A Sicilian Sampler

Arrive in Palermo and head to the Villa Igeia, a Rocco Forte hotel. Perhaps you will have a magnificent one-bedroom suite located in an outer building.

Indulge in some late-afternoon snacks and explore the grounds of the beautiful hotel. This grand hotel sits right on the harbor, and so it was nice just to sit out on the patio and soak in the view.

Later in the evening, head to the Igeia Terraza bar for some cocktails and live music.

After a lovely breakfast on the terrace of Villa Igeia, it’s time to head out for a walking tour of Palermo. I had a great time on a three-hour walking tour exploring the highlights of Palermo, including Teatro Massimo and the Cathedral of Palermo. One of the coolest stops was the “I Quattro Canti,” a.k.a. the “The Four Corners,” which offered prime people-watching. Of course, it wouldn’t be a tour of Palermo without ending on a sugar-high note with two types of cannoli to sample. I'm not sure how many cannoli I had during my trip!

Today is the day to explore the outskirts of Palermo and the beautiful beaches. The most classic and fun way is by taking a tour in a fully restored Fiat 500. I had a wonderful guide who took me to the outskirts of Palermo and Mondello Beach. The tour also included several pit stops for gelato, pastries, and panelle e crocché (a warm potato and chickpea flour sandwich). No need for dinner!

Time to say goodbye to Palermo and head southeast to Siracusa. It’s very easy to take the bus for a nice and comfortable ride across Sicily. The landscape was green, with Mt. Etna looming in the distance. It takes about three hours to get to Siracusa. Once at the bus station, it’s a very short taxi ride to your next hotel, Ortea Palace. Ortea Palace is located on Ortigia, an island right across from Siracusa. The hotel was once the main post office.

After checking in, you must head to the bar and have a refreshing drink called sharbat, which tastes like a lemonade granita.

For dinner, head to the rooftop restaurant, Il Cortile. The restaurant has very beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows, perfect for views of Siracusa’s waterfront.

Ortigia is very walkable, but a tuk-tuk tour is another fun way to learn about the island in a short amount of time. We zipped all over, visiting the Duomo and learning about the ancient ruins. After our tour, we had plenty of time to walk around the street market and do some window-shopping.

Onward to Taormina. The best way to get to Taormina from Siracusa, without driving, is to take the train. Once you arrive at the Taormina-Giardini Naxos train station, take a short taxi ride to the Belmond Sant’Andrea. Soak in all the beautiful views, as the hotel overlooks the Ionian Sea. Enjoy lunch overlooking the beach.

For dinner, Ristorante Sant’Andrea is a must—just for the fresh bread service alone.

Indulge in a sumptuous breakfast, once again with killer views overlooking the water.

After breakfast, take the hotel shuttle to explore Taormina. Spend hours walking along Corso Umberto I. Get tickets and visit the Greek Amphitheater. Eat, walk, and eat some more.

If you have time, you can also head to Castelmola, a tiny village above Taormina. (Just make sure you have a ride back, as cell phone service can be spotty.)