10/3/24: San Vito Lo Capo: Our Last Hurrah in Sicily!

Our hosts in Marsala provided a very filling breakfast that kept Steven and me going for many hours as we headed west to San Vito Lo Capo and then on to the Palermo airport.

Agricultural area by the town of Purgatorio and ...

... the stark landscape of northwestern Sicily near San Vito Lo Capo. Steven and I commented that we'd traveled so far to take in these majestic views while we, unfortunately, take for granted the equally spectacular mountain views back home of the Flatirons just up the road in Boulder. 

Photo from Colorado.com:

The small seaside town of San Vito Lo Capo is known for its beach, which is located in a sheltered bay overlooked by Mount Monaco. I've read that most Sicilians would say their island's best beach is this long curve of fine, white sand on the 3km-long beach. Nicknamed the Caribbean of Europe, a local said the sparkling blue-green water was "so clear you could see a mermaid’s pedicure!"

Photo from A Comprehensive Guide to Vising San Vito Lo Capo:

San Vito Lo Capo:

In a beautiful square in the heart of town was the 15th-century Santuario di San Vito, a fortress-like structure with Arab-Norman architecture. The Sanctuary is dedicated to the martyr Saint Vitus after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The only church in the town, it was built around the original chapel dedicated to the saint with the aim of protecting it from pirate raids.

Wouldn't you want to stay here after seeing the sign?!

On the outskirts of town was a small Moorish-style 13th-century chapel dedicated to Santa Crescenza, San Vito’s nanny.

After spending two absolutely delightful weeks touring almost the length and breadth of Sicily, it was tough saying goodbye to the island that had captured our hearts. I shall long remember the narrow, winding lanes of the exciting hill towns (Steven not so much as he had to navigate them!), the magnificent golden-hued cathedrals from the Norman era, the sublime countryside views, the abundant and exquisite Greek and Roman archaeological sites, the many beaches that would have been perfect for sunbathing if we had more time, the profusion of towns and villages that lured us like a siren, the breathtaking natural sights like Etna, Scala di Turchi, and Marsala's salt pans to name a few, and, of course, the many delicious meals we devoured after a 'hard day' touring! 

A short flight later, but via Rome, Malta was calling our name for the next stop on our fall adventure. It was great that we were welcomed by fireworks - no, not really!

The Basilica of the Nativity of Mary was a Catholic parish church located in Senglea, the district where we stayed for several days in Valletta, Malta’s capital. 

After attempting to read the sign on the bench, we didn't think we'd be learning much of the Maltese language on our week's stopover! Here’s some useless trivia for you - it's the only Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet. According to Wikipedia, the language comes from a dialect of Arabic that was introduced to Malta in 869 or 870. Fortunately for us, English was Malta’s other official language. Italian was also an official language in Malta until 1934.

We could hardly wait to explore the city's Grand Harbor the following morning as it looked exquisite at night.

On the waterfront was the Senglea War Memorial.

Next post: Sicily Impressions.

Posted on February 5th, 2025, from sunny Miami, where we've come for a quick getaway before taking a short cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. Please take care of yourself and your loved ones.