Experience Sicily

04/25/2025

Feel like a royal when you walk through the Porta Reale or Ferdinandea of Noto. Constructed as a triumphal arch for the king's entry into the baroque city, the Porta Reale or Ferdinandea was commissioned and financed in 1838 by the Marquis of Cannicarao in anticipation of a visit to Noto by King Ferdinand II of Bourbon. This neoclassical gate made of the golden limestone employed for many of the UNESCO recognized churches, palaces, and roadways of the Val di Noto was designed by architect Orazio Angelici. 

Of interest are the symbols decorating the arch: a stork that represents peace, happiness, and fertility; a tower that illustrates the strength and power of the city; a Sicilian greyhound dog communicating loyalty and fidelity. The wreath on the left displays wheat, representing abundance and fertility. The wreath on the right possesses a caduceus, the staff carried by the Hermes, the messenger of the ancient Greek gods, as a symbol of peace. Inside the archways are the coat of arms of the Cannicarao family and the city of Noto.

04/16/2025

Our October Stunning Sicily tour starts here in Taormina. You could swim in that pool with that view! It is 14 days and 13 nights. Designed to be a study of Sicily, the itinerary aims to give you a deep dive into the region's profound history, remarkable heritage, outstanding cuisine, modern culture, and natural beauty. I've led this tour 7 times over the last 10 years. I like to believe I've perfected its content and pacing. I am so excited to do it again from October 10 to 23! With 12 guests or fewer, characteristic accommodations, expert guides, off the beaten path excursions, and meals in family-run trattorias, I know you'll love it! Learn more about Stunning Sicily at the link in bio. And join me! It would be my priveledge to share Sicily with you!

04/14/2025

In Sicily, we call it the “White Lotus Effect.”

Many people ask if the second season of White Lotus impacted Experience Sicily's business. The answer is, “Yes!” Probably in more ways than you might imagine. Mostly though, it introduced Sicily to ten million people who did not know about the splendor of this island and its culture. The settings of Taormina, Cefalù, Palermo, and Noto piqued Americans’ curiosity to travel to another part of Italy, and that pleases me!

The series about wealthy Americans on vacation in glamorous places’ influence has reached further than travelling to Sicily. Rent.com recently asked me how one might use the Sicily season of White Lotus to inspire one’s home décor. Having designed two apartments in the New York area with a Sicilian aesthetic, this was a thrill to comment on! So, find your favorite lemon-printed table clothes, tile-inspired throw pillows, and traditional ceramics from Caltagirone or Santo Stefano di Camastra, and you are on your way. Read the full article at link in comments.

Meanwhile, for more recent television shows set in Sicily, check out The Lions of Sicily on Hulu and the latest series to join the list, The Leopard on Netflix. Both are period dramas including real historic events.

03/26/2025

We have one room left for our Enchanting Sicily Tour, May 19 to June 1. We start in Siracusa (with an optional Prelude in Taormina) and make our way around the island through 3000 years of human history, outstanding gastronomy, heartwarming village experiences, and memorable interaction with locals. Come with us to immerse yourself in Sicily's magnificent panoramas and sites. Let Experience Sicily take care of all of the details, so you can relish each multi-sensory moment! 12 people max means boutique hotels and family-run trattorias. Join me, Allison Scola, your tour leader for a remarkable experience in Sicily! Learn more and register at link in bio .

03/19/2025

Happy Saint Joseph's Day! Viva San Giuseppe! Here in New York City, Experience Sicily has been welcoming the arrival of spring and the equalibrium of light and dark to our days with our annual Saint Joseph's Day events. On Sunday, we hosted a feast with featuring traditional dishes such as maccu (fava bean soup), pasta con le sarde, and sfinci di San Giuseppe. On Monday, at , we spent a lovely evening creating ritual breads for our Saint Joseph's altars. Saint Joseph is the patron of fathers, fatherhood, carpenters, those who toil for their work, and hearth and home. Joseph is a great protector. With faith in him and the balance of masculine energy he brings to the family, we find great strength. His steady knowing and the security he provides is potent. Thanks to Giusto Priola and Jason D'oro for your partnership! Viva San Giuseppe!

03/16/2025

Viva San Giuseppe! Saint Joseph's Day is March 19, and today, I am thrilled to gather in New York City for our annual celebration of the father, the masculine, and spring's arrival, and to see friends and family. The feminine mother Earth is coming back to life after the famine of winter. The masculine father Sun is balancing the Earth's energy (That's what the upcoming spring equinox is all about!) to warm the earth and make everything grow. We need both masculine and feminine in balance for fertility, prosperity, abundance, and peace. This rendition of the holy family with Jesus (in other words, humanity) in the middle of Mary and Joseph was captured on a hand-painted Sicilian cart in Bagheria at Villa Cattolica's cart exhibition, part of the Museo Guttuso.

03/08/2025

Mimosa, the flower decorating my cafè table in Sicily today, is the symbol of International Women’s Day or la Festa della Donna in Italy. It is currently in bloom in warmer climates of the Italian peninsula. International Women’s Day is celebrated throughout the world. It recognizes the contributions of women to society, originating in the labor and suffrage movements in the United States of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. To celebrate today, recognize the women in your life and the leadership and caretaking they contribute to your life.

Buona Festa!

03/07/2025

Celebrate Saint Joseph's Day with in New York City on Sunday, March 16 at Cacio e Pepe restaurant in the East Village. We'll have a full traditional meal of maccu, pasta con le sarde, other dishes, and of course, sfinci di San Giuseppe (pictured)! Spots are filling up - - Note: this annual event sells out! I'll talk about the Feast's traditions and legends. We'll have an altar for Saint Joseph with ritual breads. You can enter our raffle for products from Sicily, and there will be live, Sicilian-inspired music. It's a wonder-filled afternoon that will warm your heart! Let's usher in spring together! Reserve today at link in bio or at https://ExperienceSicily.com

03/06/2025

Pizza in Palermo. This was so good. Oh, and it had fresh ricotta baked into the crust. Yup. Let us at show you the way...

02/28/2025

Wandering Sicily's last full day at Vendicari Nature Preserve. Lemon orchards, fields of white clover and asphodelus, the turquoise sea, white waves, an, ancient tuna fish farm and canning factory, and flamingos! Capped off with gelato in Marzamemi. Grazie sempre to for a renewing and wonder-filled week!

02/25/2025

02/23/2025

Even with the rain and fog, the UNESCO recognized Pantalica was beautiful and mysterious, thanks to our outstanding guide ! The day finished with a visit to the baroque town of Palazzolo Acreide... Wandering Sicily, our walking and cultural immersion tour continues...

02/17/2025

Our second day of hiking for Wandering Sicily with with lunch by . Cava d'Ispica is a magical place! I feel the millenia of souls who have walked along this canyon... The crossroads of humanity and the Earth itself. It vibrates with an unforgettable energy.

02/16/2025

Photography in Sicily with and Don Toothaker was once again amazing to host! Here are highlights from my lens... I can't wait to see what the participants photographed!

02/15/2025

Starting Wandering Sicily walking tour today!

01/24/2025

Find us this Saturday and Sunday at the Show at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City! will be at Booth 256. Hear live music and enter our raffle for Sicilian-inspired products at the Global Beats Stage on Saturday at 12:30PM and Sunday at 1PM. Enter to win our show only deals and to unwrap a special Travel Show Celebration offer on our 2025 Small Group Tours.

01/16/2025

Sicily is calling you! This February 15 to 22 embark on an unforgettable adventure with Wandering Sicily: Walking in Sicily small group tour, hosted by Experience Sicily. Join us to explore breathtaking landscapes, ancient history, and vibrant culture.

Be captivated by the stunning beauty of Sicily as you traverse its diverse terrain, from breathtaking mountains to stunning coastline with less than 10 other travelers. Immerse yourself in the island’s storied past. From the UNESCO recognized village of Ragusa Ibla, you explore hidden caves, baroque towns, and flourishing farmland. On your way, indulge in traditional Sicilian cuisine through cheese and chocolate demonstrations and a hands-on cooking class.

Join Experience Sicily's owner Allison Scola and Ragusa local, hiking guide on this remarkable journey to unveil the hidden treasures of Sicily, one step at a time.

Let us take care of the planning, preparation, and logistics during this renewing week of walking and community.

Learn more and register at link in bio .

01/11/2025

Etna today, covered in snow, is just glorious!