This summer I decided to study abroad in Sicily and since I made that decision I have not once regretted it. What was once an idea of something fun to do while keeping me on track academically has turned into an unforgettable and immensely rewarding experience. I arrived in Sicily at the end of May and immediately hit the ground running with meeting everyone in my study abroad group and leaving for excursions. First we stayed in Taormina, taking in the sights of the beautiful city and Mt. Etna in the distance, which we then hiked up and learned about from a hiking guide. Within the area we travelled to the ancient Greek Theatre, took a boat tour of the coastline, visited several cathedrals and learned the history of the city, from its Greek origins to the modern day.

After exploring Taormina for two days we then travelled to Siracusa, where we were taken to Neapolis Archeological Park. We learned of the history there, of how the massive cave in the city was used as a quarry for buildings and other structures. Around the park were many contemporary statues that were designed to look like ancient Greek or Roman statues which was very fascinating. After Neapolis, we travelled to the downtown area of Siracusa, where we were given a walking tour of the traditional street markets and the city in general, visiting the ancient temple of Apollo.

The next city we visited was Noto, where we explored the city and marveled at the beautiful architecture. We witnessed a wedding at the main cathedral which was interesting. I had some amazing granita and cannoli here. The next city was Ragusa, where we were also given a walking tour of the city and its churches. The fascinating part was when we all saw the parade procession for the Festa di San Giorgio a Ragusa, a holiday celebrated every year in Ragusa. We watched the parade go by with a marching band accompaniment as we walked up the main cathedral, where all the giant bells were ringing and fireworks were shot off. It was mesmerizing for me.

On our way to the next town of Aidone, we saw a shepherd leading his flock of sheep up the mountains around the area. There, we were given a tour of Sicily’s most ancient settlement known yet, Morgantina, settled over 3,500 years ago. We learned about the lives of the ancient people who lived here as we walked through the ruins, it was very fascinating. After the tour we were taken to a museum where we saw ancient artifacts and statues of idols, gods and people of their day. Next, we went to Villa Romana del Casale in the town of Piazza Armeria. It was a very beautiful site, having incredibly ornate hallway floor mosaics in almost every room, depicting various myths, legends, people and events. After this we then travelled to Agrigento, where we walked through the Valley of the Temples. We saw several ancient Greek temples in differing conditions. We saw the best preserved Doric temple in Sicily, as well as the world, called the Temple of Concordia. In front of the temple was a very old olive tree and a statue of fallen Icarus. One of the reasons why it is so well preserved is that when the Byzantines arrived in Sicily, the temple was not destroyed and instead it was converted into a church dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul, being used all the way up until the end of the 18th century as so. We saw the other temples dedicated to Hera, Heracles, Castor and Pollux, as well as the remains of the massive temple of Zeus.

After this, we travelled to a beach near the town of Scavuzzo, where we saw the Scala dei Turchi or “Stair of the Turks” which is a massive rocky cliff made of marl, named for Turkish pirates that would frequent the area in the middle ages. The next place travelled was the island of Favignana, where we toured the city and the old Florio family Tuna Fishery. We learned of the ancient practice of tuna fishing in Sicily, as well as la mattanza and the song the fishermen would sing during the spearing of the tuna. It was an amazing time on the island, my friends and I loved it very much.

The next place we travelled was Erice, the town in the clouds. We toured the city and our guide told us the story of Maria Grammatico, a woman who grew up in a nunnery and went on to start her own pasticceria with nothing but memorized recipes and her perseverance, very fascinating. After this, we went to Segesta and visited another ancient Greek temple after eating at an agriturismo nearby. The next city was Monreale, where we could see Palermo in the distance as the city lies in the mountains surrounding the city, it had a stunning cathedral with incredibly ornate designs inside of gold, lapis and other precious gems and metals. We then went down to Palermo, where we visited the famous street markets and the cathedral. We were also able to see where the Sicilian Parliament meets which was very nice.

The final city we visited before our last stop was Cefalu, where we toured the city and its cathedral, where another wedding was happening. It was fascinating to climb up into the ancient bell towers and see the sight from the high towers. Then we all went to lunch at a place in town so we could all reflect on this experience and what we thought of everything, it was very nice. We were then free to go to the beach, where we all went and swam for hours until it was time to leave for Taormina. When we reached the city all of us students decided to have a final dinner together at a local pizza place. We met there and enjoyed our final meal together in Sicily.

Overall, my time in Sicily has been one of the most memorable experiences in my life so far. Part of the reason why I decided to come here was because my family comes from Sicily and I wanted to be where they lived for centuries. It was ultimately a very rewarding experience, I felt very at home in Sicily and I met some amazing people here within my study abroad group as well. The people here are great, the food is amazing and the experiences I’ve had here I know will stick with me for the rest of my life.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Sicily: Crossroads in the Mediterranean