There is no other place like Sicily for a long detox week. Beautiful beaches and medieval cities perched upon hills overlooking small bays. This is Sicily - a beautiful island on the Mediterranean Sea.
The medieval city of Taormina is one of the most famous touristic places on the island. Founded by the Greek in 396BC, it became famous amongst the European elite in the 19th and 20th centuries as a place for warm winters.
Grand Hotel Timeo is must-go. The terrace overlooking the bay is a great place to enjoy a drink or two with friends – as Italians say, “Aperitivo”.
Sicily is a region to discover and explore un-spoilt and unknown places. I found myself in Linguagossa, a village at the foot of Mt Etna, recently awarded World Heritage Status by Unesco.
I was guest in a house of the rural part of Etna area, immersed in the gardens of a XVII century noble house. Inside the estate, the centenary olive trees, wine yards, climbing roses and Arabic intertwining jasmine, all meet to create an unearthly atmosphere, or as French people would say “d’antan”. I was witnessing the true and authentic soul of Sicily.
The house is charming; truly a place where you can rejuvenate from stress. And if you are lucky enough you will be treated to a performance of Etna’s lava pyrotechnics from the terrace.
Guests can enjoy eating cherries from trees, collecting fresh organic strawberries and other berries. What could be better than champagne and berries served under the shadows of jasmine trees? Everything is home grown and organic. All guests upon arrivals receive a hand-spun basket of vegetables and fruits collected from nearby lands owned by the family.
During their stay, guests can enjoy a Sicilian tea afternoon with the cosmopolitan owners in the upper saloon of the building: guests will be enchanted by the decorated alfresco ceiling while sitting comfortable old eighteen-century sofas.
The old building offers an old library and archive, giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself completely in Sicilian history, reading sixteen-century-old books. But the surprise is the cooking lessons you can take with Lady Angela – the trusted cook of the family – mistress of the bread, with competence and sympathy, as she teaches you how to make bread from scratch. She will tell you about the dishes of Frederick II Hohenstaufen, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, which were passed down from generations to generation and drawn from the “liber de coquina” of the twelth century.
If you are looking for sun, sea, and volcanic scenery, as well as participation countryside activities in a scenic small village with exquisite views, then this is the house for you.
Written by Alfio Puglisi
All photos by Daryl Toh
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