Sicily

Mount Etna.

Looking for a stand-alone Italian district that's not on the Italian mainland, which is a perfect holiday destination for those craving a step-back from a busy city work life. Sicily is the answer!

Rising to prominence from 750 BC onwards when the Greeks began to inhabit the island, Sicily started to become profitable and thrive on the olive and grape importing and exporting businesses. From there, a significant part of Greek culture on the island included Greek religion (the Greek gods and goddesses residing on Mount Olympus), and many temples were built throughout Sicily, including several in the Valley of the Temples at Agrigento. Afterwards, Sicily was embroiled in three wars and military strategy as the claiming prize. Syracuse became desired by the Athenians, who set out on the Sicilian Expedition during the Peloponnesian War, which also became the Athenians downfall. Later on, in the Second Punic War, the Cathaginians attempted to take back Sicily, aided by the famous Greek mathematician Archimedes, who was killed by the Romans in 213 BC. 50 years before, Greece had begun to make peace with the Roman Repubilc, with the Roman's wishing to make Sicily its first province. In today's society, it can be compared to the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, both written by JRR Tolkien, with the Hobbit being set 60 years before LotR. However, unlike these two classics, Sicily was in for another rough ride in the tides of war. Sicily served at a level of high importance for the Roman's as it acted as the empire's food pantry. The period of history during which Sicily was a Roman province lasted for around 700 years. 

Official Flag of Sicily. 

Map of Sicily - showing the major
towns and cities.

Sicily is located within the confines of the Mediterranean Sea, just off the south-western tip of Italy. It is also the largest island in the area. As such, it has a Mediterranean style climate, which is suitable for growing its vast array of crops of citrus fruits and other stereotypical tropical foods like olives.


Home to Europe's Mount Etna and Stromboli, Sicily also boasts the cities of Taormina and Catania. These two cities hold an importance in Sicily's vast history under the rules of the Romans, Greeks, Arabs and Spanish. Taormina is, in my opinion, the more exquisite of the two as it is the place to forget worries and stress but is a city that sticks in your mind from its raw magnificence. This major province of Italy is also the permanent residences of the seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country, including Villa Romana del Casale and the Necropolis of Pantalica. These sites, coupled with these two cities shows the global stage that, despite its links with Italy, Sicily is not to be ignored and rated as second class to its older brother. 

When I ventured to Sicily, ten years ago in 2008 with my parents, I was unsure that it would measure up to the likes of Italy only for me to be happily surprised. Sicily is very much its own country in its own right with its own political system, legal system and separate architectures and culture. To say it's copying Italy is an offence to the wonder that is the province of Sicily. The country has a raw wildness to it that Italy doesn't and couldn't have. During the break, I travelled to Taormina and everything I'd read beforehand couldn't hold a candle to the sheer scale and beauty of some of the archaeological and cultural sites. As a hemiplegic, the same acceptance I'd received on the mainland, seemed to have travelled to Sicily and their own views of what the words 'different' and 'disabled' mean. there was none of the hidden prejudice and discrimination I would later come face-to-face with in high school but open acknowledgement of: 'she sees the world from a different perspective and this makes her unique.' The place is a haven to try new things from another country but also incorporates that sense of belonging of home. 

View of Taormina from the theatre on the high hill.

With this in mind, if you're wanting an Italian holiday then Sicily is where you need to go. 

Rome and Sorrento

Italian Flag as we know it today.

Every Ancient History and History buff knows about how the Roman Empire has shaped how we see the world we live in today. But do you know about the two most influential peninsulas, which helped form that time period of World History.

The Eternal City of Rome's official flag -
showing the legend of Lupa
(the Mother of Rome) and the Wolf Twins
Romulus and Remus. 

Sorrento's Coat of Arms.

On paper, Rome and Sorrento are the same type of city. They both hold a Cathedral and they both have the attractions from the same era. But these two cities are vastly dissimilar.

Nicknamed the 'Eternal City', Rome is the important city and the heart of the Roman Empire we all know and love. Built in 735 BC by the Wolf Twins, Romulus and Remus, Rome became the powerhouse of the Western Empire, including the Roman Empire. As the legend states, Romulus and Remus founded the city but after a bitter argument between the pair, Romulus became the first King of Rome after his brother Remus was killed. This bloodied founding lay down the history of Rome once the Roman Empire was established. During this time period (509 BC-1453 AD), Rome became the central hub of the Mediterranean Sea empire. With the motto of the Republic being shortened to the SPQR: Senatus PopulusQue Romanus, there is no doubt this Empire can and will be able to boast being one of the greatest empires in existence. With Emperors such as Julius and Octavius (renamed Augustus) Caesar at the helm, these remains of the Roman Empire are still remembered today.

Sorrento City Map.

Rome's City map, displaying all the
attractions and sights.

Sorrento has less of a bloody history through revenge and war and more of a history through natural phenomena. With Mount Vesuvius, and the destroyed remains Pompeii and Herculaneum as the main attractions with the Bay of Naples and the Amalfi Coast coming up as a very close second, Sorrento is always on the map for a good city break or for a proper holiday, especially with a population of 16.5 thousand. Known for that fateful day of 79 AD, Sorrento has its history intertwined with that of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius. Everyone on holiday in Sorrento visits those three places during these visits as everyone knows the story of Vesuvius' most famous eruption. But that does not mean, the town itsef should be overlooked. Sorrento has a huge variety of authentic Italian cuisine and materials - even architecture - for everyone to enjoy. The Port of Sorrento alone boasts a visit from Jamie Oliver himself. And yes, whilst it is busy at night when all the small businesses and restaurants are open, the town very much gives of that small Italian town ambience that is very much missing from small English towns and villages. Sorrento is also home to the Isole Sirenuse/Li Galle (the Island home of the three peaceful Sirens in the Odyssey, where Odysseus ordered his men to tie him to the ships mast so he couldn't go over board.)

Today, Rome is known as the Capital City of the Kingdom of Italy, located on the western side of the country, crossing the timeless Tiber river and built on seven hills: the Aventine, the Caelian, the Capitoline, the Esquiline, the Palantine, Quirinal and Viminal Hills. The city is in the centre of the Lazio Peninsula, which borders the Tuscany and Campania regions.

The First eight Emperors of the
Roman Empire as we know it
in History.

Likewise, Sorrento is one of the most visited cities in Italy and known throughout the world not because of it being on the political stage but the Tourism stage. The city is on the western part of the Campania region, which also shares borders with Lazio and the Basilicata regions.

Rome holds the Colosseum, Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain alongside the Vatican City and Roman Forum. Each one of these can be found in the central district of the City of Rome with the Vatican City a little further away to ensure the peace of the Roman Catholic religious schedules. The Roman Forum and the Colosseum were built in the same two-decade period of 70-89 AD whereas the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain, which depicts the three Greek/Roman titans of water Oceanus, Abundance and Salubrity with the Geek mythological Prince of the Seas and Oceanus' grandson Triton rides a chariot in the foreground, were much later additions, having been built in the 18th Century. but these two additions also adds to the mystery and wonder of this undying historical city.

Rome's famous Colosseum - where they
held Gladiator fights and shows when
Rome was the centre of the Roman Empire at
its peak. 

Meanwhile Sorrento is the home of the Bay of Naples, the Amalfi Coast and its closeness to the town of Amalfi. Together, these two stunning locations brings a depth to the city not known for its own achievements in the history books but that of its neighbouring attractions. But, with the later supplement of Sorrento Cathedral, Marine Grande and Museum Correale, Sorrento is every bit the city which keeps going despite adversary.

Myself with my 'hidden'
disadvantage in Rome at one
of the many Fountains -
sorry I can't remember of the
top of my head which one.

When I visited Sorrento back in 2000, all I was interested in, as are most three-year-olds, was seeing how much mischief I could get into without my parents noticing. As a Cerebral Palsy - right-sided hemiplegia sufferer, which despite what people is a quite common disability to have, which also has a side which manifest similar to ADHD tendencies - this happened a lot during the trip. One memorable aspect was my insistence on being as close to Vesuvius' crater as I could and forever running off to explore Herculaneum. Though for the most part, it didn't seem like much, Sorrento has become a place I wish to visit again just to retain the memories of what I saw the first time around but never understood. So, when I visited Rome in 2013, I gained some of that wonder back, but this time with the understanding and knowledge I had on hand pertaining the Roman era and its mythology. Now that I have visited the town for the second time in my life, I can certainly ascertain why mostly everyone converges on this one town. The view over the Bay of Naples and the Amalfi Coast are a wonder to see in person. And despite the large amount of scooter traffic on Sorrento's roads, it is one of the most beautiful places in Southern Italy.

The town of Amalfi from the air -
it gives its name to the Coast it is sat upon.

The town of Sorrento from the water -
it is a popular town to reside in on a holiday
in Southern Italy.

With the Colosseum and Vesuvius playing a part in this timeless age of history, Rome and Sorrento are a definite holiday destination.

Northern Lakes

The Three Lakes being depicted within
distance of one another.

Everyone envisions visiting a small Italian town on the shores of a crystal clear, blue lake. If this is what you're after, the Italian Lakes are the perfect spot for a quick, short break from the stresses of the city and work life. With the Italian Lakes, you can take your pick between three of the country's favourites: Lake Garda, Lake Como and Lake Maggiore.

Lake Garda is the largest lake out of the three and stretches from the city of Verona (where Shakespeare's Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet had their ill-fated romance) in the south-east, Brescia in the south west and Trentino in the north. The history of the Lake as a military outpost and battlefield spot is a long one from the years 268 AD to 1943 when the Axis Powers used it as a nexus for military operations and communications for the Germans during the Second World War. The city that most stands is Limone Sul Garda on the North-Western shores of the lake. The ambience of the place allows you to relax and makes every advantage over the panoramic scenery and depth of the mountains and the lake itself. Limone also prides itself on its authentic Northern Italian cuisine, which is a definite must to try.

Panoramic View of Lake Como.

Panoramic View of Lake Garda and
Limone sul Garda.

Panoramic View of Lake
Maggiore and Isole
Superiore.

Lake Como is very different by comparison. As the third-largest lake in the area, after Garda and Maggiore, it is also the deepest and allows tourists from all over the world to experience life from a very dissimilar perspective. Como is also the most benefitted lake from the tourism industry with its plethora of holiday villas and spans, rugged landscapes and wildlife. Mostly being known an as ideal holiday resort for the aristocracy and wealthy since the Roman times, Lake Como brings a raw beauty that can never be seen in everyday life. This can be seen in the many works of literature, television shows and works of art that feature the lake and/or the cities on the lake shores. One of the town/cities thriving from this trade and setting galore is Menaggio on the Western shore. Menaggio was founded and conquered, like most of the Northern towns and cities, by the Romans in 196 BC. Since then, it has expanded and developed into the atypical North Italian town it is today.

Lake Garda Map.

Lake Maggiore Map.

Lake Maggiore, however, holds a contrasting sort of beauty when compared with the other two. In Italy, it is the second-largest lake, only second to Lake Garda, but it also happens to be the largest lake in Southern Switzerland. Bordering the Italian provinces of Lombardy and Piedmont as well as the Swiss district of Ticino, Lake Maggiore holds the sort of soulful resonance you get from coming home. It is not the stereotypical lake, instead making itself more appealing with its dotted islands.

I visited Lake Garda first during the summer of 2009 and stayed at Malcesine during the trip. This gave me, oddly enough, a time to reflect upon the direction my life was taking me whilst drinking in the magnificent views of the lake and mountains behind it. Since then, I have craved to use it as a muse and setting for my pieces of writing. As a hemiplegic writer, the inspirations were endless since at the time I really truly wanted to show Italy as a place where disadvantaged and disabled young adults and children could relax and enjoy their holidays.

On a second trip to the Northern Lakes years later in 2014, I was given the opportunity to explore the exquisite waters of Lake Maggiore when I stayed at the town of Stresa. I only remember the the town simply because of how close the Islands, Isola Bella and Superiore were to the town. This, like Lake Garda before it, gave me more of an insight into the lives of the Italian people and how life in towns differed drastically from the life of the people residing in cities. Unfortunately, I have been unable to visit Lake Como but from what I have heard through the mouths of friends, Lake Como should have a pride of place on everyone's bucket list.

By and large, the Northern Italian Lakes are the perfect places to explore, relax and enjoy the simplicities of life.