Welcome back to Six Weeks of Summer: Postcards from Italy where we take you on a journey to our favorite and most captivating destinations in our home country of Italy. This is our tribute… our love letter. We hope that you feel inspired and that this series instills that magnificent sense of wanderlust that always leads to the best adventures.
As an added bonus, throughout the series, every purchase at Shop Aurifil containing one or more Color Builder collections will be entered for a chance to win a prize package valued over $550! Package includes goodies from Aurifil, Moda Fabrics, Oliso, OLFA, and Soak.
“Going to Sicily is better than going to the moon.”
– Gabriel García Márquez
Sicily, Italy’s largest island, is hot in the Summer, but it’s still a perfect destination, surrounded by the Ionian, Tyrrhenian, and Mediterranean Seas. Its coastline is rough and rugged, showcasing archaeological sites and volcanoes… teeming with history.
We kick things off with a visit to one of the best beaches in the east. Isola Bella is an islet that is connected to the mainland by a small strip of pebbled beach. It was originally gifted to the people of Taormina by the King of Sicily in 1806, but it wasn’t until 2011 that the tiny island became Museo Naturalistico regionale di Isolabella and open to the public. While there are many ways to enjoy this seaside gem, we’re already exhausted from the heat and opt to rent a few lounge chairs to soak up the sun while dipping our toes in the cool waters of the Ionian Sea..
For lunch, we head over to Ristorante Pizzichella for a quick bite and a glass of prosecco. There is something entirely magical about sitting by the seaside, overlooking the rustic shore of Isola Bella while sipping a bit of bubbly.
Refreshed, we drive inland to the Monaci delle Terre Nere, a spectacular 19th century hideaway positioned between the Mediterranean Sea & Mount Etna. We’ve booked a private wine tasting with the estate’s Sommelier, complete with a walk through the vineyards. It’s a wonderful escape.
The next morning, we set off to explore Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano. We’re feeling adventurous, so we’ve booked the guided tour from the Etna Cable Car – a full day tour that will lead us to the summit and back via cable car, 4 x 4, and a 14km hike.. It’s an arduous journey, but the views from the top are well worth it – breathtakingly beautiful.
Though exhausted from the day’s events, we hop back in the car and head down the coast to Syracuse, our final destination. Though the city offers many spectacular destinations including the Greek Theatre, our primary destination is the historical city centre, situated on the island Ortygia. Our final day is consumed by a walking tour to visit the Temple of Apollo, the Cathedral, Arethusa’s Fountain, and finally, the Ear of Dionysius.
There is no place quite like Sicily!
FUN FACT
- Ice cream is typical for breakfast in Sicily: Sicilians eat brioche con gelato for breakfast, basically an ice cream sandwich
Our Sicily set features 3 shades of 50wt thread in 2105, 2115, & 1135. They coordinate perfectly with the 30s Yellow, Daffodil, & Lemon by Moda Fabrics shown above. For a bit of creative inspiration, make sure to grab the Italian Color Builders EPP Pattern (shown above) by Aurifil’s own Kate Brennan and the Limone block (shown below) by Kate Toney via the buttons below.
As a reminder, over the next few weeks, every purchase at Shop Aurifil containing one or more Color Builder collections will be entered for a chance to win a prize package valued over $550! Package includes goodies from Aurifil, Moda Fabrics, Oliso, OLFA, and Soak. Winner will be randomly selected and contacted via email after the close of the series.
