Archive for 'Sicily and Sardinia'

If you enjoy observing the forces of nature at work then a trip to see the volcanic Mount Etna in the Northeast of Sicily would be a fantastic addition to your Italian holiday! Mount Etna is the largest, widest, tallest and most active volcano in Europe and has been a huge tourist attraction since records began.

The Greeks and Romans closely observed this fiery mountain of Sicily and believed the regular eruptions to be the work of their gods! Standing at 3,350 metres, Etna has the traditional volcanic cone shape and has a massive base circumference of one hundred and forty kilometres.

Tourists wishing to see this magnificent volcano can stay in one of many exclusive villas in the Toarmina area nearby that are within a safe distance of the fiery mountain!

Just a few words on my "Best Food Experience Ever" which was on Sardinia (southern area, near Santadi-Teulada) at LA GROTTA DEL TESORO with family and friends in the summer of 2009.

Here you find traditional cuisine and the restaurant is also frequented by locals (always a good sign). We had lots of appetizers, 2 different types of pasta dishes, the famous Porceddu and ... small and sweet ricotta seadas! And of course a perfect red wine to go with all this.

You probably already know how to open a bottle and drink a glass of wine... But do you know how to drink a glass OF Sicily?

The famous Sicilian winery "Tasca d'Almerita" has been declared 'Italian Winery of the Year' in the 2012 edition of Italy's bestselling wine guide, Vini d'Italia, published by Gambero Rosso. This is the second recognition in less than a month for Tasca d'Almerita, after the Italian Sommeliers' Association AIS named the company 'Sicilian Wine Producer of the Year' in its 2012 Duemilavini guide.

Their latest video "A glass of Sicily” has gone viral on YouTube, notching up well over 200,000 hits in less than a month.

Just North of Alghero (Sardinia) you can go and visit these beautiful caves with stalagtites and stalagmites. From the car park there are over 650 steps (bring your water bottle.....) descending the sheer cliff but it's worth the effort, believe me. The entrance to the grotto lies only around a meter above the sea level at the foot of the 110-meter-high Capo Caccia cliffs and the cave can therefore only be visited when the waters below are calm. In case the steps are too many, you can also cath the ferry boat from Alghero which will take you directly into the cave (trips are arranged hourly during the summer, but less frequently during spring and autumn).

This is really one place that you cannot miss in case you are spending your holidays in the south eastern part of Sicily. The nature reserve VENDICARI was instituted in 1984 and offers a wide variety of flora and fauna - you will find a mixture of sandy beaches, dunes and lagoons here.

There are 3 entrances to the park, situated off the Noto-Pachino road. For all entrances you will have to park you car and walk to get to the beaches which is actually quite pleasant ! Just be sure to bring your own food and drinks since there are no lidos or bars in this area.