Travels to Sicily, Italy

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, is just off the toe of Italy's boot. It has been a crossroads of cultures for 3,000 years, a history reflected in its diverse architecture, cuisine and ancient ruins. Palermo, the capital, offers colorful street life, bustling markets and Byzantine mosaics at the Cappella Palatina.  From Naples, we flew to Palermo to continue our Italian adventure along the Western coast of Sicily.

Travels to Naples - Amalfi Coast, Italy

Naples, a big city in southern Italy, sits on the Bay of Naples near Mt. Vesuvius. Dating to the 2nd millennium BC, it has centuries of important art and architecture. This port city founded by the Greeks and expanded by the Romans has landmarks that include Naples Cathedral, whose Chapel of San Gennaro is filled with frescoes and statues, and the lavish Royal Palace. For a late anniversary trip this year, Keith and I spent a week and a half in Italy.  The first part of our vacation was spent in Naples and the Amalfi Coast.

Palazzo Petrucci

Palazzo Petrucci restaurant was opened in 2007, in the former stables within the piazza San Domenico Maggiore, famous for its historical buildings, conspiracies, secrets and mysteries. The restaurant’s heart is the kitchen, renovated and furnished with a minimal style and an open plan design, intentionally meant to give the idea of connection and transparency, and to convey the care and passion that characterize Chef Lino’s dishes. The warm colors and sober elegance of the place reflect the background of a seasonal menu created using only premium ingredients.  We chose this Michelin star restaurant for our last dinner in Naples before returning home.

Sorbillo Pizzeria

***Special Post by Keith***
With Naples being what many consider the birthplace of pizza we had to grab one last pie before we left Italy. In fact this was one of the main reasons we spent our last day in the city. Deciding exactly which place to go is a little overwhelming with an almost unlimited array of choices. Our decision came down to two places, Antica Pizza Port’Alba and Gino Sorbillo. Both have great reviews and were near our hotel. After spending the morning in the museum and checking out the shops along Via Trebunali the skies opened up on us with an unexpected hail storm. Unfortunately neither restaurant was open yet so we hid out in a welcoming church. While dodging the storm we did some more research and realized we were luckily right near Gino Sorbillo.

Quattro Venti

Quattro Venti offers Italian comfort food in Palermo, Italy.  The restaurant was nearby our hotel so we ventured over for our last dinner in Sicily.

Baglio Oneto

Rich in historical details, such as an ancient well of Arab architecture, Baglio Oneto was built in the late 18th century and is surrounded by the fertile countryside of Marsala, a few minutes from Trapani, the medieval town of Erice and the Lagoon Nature Reserve enclosing Mozia and Saline. The name comes from Baglio Balarm (home fortress), indicating those houses built in defense from pirate attacks, but also from the Latin ballium, courtyard surrounded by tall buildings or walls. Oneto is the surname of the family owners, who are descendants from the Consul of Genoa Odonetto, which have roots that date back to 1300.  

Salirosso

Salirosso is a simple restaurant in Trapani, Sicily featuring high end Sicilian seafood fare in an unpretentious atmosphere.  Tucked away in the back alleyways, we found our way to this small restaurant for dinner.

Eolo Restaurant

Eolo Restaurant is located in one of the most picturesque corners of the Amalfi coast, protected by the steep promontory that, from the solitary and austere Ziro Tower, stretches dramatically out into the sea. Furnished in a sober and elegant style and decorated with typical ceramics from Vietri sul Mare, Eolo Restaurant has a large lounge and a romantic terrace overlooking the sea, which gives magical and timeless atmospheres at sunset. The cuisine reinterprets dishes of the typical Amalfi and Mediterranean tradition in a modern key, with attention to the freshness and genuineness of the ingredients.

Marina Grande

Marina Grande began life as a seaside bar in 1918 and then moved to its current location on Spiaggia Grande in 1935 overlooking the wonderful expanse of water enclosing the historical center of Amalfi. Waves break just near the covered terrace, which you can gaze at while you taste the best of the local cuisine.  This is a very popular spot, so reservations are highly suggested to avoid any long waits.

Trattoria Da Gemma

Trattoria Da Gemma in Amalfi, Italy, is accessible via a back alley across from the square that houses the stunning Duomo, off the main street of Corso. This old restaurant stems from a deep routed tradition in Mediterranean cuisine with new innovative reinventions of those various dishes.  There is a small interior dining room, as well as an outside terrace that can be covered with a retractable awning.

Casa Mele

Once in Positano, you don’t have to walk far before coming upon an impressive floor-to-ceiling glass front where, carved into a concrete slab of a counter were three welcoming letters: B A R. An additional glance brought into view a life-size sculpture of a pig with an enticing graphic logo incorporating a house, spoon, fork and apple. This is the entrance to Casa Mele. The design of the ultra modern kitchen projects the warmth and hospitality of Chef Raffaelle Mandara’s residence where many over the years have dined and enjoyed festive meals.

Al Gusto

On this Saturday, Keith and I took a private boat tour to the island of Capri.  The ride took about 45 minutes from Positano, and we stopped at a few grottos along the way and were able to swim in the clear blue water.  Then, we were dropped off at the marina and had a few hours to explore the island ourselves before returning back to the main land.  We took the funicular up the mountain and had lunch at Al Gusto.

La Sponda

La Sponda is one star Michelin in Positano, Italy that is lit, at dinner, by 400 candles that create an unforgettable atmosphere. The cuisine is based on local, fresh ingredients and is inspired by the Mediterranean tradition. The restaurant is located within Le Sireneuse Hotel, the idyllic Positano hotel owned and run by the Sersale family since 1951 with windows that overlook the majolica-tiled dome of Santa Maria Assunta and the harbor of the Amalfi coast.

Porto A Marina

After a full morning exploring Pompeii, we decided to head south towards the coast.  We stopped at Sorrento, a small fishing port city, for lunch.  We walked along the marina and ate at Porta A Marina, which had outdoor seating with an impeccable view.  The ambience was so charming too, with fishnets strewn about, colorful fishing boats, and the deep blue sea.

Il Bacco del Gusto

For our first dinner in Naples, Italy we had originally planned on dining at another highly rated restaurant. However, we did not make reservations ahead of time, and so we were turned away.  Disappointed and hungry, we walked back towards our hotel and along the way saw another modern restaurant called Il Bacco del Gusto, and luckily were able to get a table there.

Panificio Michelangelo Bobb

Keith and I flew to Naples, Italy for vacation, and immediately after landing, we picked up a rental car and headed straight to Panificio Michelangelo Bobb.  This local pizza place had decent reviews online and was noted for it's authentic baked thick crust pizza.  We had high expectations, and despite our jet lag were ready to devour some delicious pizza.