When I left Trattoria da Salvatore -hidden in the medieval streets of  the Madonie’s highest village, the noble Petralia Soprana, thirty minutes from Polizzi Generosa- after a late lunch in June, I turned right and walked slowly up Via Loreto toward a majolica tiled spire reaching into the Madonita sky.

This June, my late spring stay in Polizzi  at Palazzo Notar Nicchi was filled with the pleasure of returning, quiet travel and some really good local food; full of Sicilian deliciousness.

  No.1 Pesto Madonita; Ristorante U Bagghiu Polizzi Generosa

Named after the glorious Madonie Mountains Pesto Madonita was prepared from fresh sweet basil, sun dried tomatoes and fresh, fresh ricotta topped with rocket and grated cheese. Made by Santina from Ristorante U Bagghiu; it was full of aromatic flavours.

I had spent the night of June the 3rd this year in a first floor room of the small, charming Palermitan hotel BB22. The windows of my room, Il Cedro, faced towards the port of Palermo.

Tucked in behind Piazza San Domenico, in the historic quarter of La Vucciria BB22  was a perfect starting point to walk Palermo early on the morning of the 4th before heading into the Madonie Mountains; to return to Polizzi Generosa.

A fortnight or so ago I wrote of a slow evening enjoying dinner on a terrace in the majestic Madonie Mountains just outside of Polizzi Generosa.

And, I said then that I would tell a little more about the delicious simple food we ate that mid -June night when the evening light of the Madonie was gentle and soft.