North to Florence After weeks in Sicily with three final nights in Palermo (I love this city), a short, late morning flight to Rome and a three hour drive up the Italian peninsula (passing names I haven’t seen for ages) I was to savour the unbeatable northern Italian charm of Florence for five nights.

Spending a while in Sicily with weeks in Rome and Florence, through December and January was...a very nice dose of wonderful Italy. 

This is my first blog for 2023. Rome and Florence will feature in later blogs (impossible to leave them out!). And Sicily... there is lots to share. This blog gives a quick look at weeks on this fabulous island.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Sicily.

I wish you all a wonderful festive season, the very best for 2023 from us all at The Sicilian House. 

The photo is of the Christmas Eve sunset from the terrace of the house, Palazzo Notar Nicchi, Polizzi Generosa.

Festive sacred street life During sacred and cultural festivals and the evening passeggiata the streets of Polizzi teem with people: to pay their undying respects to the centuries old patron saint, martyred saints or otherworldly revered holy figures.

To stroll the evening passeggiata to see who is out and about, to stop kiss cheeks and chat, watch children play freely and teenagers roam close by, to have an aperitivo at one of the bars along the main Corso or just to lean on the railing of the belvedere to view the sunset.