S’ABBINIDICA is an old Sicilian greeting that means God’s blessing … and that’s how we’re feeling.
We celebrated Mum’s birthday last week in Sicily, which according to Sigmund Freud, it is “The loveliest region of Italy: a stunning orgy of colours, scents, and lights…a great delight.”
Mum had lived and worked in Milan many years ago and have visited many parts of Italy but never Sicily. You know Goethe said, “To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything.”
Well, I’m glad she can now say she has experienced Italy in its totality.
We’ve heard so much about Taormina lately, that as a first visit to Sicily we had to pick that as our destination .
“Were a man to spend only one day in Sicily and ask, “What must one see?” I would answer him without hesitation, “Taormina.” It is only a landscape, but a landscape where you find everything on earth that seems made to seduce the eyes, the mind and the imagination.” – Guy de Maupassant
And so we did.
As we flew into Catania, we caught sight of Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe.
And for the next few days, Mount Etna was a constant companion.
We stayed at the lovely Belmond Grand Timeo Hotel.
It is located right next door is the Teatro Antico, a Hellenistic theatre stood at Taormina from around the third century BC. Early one morning before the tourists came by the hoardes, Mum walked up to the ticket office and asked if dogs were allowed in. And yes we were!
We also had fun walking through the main strip of Taormina –
And met many dogs along the way.
The sun shone. It was a welcomed change to the fickle Spring weather in the regions of Northern Europe.
May’s comment: Since turning 60 a few years ago, I celebrated each new year with gratitude and with Darcy and George, as well as with friends. This year Sylvia came from Dusseldorf to join us on this adventure.
I was inspired to visit Sicily after watching White Lotus Season 2 and then meeting Massimiliano, the General Manager of The Belmond Grand Timeo Hotel at a Sicilian event in London. It turned out to be the perfect birthday celebration.
We first stopped in Noto, a city in southeastern Sicily. It is famous for its buildings from the early 18th century, many of which are considered to be among the finest examples of Sicilian baroque style. In this one town there are 44 religious buildings and several palaces.
It was definitely worth a visit.
We stayed the night at Seven Rooms at Villadorta – a boutique hotel occupying a wing of the 18th-century Nicolaci Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering guests a taste of the Sicilian aristocracy. It is located in the heart of the ancient parts of baroque Noto.
To be noted that Seven Rooms is not usually dog-friendly but if you call and ask, they do grant exceptions. And George was not presented as an ESA nor Assistant Dog.
It was a quick stop and the next day, after a birthday breakfast …
… we were on our way to Taormina, a couple of hours drive from Noto, passing Catania and Mount Etna along the way.
We arrived at the gardens of The Grand Timeo Hotel and was met by the buggy to take us up to the hotel.
George became an instant hit. He was called Prince George the whole time!
Our wonderful room had a view or Mount Etna and the blue Mediterranean sea! It was enough just sitting on the balcony and soaking up the sun.
We left with a taste of return.
And despite the aches and pains that comes with getting older, life is still good.
