Sicily…. crossroads of history.  This little island has been occupied and influenced by so many cultures over time…. Carthaginian, Greek, Roman, Vandal and Ostrogoth, Byzantine, Arab, Norman, German, Spanish….and finally Italian.  If ever there were a melting pot of melting pots, Sicily is it.  And thanks to the mild climate, remnants of all those cultures remain.  My month in Sicily (with all my new-found language skills) will circumnavigate the island in a counterclockwise direction, starting in the capital of Palermo.

Explore this diverse city with me, then follow on through Trapani, Marsala, Agrigento, Ragusa, Modica, Siracusa, Catania and finally Taormina.  Along the way we’ll see Norman castles, Baroque cathedrals, sleepy seaside villages, fabulous Greek temples, spectacular Roman amphitheaters and steaming Mt. Etna.  Plus, pristine beaches and translucent waters everywhere.  The pace will be slow, and we’ll savor the wines and foods indigenous to this area.