Ustica – A splendid little gem north of Palermo
Hi, kids today I’m taking you to Ustica, a lovely island north of Palermo which can easily be reached by ferry in just over 45-minutes. The island is absolutely charming and although you could get around by car or by a bus that pops up every hour or so I’d strongly recommend renting a quad, a bike or a scooter…especially the scooter!
The island’s history goes back a few millennia, way before the Romans, the Carthaginians thought it would be a good idea to gather their political dissidents and leave them here to starve and to rot, and for many centuries the island was actually used as a penal colony for the Romans, Bourbons, and pirates. Luckily today it is brimming with beauty and vibrant and non-violent locals.
What probably struck me the most when I visited with my wife in 2016 was the radical change of scenery, like a film set, all in just 8 and a half km2. You start off from the vibrant small town of Ustica, scurrying off to the medieval watchtowers all around the island, and the traditional white Mediterranean homes, to the beautiful rustic stone houses spread here and there to the volcanic beaches to the black volcanic beaches to lush mountain tops, to an 18th-century fortress, to the boat tour around the island exploring its many beautiful caves which reward the Inquisitive with spectacular light shows and deep blue hues, bursting into brilliant highlights and mind-blowing marine life.
And I’m not even mentioning it’s a diver’s paradise because I didn’t have any time to see it for myself… I’m more of a land animal… Or that any eatery and fish dish here is out of this world… Or that they make homemade pomegranate jam which will want to make you cry at breakfast for how scrumptious it is. But I will mention the awesome Usticese salad I had at “Kiki’s bar”, a lovely cafè in the lower part of town, a finger-licking’ mix of fresh swordfish filets with cherry tomatoes, capers, pine nuts, chili peppers, raisins, and oregano toasted breadcrumbs all washed down with some nice local white wine.
So whenever you find yourself in Palermo, treat yourself to this splendid little gem.
Catch you next time, God bless.
AV in Sicily, a new travel series around Sicily and some special episodes around the world, memoirs, and reflections by Alex Vecchietti. Alex is a Musician and English Teacher in Palermo, Sicily and he will take show you Sicily through a fresh and stylish approach.
