White Almond Sicily

In May this year we decided to escape the madness of the G7 summit in Taormina and have a few days away with Daisy our dog. Living in Giardini Naxos we are in the perfect location to discover and explore the eastern side of Sicily at any time and a place of much beauty is the Alcantara Valley. The park of Alcantara covers a large region between Randazzo and Giardini Naxos and is well known in particular for its gorges and ravines. The ravines reach over 25 metres high and give life to an exciting spectacular canyon named Gole Alcantara gushing with icy cold water where you can enjoy walks and many activities such as body rafting. Within the region there are some beautiful medieval hilltop towns including Castiglione di Sicilia, Francavilla di Sicilia, Graniti and Motta Camastra. The area is abundant with local produce including citrus and olive groves, it is renowned for its cherry trees and there are many vineyards boasting glorious Mount Etna wines. We have visited t...

"A microworld where time stands still between historical references and modern elements, faraway English memories and Sicilian traditions" The Ashbee Hotel Taormina Taormina has always been renowned as a destination for English visitors since the 18th century when the British aristocracy would embark on what was known as 'The Grand Tour' visiting all of continental Europe enjoying the culture and embarking on purchasing fine works of art and antiques. Taormina was an obligatory stop on The Grand Tour and has played host to foreign visitors ever since. Being the last stop on the tour many decided to stay and make Taormina their home. Visitors chose Taormina for its peaceful location and beautiful landscapes with many drawing inspiration for paintings, poems and novels including D H Lawrence. They enjoyed Taormina’s glamourous way of life, with afternoon teas and soirees in beautiful villas and lush gardens. In 1907 construction be...