Sicily, like the South Seas

The only region of Italy where we still hadn't set foot was Sicily. We set off by car from Florence to Civitavecchia and boarded the GNV ferry for Palermo. In the morning, arriving from the sea, we see Palermo literally at the foot of great mountain ranges. A first wonder for two ignoramuses: mountains in Sicily. And what mountains. Mountains that tumble violently into the sea. Harsh mountains, hewn as if with an axe. Having visited Palermo and Monreale, we head inland to reach Alcamo. Mountain passes and fresh air, then plunging down onto the Gulf of Castellammare del Golfo. Excellent hotel 'Al Madarig'. The town's Arabic name takes us back to last month and the longing to return to Tunisia. The prices are double those of Tunisia but the sights are splendid. The sea has nothing to envy the South Seas for.

Crystal-clear waters and seabeds ranging from green to deep blue, and so off to visit the Tonnara di Scopello, San Vito lo Capo, the bay of Torre Guidaloca, the Egadi islands. Levanzo is wonderful. Favignana too! And what about the beautiful salt pans below Trapani with their windmills, and the Temples of Selinunte and Segesta!! Not to mention the excellent Sicilian cuisine with all its specialities which we knew by name but had never tasted. Caponata galore, pasta with sardines, fish couscous, cassata, excellent fresh fish, exceptional wines and prices affordable for us who live in a city that is beautiful but outrageously expensive.

And what about the people: a bit loud for our taste, riding mopeds without helmets, every single moped (I mean every one) with its exhaust removed, which in Florence would land you in jail, traffic flowing smoothly even though the rules are often bent to suit the convenience of the moment. Everyone, though, is helpful, far kinder and more welcoming than in the Centre-North. If you add the temples of ancient civilisations, the sea of a thousand colours, the mountains rolling sheer down to the sea, the bright dawns and sunsets, well, if you put all of this together, then surely Sicily awaits us next year to be visited by us again. This time, though, the eastern part of the island. See you soon