Easter in Sicily

Saturday 11 April 2015

We spent Easter in Sicily, enjoying great food and time with the family. The celebrations are widespread - the village of San Michele di Ganzaria parades religious statues around the streets and similar events take place all over the island. It was a bit different to the Easter parade in our home town of Dursley last year on Good Friday.

After Easter we explored more of this special island. The sense of lush green growth was even more apparent than when we briefly visited last May, but the weather wasn't yet as warm and settled. Indeed, as we walked higher in the Nebrodi mountains (between Randazzo and Floresta) it even snowed on us. Sicily is a lot higher than many people realise - we were walking here at about 1200m and Etna tops out at about 3300m, ever changing depending on recent eruptions. Fresh snow meant we abandoned plans to walk on Etna and went skiing instead, dropping down to the sea later in the same afternoon for a (chilly) dip in the sea. There can't be many places in the world where you can do that!

Easter Sunday celebrations in San Michele di Ganzaria

Easter Sunday celebrations in San Michele di Ganzaria

Line of scooters, Scoglitti

Line of scooters, Scoglitti

Nebrodi mountains, between Floresta and Randazzo

Nebrodi mountains, between Floresta and Randazzo

Colourful mountain sign, between Floresta and Randazzo - most paths aren't well signed in Sicily and a good map, guidebook, or sense of direction helps a lot

Colourful mountain sign, between Floresta and Randazzo - most paths aren't well signed in Sicily and a good map, guidebook, or sense of direction helps a lot

Orchid emerging from the snow, between Floresta and Randazzo

Orchid emerging from the snow, between Floresta and Randazzo

2000m high on Etna, in the Piano Provenzana ski area, looking out to sea

2000m high on Etna, in the Piano Provenzana ski area, looking out to sea

The beach and beautiful blue sea at Marina di Cottone

The beach and beautiful blue sea at Marina di Cottone

Eucalyptus looking almost autumnal on Montagna della Ganzaria

Eucalyptus looking almost autumnal on Montagna della Ganzaria

Mount Etna hovers in the distance, from Montagna della Ganzaria

Mount Etna hovers in the distance, from Montagna della Ganzaria

Arrivederci Sicilia - for amazing views of Etna, sit on the left hand side of the plane when you leave Catania airport (the planes normally take off out to sea, then turn left to head north back to the UK)

Arrivederci Sicilia - for amazing views of Etna, sit on the left hand side of the plane when you leave Catania airport (the planes normally take off out to sea, then turn left to head north back to the UK)

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