Going to Sicily? Here’s the perfect day in Palermo

Recently I wrote about my trip down to Sicily, to check in on Federico Cerelli’s brand new Nero d’Avola in Salaparuta.

The next day I had a late flight home, so I had a bit of time to explore Palermo.

And Federico insisted that I use the time to get lost in the chaos and colour of the city, which I happily did.

So if you’re going any time soon, here are a few tips that I got from some well-informed locals:

Things to do:

• Teatro Massimo - Europe’s second biggest opera house, and where the Godfather’s iconic final scene was filmed
• Mercato del Capo - where you’ll enjoy Palermo’s best street food (and get shouted at repeatedly)
• Palermo Cathedral and the Royal Palace - as described
• The Capuchin Catacombs - home to 8,000 mummies and skeletons. It was dead interesting!

Great places to eat:

• Friggitoria Gastronomia da Arianna - for typical street food
• Citysea or Maison Bocum - for a seriously fancy dinner
• Corona Trattoria - for a more traditional dinner
• Osteria Mangia e Bevi or Ajamola - for a casual lunch.

And to drink! The best wine bars:

• Enoteca Butticè, Enoteca Picone, and Vinoveritas, Enoteca e Bistrò
• Good producers to know when you're handed the wine list: Occhipinti, Pietradolce, Donnafugata, Tenuta Delle Terre
• And interesting Sicilian grapes: look out for wines made from the Frappato grape… deliciously light and fragrant reds, and so refreshing when served chilled. I'm on the hunt. And for whites, I just love a good Grillo.

Finally for rocket-fuelled macchiatos... VERA coffice break and Morettino Coffee Lab are great.

And if you’re not going any time soon, fear not!

You can bring a little bit of Sicily to your home, with Federico’s Nero D’Avola Sicilia 2020.

P.s. Vini Vaccaro, the winery where Federico makes his Nero d’Avola and Grillo for us, is a beautiful spot and they welcome visitors! If you’d like to organise a visit, just drop us an email and we'll be delighted to help.