Piemonte is Wine, Castles, and great Food – Hotel Castello di Sinio

Piemonte has it all; great wines, extravagant culinary compositions, cheeses, tartufo and culture. Usually you will have to visit at least a couple of different locations to get the full immersion in true Italian life. In the land of Nebbiolo, Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera you can find it all together at the Hotel Castello di Sinio. Hotel Castello di Sinio is a renovated Medieval Castle nestled in the hills of the Langhe.

The XII century castle maintains the allure of times past while offering modern amenities. The hotel has 18 rooms furnished with epic furniture. The floor to ceiling stonewalls and heavy chestnut beams create an atmosphere of opulence and protection. Beds are all extra large with double mattresses and are fitted with down comforters, one for spring and one for winter. All rooms have large private bathrooms with spacious glass shower stalls, beautiful stone tiles and completely modern fixtures and electricity. You will find we have the most up to date conveniences such as individual room heating and air-conditioning, satellite TV, direct dial telephones, Internet & fax to make your stay ultra comfortable and hassle free.

The restaurant provides traditional regional cuisine with the flair of a King’s court. Denise and Jay, the restaurant owners and chefs, open from Thursday through Sunday. Denise tells of their passion:

“Our menu selections tend to be limited but are always prepared with the finest ingredients we can find. While the fare is very, very traditionally Piemontese it almost always holds some surprises of less well known recipes or combinations that have been inspired from research and always based on precedence. From ancient Piemontese rural recipes that we love resurrecting to hidden mountain valley traditions to the cuisine of nobility that comes straight from the royal court of the House of Savoy (the long time rulers of Piedmont), we strive to add a memorable dimension to your Piemontese enogastronomic experience.”

The wine cellar includes some of the best wines in the world. Interestingly the hotel has brought in Wine Specialist and Author KERIN O'KEEFE. Once a month she takes hotel guests to the major vineyards and producers in the area. Hotel Castello di Sinio is located right in the heart of the Barolo and Barbaresco wine producing areas. The area is home to about 750 wineries that produce 2 of the 10 most important wines in the world. The Castle is located within 5 to 10 minutes of all the major Barolo producers and within about 20 minutes of all the major Barbaresco producers.

The Hotel Castle di Sinio is the perfect destination to live and learn the Piemontese lifestyle. It is a great base. Within a few minutes by car there are 100s of marvelous unknown restaurants and 100s of wineries. Cultural events like the symphony and opera are just a few minutes away in Alessandria. The views of the hills of the Langhe are truly unique. It is a great place to hide from the world and rejuvenate the soul with great food and wine.

Hotel Castello di Sinio
Vicolo del Castello 1
12050 Sinio (CN)
Piedmont, Italy
Telephone: 0173.263.889

ags: Italian Vacations Alba Piemonte Travel Tips Travel Italy Wine+Vacations Hotels

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Castello di Compiano – Vacation at a Medieval Castle near Parma

In the hills surrounding Parma there are numerous castles. Many of these properties have been transformed into hotels while maintaining their aura of mystery. Parma is famous for its prosciutto and Parmesan cheese. These products alone are a great reason to spend a few days in the area. Parma is also a land of scenic views and Medieval towns. Castello di Compiano is the anchor of the town of Compiano, recently recognized as one of the Borghi piu’ Belli del Italia, the most beautiful towns of Italy.

The town of Compiano develops inside the walls of the castle making this a perfect destination for a 3 or 4 day stay. Local shops, restaurants and products are all within walking distance of primary unit of the castle. Only a few areas have been dedicated to lodging. The major portion of the castle is a museum. Most of the rooms are on the upper floor or in the towers creating a suggestive atmosphere and beautiful views of the surrounding area. Rock walls and original fishbone wood floors take you back to the 1100s. The rooms are filled with antique furniture completing the experience.

From the third floor rooms a turn around the corner takes you out onto the walkway of the upper fortifications. As you stroll the sounds of battles past whisper in your ears. The breeze carries scents of the surrounding forests and agricultural lands. Castello di Compiano takes you into the times of princes and kings, sumptuous banquets with extravagant festivities and armored knights riding powerful horses. The elevators and centralized heating, while masked, somehow seem a bit out of place but after a long day of activities are greatly appreciated.

In the late summer, the swimming pool, located in the castle’s gardens, is a great way to cool off before visiting one of the trattoria. The local cuisine is heavily influenced by the bordering Emilia Romagna. Dried meats and Parmesan cheese as appetizers followed by fresh pasta and savory meats dominate the local tables. This is not a wine producing area but wines from Veneto and Tuscany are widely available as are some local farmer’s wines.

The beautiful medieval burgh, whose genuine structure may still be admired to this day, with its cobblestone streets and buildings bearing ancient friezes and sculpted architraves on the doorways. From the walls surrounding the picturesque medieval square you can admire a beautiful view on Isola's plain, across which the River Taro runs on its way down from Monte Penna.

At the end of Via Duca degli Abruzzi stands the Porta delle Monache, for centuries the main entrance to the fortified burgh, while only the foundations of the towers which once guarded the burgh still stand. Compiano is a place of exceptional beauty that has remained untouched over its 400-year history.

Castello Compiano is located about 90 miles from Milan and 90 miles from Bologna. The closest airport is Genova.

Castello di Compiano Museo e Relais
Via Marco Rossi Sidoli, 15 43053 Compiano (Parma)
Tel. 0525.825541 - Fax. 0525.811106


Tags: Italian Vacations Castles Agriturismo Parma Travel Italy

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Santa Caterina Valfurva – A hidden Gem of a Winter Vacation

With 800 linear miles of mountain ranges in Italy, including the about 300 of the Alps it is not hard to imagine that there are some really great winter destinations that are not famous, let’s say hidden gems. Santa Caterina Valfurva, near Sondrio, is one of these destinations. Santa Caterina Valfurva, located in the northern section of Valtellina, is well connected. From the Airport of Bergamo, Orio sul Serio, there is a nonstop bus that transits the Val Cavallina. Trains and buses from Sondrio also run on a regular basis. Bergamaschi will most often drive but others should seriously considered using the train or bus routes, especially in the winter months.

While all of the hotels are clean and comfortable, even quaint, there are no four or five star structures. On the other hand there are numerous Bed and Breakfast and an Agriturismo where the food is simply heavenly. I would also suggest looking into a chalet or private residence. Prices are reasonable even in the high season. To be truthful they can be considered cheap or a great price/quality ratio. A couple of good solutions are: Thurweiser Hotel Garni, Hotel Campagnoni, Chalet Ginepro, Agriturismo Baita di Nasegn, and for a truly unique experience Rifugio Ghiaccio dei Forni at 2,200 meters.

S.Caterina Valfurva, sits in a valley at 1738 meters (that is just over 1 mile) at the feet of the Ortles-Cevedale mountain range, has a long and rich history spanning several centuries. In the XIV and XV centuries Santa Caterina was an important stop on the commercial routes between the Republic of Venice and County of Bormio. The strategic location creates a blossoming commercial trade.

The Valfurva has been able to maintain its autonomy and local culture even under the occupation of the Grigioni. The dominion lasted almost 300 years from 1512 to 1797. Most recently, durning WWI and WWII Santa Caterina saw fierce fighting as the Partigiani and the Alpini made courageous stands against the Germans and Austrians protecting the entire hinterland of Milan. Numerous memorials and museums are open to the public regarding these difficult times.

The winter sports are great. This area is not as well known as some of the other winter vacation destinations thus crowds are less, fewer lines and reasonable prices. This does not mean that the slopes or powder are not as good, simply fewer people know about them. It is not as chic to say that you went to Santa Caterina Valfurva but the experience is just as exhilarating.

The food is hearty and the wine genuine. Local specialties include Chestnut Gnocchi with Speck, Vegetable Ravioli, Gnocchi with Carrot Ragu', Orzo Minestra, Lentils and Apples, and polenta. Not to be forgotten are the dessert pastries, usually made with wild berries, apples and cream.

If you are looking for an experience in the high mountains, winter sports, great food and want a place where those you know will never have visited this is the place for you. Take your camera the views are stupendous.

Tags: Winter Vacations Valfurva Valtellina Skiing Hotels Travel Italy

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Cortina d’Ampezzo – Italian Winter Holiday for the young and old

In the series of exclusive and hip Italian winter vacations Cortina d’Ampezzo in Trentino-Alto Adige holds an important place. In the sixties and seventies Cortina d’Ampezzo was the most exclusive of winter vacations but in recent years Courmayeur and Madonna di Campiglio have grown in popularity. Today, Cortina d’Ampezza has less buzz than Courmayeur or Madonna di Campiglio but has everything else including some great regional foods and wines. The costs for this location are also somewhat lower making this a great destination for the traveler passionate about winter vacations.

Cortina d’Ampezzo is located in Dolomite Mountains of Northeastern Italy about 30 minutes north of Belluno. The best way to travel is by train from Mestre-Venice. It will take a couple of hours but the ride has some incredible views. The village, boasting a thousand-year old remarkable historical background, has nearly 7,000 inhabitants. It attracts visitors from all over the world for its lively international atmosphere, its fashionable shops, and excellent restaurants.


Cortina is also known as the "Regina delle Dolomiti" - Queen of the Dolomites - since it is in the heart of the wonderful Dolomites. The village is surrounded by forests and wide ski slopes. All around the red rock mountains tower over the city. It offers something for everyone, including the topflight professional skiers.


The natural beauty has made Cortina d’Ampezzo the set for a number of worldwide famous movies. Among them:

Ash Wednesday starring Elizabeth Taylor and Henry Fonda
The Pink Panther starring David Niven and Peter Sellers
For Your Eyes Only starring Roger Moore
VonRyan Express starring Frank Sinatra
Cliffhanger starring Sylvester Stallone


Lodging accommodations range from the simple chalet to the five-star hotel with all the amenities including Spa treatments. The top of the top is the Cristallo which specializes in reconditioning the body and the soul. Da Beppe Sello offers a true Alpine Mountain experience along with a great little restaurant. One of my favorites is the Franceschi Park Hotel. It has a great view and all the amenities of more expensive structures.

Cortina d’Ampezzo is also a great place to come with the family. It boasts numerous fun parks and winter activities exclusively for kids. This will allow the parents to venture onto the serious slopes while the kids are doing something both safe and fun. The city also has babysitter services for children who are too young to be out and about. The hotel will be able to coordinate everything you need if you let them know with a little advance notice.

Choosing a winter vacation destination is all about understanding what you are looking for. Cortina d’Ampezzo offers a wide range of opportunities including great food and wine, winter sports, spas and health treatment centers and generally a festive atmosphere hidden away in the Dolomite Mountains.

Tags: Winter Vacations Cortina d'Ampezzo Trentino Skiing Hotels Travel Italy

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Hotel Inghilterra – Exclusive Hotel – Restaurant of the Stars

Hotel d’Inghilterra is elegance personified. Since 1830 its halls and salons have greeted Romans, businessmen, and dignitaries from across the world. Artistic workmanship, statues and murals envelop the guest, creating an opulent yet inviting environment. This is one of the most famous and exclusive hotels in Rome but the hotel is not the part I like the most about Hotel d’Inghilterra. It is the restaurant, il Café Romano, that keeps me coming back.


It may be the chef, Rodolfo Chieroni, and his cosmopolitan menu’. This means that he prepares traditional dishes from various parts of the world according to the original methods. It may be the beautiful combination of modern and classic architecture. Most likely it is the terrace dining.

The summer temperatures have subsided just a bit. The cooler sea breeze brings a hint of salt to the air. Raffaella’s silk outfit glides playfully in the breeze as she walks to the table. Before taking her seat she gazes over the rooftops of Rome. The cupola of San Pietro, visible in the distance, stands out like Monte Bianco in the Italian Alps. Our waiter asks if we would like a glass of champagne before dinner. Prosecco, we respond in unison, our preference for Italian wines is quickly noted.

This is our evening, no investors, no business meetings just us. A plate of appetizers arrives, catching us off guard as we chat about nothing important. Her eyes express fascination as we take in the surrounding view, the building, its architecture and the works of art visible in every direction. The wine list, more appropriately a book, is sitting on a side table. Her curiosity makes her impatient and she picks up the leather bound archive and begins scanning the pages. Although we have not talked about dinner our choice will most likely be one of the hearty traditional Roman dishes, perfect for a complex and structured red wine.

Angelo, our waiter, almost startles us as he brings the menu’ to discuss dinner. Although there are numerous other people filling most of the tables, the layout is such that with a little distraction the ambiance is that of a small terrace suspended over Rome with the city lights as candles and the stars as an elaborately decorated, domed ceiling. Perhaps it is annoying but the menu’ is of little use. A brief discussion about our preferences and Angelo is off.

Shortly, a bottle of Guado al Tasso is breathing on the serving table. Patience is a virtue, but not one that we have mastered when it comes to wine. Even our Master Sommelier friends have learned to accept that wine in a decanter within reaching distance will not remain intact. Bacco’s nectar is soon sliding across our lips. Raffaella dips her finger in the glass and smoothes a drop of wine on the nap of her neck and moves closer so breathe in this unique perfume.

Angelo returns with a cart, scans our table and fixates on the glasses. A quick movement of his hand and another waiter appears, doling out a more abundant portion of this marvelous wine. Angelo places our dishes immediately in front of us still covered with a silver dome. Dining at a great restaurant is always an exciting experience as we allow the chef’s inspiration to determine our meal. The dome removed, our dinner revealed, the smells of Cacio e Pepe fill the air. An antique Roman dish, Spaghetti with pecorino cheese and fresh pepper sauce, of simple ingredients, its preparation requires the knowledge of the Roman Matriarchs.

Our evening progressed, dessert and grappa, continued long after our Guado al Tasso had evaporated but the view remained and our time together tete a tete is now part of our experiences worth savoring a lifetime.

Hotel Inghilterra is an excellent hotel with a traditional and warm atmosphere. The rooms are comfortable and relaxing and the personnel are professional and helpful. Whether or not you can stay in the hotel a visit to the restaurant is a memorable experience.

Hotel d'Inghilterra
Via Bocca di Leone, 14 - 00187 Rome ( Italy)
Phone +39 06 699811 - Telefax +39 06 69922243
E-Mail reservation.hir@royaldemeure.com

Tags: Inghilterra Rome Lazio Hotels Travel Italy

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ArtDeco – Cool little hotel in Rome

The Art Deco in Rome, close to the primary train station, Stazione Termini, is a marvelous little hotel not very well known. It is one of my secret hideaways when traveling to Rome. I stayed at this hotel until we found our place in piazza Farnese. Originally it was a classic contemporary hotel with a few theme rooms. I have always been picky about my hotels and required a king size bed, not always easy to find. The Art Deco had a Francesina, which is a sleigh bed just larger than a queen.


The hotel has a small restaurant with about 10 tables that serves really good Roman comfort food and a bar-breakfast area great for reading the newspaper while sipping coffee. Breakfast is extremely important when traveling and staff does not have any problem getting me my carafe of coffee, hot milk and warm bread.

The rooms are not big but not too small either and are clean. The old elevator is kind of a novelty but I usually take the large marble staircase.

Right across the street is a neat little trattoria worth a visit and the inside restaurant, although small provides a full compliment of antipasti, pasta, meat and fish dinners. The chef is also quite innovative. During my last stay he prepared a lemon Capelli d’Angelo, Angel hair pasta, which was exquisite.

Cuisine is mostly regional but the Chef Paolo Marigliano brings with him some Neapolitan influences. The most delightful recipes are of course fish based with excellent first courses as for example: tagliolini con zucchine e gamberetti (long pasta with zucchine and shrimp), risotto ai moscardini (risotto with little cuttlefish) and many others.

Recently the hotel has become part of the Best Western Chain but is still run as a family operated hotel. This is a great place, not on widely known with personalized service and a very comfortable atmosphere.

Hotel ArtDeco
Via Palestro 19 - 00185 Roma (RM), Italy
Telephone: 06 4457588 Fax: 06 4441483
E mail: artdeco@uni.net

Tags: Hotel ArtDeco Rome Best Western Lazio Hotels Travel Italy

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St. Regis Grand Hotel Rome

Rome has some great hotels. One of them is the St. Regis located near piazza Repubblica. A great central location, it is in walking distance from the tourist, business and government destinations. This is an opulent 1800s building with heavy molding, granite columns, cotton silk wall coverings, gold inlays, beautiful epic paintings, and highly professional staff.

The reception is a horizontally elongated hall waiting area that opens into two corridors moving around the exterior of a center ballroom with a dining area and bar. Whether you are meeting heads of state or your friends from around the corner the St. Regis says you have arrived.

The rooms and sweets surround in a velvety and lush environment. The bathrooms are a work of art in their own right, completely finished in granite and white Carrara marble, huge wall mirrors, Jacuzzi tubs and rain drop showers, one could easily forget the reason of visiting Rome and spend the day relaxing in a hot tub with bubbles gently massaging the entire body. King size beds are the standard for most of the rooms I have stayed in. Complete with Internet, satellite TV and other business services the St. Regis is the perfect place to get some work done before going out in the evening.

I have only eaten once at the restaurant with the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ivory Coast. The food was well prepared, the wines selection excellent and the staff both professional and helpful. The restaurant has a wide variety of dishes including Nouvelle Cuisine but I would stay with the fish or the typical Roman dishes. The cook can, on special order, prepare just about anything you may desire with a little notice.

The bar, instead, is a place I have come to know well. The St. Regis is my hotel of choice for most business visitors. While waiting to go to dinner, or to finish up some business at the end of a long day I have had the opportunity to thoroughly experiment their selection of drinks. It is true that Johnny Walker Blue is my poison of choice however, an occasional Ketel One Vodka Martini or the before dinner Prosecco could slip in.

The Hotel offers a Limousine service to the airport or for other occasions as needed and the reception staff can assist in the choice of both restaurants and nightclub entertainment. The price is very similar to New York however the hotel has recently become part of the Starwood hotels. I am a member of this program and the extra perks really mean something when staying at this hotel. To sum it up: This is a perfect business trip hotel with all of the bells and whistles for a tremendously luxurious experience.

St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome
Via Vittorio E. Orlando, 3 · Rome 00185 · Italy
Phone: (39)(06) 47091


Tags: Hotel St. Regis Rome Lazio Hotels Travel Italy

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Hotel Anderson – Contemporary Hotel in Central Station Milano

Contemporary almost Spartan best describes the Hotel Anderson in Milan across from the Central station. My personal taste does not include contemporary architecture and style. I prefer the massive lines and balance of the Renaissance or Liberty periods but if contemporary is done well I can live with it. Milan has always been a difficult location for hotels, much like New York. It is possible to spend a great deal of money and have a very bad experience. A hotel that may not meet all of the desired characteristics can become a great fall-back solution during trade shows and fairs when it is very difficult to find a good solution.

Star Hotel Group has acquired the Hotel Anderson. While maintaining its very unique style, business amenities have been added or augmented. Internet Access, workout facilities, dining room and bar are all available. The rooms are very clean and not cluttered. You could say they are minimalist in nature while offering satellite TV and other business services.


Its location, next to Stazione Centrale, brings then entire city within a 15 minute subway ride and is only 15 minutes by foot to the Corso Buenos Aires, one of the primary shopping districts. The service is professional although I have never found it friendly. This could be because I am never really happy when I fall back onto this solution. The bar is quiet and has pastries that are a good snack when waiting for someone.

The design of the lobby and communal areas creates numerous opportunities to meet other guests who are either leaving or arriving. I have always found a large number of Japanese tourists. The rooms are quiet and it is a great place to get a good night’s sleep. The room costs about the same as the Michelangelo right next door so it is very reasonable for the area of Milan. All in all, this hotel is a good solution with professional service. I would equate the experience with many hotels in the major US cities. The rooms are clean and the bed comfortable.

Tags: Milan Lombardia Hotels Travel Italy

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Hotel Michelangelo Milano – Business lodging at a reasonable price

There are numerous hotels in Milan spanning from the very cheap to the very expensive. The quality of the hotel experience is not a differentiated as the price. I have found over the years that either the experience is very good, great rooms, services and location or it is motel 8 with prices significantly higher than the quality of the rooms. While my preference is the Principe di Savoia, I have a couple of business hotels that are pretty good.

Hotel Michelangelo is located next to the train station. Just across the street there is a subway station that gives you the option of taking the Metro should you want to save a few bucks. The staff is relatively professional and while not everyone speaks English they do get along quite fine. The rooms are good for a business trip, not luxurious but comfortable with sizeable bathrooms and most of the amenities. The Hotel Michelangelo is a convention destination so the bar and restaurant facilities are functional and good quality.

Corso Buenos Aires, one of the primary shopping districts, is 15 minutes away by foot and there are numerous restaurants and trattorie within walking distance. The subway brings the rest of Milan to a 20 minute ride, including “la Fiera di Milano” which is the trade show complex. The Bar Davide is a 1970s contemporary look with leather booths and a dimmed lighting atmosphere. Quiet conversations are possible even when the bar is crowded.

The restaurant is fairly good, quiet and comfortable. The cuisine is generally Lombarda and both the meats and fish are fresh and prepared according to Italian tradition. The restaurant serves primarily only hotel guests so it is a great place to hold a business dinner.

The foyer is also a great meeting, chatting, waiting area. Flat-screen TVs carry CNN and CNBC. The area is open, well lighted and separated from the through traffic with a row of plants. All said, this is a good hotel at a reasonable price in a location that brings the entire city within a few minutes by subway. Hotel Michelangelo is great for a short trip or business lodging.

Via Domenico Scarlatti 33
Milan, 20124 Italy

Tel: 02 67551, 800 867055

Tags: Milano Italian Hotels Italian Business Travel Italian Vacations Lombardia Travel Italy

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Grand Hotel Villa Igiea – A palace in Palermo

The Grand Hotel Villa Igiea is portal to far away lands in a distant time. Designed in 1908 by the grand master of Liberty architecture Ernesto Basile, the structure emulates the cultural prowess of the European Palermo. Built around an existing edifice of the 1400s owned by the Englishman Downviller, Villa Igiea is a magical combination of Renaissance balance and Libertarian luxury. True to its origins, Villa Igiea is furbished with 1898 Liberty pieces designed and built by the same Basile.

The mind has preconceptions of how things should be. Exotic destinations with Palm trees slowly swaying to and fro, a hint of spices carried on a warm breeze, deep and profound colors accentuated by sun beaming through the clear deep blue sky, deafening silence penetrated by the cries of the gulls as they feed in the early morning, and drone of waves secretly lapping on the rocks of the shore. As we gaze over the sea from the patio outside our room it is difficult to believe that we are just minutes away from Palermo instead of some Polynesian island.

A knock on the door brings us back to reality as our waiter rolls the breakfast cart onto the balcony and discreetly disappears. We had arrived late last night and our first meeting was not until lunch so we settled back into our fantasy. Café and hot milk, freshly squeezed orange juice, several Mafalda and other breads still warm from the baker and fresh jams were spread over the service table. The sun, rising in the morning sky, warming our bodies, is just bright enough to merit sunglasses.

Another knock at the door broke our concentration. Giuseppe and Vito arrived to brief us on the day’s activities. As we shared coffee and Mafalda, they reviewed in minute detail today’s schedule. Although this was an all business trip we wanted to visit the city’s cultural treasures and hopefully identify the location for a new store. Today is a busy day, lunch with the Mayor and business cronies, the afternoon speaking at a conference on the development of wireless telecommunications and dinner with our local employees, but this is Friday. Saturday and Sunday could be open. A quick check of our schedule and Raffaella was on the phone with the hotel staff, “Yes, check out Monday morning at 5.”

A weekend in this paradise gives a whole new meaning to a business trip. Lunch with Luca Orlando at Villa Niscemi, a 17th century palace purchased by the city of Palermo, the afternoon at the historical Universita’ degli Studi di Palermo, and a marvelous fish dinner at the contemporary restaurant La Scuderia with our fantastic employees. That evening we slept with the air conditioning off and the double French doors wide open. The soothing melody of the waves and the salty sea breeze quickly put us into a deep and refreshing sleep.

Again we find ourselves daydreaming, imagining being lost on a far away island and the knock at the door. Breakfast, little changed from yesterday, the warm bread, fresh squeezed orange and grapefruit juice, homemade jams and a lovely pot of Espresso with warm frothed milk. As the most gentile waiter slid out of the room we knew that this was our weekend. The important people had returned to Rome last night before dinner, I advised the hotel staff that unless Rome was burning to the ground, no calls were to be passed through and I had disconnected the cell phones. Not just turned off, I had taken the batteries out just in case they magically turned themselves on. We decided to stroll through this beautiful and historic building. The corridors of polished granite were wide enough to drive a truck through. Separated from other common areas by granite pillars supporting the upper level verandas overlooking the main floor. Incredible works of art adorn every wall and Epic furniture strategically placed unclear if they were the focal point or a compliment to the impressive architecture and workmanship.

Our morning passed quickly and lunch in the sumptuous dining room known as Sala Specchi. We enjoyed delicately roasted fish with just a splash of lemon and a surprisingly fresh local white wine. We returned to our room after this light but exquisite lunch and decided to take coffee under the palm trees on the patio of our room. Our coffee moment became an early afternoon nap as we were overcome by the tranquility. The sounds from the pool slowly brought us back to the land of the conscious. The deep blue and bright turquoise colors of the sea beckoned.

Bathing suits donned in record time we moved to the low cliffs next to the sandy beach. A small ladder appeared through a natural passageway in the rocks. Raffaella climbed down the four or five steps to the water and dipped her toes. Perhaps the sun had raised our body temperature or the depth of the small pool next to the cliff was particularly deep but the water was cold. Sissy that I am, not wanting the slow and agonizing inching into the water I jumped, drenching Raffaella as I entered the water. A shrill scream penetrated the air as she dove in after me sure to make me pay for the cold shower.

The water was cool but tremendously refreshing. This was the perfect way to wake up on a joyously sleepy afternoon. We swam awhile in this secluded portion of the beach. The water clear and deep, we could see the fish swimming beneath us just over the rocky bottom. Within a few hours our strength had been consumed and it was time to move on. A quick shower and a change into slacks, shirt and dinner jacket and we were ready for the evening.

Villa Igiea has a strategically placed bar-lounge next to the pool. The sun is slowly setting in the evening sky and a red-orange trail leads across the surface of the water to the horizon. A light, cool breeze blows in from the northwest across the water bringing with it scents of the ocean. The taller Palm trees sway ever so gently and slowly as the days heat subsides to the cooler air of the early evening.

Prosecco is our poison as we chat with new friends from London and Sydney. We exchange thoughts of this beautiful place and others we have seen during our travels but we all agree that Villa Igiea is one of the most pleasant places we have ever visited.

Salita Belmonte 43
90142 Palermo - Italy
Tel. +39 091 63 12 111
Fax +39 091 54 76 54

Tags: Palermo Italian Resorts Hotels Food and Wine Italian Vacations
Sicily Travel Italy

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