An Easter Break in Beautiful Sicily
Winter finally seems to be over, and here comes Spring which means longer days, warmer evenings, flowers and of course for those of us with kids (and those without!) chocolate eggs! However, if the slowly increasing temperatures of the UK just don’t quite cut it and you fancy a little family break over the Easter holidays, look no further than Sicily! Spring in Italy is wonderful, and the weather is sunny but mild, meaning you can spend your days taking in the beautiful sunshine without needing five showers a day! It isn’t unheard of to hit the beach during Easter either! For a holiday that doesn’t tug too hard on the purse strings I suggest finding your family a Sicily villa with a pool, so you can have your home comforts, more space, more privacy and more fun! Here are some of my top tips for a ‘BuonaPasqua’ (Happy Easter) in Sicily.
Festivals!
Sicily is full of traditions, which differ from town to town and this is never more so true than during the Spring when you can really appreciate what the ‘Jewel of the Mediterranean has to offer. Easter is a particularly special time in Italy as the local religious processions that vary from town to town are fascinating and beautiful to watch and a great educational experience for the kids.One of the more renowned religious manifestations in Sicily can be found in Trapani on the West coast of the island. On Good Friday people from the town carry special statues, each one representing a station of the cross, through the streets. Thousands of Sicily’s residents stand to watch as finally a beautiful Virgin Mary statue passes by.
Food glorious food!
There isn’t a celebration in Sicily that doesn’t have its own particular delicious food associated to it, and Easter is certainly no exception. Like the UK Lamb is the traditional food for Easter, eaten there with traditional Easter bread, usually served with a selection of the delicious fresh vegetables Sicily has to offer and Rosemary roasted potatoes. But where’s the pasta I hear you ask? Fear not, After Lamb comes pasta, usually a special dish such as homemade lasagne or cannelloni filled with meat. Finally even the fussiest little eaters will be filled up even if only on the special Easter desserts and cakes. Try the cassata one of Sicily’s most famous desserts made with sponge cake full of ricotta cream, marzipan and various candied fruit.
Sparkling Lights
Easter is also a time when the streets of Sicily are decorated with artistic pieces and sculptures which are then lit up to create an absolutely dazzling effect in the evenings. Whilst many of us revel in (or hide from) ‘Christmas spirit’ in December the same can not be said for Easter in the UK, but this is not true in Sicily where you can really feel the celebration in the air. Check out the artistic Archi di Pasqua (Easter Arches) that decorate the town of San BiagioPlatani in Agrigento.
Book Ahead
As it is such a beautiful time of year in Sicily pre-booking is recommended (perhaps you can start planning for next Easter…) Of course in Sicily, Easter is not only about chocolate eggs and games, Italy is a Catholic country so of course it is very important to respect how important this festival is for the residents of the beautiful island. It is an opportunity to see some really interesting and beautiful cultural and religious events, whatever your own beliefs might be. As well as enjoying the things Sicily has to offer all year round- beautiful beaches and landscapes, volcanoes, history and of course- food!
XOXO
Debbie
This is in collaboration with Mary D
