White Almond Sicily

This summer whilst being on The Inspector Montalbano Filming Locations Tour we visited the beautiful town of Scicli in South East Sicily. Scicli is one of Sicily’s UNESCO listed Baroque towns and one of my favourites, it is so beautiful with wonderful architecture framed by rocky limestone cliffs. Italo Barocco Whilst it is well known as the fictional town "Vigata" in the Inspector Montalbano series it is also famous for another reason. Knowing that I am a big lover of animals and that we have a rescue dog called Daisy, my guide Christy told us a very special story about a dog called Italo who stole the hearts of Scicli and became Italy’s darling. Italo was a dog without a master who used to stroll around the town hall square. Some say that he wandered into town after the death of his owner. At first no one noticed him but then the locals started to notice that the dog entered the church to attend mass and take part in funerals and weddings. In a short time h

Agriturismo Feudogrande An agriturismo is primarily a farm and usually has a number of rooms or apartments available for guests. Guests can enjoy the tastes of local produce such as wines, conserves, oils, olives, local cheeses, bread, seasonal fruit and vegetables and typical local dishes. Most often they are restored farmhouses located on quiet beautiful estates. Whether you are celebrating a birthday ending with an 0, a precious stone anniversary, planning a wedding or a relaxing holiday, Agriturismo Feudogrande in Fiumefreddo di Sicilia is the perfect place for you. Nestled in the foothills of Mount Etna and immersed in an ancient organically farmed citrus grove, guests can enjoy beautiful scenery and traditional home cooked Sicilian dishes, produce and tastings of Etna DOC wines Feudogrande is perfectly located and is approximately a 30 minute drive from Taormina and only a short drive to Etna Sud , (Etna South) where you can board the cable car to start your ascent

In the Godfather Part I, when Michael Corleone (Al  Pacino) and his two bodyguards are walking in the hills, they see a picturesque village in the distance, they point and remark “Corleone”. The town in the distance is in fact Forza d' Agro a short drive from Taormina. Forza d’Agro is an ancient hill-top town and is a warren of narrow streets and tiny houses leading up to a ruined Norman castle. Most of the stone paved lanes here are impassable by cars. The town was also used as a filming location for The Godfather Part II and III. In the opening scene of The Godfather Part II, following the assassination of young Vito Corleone’s father, the funeral procession was shot in the dry riverbed below Forza d’Agro, Michael’s older brother is assassinated in this scene after being found hiding in the hills. Following this his mother is also brutally murdered, and so being the only surviving male, Vito Corleone must escape Sicily and with the help of local residents he c