Errors that I made in Sicily for the first time; What I would do differently

Although I am American, I consider myself an expert in all Italy. I lived in Rome and Tuscany for years and I visited the country at least three dozen times.

Since last year, I can also proudly say that I have been in all the 20 regions of Italy. Quite funny, the last region I checked on my list is among the most popular: Sicily.

I finally visited the region of southern Italy in the fall and I was blown away by the magnificent beaches, the delicious local cuisine and the ancient ruins impressive.

I had an incredible time, but there are a few things that I will do differently when I return to Sicily.

Next time, I’m going to skip the crowd in Taormina and discover other beaches

I knew I had to visit Taormina after looking at season two of “The White Lotus” by HBO, which takes place in the city at the top of the Collilian.

Unfortunately, I had the impression that the jet had brought large crowds to the small town.

During my trip, I met many other tourists and I waited long online for almost everything, whether I bought gelato or visited the old Greek theater.

I was lucky that my hotel had a swimming pool and a private beach section which were both empty throughout my trip. They were great to escape the crowd.

Maybe Taormina I will feel less crowded once the beaten “The White Lotus” is turned off, but I don’t want to take risks.

During my next trip, I will try to sink my toes in the sand at Sovareto beach on the southwest coast. Many say that it is one of the most beautiful beaches in Sicily, and it has not yet been catapulted to glory through a great HBO show.

I would have liked to spend more time visiting different Greek ruins

When planning my trip, I knew I wanted to see the Temples valley – it was on my list of buckets for ages.

THE UNESCO World Heritage Site home to perfectly preserved Greek temples which are more spectacular than everything I even saw in Greece.

This vestige of ancient culture did not disappoint, but it made me realize that I should have assigned more time to explore similar sites.

For example, I could not see the Greek temple of Segesta on the western tip of Sicily, which is considered one of the best examples of Doric architecture in the world.

During my next trip, I want to take time for golf

I had a glance at the famous Golf Tiens of Verdura Resort during my stay there, which made me wish that I would have had time for sport.

After all, Sicily flourishes in a higher destination for golfers – its moderate winter temperatures allow you to play even in January.

Many lessons here are surrounded by beautiful views, and I would particularly like to swing a club at Picciolo Etna Golf, which is located on the largest active volcano in Sicily.

The food was great, but I would have liked to take a practical cooking class

Even in a gastronomic power like Italy, Sicilian cuisine has stood out as exceptionally delicious.

Throughout my trip, I traveled outdoor markets and I was able to appreciate quality products that grow in the rich soil of the island.

I ate so fresh fish that I could still taste the Saumish sea water and finished meals with the famous desserts of Sicily, cannoli burst with ricotta with colored cassats, a sponge cake soaked in liqueur and decorated with candied fruit and masse.

Although I like to eat, I also really like cooking and learning food.

One of my hotels even offered a private visit to its fruit trees, the vegetable garden and the Grove olive, where customers could choose their own fresh ingredients to cook during an interactive class.

I would have liked to book or all kinds of practical cooking experience with a local chef.

Next time, I need to visit the Palermo botanical garden

Sicily is home to a range of breathtaking flora. I liked to look at a lot of vegetable life while I was crossing the island, but next time, I want to live even more by visiting the Botanical Garden of Palermo.

The inhabitants told me that it was a beautiful outdoor museum with statues and sculptures woven between exotic trees and flowers nestled along the shaded walking trails.

On the right side, missing this garden and so many other large places on my First trip to Sicily means that I should just go back.