When she’s not busy caring for everyone else, my grandmother loves to travel.
She’s the one who really instilled a sense of wanderlust in our whole family. She’s often embarking on a solo trip, or at least researching her next excursion across Europe.
For the longest time, her biggest dream was to visit Italy, and she spent years planning and saving up for a trip.
When my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer, her travel plans were put on hold and she devoted herself entirely to his care. The last few years were extremely taxing on her physically and emotionally, leaving my grandmother burned out and in a state of grief after my grandfather died in the spring of last year.
For her 75th birthday, my husband and I decided to surprise her with a trip to Italy to fulfill her lifelong dream. We ended up going to Sicily and left with unforgettable memories.
We chose Sicily for a few reasons, including accessibility
With so many beautiful cities in Italy, it was difficult to choose the best place to go.
My grandmother had previously mentioned towns like Portofino and Cinque Terre, so we knew we had to stay coastal. Plus, since her birthday is in May, we wanted to go as far south as we could to enjoy some warm weather and the sea breeze.
We landed on Sicily and chose a quaint seafront hotel in Giardini Naxos, located just north of Catania. It turned out to be the perfect location and time of year to visit, especially with my grandmother’s age, comfort, and needs in mind.
With two international airports located in Catania and Palermo, as well as a convenient railway system and a comprehensive bus network running across the island, Sicily is very easy to get to — and just as easy to navigate.
There was a direct bus from the airport to the town, giving my grandmother a chance to soak in the views and snap photos along the way.
May was the perfect time to enjoy warm weather with fewer crowds
The weather was warm enough to take a dip in the pool at our hotel, but we didn’t have to deal with the sweltering Sicilian sun of the mid-summer months.
Since it wasn’t peak season, the town had a relaxing feel with fewer tourists and crowds than we might’ve seen at a different time. We never had to wait in long lines, either.
From Giardini Naxos, we took a 15-minute bus ride to the iconic hilltop town of Taormina. The bus, running every 20 minutes, dropped us off right at the foot of the old town, which my grandmother greatly appreciated.
Although we skipped a “White Lotus” selfie at the Four Seasons in Taormina, we did meander down the side streets, indulge in gelato, and take in the panoramic views of Mt. Etna at Villa Comunale, the public gardens of Taormina.
I felt like we had an authentic Italian experience, complete with excellent hospitality and great food
Sicily taught me that the stereotype about Italian hospitality exists for a reason. Everywhere we went, we were greeted with “Ciao ragazzi” and warm smiles, making us feel right at home.
We ate fresh seafood dishes like pasta alle vongole (pasta with clams). Although she didn’t partake, my grandmother admired my husband’s adventurous appetite when he tried ricci di mare (sea urchins), a Sicilian delicacy.
All over the island, we saw the striking ceramic heads of a man and woman (teste di moro), often in the form of vases. Deeply rooted in Sicilian folklore, the heads have various stories explaining their origins, mostly involving themes of love and betrayal.
To remember our trip, my grandmother and I bought small ceramic pine cones, another powerful symbol in Sicilian culture, representing prosperity and good luck.
Making my grandmother smile on her birthday was the greatest gift of all
Although it was her first birthday without my grandfather, it was a beautiful experience for all of us.
For my grandmother, it meant not feeling alone in her grief and fulfilling a lifelong dream to visit Italy. For me, it meant making memories with my grandmother and seeing her smile.
Losing someone we love reminded us that we have to make the most of every moment. I’ll always cherish this memory with my grandmother and am so grateful I was there for her first trip to Italy, though it certainly won’t be our last.
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