Soaking up Sicily: A Journey through the Island's White Lotus Havens

Travelers venturing to Sicily often have their sights set on the captivating historical sites, gastronomic delights, and stunning beaches. A few of the attractions that deserve your attention are the island’s mesmerizing landscapes that the HBO show The White Lotus made famous. This post highlights some of my favorite spots from my tour that happened to be featured in the show.

After the staggering success of the show, travelers worldwide have put Sicily on the top of their travel lists. The luxury presented on the small screen can be found as we experience the sun-soaked beauty of Sicily in the area of Taormina. My tour starts here and carries on throughout Sicily, but here are some favorite Sicilian getaways which were captured in the show.

We will be staying at a stunning seaside hotel where each room has a balcony that overlooks the sparkling ocean and faces Mount Etna (which usually has a little ring of smoke over it). We'll walk the cobble stone streets of Taormina, take a boat ride and swim in the crystal blue ocean waters, and make a guest appearance at the 3rd century BC Greek Theater.

I love the cable car and short jaunt around the top of Mount Etna and there is nothing quite like being above the clouds while walking on the hardened lava. Like the stars in White Lotus, we stop for lunch at a winery on our way down the mountain. Winemaking at the vineyards on Europe's largest active volcano doesn't come easily. The volcanic soil, elevation, and weather influence each vintage and each winemaker. As inviting as the mountain, Etna wines are delicious and can be mailed home. The mountain served as a backdrop in the development of Europe for millennia and now this UNESCO Heritage Site is a destination for the world.

Moving on to Syracusa, a city that Cicero declared, “The greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all," we'll stay on the island of Ortigia. Founded by ancient Greek Corinthians 2700 years ago, it’s a labyrinth of charming ancient and medieval streets packed with history and unique shops.

Not to be missed is the UNESCO archaeological park of Syracusa. We’ll visit the most significant sites, the ancient Greek theater dating from the 5th century BC and the adjacent Roman amphitheater which was constructed in the 3rd century AD.

Heading around the island, we’ll stop for lunch at the historic Baroque village Noto. It’s characterized by its narrow, winding streets and beautiful architecture. Local specialties include arancini (stuffed rice balls), cassata (a dessert made with ricotta cheese and candied fruit), and cannoli (a pastry filled with sweetened ricotta cheese).

Next stop is Agrigento where we’ll head out for a sunset evening tour of the Valley of the Temples. Set upon a high ridge just outside of Agrigento on Sicily’s southern coast, the site consists of eight temples initially constructed in the 5th century BC. The Valley of the Temples is one of the island’s star attractions and second only to Athens’s Acropolis in its significance as an archaeological site associated with the ancient Greeks.

I love the coastline from Marsala to Trapani, characterized by a picturesque landscape of shallow ponds, windmills, and white pyramids of salt and known as the Salt Road. The salt pans have been in use since ancient times and still produce high-quality sea salt you’ll want to take home. We’ll take a boat ride through the lagoons and stop at the tiny island of Mozia where we can explore a current archeological dig.

Just miles away is the medieval walled village of Erice, perched on a rocky cliff more than 750 meters above sea level, and offering a magnificent view of Trapani, the Aegadian Islands, and San Vito Lo Capo. Erice’s ancient Castle is magnificent! It’s one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Sicily and a town of tiny streets and fantastic little artisan shops.

Our three days in Palermo are full of exploration and good food! We start with our private chef as we tackle the Mercato del Capo, one of Palermo’s oldest markets. We’ll shop for the perfect items to use in class where we’ll prepare a full Sicilian menu…which we’ll eat along with a selection of Sicilian wines topped off with homemade liqueurs and coffee. After lunch, we’ll focus on a tour of several splendid examples of the Arab-Byzantine and Norman architectural sites of the 12th century.

Palermo is a royal city and we will trace the arc of Western Civilization during our visit. Founded by Phoenicians from Carthage in 700 BC, the Greeks conquered the city in the 5th century BC. Under Muslim rule for 120 years beginning in 904, Palermo rivaled Cordoba and Cairo in importance and splendor. The Normans arrived next and returned the city to Christianity.

Palermo has experienced a revival in the last decade. It's been revitalized with new museums, gentrified neighborhoods, walking streets, and upscale shops and hotels.

Teatro Massimo Opera is the biggest in Italy and dominates the capital’s antique skyline. Our tour will show us the stunning auditorium and halls and we’ll learn about the renovation that closed the theater for 23 years in 1974 when Mafia corruption dominated Palermo. Its completion and re-opening became a symbol of the city’s rebirth.

Just across from the theater is the fabulous Francavilla Palace, constructed in 1783 in what was then the countryside of Palermo. Noble aristocrats who subsequently bought the home collaborated with the finest artists of the time to make it a historic showplace. It is currently a private residence, and we have a unique opportunity to tour the main salons, library, and garden. We’ll also visit St. Catherine's Church, built at the end of the 16th century and wonderfully still incorporating Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo elements. Almost every surface is covered with paintings, cherubs, decorative marble, and color. From the roof, we have magnificent views of Palermo and of the Pretoria fountain in the Quattro Canti square below.

In White Lotus, many of these Sicilian destinations capture the essence of the series with their luxurious settings and captivating charm. Come with me and lose yourself in the grandeur, opulence, and promise of adventure that this beautiful island has to offer.