Picture a gorgeous hilltop city tucked between the smaller foothills, standing out against the Sicilian landscape. A Goldilocks destination of sorts: close to busier, popular tourist spots on the island like Siracusa and Catania — and yet nice and, dare I say it, even quiet… by Sicilian standards. For those reasons (and more), I visited…
Messina sits almost at the northeastern tip of Sicily, just across the strait from Reggio Calabria, the southernmost city in mainland Italy. Despite its prime location, Messina is often overlooked by travelers compared to flight hub cities like Palermo and Catania, it is still a rather popular stop for cruise ships due to its port,…
At the top of a hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, Taormina is a small but picturesque town on Sicily’s eastern coast. Home to a spectacular ancient Greek theater, gorgeous coastal views, lovely beaches, and the imposing sight of Mount Etna in the background, Taormina is certainly a town worth exploring. I visited Taormina twice on…
Perched atop a hilltop with a spectacular ocean view, you can’t miss the small but gorgeous town of Taormina, halfway between Catania and Messina. I had the fortune of visiting Taormina twice on my trips to Sicily while living in Italy, and I love it so much that it’s easily in my top three places…
Off the coast of Morocco, strewn in the Atlantic Ocean amidst its wild winds, you’ll find the Portuguese island of Madeira. Here, you’ll find a diverse landscape — laurel forests, sheer cliff faces, towering waterfalls, and stunning beaches — that makes the volcanic island of Madeira the perfect destination to visit any time of the…
Rolling hills with perfect rows of manicured vineyards, hilltop towns with medieval architecture, and some of the best food you’ll find in all of Italy: these are just three of the reasons to take a Tuscany road trip. While you can go on day trips to Tuscany from Florence, the best way to explore the…
Home to dreamy white-sand beaches, turquoise waters that rival the Caribbean Sea, adorable seaside villages, and exclusive clubs and restaurants, Sardinia is a dream summer destination that everyone should visit once in their lives. What better way to explore this wonderful island than on a Sardinia road trip? Once you rent a car and start…
While traveling light and relying on a combination of public transit and walking can be incredible, nothing can truly compare to the joy of getting out on the open road. There’s something that’s just so freeing about having your own set of wheels, and renting a car in Sicily is the best way to explore…
Exploring Portugal on a road trip is one of the best ways to discover the country and reach remote places you wouldn’t otherwise visit. Despite its small size, Portugal overdelivers everywhere: stunning coastal and mountainous landscapes, cities out of a storybook, and picturesque villages tucked away and seemingly untouched by time. Since I lived in…
