The fact it’s the largest Mediterranean island is, quite honestly, reason enough to visit sun-soaked Sicily. But the rich history, dazzling landscapes and quintessential Italian food sure don’t hurt either.
In honour of our new 15-day Highlights of Calabria & Sicily trip, we decided this part of Southern Italy deserved some blog attention. After all, the region contains everything we love about the country. It has the captivating cities (check out markets, ports and ornate architecture in capital, Palermo), it has the coastline (just Google ‘Cefalu beaches’), it has attractions aplenty (say hello to Europe’s largest active volcano, Mount Etna), and it has all the traditional gelato and pasta you could ever hope for.
But it’s not as simple as merely pointing out Sicily’s abundant gems. Yes, we love the historic city of Noto and vibrant seaside town of Avola, but it’s the pace of life we truly adore. An unhurried one that feels so far removed from the ever-connected, always-busy lives we inhabit. Sicily’s lifestyle is about savouring every bite of every meal, appreciating every drop of the local wine, enjoying every step through every cobbled street. It’s simply divine.
It’s pretty hard to really explain the region’s magic through words, but photos go some way in doing it justice. So, we invited photographer Kazim Ghafoor to capture Sicily on camera. He’s shot Iceland for us before (check out the photo essay!), so we knew we were in good hands. Without further ado, introducing cliffside villages, clear waters and idyllic Italy in all its glory:
Castellammare del Golfo
Castellammare del Golfo by night
Cefalu
Cefalu
Cefalu
Noto
Noto
Noto
Riserva dello Zingaro
Palermo
Palermo
Palermo
Like the look of Noto, Palermo and Sicily’s other delights? Check out our new trip to Sicily and (lesser-known, wondrous) Calabria.
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Images all c/o Kazim Ghafoor. Check out his Instagram at @kazimghafoor.
