A love affair begins It was long before I followed a little blue 1971 Fiat 500 into Polizzi Generosa, in the mid of 2014, that Italy’s lovable little car, the Fiat 500, launched on the 4th of July 1957 as the Nuova and designed by Dante Giacosa, caught my eye.

A certain magic The Madonie Mountains, an hour or so south east from the capital Palermo and at the back door of the medieval seaside town of Cefalu, are dotted with towering stone villages, mighty mountains, a slow pace of everyday life, forests, winding roads, walking tracks, simple food, narrow streets and balconies in bloom, wildflowers and art, centuries old ruins, noble architecture and traditions not lost.