We are now back in Bagni di Lucca after our trip to Sicily. We drove down, stopping in a few places along the way. We covered most of the things we wanted to see in Sicily. We didn’t spend a lot of time in each place, but the idea was to find the places we liked best and we will return to spend more time in our favourite spots.
I wanted to post more while we were travelling, but we were on the go most of the time and the Internet wasn’t always reliable.
I didn’t know what to expect of Sicily and for the most part was delighted by what we saw. Taormina and Ortigia were fabulous. Of the baroque towns we visited, Scicli was my favourite. We love the Greek temples at Agrigento and Segesta. Corleone did not impress at all. The Norman church in Monreale was incredible. Cefalu was a charming place to visit and a great jumping off destination for the nearby islands of Stromboli and Lipari…we are definitely going back there. There will be posts on these places and more in the coming weeks.
The thing that we really didn’t expect was the stunning beauty of the countryside. Our lady of the GPS took us across the country, even when we didn’t want to. We were amazed by the green fields, the rugged mountains and the car high wild flowers we encountered.
Some of these photos were taken from a moving car…with very dirty windows. (Thanks to the Sirocco and the accompanying dust)
All over Sicily were hot houses…that’s where all those delicious tomatoes, strawberries and other good things come from.
A big surprise was the number of eucalyptus trees we saw. After a bit of research I discovered they were planted at the time of Mussolini to help drain wet areas to control malaria. We also saw Moreton Bay figs and Norfolk pines…a little bit of home in Sicily.
We were very lucky to be there in spring. I doubt the flowers will last into the hot summer. I was most impressed with the wild fennel, some more than a metre high, with bright yellow heads.
The often appalling roads, that had huge pot holes, were made enchanting with their edges of purple, yellow and red flowers.
There were purple thistles and amazing yellow ones.
We will definitely return to Sicily to see some of the things we missed and to return to the places we loved…the wild flowers alone would take me back.
Gorgeous views!
By: Politics Unraveled on April 28, 2016
at 7:54 pm
The country side in Sicily is stunning.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 28, 2016
at 8:04 pm
I should probably visit 🙂
By: Politics Unraveled on April 28, 2016
at 8:06 pm
Beautiful countryside. Love the pics.
By: lorellaandherumbrella on April 28, 2016
at 8:04 pm
Next time we will try to clean the windows.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 28, 2016
at 8:48 pm
We were there two years ago, the first two weeks in May, and loved all the same places as you, including Scicli….just lovely.
By: Seattle ciclista on April 28, 2016
at 8:10 pm
I have lots of photos from everywhere we went and will post on Scicli soon.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 28, 2016
at 8:49 pm
Awesome post Debra. I’m so happy you enjoyed Sicily. Your photos in the countryside are amazing. Spring must be the best time to be there for sure. I’ll look forward to more in the weeks to come.
By: margieinitaly on April 28, 2016
at 8:13 pm
We found the countryside incredibly beautiful. I wish I could have captured more of what we saw, but the roads were narrow with few places to stop.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 28, 2016
at 8:50 pm
I was in Sicily almost thirty years ago visiting my husband’s family there and your beautiful photos makes we want to go back and explore more. I had terrible morning at the time so I had some limitations! Really would like to go back.
By: Louise Terranova on April 28, 2016
at 8:17 pm
You must return, it is a fascinating place.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 28, 2016
at 8:51 pm
Oh and the Lady of the GPS sounds like a saint taking you astray! LOL
By: Louise Terranova on April 28, 2016
at 8:18 pm
Even though we were puzzled by some of the choices we were pleased to see lots of country side.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 28, 2016
at 8:51 pm
I agree the Sicilian countryside is fab…before it gets dried out by the torrid summer. I noted segesta temple behind one of your great pics.
By: Francis on April 28, 2016
at 8:41 pm
Well spotted. There will be more on the temple soon.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 28, 2016
at 8:52 pm
Your post has certainly wet my appetite. And Deb your photos are stunning. Beautiful. Looks like spring is THe time to be there.
By: Lyn on April 28, 2016
at 8:44 pm
I think spring is definitely the best time to see Sicily.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 28, 2016
at 8:53 pm
I totally agree, Sicily is stunning
By: Liz Litzow on April 28, 2016
at 8:45 pm
The green, fertile fields were a surprise for us.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 28, 2016
at 8:53 pm
Wow what a stunning place Debra! I have always wa Ted to go to Sicily. The flowers are amazing!
By: thirdeyemom on April 28, 2016
at 9:15 pm
I expected Sicily to be rocky and arid. I don’t know why.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 29, 2016
at 5:12 am
Did you have a 4wd or were you driving the little fiat over & around those potholes?
By: Anonymous on April 28, 2016
at 9:47 pm
Our little Fiat lives in Australia. In Italy we have our trusty Toyota Corolla.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 29, 2016
at 5:13 am
Hi Debra
I can’t tell you how much I love your informative blog! I live in Brisbane, with son and family in London. I am hoping to book and explore the beautiful area you describe at Bagna Di Lucca. Sicily has been on our list of ‘must do’ places for 15 years!! Your blog and images have inspired me to book a holiday there! I guess not in summer!! Was the weather ok??
By: Andrea on April 28, 2016
at 10:21 pm
Thank you for your kind words. The weather in Sicily was excellent for most of our trip. The days were warm and the mornings and evenings quite cool. The Sirocco blew in for the last couple of days making things unpleasant. It wasn’t cold, but the wind was fierce.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 29, 2016
at 5:16 am
Never realized Sicily was so green. I guess spring is the time to go.
By: Derin Gemignani on April 28, 2016
at 11:40 pm
We wanted to go before it got too hot and crowded. I think spring is the perfect time to go.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 29, 2016
at 5:17 am
Your photos are gorgeous and now more than ever I want to go!
By: paninigirl on April 28, 2016
at 11:46 pm
Sicily is very beautiful.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 29, 2016
at 5:18 am
Would look really great , from the seat of an historical Ducati motorcycle …..
Now there’s a thought .
I’m off to Spain this year Debra — will be an interesting comparison indeed .
By: Richard the terrible on April 29, 2016
at 1:17 am
We have been to Spain a few times. I hope you are going to Barcelona.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 29, 2016
at 5:19 am
Beautiful! I really understand the issues with blog posting from here, my poor phone would get hot then crash trying to load a couple of photos. I was here in October so had a different experience of the scenery, no flowers!
By: apollard on April 29, 2016
at 1:53 am
I just gave up after a while. We were very busy most days anyway.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 29, 2016
at 5:20 am
Definitely more beautiful than I imaged. Thanks for sharing!
By: aFrankAngle on April 29, 2016
at 2:06 am
There were some seriously unattractive towns as well, but you get that everywhere.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 29, 2016
at 5:21 am
I think your GPS lady taking you through the very beautiful countryside was a bonus. Spring is obviously a great time to visit.
By: Kerry & Jim on April 29, 2016
at 2:19 am
Despite some terrible roads we were happy we went though the interior.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 29, 2016
at 5:22 am
Thank you Debra for sharing your beautiful images, I didn’t know that Sicily is that pretty. What kind of flowers are the pink ones in the first few images? Just being curious
By: corneliaweberphotography on April 29, 2016
at 2:52 am
I don’t know. They were tiny and the plant looked a bit like a pea of some kind.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 29, 2016
at 5:23 am
Amazing pictures!
By: Tony on April 29, 2016
at 4:05 am
Thank you. The scenery was stunning.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 29, 2016
at 5:23 am
Gorgeous flowers and such beautiful pictures despite the dirty windows!
By: Suvi on April 29, 2016
at 4:29 am
We must remember to put some cleaning items in the boot of the car for times such as these.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 29, 2016
at 12:01 pm
Beautiful photo, Debra.
By: Dianne Perrin on April 29, 2016
at 4:47 am
Spring is clearly the best time to be in Sicily.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 29, 2016
at 12:01 pm
I went to Sicily last March – too early for many of the wild flowers – so early May, do you think?
By: Sue on April 29, 2016
at 6:53 am
We were there in late April. I don’t know how long the flowers will last. Early May would be the latest I would go.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 29, 2016
at 12:02 pm
Yes, late April sounds about right, I was thinking! 😀
By: Sue on April 29, 2016
at 2:30 pm
Love the flowers!
By: Andrew Petcher on April 29, 2016
at 7:39 am
The flowers were gorgeous.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 29, 2016
at 12:02 pm
We also like to do an exploratory trip and then return to see the places we really like more in depth. It always works.
See you next week in Bagni!
By: Mulino Dominillo on April 29, 2016
at 7:40 am
I look forward to seeing you soon and to show you our garden at Casa Debbio.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 29, 2016
at 12:03 pm
Given that many of the photos were taken from a moving car and through dirty windows – the landscape must, in reality, be the most astonishing colours. Some look almost as if they are painted – no wonder so many artists went to Italy to paint.
By: Jan on April 29, 2016
at 7:45 am
The bright blue skies helped a lot.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 29, 2016
at 12:03 pm
I would love to go to Sicily! We were just talking about it with some people that just visited. It’s amazing the photos you can get from a moving car!
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on April 29, 2016
at 8:03 am
Sicily is great. Go in spring.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 29, 2016
at 12:04 pm
It looks stunning there, those photos and this blog together make me want to go so much. it totally looks like my kind of place i love all things green and the country side is my little paradise i just love it. great post!
By: Aleksandra G on April 29, 2016
at 11:54 am
Thank you. Visit Sicily in spring.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 29, 2016
at 12:04 pm
So many beautiful flowers! It would be worth a visit just to see them.
By: sheilasunshine on April 29, 2016
at 1:05 pm
Ahhhh, the Sicilian countryside, how I love it. Great shots bringing back good memories.
By: Francesca on April 29, 2016
at 11:23 pm
Such lovely wildflowers and I do love your photos, Debra. The dirt on the car windows doesn’t show at all. 🙂
By: anotherday2paradise on May 5, 2016
at 12:51 am
Wonderful photos and obviously in the springtime by the flowers and those fields of stunning colour. Yes those famous ‘winds’ can sure stir up the dust and the pollen. Deb that is a gorgeous post.
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at 8:25 pm
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