Sicily and The Egadi Islands

La vita bella. The perfect description for the stunning paradise that is Sicily. After spending a good amount of time in Northern Italy over the years, the southern coast has always caught my curiosity. Hidden beaches and turquoise blue water with a coastline that feels untouched by time.

Brian and I love adventure, who doesn’t? When we plan trips, we generally don’t design it around hotels or places to stay, but rather what we’re going to do. However, this trip was different. For years I had read and known about Tonnara Di Scopello located on the western tip of Italy. An old fishing port turned into a museum and bed and breakfast.

This hotel is popular amongst locals as many go to enjoy the sun and sea during the day. The perks of staying at Tonnara include a private beach for the guests to avoid the crowd. As the sun sets, the crowds leave, and the entire Tonnara is yours.

Tonnara was everything I could have hoped for and more. It’s difficult to find the words that describe just how beautiful this place really is. We woke up each day to the sounds of the sea just outside our balcony. The light from the sunrise would gently let us know it’s time for espresso and a morning swim. During this time at Tonnara, the world feels quiet and peaceful. The water is warm with sparkles dancing from the sun. Even after just one day it felt as if we were living our very own fairytale.

During the day at Tonnara there’s plenty to do. Boating, diving, hiking, the area is filled with something for everyone. We met some new friends who invited us on their boat to go diving. The water in Sicily is incredibly clear. If you visit, make sure to bring or rent fins, a face mask, and snorkel gear. If you have time on your trip, check out San Vito Lo Capo for the best cannoli you’ll ever eat in your entire life located at Pasticceria Capriccio. A big claim, I know, but you’ll thank me later.

We spent most evenings enjoying one final swim without the crowds, then visiting a few local restaurants for dinner. Tenute Plaia has an incredible view of the coastline while you dine. It’s also a family run business with a different menu each night depending on what is fresh. We also loved our experience at La Cialoma as they took the time to pick out the entire meal for us. Make sure to have the local special of busiata pasta and finish with a digestivo.

The Egadi Islands

After three nights in Tonnara, we headed to Trapani Port to take us over to the wild, rustic island that is Favignana. A quick five minute drive from the Favignana Port, we had arrived to the stunning Villa Partenope. The staff was incredibly helpful and took care of every detail. They arranged for our vespa to be there on arrival, stocked the fridge with small snacks and breakfast, and organized our boat rental (a must when coming to Favignana).

The island has plenty of beaches to explore depending on the winds each day. Our guide showed us what our best options might be for swimming and diving. Our favorite beaches were Cala Rossa and Bue Marino. After swimming, we would grab a local panini with Favignana’s special tonno rosso and a drink at Lemon Bar with a splash of vodka :). The winds were strong during the day on the western side of the island, but towards sunset they calmed down enough to take a drive to swim a bit at Calazza. Topping off the evening with an aperitivo at A Leva.

The second day was spent boating to Levanzo. Another island in the Egadi chain with more rustic landscapes and jaw dropping scenery. We found our own private swimming cove, lunched on Robertino’s panini’s we packed, and spent the day snorkeling.