One of my favorite Sicilians is a man in his 80s named Franco Varone who lives on a farm near the town of Alcamo. One Easter day, he took me to a ricotta factory in the hills beyond his house, then to a butcher’s shop, where he hung Franco’s lamb halves on tags hanging in a cool room. It had a name engraved on it. He then took me to a fish store, which he described as a jewelry store, then an artichoke grower, and helped me prepare a barbecue.
Eating wild asparagus that his wife, Enza, foraged around the house and garnishing with herbs, garlic and olive oil was just the beginning of a feast that would last for days at Alcamo. Along with these endless dishes, Franco taught me philosophical gems that have stayed with me. It says, “Never underestimate the power of giving.”
Sicilians are very good not only at cooking, but also at giving, and the table is where they like to express their generosity. They are proud of their beautiful island and the life it offers, and want travelers to experience the best of everything they have to offer. On a recent trip to Sicily, I felt this amazing feeling spread through me again.
I’m staying in the neo-Gothic Villa Igiea, about a 15-minute drive from the capital Palermo, where the city borders the sea. The magnificent Art Nouveau villa was built in 1899 as the residence of the aristocratic Florio family, who made their fortune in shipbuilding, and the famous Florio Marsala.
Its original purpose was to build a sanatorium for a daughter suffering from tuberculosis, but it was instead turned into a hotel to entertain dignitaries, royalty, and celebrities. During the war, it was requisitioned as a hospital, and then returned to operation as a hotel, but it gradually fell into disrepair, and in 2019, the Forte Hotel Group set out to rescue it.
Villa Igiea, designed by architect Ernesto Basile, is a fine example of the Art Nouveau style, and much of it was rescued and renovated by the hotelier Forte family. The salon is decorated with floral frescoes and beautifully curved wooden furniture, including a grand staircase. It has an understated Belle Époque aesthetic and a warm and welcoming hotel team that offers a peaceful retreat from the slightly more frenetic Palermo.
Situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, 9 km from mainland Italy and just 200 km from North Africa, Sicily’s architecture, food and culture have been influenced by the Phoenicians, ancient Greeks, Arab dynasties and, more recently, enthusiastic settlers and It is evidence of the centuries-long influence of invaders.fan of Netflix series. The resulting cauldron of culture is a dizzying sensory experience, and nowhere is this more evident than in the historic center of Palermo, especially Calsa.
The pride and generosity of the Sicilian people is immediately evident in the noble palace of Palazzo Butera in the Calsa district. The palace is now owned and renovated by Francesca and Massimo Valsecchi, who live among their amazing art collections. Open and welcoming, this palace offers an immersive cultural experience.
“You’ll notice there’s no exhibition label,” says Claudio Galli, an art historian and palace curator. “This is because we invite you to join our association web [salons, frescoes, furniture, pictures, displays, and objects] At the show. Resist the temptation to look for the most famous works, and above all enjoy the fruits of your own intuitive gaze. ”
Numerous rooms painted in stunning colors lead from room to room without corridors. In one of his, the ceiling was left unfinished to show the craftsmanship of the buttresses and curved plaster.
On the stairs, I met an elegant, unassuming woman with flowing blonde hair, quietly greeting people coming down. Claudio introduced me to Francesca Valsecchi. The presence of the chatelaine brings intimacy to this visit to the palace. This place is to die for and you can enjoy it all for just 9 euros.
Around the corner, I came across another little treasure, Atelier Manima. Born out of a desire to preserve the local tradition of hand embroidery, typically practiced by women for more than 1,000 years, former Merck executive Carolina Guzmán and her husband, former journalist Piero Di Pasquale, created a private, Created a platform that brings women together. An embroidery craftsman with advanced skills. They usually work alone in their homes on the mountainside or in small villages, but by using the atelier they can connect with designers and other designers.
The aim is to preserve this heritage while tackling Italy’s high female unemployment rate by harnessing the skills hidden in rural communities. Carolina and Pietro are using digital technology to enable this process and are expanding it throughout Italy and around the world. Displaying elaborate garments, cushions, tableware, and artwork, I stand and watch her two embroiderers immerse themselves in embroidery.
The next day I head to the southwest Mediterranean coast to soak up some sun at the Verdura resort near the seaside town of Sciacca. This hotel, also in the Forte portfolio, is situated on 230 hectares of coastline and has been thoughtfully built. My large sea-view room (all rooms have sea views, some with private pools) is grouped with other rooms and named after a plant with a fruiting orange tree outside. It is located in a small separate building named .
A change of pace from Villa Igiea, offering everything you would expect from a luxury resort while maintaining consistency and a carefully selected sensibility. Families, golfers, spa and sun seekers, trekkers, foodies and more all come together happily, with plenty of space for everyone. Two golf courses, including an award-winning links course, with the ocean on one side and olive groves on the other, feature tennis courts, water sports and loungers on the beach away from patrons of the infinity pool.
Rocco Forte’s daughter Irene designed the hotel’s eponymous spa concept. The stylishly designed facility features four thalassotherapy pools of varying salinity and temperature, an indoor pool, a fitness suite and an impressive double-height steam room, as well as a number of amazing treatments. Masu. For those who don’t like going to the spa, the rooms are stocked with Irene Her Forte’s natural skin care products. Just taking a shower in the spacious bathroom feels really good. I would like to go again just to buy the apricot shower gel.
This area is home to Scala dei Turchi, a sparkling marl cliff that drops into a white sandy beach. The Valley of the Temples, near the historic town of Agrigento, captivates with Greek temples dating back to before 400 BC.
The Temple of Concordia is the finest Greek temple in the world and is also the UNESCO logo. It is remarkable, impressive and a striking reminder of Sicily’s rich history.
At Verdura, Sicilian hospitality is warm and genuine, reflected in the friendliness of the people and the staff who are genuinely interested in having a conversation rather than a timid hello. I eat at all three of his restaurants like a true Contessa. The fine dining restaurants Zagra and Amare serve exquisite fresh seafood. The Liola is also a relaxed and colorful restaurant serving traditional Sicilian cuisine, with an exceptional breakfast served on the sun-drenched terrace.
Sicily once again embraced me in its warm embrace and took me into its folds, like a beloved family member who must be nourished and cared for.