Most of our weekdays are spent on a farm. We’ve been enjoying working the land and learning each day about organic farming. On the weekends though, we try to explore new places in Sicily. When we were in the northwest part of Sicily, we rented a car through a company called Jumbo (very dependable and customer-friendly service) to visit a few places.
Palermo & Monreale
- Palermo is one of the largest cities in Sicily. (The others being Catania and Siracusa.) If you are traveling to Palermo from the northwest/west side of Sicily, you can take the scenic route for some mountain views and windy roads and stop in Monreale. Monreale is a small hilly town above Palermo with a view of the sea and Palermo.
- Visit Palermo on a Saturday and shop for local produce, market goods, and eats in their famous Ballaro street market. You will find everything Sicilian and much more! Parking can be tricky, but you can find some safe and free parking spaces in side streets near small shopping areas.
- Both Palermo and Monreale have iconic architecture. In Palermo, we visited the Cattedrale di Palermo. You can freely enter the main cathedral, but spending a few euros for a tour of other sections and the rooftop was worth it! We could enjoy a nice panoramic view of Palermo and the sea. (In Sicily, like Puerto Rico, the sea is always a hop-skip-jump away!) In Monreale, you can visit also visit the Cattedrale di Montreale. It is a national monument in Italy and one of the main attractions in Sicily. This cathedral is one of the greatest examples of Norman architecture.
Segesta & Erice
- Segesta is home to the Temple of Segesta, a stunning Doric temple that dates back to around 430 or 420 BC. There are many parts to see at Segesta, but the main attractions are the Teatro and the Tempio (temple). You can take a tour bus around all of the sites, but if you want some refreshing exercise, you can hike around to each of the locations. NOTE: Steep hills and moderate hiking involved. Wear comfortable shoes. 🙂
- Erice is an iconic town in Trapani with many tiny alleyways, quaint corners, and hilly neighborhoods. It almost feels like a labyrinth when you walk through the town, but its charm keeps you happily turning any corner. In Erice is another stunning example of Norman architecture, the Castello di Venere (Venus Castle).
Ciao!
Until next time,
Christie & Oscar
Vida BoriKor 