Category: Bon Voyage

Destination Sicily: L ‘Infiorata di Noto

A prime destination in Sicily is the Baroque City of Noto. The best time to plan a visit is May. A city wide floral festival, L’Infiorata di Noto draws thousands upon thousands of visitors to celebrate the spring season. A grand floral display is created outside the Palace on Via Nicolaci. Every year presents a different theme with designs made entirely of flower petals. Visitors get in line and slowly walk up the avenue admiring the artwork.

The Sunday festival is also a city wide open house. Music and entertainment from the baroque era take place in many of the churches and public buildings along the main corso. In the afternoon, a grand costume parade winds around the city to the main plaza in front of Municipio di Noto (City Hall). A festival of music and dance from the Baroque period will entertain the crowd and Baron Nicolaci Family. It’s a great day to be in Sicily and be a part of the beauty of this Mediterranean island.

Destination Sicily ~ Planeta Winery

At this time of year, people may be making plans for travel in the next several months. A best destination for lovers of art, ancient history, food, and wine is Sicily. The island is a little Eden with mile upon mile of neatly cultivated fields. Farmers build dry mortar stone walls around their property. In the spring months, nature plants a live border of red poppies and broom.  Both have a fine sense of order with straight lines curving over and around hills. There are delightful vistas of citrus and olive groves. It is not possible to visit Sicily and not drive by vineyards. Sicily is well-known for growing and bottling superb dry red wines. An excellent destination is Planeta Winery.

 

The Planeta family have several estates in Sicily. The winery near Noto is called Buonivini which means good wines. The grapes cultivated include: Nero d’ Avola, Frappato, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Grecanico, Chardonnay, Fiano, Viognier, Carricante, and Moscato Bianco. Besides wine they also have acres of olive and carob trees. Visitors can tour the underground wine making facilities at Noto. The family uses modern and traditional techniques. Buyers can purchase wines and olive oil during the tour. Of course, there will be a sampling to find the right one for the dinner table. My favorites are Santa Cecilia and Plumbago. The wood casks at Planeta are sealed with a large plug of beeswax. The entrance to the production areas are graced with enormous rosemary shrubs. The dry Sicilian air is sweet on the estate. The breezes mellow and pleasing. The eye enjoys a sweeping panorama of green. Every inch of this property feels special.

 

There are six Planeta cantina’s on the island. Cantina La Baronia near Messina. Cantina Feudo di Mezzo near Taormina. Cantina Buonivini near Noto. Cantina Dorilli near Vittoria. Cantina Dispensa and Cantina Ulmo near Marsalla. This travel route takes the visitor around the island through some of the most scenic landscapes of Sicily. There are wonderful Greek ruins to visit and baroque cities waiting to be seen.

Click on this link to the website Planeta family and plan a visit. Planeta wines are available at fine wine shops in the United States. Yankee Spirits in Sturbridge Massachusetts offers several varieties for sale. Enjoy good food with good wine.

 

 

Destination Sicily ~ Scala dei Turchi

As the winter season begins and plans for the New Year start to percolate, travel may be on the list of fun things to do in 2016. Travelers who enjoy time out-of-doors might consider a long stay on the island of Sicily. There are natural wonders waiting to be admired. A must stop on the tourist trail has to be Scala dei Turchi.

This cliff face of marlstone, lime-rich clay, rises out of the Mediterranean Sea. The wind and water have been carving the rock face for centuries giving it the look of stairs. La Scala dei Turchi literally means Turkish stairs. Apparently, marauding Turks of long ago used this as an entry way onto the island.

The traveler only needs a good pair of hiking shoes to walk along the cliff face. The incline is a gradual ascent up as far as the feet find their courage. The cliff face stretches along the seashore for several miles and reaches perhaps six stories in height. Visit on a clear day and marvel at the wonder of it all. Take a seat on the stairs and watch the swirling calm seas change colors. See schools of fish come together and apart in the twinkle of the eye. Feel the sun, wind, and water and know something beautiful only nature could create. Let the sea fill the senses and watch it lap at the feet of the cliff. Leave all thoughts behind and be apart of it all.

The site is in Agrigento Province at Realmonte near Porto Empedocle. The site is not operated as a park or reserve. There are no entry fees or services. Visitors are responsible for their own safety.

For information about the site, click on this link: Parcheggio Realmonte