White Almond Sicily

Cefalù is a small fishing village, now a resort thanks to its good sandy beaches, located on the northern coastline of Sicily. It is just over an hours drive east of Palermo and just over two hours drive west from Messina. The town lies on a strip of land between the sea and a huge promontory looming above. It is one of the most popular seaside resorts on the Tyrrhenian coast, is included in the list of "The most beautiful towns in Italy" and is part of the Madonie National Park. Cefalù was founded in the 4th century BC but was destroyed by the Norman Count Roger in 1063. It only regained prominence thanks to his son King Roger II who endowed the town with a cathedral decorated with exceptional Byzantine mosaics and made the town a bishopdom. The modern holiday resorts lie to either side of the town because the village has closed itself to the sea fortifying itself against storms with protective sea walls and its beauty is boasted inward. The cathedrals architecture ...

Taormina is the reason we first visited Sicily after it was featured in UK Glamour magazine as an alternative Valentines weekend destination and it will always remain my personal favourite place. From Giardini Naxos,Taormina up above appears to tumble down the hillside towards the sea. Piazza IX Aprile with San Guiseppe and Wunderbar Cafe Taormina is filled with ancient monuments and archaeology from various cultures including the Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and Spanish. Taormina has a feeling of exclusivity and has been visited by writers, artists and celebrities over many years. The main pedestrianised Corso Umberto which weaves through Taormina between Porta Catania and Porta Messina entices you to experience boutiques from the best Italian designers, tempting  gelaterias and pasticcerias , and the many narrow steps leading up and down from the Corso invite you towards restaurants, many that have terraces with a view of the sparkling Ionian Sea. I neve...