know that I am one of Travel Department’s biggest fans. Since our first trip to South Africa 19 years ago, we were hooked. We love someone else organising our itinerary, looking after travel arrangements (flights, hotels, etc) and also supplying transport and expert guides. Last year, we had two wonderful trips to Tuscany and Istanbul.

This trip attracted me because it had a mix of organised trips and free days. We had three days to ‘do our own thing’. Sicily has been on my wish list for years. And it lived up to all my expectations.

Another reason we like holidays like this is that you are bound to find like-minded people and this group was no exception.  In fact, we had great craic. Last to leave the dining room every evening,  several evenings found us in the bar for a digestif. On the last night, we even had a sing-song. When GG started on his second song, I had to make an early exit!

ACCOMMODATION

Unahotels Naxos Beach was more than a hotel. It was a resort. Our group stayed in the garden rooms which were absolutely perfect with the most powerful showers and were only two minutes from the beach.

On the days when we did not have tours, most of us took advantage of the breeze at the beach and walked there or lay lazily under umbrellas, rather than lounge by the main pool (below).

GG and I did play table tennis. He won this year’s challenge by one game! I could have used the gym or swam some lengths in the 50-metre Olympic pool. I didn’t. Graham posed beside it on our way to breakfast one morning.

There was even yoga in a corner of the lawn. I didn’t do that either.

FOOD

Sicilian food is delicious.  Breakfast and evening meals were included in Travel Department’s package and all of our group agreed that the dinners in the hotel were exceptional. There was so much choice: lots of fish, pastas, meats and even vegetarians would have been happy. I am not normally a dessert person, but I could not resist the delicious cannolis (a Sicilian sweet pastry treat).

GUIDES

Firstly, a note about our guides. Antony was with us for the entire trip and was available on our free days to advise and help. He could not have been sweeter.

When one of our group was sick, he organised a doctor and the prescription from the pharmacy. He was eager for us all to enjoy our holiday. The local guides were probably the best I have ever experienced. Firstly, their English was perfect. They were expert in delivering the information in a succinct and interesting manner. And they all had a sense of humour and were so entertaining. Maybe that is a particularly Sicilian trait.

EXCURSIONS

It is lovely being driven around in an airconditioned coach. We took in the scenery and did not worry about the narrow mountain roads or mad drivers, or where we were going. We had 4 organised excursions, if you wanted to do them. We did.

MT ETNA

There was great excitement as Mt Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, was active on the day we were there and so nobody got to the top. We heard rumbling, and plumes of smoke rose from the crater. You can see it on my Instagram highlights. The eruption in 1669 destroyed nearby towns, but what is very interesting is how the volcanic soils makes the area so fertile and we saw vineyards and orchards aplenty on the drive up.

Below, you can see me enjoying my first Sicilian gelato!

In fact, I might have been a little underdressed for Mt Etna. Many people had coats and trousers. And if we had gone higher I would have been cold!

TAORMINA

Taormina is magical. Perched on a cliff, 200 metres above sea level, it looks out over the Ionian Sea. We visited the ancient Greco/Roman theatre which is used for outdoor concerts today.

But it is the winding back streets, the beautifully restored Medieval buildings and views over the Ionian seascape that charmed me.

It is very easy to spend a day wandering around and soaking up the atmosphere. There are numerous designer shops on the Main Street in which to hide from the sun and indulge in Italian style.

GG and I spent one of our free days enjoying the surroundings, wandering aroud, eating pizza and drinking Aperol Spritzes.

 

Churches were beautifully decorated for weddings.  Florists rushed around spaying the flowers so that they would not wilt in the intense heat. Tourists crowded around to get a glimpse of a bride. Below is a quieter moment.

I was determined to try to get a photo outside The San Domenico Palace Hotel. Unless you were hiding under a stone, you must have heard of the Netflix series ‘The White Lotus’ (season 2) which was filmed here. I just about got into the courtyard as there was a lot of security at the gate.

We also walked through the Villa Comunale, lush public gardens with Victorian follies.

The views over the sea down to Giardini Naxos were spectacular.

SIRACUSA

This was a full-day excursion, beginning with a visit to the Archaeological Park of Neapolis. The highlights were a  Greek  amphitheatre, the fascinating Latomie Caves once used as prisons….

and The Ear of Dionysius grotto with its interesting acoustics, which featured in the film ‘Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny’.

Oh, it was hot that day! I left my fan behind which was rather silly.

But the historic heart is on the Island of Ortigia, the 2,700 year old Unesco World Heritage city. Our eyes were always raised skyward to admire the Baroque architecture, the sandstone buildings, the Juliet balconies, the ironwork.

There was so much to see. Below is the Fontana di Diana.

And the 7th century cathedral (below) with its Doric columns, stained glass and frescoes, was magnificent and definitely worth a visit.

We bought some spices, sundried tomatoes and olive oil at the local market.

FERRY TO LIPARI AND VULCANO, TWO OF THE AEOLIAN ISLANDS

GG and I sat on the open top deck, both ways, sun-screened to the max and loved every minute of the trip. Our first stop was the idyllic island of Lipari.

Totally reliant on tourism, we had a guided, interesting tour (below is a view over the harbour) and afterwards found a cafe for a delicious lunch.

Then back on the ferry for a fifteen minute trip to Vulcano. This was less interesting and there was a strong smell of sulphur, because of the gases released during volcanic activity. Some of the group did make the most of the black sand beach and spent their time swimming. GG and I retired to a restaurant and had an Aperol instead. But, the ferry then took us on a trip around beautiful coves and grottos and incredible rock formations. It was a really hot day and the breeze on the top deck was so refreshing. Plus, you see Sicily and the islands from a totally different perspective from the water.

CATANIA

It was 34 degrees when we hit Catania, known as ‘The Black City’ because of the colour of the buildings blackened by the soot and ashes from the nearby Mt Etna volcano.

The elephant is the official symbol of the city and (above) you can see the lava stone statue which stands in the Piazza Duomo.

Following a guided tour through the centre (our guide knew all the shaded places, thankfully!) we visited a cafe where we had some of Sicily’s famous arancini (fried rice balls with fillings) cannoli and gelato (not all together).

I can only give you a taste of Sicily here. Hop over to my Instagram for a reel and more photos and check out my Instagram highlights for daily stories as we travelled. I would definitely recommend this trip. Oh and there is a sale on NOW. Ends tomorrow.

You can find  prices and dates with Travel Department.

Until next time.

Thanks for reading

Hilda x

GIFTED