One of my favorite things about returning clients, is getting to see their families grow! I first met the Plankenhorns back in the fall for a holiday family photoshoot. Little Fynn was the cutest – playing in the sand and building forts with sticks. Fast forward to last month, Falk contacted me to let me know Kristina was EXPECTING!!!! They wanted to know if I had any availability for an east coast Sicily maternity sesssion. Even though my calendar has been packed all year, I absolutely couldn’t say no!!
Falk mentioned they wanted to incorporate Etna into their maternity shoot. Despite our first perspective location falling through, we were still able to incorporate her beauty with the extra added perk of a gorgeous sunset.
One of the things that really gave me all the feels from this shoot, was the inclusion of a very special artifact – a gift from Fynn to his future baby brother. Scroll to the bottom to see what little present he picked out!!
The Plakenhorns | East Coast Sicily Maternity Session
Having our first guest on island really made us stop and think, “If we were visiting Sicily, what would we want to see?” The answer here can certainly be endless, depending on what you’re into. We thought up a ton of day trips that were didn’t have time for in the end. Since Jordan was working while Ashley was in town, we had to coordinate sharing a car, which proved to be a bit more difficult than anticipated. So, besides the day trip we took to Caltagerone, Piazza Armerina, and Enna, we kept our exploration a bit closer to home. Since we live near the east coast of Sicily, we visited some of the top spots along the coast that I’d say you can’t miss! Can you guess what they are?
Four East Coast Must See Towns in Sicily
Taormina
Perhaps the most famous town to visit in all of Sicily? Ashley identified Taormina as a “must see” before she even arrived. Luckily, we have visited there quite often, so it was an easy place to go. We always park in Porta Catania when we go, so you can just walk right into the old town. You can also park in Parcheggio Lumbi and take a shuttle to the old town as well.
Top tip: Visit Hotel Belmond (entrance on the right before you go into the greek theatre, Teatro Antico di Taormina) for a drink and receive complimentary views of Mt. Etna from their stunning outdoor patio. Fair warning, the drinks are $$!
Old Town
Teatro Antico di Taormina
Bam Bar
Noto
If you’ve ever seen the Sicily episode of Chef’s Table, then you’ll understand why you have to stop in Noto for granita, if nothing else. While Bam Bar is for sure my favorite granita spot, no place can beat Cafe Sicilia‘s almond granita. And no, I don’t like it just because of the show. I had it before I ever even watched the show. The show just made me realize why it was so amazing! The town is super cute and has a few spots where you can climb to the top of buildings that overlook the town.
Right outside of Noto is Villa Romana del Tellaro, another archaeological site of an ancient Roman Villa. This villa isn’t nearly as impressive as Villa Romana del Casale (which holds the best preserved Roman mosaics in the world). Thus, I’d recommend check it out only if you’re passing though.
Catania
Catania is definitely the city I have visited the most (see a more in-depth post here). If there is one thing you see in Catania and nothing else, check out the Elephant Square area. Right behind Elephant Square is the Catania Fish Market (La Pescheria). You can acquire exceptional produce, fish, meats and cheese for incredibly low prices. Bring Euro coins, buy fresh foods, enjoy yourself.
Syracuse + Ortygia
Possibly everyone’s favorite city on the east coast of Sicily (okay, maybe not, but it tops my list) is Ortygia. Technically Ortygia is an island off of Sicily, but it is also the historic center of the city of Syracuse. It’s weird and mind boggling a little, but whatever.
I’ve talked about some of the things to do in Ortygia before, here. But this time, we checked some new things off of our list!
Cathedral of Syracuse
To be honest, we have explored so many churches since we moved to Sicily that they are all starting to run together in my head. I have visited the outside of this cathedral many, many times, but for some reason, I was never that intrigued to go in. This time, I went in and noticed something a little bit odd… Greek columns. And, that would because it was originally a Greek doric temple (Temple of Athena) from the 5th century BC! It was really phenomenal to see.
Castello Maniace
We have attempted to visit the Castle Maniace several times, but to no avail. This time we made it! Inside the gates, you can climb the castle walls and get some pretty epic views.
Ortygia’s Street Market
If you get lucky and visit during the morning of any day but Sunday, you’ll get to visit Ortigia’s Street Market. I think Ashley particularly enjoyed trying the fresh seafood there.
While a bit overpriced, the restaurants along the waterway provide incredibly scenic views.
After a year of living in Sicily, Jordan and I had our first visitor. My best friend, Ashley, flew all the way across the Atlantic to visit and see this crazy beautiful island on which we live. I couldn’t have been more excited to see her again or to show her my home.
One thing about visiting Sicily is that you really NEED a car. There are so many places in Europe that have incredibly efficient public transportation. Unfortunately, Sicily is not one of them. So, for her first full day here, we did a little day trip to three classically Sicilian towns: Caltagirone, Piazza Armerina, and Enna. This was one of my favorite island road trips, so I wanted to make sure to share it.
Note: This is a great day trip because visiting these towns in order (or reverse order) creates a circle from Sigonella (or Catania).
Stop 1: Caltagirone
This town was NOT on Ashley’s “to see” list, but I knew it should be. Caltagirone is in the middle of nowhere Sicily, but many people travel there each year for the infamous Sicilian ceramics. The town itself has no shortage of ceramics shops. Some shops have working studios and artists in them, others are just a store front for sales. Most buildings in the old town are decorated with ceramic tiles, so it is vibrant and colorful!
One of the highlights is the Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte, a 142 step staircase that connects the lower to the older upper town. Each stair is decorated with its own unique design on handcrafted ceramic tiles.
We visited a multitude of shops (most of which do not permit photos). At one shop, we were able to visit the workshop and learn about the history of Sicilian ceramics. It was very interesting!
While we were there, we decided to grab lunch before moving on to our next location. Being the planner I am (not), I randomly picked a restaurant (Coria) with good reviews on Google. As we entered through the doors, I noticed a bright red sign by the entrance indicating it was a Michelin Star restaurant. Whoops! We were not dressed for the occasion, nevertheless, we were already there. Of course, the food and drinks were absolutely amazing and we really enjoyed ourselves.
Stop 2: Piazza Armerina
Prior to this trip with Ashley, neither Jordan nor I had ever been to Piazza Armerina before. The main attraction here is Villa Romana del Casale, a fancy Roman villa that dates back to the 4th Century A.D. Villa Romana del Casale has the best preserved Roman mosaics in the world. The villa was the property of a powerful Roman family and is quite expansive (either a senator or as part of an “imperial function” of the emperor [Maximian] himself).
We spent some time walking the grounds and pretending to be back in Roman times for a moment.
Stop 3: Enna
Jordan and I have been to Enna many times before and you just CAN’T beat the views. Enna is one of Sicily’s classic “hilltop towns” and is located in the center-ish of the island. Thus, it doesn’t see many tourists (unless it’s Easter).
Our plan was to visit Castello di Lombardia,followed by Rocca di Cerere. Unfortunately, the castle closed early that day, so we just visited the super majestic overlook featured in the photos below. Since it was also cold and extremely windy, we only visited Enna Cathedral before heading back home.
One thing I’ve learned about myself this year is that I tend to befriend strong women. Alexia is one of those women; she’s a mom of two, a fellow photog (check out her work here), an avid gym-goer, and oh, did I mention she just finished her first degree? I honestly have no idea how Alexia does it all, but I am so thankful that she finds time in her hectic schedule to hang out with me!
You might remember Alexia from this adorable family shoot in Ortigia last year. This time, the kids stayed home! Shane took Alexia out in their newly acquired vintage Fiat convertible for an intimate picnic overlooking the Ionian Sea. It was the perfect romantic date. Thanks for letting me tag along, you guys 😉
Alexia + Shane | Italian Fiat Picnic
Dear Mom,
This morning I went for a run. I thought of you. I thought of how pointless you thought it was for me to spend time running. How, when I ran my first half-marathon, you were not impressed. How hard I worked and trained for it and how quickly you disregarded my accomplishment. It made me miss you more.
As I got past the first half-mile, I thought about that time in high school when you told me I couldn’t go to college. That it just wasn’t in the cards for me because you couldn’t afford it, but I applied and went anyway and went on a full scholarship. I thought about how you told me after I graduated that I must now feel so much “better than” and how using the money I gained by selling my house to pay off my Ph.D. loans was such a waste. It made me realize that you were very different than me.
Somewhere between the end of that thought and the first mile, I thought about the countless times you told me how I should do things differently. How you told me that your friend’s kids were having kids and you didn’t understand why I didn’t just move back home and do the same. It made me realize I’d never give you what you expected from me.
After mile one, it hit me that after all these years, my feelings of never being enough [for you] led me to where I am today. If it weren’t for all the times you told me “I couldn’t” I may have settled, and you know me, I’m not good at settling. It made me wish I could thank you.
Around a mile and a half, I could barely breathe, not from running, but from the grief swelling up inside of me. My thoughts are often so conflicted; we had many years together where I admired you and looked up to you, but we had many years where we completely missed each other, where I felt like there was nothing I could possibly do to make you happy with me. And, when I look back on us – on you – I can’t ever see one without seeing the other.
You’ll never know how many times I eat something amazing or see something I know you’d like and can’t wait to share it with you. And at the same time, I know that no matter how hard I tried, I’d still disappoint you.
Thank you for all the years of your life that you gave to me. Thank you for doing the best you could for me. Thanks for the motivation to accomplish all of the things I have. Because without those things I couldn’t have what I have now – peace and happiness.
Love you, wherever you are, Mom. Happy Mother’s Day. Thanks for all you gave me.
If you’ve tuned in to the Perspectives of an Expat guest posts before, then you already know I created this series so to learn more about the views and experiences of expats all over the world. I found Natalia of Natalia Swiader Photography on Instagram and became OBSESSED with her photographs! Natalia is a family, engagement, portrait and lifestyle photographer who just happens to be a Polish expat living in SCOTLAND. Seriously, Scotland. I have been eyeing that beautiful country for a long time and I can’t wait to make the trip and meet Natalia in person later this year.
Find out more about Natalia’s journey from Poland to Scotland and learn more about her, her photography work, her views on the most important thing about travel, and so much more below. More importantly, make sure to visit her website and be sure to follow her on IG. I promise you won’t be sorry!
Natalia Swiader Photography | Instagram
All images contained in this post are courtesy of Natalia Swiader.
Perspectives of an Expat | A Guest Series Featuring Natalia
Where are you originally from?
I was born in the Masurian Lake District in Poland, a place very close to my heart, also called the Land of a Thousand Lakes. It’s an incredible place and my two grandmas still live there, I visit them every Christmas.
I lived in a few different cities in Poland – I went to the university in Torun (gingerbread capital of the country) and then moved to Lodz, third biggest Polish city, as I was offered a corporate job there after graduation. My closest family now live in Warsaw though.
Where do you currently live and what led you to move there?
I moved to the UK three years ago. I met an Englishman when still living in Poland and we fell in love and decided to live together. At that time, I was living in Leeds for almost two years and when he got a job offer in Edinburgh I moved again.
It didn’t work out though and soon after moving to Scotland I was on my way back to Poland to be surrounded by loved ones.
After I moved to Warsaw, I discovered that I didn’t like it at all. I enjoyed being around my best friends, being able to see my family much more often, but I was missing Scotland immensely. I realized that I was idealizing my country a lot when living abroad so the whole experience of returning to my home country was very disheartening, especially because of the political aspects.
As cheesy as it sounds, I felt like I had left a piece of my heart in Scotland. It was really weird, especially since I had only been there for a while. But I wanted to come back so badly. Although I was so scared of starting over and building a new life in a new place again, all by myself, without a job and not knowing anyone in the city, I decided to do it. It was scary as hell, but I knew that if I hadn’t done it I would have regretted it. I had to give it a try.
Was this a temporary or permanent move for you?
I knew that when I decided to move I was going to stay here for longer. Now I know that I want to stay here forever, it’s my favorite place on this planet.
What are some of the differences you see between where you live now and where you are originally from?
Scottish society is definitely more open-minded and supportive of diversity. It’s a place where it doesn’t matter where you’re from or what your sexual orientation or skin color is, you will never feel excluded because of that.
It’s amazing and liberating, I love it about Scotland.
I wish Poland was more like that as well, but it’s still a very, very long way to go for the Polish society to accept peoples’ differences, and understand that for instance who you sleep is not anyone’s business or that your skin color doesn’t have much to do with who you are as a person. Of course not everyone is judgmental and narrow-minded to think this way, but a lot of people are.
What have been some of the biggest obstacles that you have had to overcome after relocating?
It felt like the stars aligned, I was extremely lucky. I found my first job after a week, I met one of my now best friends after a few weeks as well.
My English is pretty good as well so no language barrier was involved.
Scotland was very welcoming.
Although – Scottish accent can sometimes be quite difficult to understand and the pronunciation of some Scottish words can be tricky. I still struggle with understanding Glaswegian accent.
Also, people would make fun of me when I pronounced some of the words wrong – and when people make fun of you here it means that they like you, haha.
What do you love about where you currently live?
First thing – the people.
People in Scotland are incredibly friendly and kind. I feel like it’s not difficult to make new friends here – as least for me it seemed surprisingly easy.
I felt very lucky that I met a few people who quickly became a part of my life – I found some amazing friends who I can count on and share my thought and worries with.
Also, Scotland is a magical place and offers breathtaking views – whether you’re in Edinburgh’s city centre or in the highlands. I work as a photographer and I always feel like I’m spoilt for choice with so many beautiful locations around me.
There are plenty of great restaurants and cafes as well. I’m a total coffee snob and a pizza-addict so I’m very happy to have access to such a great food scene as the once in Edinburgh.
What’s the most valuable thing you learned from living abroad?
I learned that you can only grow and achieve great things if you let go of the fear. Or at least accept that fear will always be there when you step into the unknown.
That great achievements require great risks.
A few days before my move to Scotland I became paralyzed by fear and I was freaking out – should I do it? Why am I doing this? What if it’s the worst decision of my life?
But I still decided to have faith in my intuition, listen to the voice inside my head telling me to be strong, that life’s too short to be a pussy. I learned to live with fear and do things that scared me anyway. I learned that you should always listen to your intuition, your gut always knows what’s right for you and what you should escape from. Often, I still ignore it, but when I do I always regret it.
Nelson Mandela said ‘may your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears’. And that’s one of the things I try to never forget about.
What would be the number one thing to see or do that you would recommend to someone visiting that they would not be able to read about in a guide book?
My advice for someone traveling to Edinburgh would be – get lost in the city. Every time I just walk around in the city without purpose I discover something new.
Where is your favorite instagrammable spot where you live?
I love the area of Stockbridge; it has a vibe of a little town. I would definitely have to go for Circus Lane in Stockbridge – the loveliest street in Edinburgh. I’ve photographed a few couples and secret proposals there, it’s a magical place. It recently became very popular but hasn’t lost its charm.
Outside of where you live now, what’s been your most memorable travel destination? Why?
Barcelona. I’ve been only twice, but I would love to spend some time there every year.
There is something about this city that I don’t feel anywhere else, like a combination of freedom and inspiration on every corner. You are surrounded by art, iconic buildings, you can visit a museum and have the most delicious lunch in the city centre and then head to the beach to admire a beautiful sunset.
I love Gaudi’s architecture style, atmospheric cafés and restaurants, quirky shops, sunbathing topless, I love Spanish cuisine and how much is happening there no matter when you’re visiting.
The last time I visited Barcelona I attended a paella cooking class, went to explore the city by myself, I photographed a destination wedding in a vineyard and it was one of the most beautiful weddings ever. And one of the best holiday in my life. Barcelona is great if you need to spend some time by yourself.
Also, there are so many picturesque locations within and outside the city so as a photographer you have so many opportunities to create something amazing.
How often do you travel outside of where you live?
Every couple of months. This year so far I’ve been to Lisbon, Ireland, I visited my family in Poland. Two adventures are still ahead of me: Iceland in May and Amsterdam in August where I’ll be celebrating my 30th birthday.
I also love traveling around Scotland as I feel like there is always so much to explore. Isle of Skye, Isle of Arran, Isle of Harris and Isle of Mull are still on my list.
What do you love most about travel?
It changes your perspective on things quite often, especially if you have an open mind. When you travel you learn about the world more than would learn from books.
The most important thing though is: don’t compare. Treat visits in every new place as a new experience, it doesn’t have to be better or worse than what you know and like, or are used to. It’s simply different and learn to respect it.
Tell me more about your website/blog.
As I work as a wedding and portrait photographer in Edinburgh, my website showcases my work: mostly weddings, elopements but also some travel photographs.
When I post photographs from a shoot I always try to say a little bit more about the people I photograph or a place I visited.
I like to add something personal in my blog posts, I love when couples share their stories – about how they met and how they fell in love. What I find very inspiring are stories about how two people built something amazing together, although it wasn’t always easy. Because love is never easy. We live in the times when we want to get everything right here and right now, in the world where real love is something really unique and beautiful.
A lot of people have a sense of entitlement, like they’re owed the love of their life without putting any effort in it. They don’t understand that love is not just a feeling, it is a choice and it requires hard work. Great relationships, whether in love or friendship, are to be built and not found. Because all the great things in life require hard work.
And real commitment is something invaluable.
It’s been incredibly rewarding to work with people who share my views on that.
Anything else you’d like to share.
I love how many incredible people I met thanks to my job as a photographer and online platforms such as Facebook or Instagram.
We talk so much about how technology and the never-ending swipe culture changes our world for the worse, but I never forget how much I have gained by being able to connect with people who I otherwise wouldn’t have met – thanks to the online world.
I have photography clients from all around the world and now I also have friends from so many different places. It’s amazing.
I might complain about some aspects of my life but overall I think it’s pretty fucking great.
I feel like it was just yesterday that Brit confided in me that she was pregnant. If you remember back to their gorgeous beachfront gender reveal in November, Brit and Adrian announced how thrilled they were to be expecting a little GIRL! Well, days, weeks and months have passed and their little girl is finally here!!
I was incredibly honored to be invited into their home to photograph their little love just a few weeks after they brought her home from the hospital. I love newborn lifestyle sessions because little tiny babies are just SO cute!!! She was no exception and slept the entire time as she was being doted upon by all. What can I say? Little Viv has the best and most loving parents and I can’t wait to watch her grow.
See a few snaps from our time together down below. Thank you so much to Brit, Adrian, and Viv for having me.
World, meet Vivienne Marie!
Vivienne Marie | Lifestyle Newborn
If you’ve tuned in to the Perspectives of an Expat guest posts before, then you already know I created this series so to learn more about the views and experiences of expats all over the world. I met Kristina of Living Wonderfilled through Instagram and immediately connected with her posts. Kristina is copywriter and content creater who just happens to be an American expat living in SPAIN! It’s been really fun following her adventures and I was super excited to learn more about her experiences!
Living Wonderfilled | IG | Twitter
PERSPECTIVES OF AN EXPAT FEATURING KRISTINA OF LIVING WONDERFILLED
Where are you originally from?
I was born in Miami, Florida but grew up between South Florida and East Tennessee. My mom is from Colombia and my dad is from Cuba, so culturally I’m actually much more Latin American than American.
Where do you currently live and what led you to move there?
Right now I’m living in Madrid! It’s going to sound crazy but I had been living in Nashville for about 1.5 years when I started to get restless. I started to crave Europe. Then I somehow got into a couple Spanish TV shows in September 2017 and decided I was going to try to move to Spain!
Was this a temporary or permanent move for you?
I’m treating this as kind of a trial run. I’ve never lived in Spain, so I’m not sure if I want it to be permanent. I may want to try living in other cities within Spain or other cities in Europe. I’ve always been charmed by Ireland, so who knows!
What are some of the differences you see between where you live now and where you’re originally from?
Oh gosh, there are so many! I’d say the main difference from the US and Spain is the mentality. We’re very capitalistic in the states, people here are far more socialist. It’s almost a given that at some point people in the states will be entrepreneurs or have some kind of side ‘hustle.’ In my experience, people here aren’t like that. They don’t think outside the box as much in that sense, I think because society really doesn’t encourage freelancing and entrepreneurship as much as in the states.
I have a pretty broad worldview, so I have always been very curious about other cultures and my friends and family in the states are the same. Many Spaniards I’ve met aren’t that way. They like vacations and touristing, but for the most part they aren’t as curious or educated about other cultures.
Another one – which has been a huge culture shock and I occasionally struggle with – is the superiority complex Spaniards (in general) have about Latin Americans. I’m constantly told I don’t speak Spanish correctly, because I speak Colombian Spanish (fluently, it’s my native language). I’ve been told tons of times how South Americans are just innately less intelligent than Spaniards. It’s kind of a weird complex they have because ‘they discovered’ and ‘conquered’ most of Central and South America.
What have been some of the biggest obstacles that you have had to overcome after relocating?
Random (mild) racism because I’m Latin American. (Which they can only tell once I start speaking in my accent.) I don’t necessarily look American or Latin American.
Paperwork frustrations with my Visa, my Spanish ID, and other documentation required to live here on a Visa. The Spanish government is also notoriously confusing when it comes to all that.
What do you love about where you currently live?
So much! That I can walk everywhere, the food, siestas (yes, I take them!), the history. Spain has several different subcultures which I’m loving learning about! People here are also generally less materialistic and more focused on enjoying life rather than the hustle and bustle we’re focused on in the states.
What’s the most valuable thing you learned from living abroad?
The importance of speaking more than one language and cross-cultural communication in general. Even when I say something in Spanish, it may be a different word than a Spaniard might use, so it’s important to be aware of that when communicating. I’ve never been more thankful to my parents than I am now. Growing up they forced me to speak Spanish at home and had they not, I wouldn’t be fluent.
What would be the number one thing to see or do that you would recommend to someone visiting that they would not be able to read about in a guide book?
To go out on a Sunday afternoon, have a coffee and go for a walk. My favorite is to see how the families get together near where I live. There’s a park where families come to after their Sunday meal, and you can see multiple generations, cousins and extended family together. It’s a really great tradition they uphold.
Where is your favorite “instagrammable” spot(s) where you live?
- The Palacio de Cristal in Retiro Park
- Retiro Park pretty much everywhere
- Almost any old street in the Salamanca neighborhood
- Templo de Debod
Outside of where you live now, what’s been your most memorable travel destination? Why?
Greece, Mykonos specifically. I went after the busy season and had the island almost all to myself. I was able to ATV (quad) all over the island, which has got to be my favorite way to explore. The people were incredibly welcoming and friendly and it was a really peaceful place.
How often do you travel outside of where you live?
I try to travel to another city at least once a month. Sometimes that means another city in Spain, other times it means another country in Europe. I have some trips back to the states this year that were fairly expensive, so my springtime travel is a bit limited.
What do you love most about travel?
Learning about other cultures and their food! Also street art. I love seeing amazing street art and learning what it’s about. It’s usually a really great representation of a place’s history or current political situation.
Tell me more about your website/blog (if you have one).
My blog is called Living Wonderfilled. It started as kind of an everything blog because I love writing, but has morphed into a travel and lifestyle blog. I’m going to start to delve into more expat-specific stuff now too, now that I’ve been living abroad for over six months and am staying for a while.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Well, obviously my opinions about Spaniards are generalizations. I am actually of Spanish descent, my great-grandparents on my dad’s side are from Galicia, and I have family there. I love it there!
*All images contained in this post are her own.
I’ve been to Paris and I’ve been to London, and while they have been super fabulous, Lisbon takes the cake for me! Ever since I moved to Sicily, Lisbon has been on my “must see” list. However, since I hate flying (surprise, right?!), I mainly opt to visit locations with direct flights from Catania. There is no direct flight from Catania to Lisbon, but I wanted to go so badly, I sucked it up. Can I just say, it was totally worth it! I’d give it a 10/10, highly recommend. So, what should you do if you end up like me and find yourself spending three days in Lisbon? Here are some of my favorite suggestions, but believe me, there is more to be had than what I’m about to tell you.
Three Days in Lisbon
Airport
Upon arriving in Lisbon, I took a car to my hotel. To get from the airport to the city center, you can take a taxi (20€ and approximately 20 minutes), bus (4€ and approximately 45 minutes), or metro (€1.45). If you buy the Viva Viagem or 7 Colinas card (€50) and put money on it, you can load your card with a travel pass for the day (€6.30) which is valid for metro and rail.
Hotel – Palácio das Especiarias
There are a ton of options in Lisbon, but I can’t recommend the hotel I stayed in enough. Palácio das Especiarias is a 16th century palace that you can actually stay in. Whaaat?! At first, I was a little worried that it would be a bit outdated (in terms of accommodations), but it wasn’t (fair warning though, there is no elevator, only stairs). It was completely charming and one of my favorite parts of my visit. The hotel is centrally located in the historic district with plenty to do and see right outside of its doors. Next time I visit Lisbon, I will definitely stay here again. Thanks to Katie of Planes, Trains and Babies for finding it for me.
Things to See and Do
This list will be in no way comprehensive, but I will provide you with some ideas from my favorites.
Elevador da Bica
Portugal has three funiculars, Elevador do Lavra, Elevador da Glória and Elevador da Bica. As Lisbon is so hilly, they are a great way to get up and down the steep inclines. They are also very popular for tourists. Elevador do Lavra is the oldest, with service beginning in 1884. I did not take a ride on one, but I did stop to catch a couple of photos at Elevador da Bica. There are two cars here – one is the traditional yellow and another is covered in beautiful graffiti.
Miradouro S.Pedro de Alcantara and Miradouro De Santa Luzia
The miradouros are observation points that overlook the city. There are a few in Lisbon, but Miradouro S.Pedro de Alcantara is the largest and most iconic one. It is also right next to the Elevador da Glória. Miradouro De Santa Luzia, was my personal favorite. It has a beautiful little garden and reflecting pool. It is located in the Alfama neighborhood about halfway up the hill. You can see the Tagus River from there as well.
Castelo de S. Jorge
São Jorge Castle is a Moorish castle on a hilltop overlooking the historic city center and the Tagus River. It is a main tourist site of Lisbon and dates back to the medieval period. I enjoyed the quick tour, a glass of wine while overlooking the city, and a quick ice cream on the way back to my hotel.
Praca do Comercio & Arco Da Rua Augusta
The largest of Lisbon’s plazas, it’s located right along the river’s edge. In the square is a statue of King José I and the Arco da Rua Augusta. You can climb the Arco da Rua Augusta for a small fee. Be warned there are many small stairs to climb, but the view from the top is worth it!! I made the climb during the middle of the day, but I’d definitely recommend this at sunset.
Praca Dom Pedro IV (Rossio)
The main, central square of Lisbon, with the Dona Maria II National Theater at the head and a statue of Dom Pedro IV in the middle. The stone pattern here is unmistakable and the fountains are a pretty turquoise.
Tagus Riverbank
A great way to close out any day in Lisbon is catching sunset along the Tagus Riverbank. There’s often live music and a few impromptu picnics. Additionally, if you are a gin lover, Lisboa Gin is the best I’ve found on all of my travels. I just had to bring a bottle home!
Day Trip From Lisbon
Sintra – Pena Palace
A great day trip from Lisbon is to Sintra. I visited Pena Palace, but honestly wish I had more time here, as Pena Park spans over 200 hectacres. The castle sits atop a hill in the Sintra mountains. It’s a colorful Romanticist castle that is very much worth the visit.
This article was originally featured on Little Brave Travels. Feel free to check it out there as well!
When people think of Sicily, they probably think of beautiful beaches, sun, and sand. To be honest, that is what I thought at first too. The truth is, those things only cover a tiny portion of all that the island has to offer. If you’ve been on Instagram, I’m sure you’ve seen tons of amazing travel photos from Bali, Paris, and the Amalfi Coast, but very few from Sicily. Does that mean Sicily is not worth visiting? Absolutely not! Sicily is one of the most picturesque places I’ve had the pleasure of exploring. You just have to know where to go.
My husband and I moved to the island of Sicily just over a year ago. We were incredibly excited to get to know our new home as soon as we arrived. Even after a year of constant exploration, we still haven’t seen it all. At approximately 25,000 square kilometers (that’s almost 10,000 square miles), Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean. Because of this public transportation is impractical. Thus, renting a car is the way to go.
While there are some very popular towns to visit in Sicily (some I’ll mention here), there are many others that aren’t known at all. I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter if you’ve heard of it or not. Each town in Sicily is unique in its own way and many towns that are lesser known have amazing food, their own particular charm, and…. fewer people!
If you’re planning to visit Sicily, but you aren’t sure where to start, here are my top five instagrammable spots to know before you go!
Top 5 Instagrammable Spots in Sicily
1. Taormina
Arguably the most popular Sicilian destination, the hilltop town of Taormina, is unlikely to disappoint. In the summer, the town is “dressed to the nines” with colorful flowers and a plethora of cute little shops. You can visit the idyllic pebble beach in the bay of Taormina and swim in the clear, turquoise waters and then take the cable car up to the town. In town, be sure to visit the ancient Greco-Roman theater that sits cliffside after exploring all of the adorable little alleyways and town squares. (See more about visiting Taormina here).
2. Mt. Etna
In the vicinity of Taormina is the unmistakable Mount Etna. A rather active volcano (with generally pretty small eruptions). If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see her show off! While she can be seen from all around the northern east side of the island, there’s nothing quite like a visit to the top. You can visit either the north or south side, with skiing, snowboarding, and sledding available during the winter and hiking available most all year long. Guided tours are available for a fee and there are many tour companies that make the journey from most big cities. (See more about skiing Mt. Etna here).
If you do rent a car and decide to make the journey on your own, I’d highly recommend stopping on the way up (or down) for lunch at an agritourismo (maybe this one?) on the side of the volcano. The vines of the wineries are often amazing photo spots and the food and wine are top notch.
3. Agrigento (and vicinity)
On the south side of the island lies Agrigento, a hilltop city containing the ruins of the ancient city of Akragas. This attraction is also known as the Valley of the Temples and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While this is also one of Sicily’s most famous attractions, it is definitely worth the visit. Entrance to the park includes a fee and bag check, but once you’re in, there is so much to explore! Many of the temples are well preserved and quite impressive! Once you get toward the back of the park, you will find notably less people. Furthermore, there are optional gardens once inside the park that you can also elect to visit for a small fee. (See more about visiting Agrigento here).
West of the Valley of the Temples lies Scala dei Turchi (the Turkish Steps), which is a stepped white cliff overlooking sandy beaches. You can pull off the highway to overlook it from above as well as visit a lido that will take you right down on the beach where you can climb up on it. Many people love sunbathing and jumping from the rock itself. (See more about Scala dei Turchi here).
4. San Vito Lo Capo
A small seaside town in northwestern Sicily, San Vito Lo Capo is prominently known for its fabulous flat and sandy beaches. While swimming in San Vito Lo Capo is highly recommended, a boat cruise is fun and affordable, and the town is pretty with lots to do a night. (See more about San Vito Lo Capo here).
5. Ortigia
Technically part of Sicily, Ortigia is an island that is the historical center of the city of Syracuse. I promise it sounds more confusing than it really is and its totally worth the trip. In my opinion, Ortigia is one of the more beautiful cityscapes of Sicily. My best recommendation here is to plan to just walk around. From ancient ruins to the enchanting white square of Ortigia Piazza del Duomo, you will understand just why this destination is so instagrammable.
While Sicily is definitely the most popular in the summer, visiting during off season provides significant advantages for photo opportunities. August is the month in which Sicilians take their vacations, so I would be wary to visit then, as many shops will be closed. Additionally, the same is true during the months of January and February. It is also important to keep in mind that Sicily has a significant rainy season (particularly in the fall and spring), so do plan carefully and accordingly!
