Sicily vacationers,
If you ONLY went to Taormina Sicily for three days, your whole two-week Sicily trip would be worth it. Cruiseship people stop there for an hour or two Some even get off the ship. You can see Mount Etna from there.
It is on the east coast of Sicily. Explore the ancient Greek/Roman amphitheater, cut into volcanic rock, on the ocean facing Italy. Zigzag walk to the top of the mountain, go to the opera. Mangia, mangia, mangia. Eat, eat, eat. One of our favorite spots in the world. My Sicilian barber Carole Santacrocci said don’t miss it.
Mt Etna Volcano Tour: I did not want to do it after seeing it on National Geographic. Cold, grey and blustery. Wear a coat, bring a blanket. DO NOT miss it. It blew its top fairly recently. Our friend Mauricio said that it was so bright that you could read a newspaper there at night in Catania. It might not be open for the tour. Spend the whole day there if it is available. If it’s not, don't spend the whole day there. Ja ja ... little joke there
Trapani: miss it. The baseball Dimaggio's were from an island off of the coast of Trapani called Isla Mujeres. ycmthis sup. Dad went to San Francisco and eventually brought everyone over. San Francisco is in our state of California.
“Where have you gone Joe Dimaggio? A nation turns its lonely eyes to you / Woo woo woo”
Villa Romano del Casale: A farmer found it buried when he hit a corner with his plow. The best mosaics Sandy and I have EVER seen. Spend the day. Have gelato in the town of Piazza Armerina. This is one of the very Top Four things to see in Sicily. No! Not having gelato, seeing the ruins. My former friend Don Salmond would have thought that. Astounding!! Most tourists miss it.
Yes! There really is a town there called Corleone.
Cefalu: Really cute town on the northern coast. Shop, shop, shop. Climb to the top of the big rock. Try the pasta alla Norma and we sincerely hope that you like eggplant. Lots and lots of eggplant.
Syracuse: My least favorite. Everything is written in Italian. Dull and grey and run down. Beautiful area where the Cattedrale Metropolitano della is. Everywhere you look they spell cathedral wrong. Take photos. Eat drink at Volpi's or Bianchi's and people watch. A few ancient Greek stones in the town center. Big deal. I enjoyed Tombstone Arizona more.
Palermo: A big city but worth seeing for a day. Ask for Luigi.
Agrigento Piazza Armerini: You will think that you are in Greece. On the south coast not far from Africa. General George Patton was here. Spend the day. Wear good shoes and wear a wide hat. It is HOT! and wide open. It looks like the Parthenon, but way more beautiful and way more to see.
Two weeks is a long time for Sicily. You could go north to Naples, not the one in Florida, Amalfi Coast road and Herculaneum and Pompeii, and or a day boat trip to Capri.
If you don’t send me a postcard I will be pissed. Not from Maine, from Sicily.
Roberto Baconi
110 Stagecoach Drive
Marshfield, MA 02050
