“Show and Tell”: Sicily

This week on Italy “Show and Tell” I’m delighted to have Marcy Benson share some of her favorite photos from a recent trip to Sicily. I reached out to Marcy as I was captivated by the photo of the Fiat 500 she shared on her Instagram account @prosecoprincess.

Marcy has been fortunate to see many corners of the globe, but the reason she enjoys traveling throughout Italy is because it was the first country that gave her the first real taste of international adventure.

As she returns more frequently to Bella Italia, she has become increasingly interested in food and wine. Her all too short time of 12 days, in Sicily, was one big friendly food and wine experience.

6 Favorite Photos of Sicily 

1. Perfect weather was the order of the day when I visited the Benanti Winery tucked neatly in the shadow of Mt. Etna. The Benanti family gave a warm greeting and a wonderful tour of the vineyard where they have 100+ year old vines.

The wine tasting, led by one of the Benanti brothers, was pure pleasure. The wines selected for tasting were some of the best I have ever had, and the views from the vineyard were stunning.

2. Visiting new places, I’m always keen to sample regional dishes and Sicily was no exception. Being a big fan of seafood, I was hooked on the selections at most every restaurant I dined at from Palermo to Siracusa.

Until I arrived in Taormina, I had never heard of saberfish, but when the seafood is local I will jump at the chance to give it a try. Seeing saberfish, for the first time on a menu, I knew I had to order it, prepared in a way that was bursting with flavor. This fish is long and flat with a silver skin and no scales making it look just like a saber…en guard!

3. When exploring a new city a visit to a local market is a must. The one on the island of Ortigia in Siracusa was just the right size, not too small and not too large. All of the produce, seafood, salumi, and cheeses looked so good that I couldn’t decide what to nosh or nibble on next.

Seeing these cute pig shaped scamorza (smoked cheese) I was instantly in love. I couldn’t pass them by without buying one and if I had known at that moment just how creamy and delicious the cheese would be, I would have bought more!

4. One of the many things to savor about Italy is aperitivo. I love to say, “where else, but in Italy would I eat before I eat”. I was captivated by the island of Ortigia in Siracusa and sat at a café across from the Duomo for a bit and enjoyed my aperitivo. It was a simple glass of wine and a few snacks, but the memory of the Duomo lives on in the reflection of my wine glass.

5. Mamma Mia … Cinquecento, the words roll off the tongue. Every visit to Italy reinforces the fact that I adore the cute little Fiat. What an unexpected delight stumbling across this Sicilian Cart version of the Cinquecento.

6. Sicily has walked in the footprint of antiquity throughout the ages and continues into the present. The 5th Century BC temple at Segesta is one example of several well preserved ruins throughout Sicily and is situated on the rocky crests between Palermo and Trapani.

Thanks Marcy for sharing this fantastic photos from your trip to Sicily! You can follow Marcy along on her adventures on Twitter and Instagram at @prosecoprincess.