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Sicilian Gems April NewsletterWe hope that this newsletter will grow and become an interesting and useful source of information for those organising or thinking of planning a trip to sunny Sicily. Latest News. Last month saw the website go on line and our first bookings being made. We have added several the Hotels to our rental pages, small local hotels in Cefalu and San Vito Lo Capo both are directly placed on the seafront which makes a great base for exploring the coastal regions. In addition to these we are now looking at some more sea property in Lascari, two more villas on the Gattuccio estate which should be ready as the summer progresses. We have also added the lovely villa Sauci to our portfolio and are looking at several more hotels in the beautiful area of San Vito lo Capo on the North West coast. These will make an ideal base to explore the Trapani/Marsala regions.  We have also launched “Sicily Tailor Made” Sicilian Gem’s new service to provide our clients with the holiday which is just right for them. Just send the details of the type of accommodation, location and dates of when you are thinking of coming to Sicily, and we will do the rest, offering ideas for you to consider as a one stop shop service.This has already become of interest to many and we are looking at booking many more tailor made holidays for 2008/2009. Spring has arrived and the Summer is coming !!! The seafront at Cefalu is beginning its annual summer transformation; the bars on the sea front are expanding their outdoor terraces onto the street ready for the tourist migration. Beach bars and restaurants have also started to be re erected, in anticipation for the warm summer nights providing the ideal spot for that night out. The northern Europeans have also started to arrive in the last few weeks, just a trickle at the moment but nether the less a trickle that will become a steady torrent by the summer. The fair on the sea front that was here for Easter week has been a great success and the fair ground rides provided many evenings of fun and excitement. The Sicilians really know how to eat and they are never far from the many stalls of hot and cold local specialities that spilled out onto the lungo mare this Easter. Shortly we are going to check out the property potential of the Aeolian Islands and we will let you know how we get on. The beautiful temples of Agrigento saw Rob having his first glimpse last month of these ancient monuments and the up and coming beach area of San Leone with its sandy beach is a must for all beach combers out there. Property Spotlight. Casa Gardini dei Limoni. Casa Dei Limoni has been in Renata Gattuccio’s family for several generations. As a working estate it is a fantastic place to spend your holiday. The lemon and orange orchards are widespread around the property and the harvest of lemons due to start shortly is expected to be over 10,000 kilos. The backdrop of this wonderful orchard only serves as a fantastic palate for all the wild growing spring flowers and Renata although irritated by the marguerites height and strength of growth, at the same time cannot commit to chopping them down as they are resplendent in their huge swathes of colour. In addition to these, the olive groves stretch far behind the property and several examples are thought to be in the region of 1000 years old, planted by the Arabs who inhabited Sicily’s regions centuries ago. Renata and her family produce their own olive oil and other purely natural products from the estate, and they are all the best that nature can produce. Her soaps are fantastic and she is developing her range all the time.    We are so pleased to offer Renata’s property and are looking forward to including Villa Rose and Villa Bianco when they are ready later in the year. Below are a few photos of properties that have gone on the website last week.    Excursion Spot Light. Sitting high on a cliff overlooking the North west coast is the pretty medieval town of Erice, known by many as ancient Eryx, today the town is a strong draw for tourists and travelers wishing to discover the gems of North west Sicily. One of the great points about this high town is the spectacular views over the coastline and on clear days has views reaching all the way to the coast of Africa.  A medieval town that oozes charm, it was built with local quarried stone giving the town a warm ethereal glow at sunset. The many maze of little streets with there unusual paved patterns have been worn slick and smooth by the passage of time.The castle that sits proudly over the town started its life as the temple of Venus whose total destruction was ordered by Roger 1 when he captured the town, today although a ruin the views are far reaching down toward San Vito Lo Capo and Monte Cofano (659m). There are many beautiful churches in the town and the main streets at night come alive to the Italian Passagiata (evening stroll), here on warm evenings you can discover the private Erice where the tight nit alley ways hugged by ancient walls open out onto beautiful piazzas and secret courtyards. There are many Artisans in the town that produce beautiful pottery and rugs, and painters from all over are seduced by the magnificent views that Erice offers up. An enchanting town with its picture post-card piazzas and cobbled streets, inviting up some of the best views you will find in Sicily today. Walk to Vallone Madonna degli Angeli (the Valley of the Angels).  Imagine a walk through time, climbing up into the valley which is the last resting place of the Nebrodi Fir, Abies nebrodiensis.This is the walk of the “Valley of the Angels”. The firs we talk of are scattered across the hillside protected by forestry fences, but still very accessible to the walker. There are only 31 examples at present in the valley so their protection and development are crucial and very important to the Forestry Commission. This walk can also be linked with several others so gives us the flexibility to tailor make the day to your requirements. The short walk into the valley takes approx 3 hours with a short break but it can be increased to a full day walking (8 hours) to include the climb through Piano Grande up to Monte San Salvatore and the Madonna dell’Alto. The Valley of the Angels has to be one of the most enjoyable walks within the Madonie Park, for the enthusiastic walker and lover of nature. Sicilian Recipe of the month.  Polpetti di carni In salsa (Meat balls in sauce with lemon and chilli).This recipe is typical of many in the mountain areas of Italy where they eat a lot of locally sourced meat products. Serves 6/8 Ingredients: For the meat balls: 500g beef mince (not lean) 500g pork mince 1 medium heat chilli Or 1 tsp of chilli paste Grated zest of 1 unwaxed lemon 1 tbls plain flour 1 egg yolk Salt Pepper For the Sauce: Tin of chopped tomatoes 1 sml red onion 3 cloves of garlic 1 tbls Tomato paste 1tsp sugar 1 bay leaf Salt Pepper Oregano 1 glass of robust red wine Preparation: First put the ingredients together for the tomato sauce, fry the finely chopped onions and garlic until softened but not browned and add the tin of tomatoes and paste along with the remaining ingredients. Add Salt and pepper to taste and leave on a low light for at least 45 minutes until the sauce has reduced by half, set aside. For the Meat balls: In a large bowl tip the beef and pork mince along with the other ingredients apart from half the flour. Mix this very well to incorporate all the flavours together and bring into a ball shape. (If you find the mixture to soft then add a little flour to stiffen) Wrap in cling film and Leave overnight or for at least 2 hours in the fridge. Finally to assemble the balls: With floured hands form little ball shapes and place on a tray ready for frying. Seal the meat balls in a hot frying pan with a little sunflower oil for a few minutes and set aside ready to place into the tomato sauce. Finally add the balls to the sauce and simmer on low for 10/15 minutes until cooked and hot. Serve with perhaps a bowl of plain pasta, so you can soak up the lovely tomato sauce. Wine suggestion: Good with a glass of Shiraz or perhaps a good Sicilian Nero D’avola and you have a great supper for all the family. "Buon Apetito"  Famous Quotations.“ On the ground, cheered by the sour orange that you have picked: there lies the happiness of the soul… it is as though the sky had thrown down plentiful fine gold and the earth had used it to form shining spheres. ” Nasr al-Kàtib, 12th-century Sicilian / Arab Poet. Finally. This newsletter is aimed at providing useful information on a monthly basis to allow existing and potential clients to plan and make the best of their holiday. If you have any specific interests or areas of Sicily you would like to read about in future editions, please contact us through the site and let us know. We will try to include your requests in the next issue and of course it helps us in the future with our web site pages, so you get the Sicily info you want to know about.  |
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