After leaving San Vito Lo Capo, we are now reaching the end of our virtual trip to Sicily with a few suggestions on Scopello and Segesta, worth visiting, while you drive along the north-coast heading to Palermo. From Palermo, you can organize a day trip and visit Cefalu and Caccamo’s towns, about a one-hour drive away from the city.
Scopello & Segesta
Scopello is a cute and picturesque town well known for its “faraglioni”, which are coastal rock formations eroded by waves. The town has its own charm, it was built around a manor house and fortified by walls and big gates. It looks like time has stopped. Take a stroll and sip a coffee in the main square, watching life passing by. Worth to know that Scopello has been the stage of a few scenes of the Hollywood movie Ocean’s Twelve.
After visiting Scopello, you can head to Segesta, an archaeological park perched on top of a hill. These ruins, which are more than 2500 years old, are of remarkable beauty and have been one of the highlights during our trip. The site includes a well-preserved Greek theatre and a Doric temple, and its location, which overlooks the valley below, is breathtaking.
Palermo
It is the biggest city of Sicily and it has been for centuries at the crossroad of civilization given its location. Palermo can evoke a mix of feeling, from the busy street to the crowded markets, you will stumble at its Byzantine mosaic, Arabic buildings, and marbled cupolas. While some people spend only one day, give yourself at least three days to walk around and absorb the city’s spiced mix of culture.
The top place to visit is the Norman Palace(Palazzi Normanni), with its adjacent chapel (Cappella Palatina). The chapel is the most striking example of the byzantine mosaic, which is of unparalleled beauty. At this point, I must confess that I was so mesmerized and touched by so much beauty that I went to visit it a second time.
After that, another building that deserves a stop is the Palermo Cathedral, especially its rooftop and catacombs. Other places worth visiting are the Pretoria Fountain, La Martorana Church, and Oratorio San Lorenzo. In Italy, you cannot miss the visit to the local market. A classic example is Ballaro’ market where you can stroll around and smell fresh fruits and fried street food. In terms of restaurants, Palermo offers several options for lunch that can easily satisfy any cravings! A must-try is Antica Focacceria S. Francesco, an old-fashioned bakery that offers some of the most delicious snacks. If you want to savor some tasty Italian sandwiches, La Salumeria is definitely your best choice.
For dinner, Ottava Nota is a modern Sicilian restaurant with interesting recipes. Lo Scudiero is probably one of the most traditional restaurants in the city, where you will taste traditional food. A gourmet experience is Bye-Bye Blues, a one-star Michelin restaurant, outside Palermo that offers modern Sicilian food.
Cefalu and Caccamo
If you drive about one hour on the north coast towards the east, you will reach Cefalu, a graceful town with a beautiful beach, golden stone buildings, and a green mountain backdrop. In the main square, the Duomo is home to beautiful paintings and mosaics. Its gems are the cloister, adorned by Arab- Norman arches.
From Cefalu, you return towards Palermo and half-way between these two cities stands Caccamo with its clifftop castle. The castle is one of the most well-maintained examples in Italy and Europe. The rooms are decorated with its ancient furniture, and you can admire the valley underneath from the terraces, surrounding the castle.
Lastly, at the end of this cultural immersion, why not stopping to the last vineyard? Visit Duca di Salaparuta, where you can learn about the process of production of Nero D’Avola. I highly recommend the 5 wines tasting with food pairings. If you would like to bring back a souvenir buy Duca Enrico, a bold Nero d’Avola that has become the emblem of Italian enology. It is a wine to taste on special occasions or as after dinner meditation.
With this post, I conclude our virtual trip to Sicily. I highly recommend visiting Sicily for the culture, tradition, and flavors that the island has to offer. If you have the time, allow yourself to spend three weeks and rent a car. In fact, it will give you much more freedom to customize your journey.
In case you will need more tips to organize your trip to Sicily, you can contact me at italiankitchenconfessions@gmail.com.
