For the truly adventurous, there\u2019s also the spectacular island of Pantelleria, perhaps best known internationally for serving as the backdrop to Luca Guadagnino\u2019s decadent 2015 psychological drama A Bigger Splash, with Tilda Swinton strolling through the island\u2019s epic landscapes in a Dior couture gown designed by Raf Simons.<\/p>\n\n
A few decades ago, the island was barely known outside Italy. It gained international renown in part thanks to Giorgio Armani\u2019s spectacular, sprawling estate on the north side of the island. Other celebrities who have stayed here in the past include Madonna, Julia Roberts and Sting. <\/p>\n\n
2. Sicily and gastronomic delights: enjoy Italy\u2019s finest seafood<\/h2>\n\n
To eat well in Sicily during your stay in Sicily, follow the good smells of cooking, because the best addresses on the island are in the most discreet places, thanks in part to the rich culture of street food that can be tasted in the markets. You\u2019re probably familiar with the now-famous arancini, but perhaps not yet with traditional peasant dishes such as sfincione, a type of pizza topped with tomato sauce and breadcrumbs. <\/p>\n\n
The island\u2019s unique history has also given rise to a number of ingredients that you might be surprised to find on an Italian menu, whether it\u2019s couscous from North Africa, raisins from Persia or sesame seeds from the Levant. Pistachios, eggplants, oranges, olives, almonds and prickly pears also feature prominently in Sicily\u2019s colorful cuisine. <\/p>\n\n
But of course, the real highlight of Sicilian cuisine is the variety and freshness of the seafood. In Palermo, there are countless options for traditional Sicilian cuisine, with a notable absence of the typical \u201ctourist trap\u201d restaurants that often line the main thoroughfares of Italy\u2019s most popular cities. <\/p>\n\n
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- Osteria Nonna Dora, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Trattoria Trapani <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- and Osteria dei Vespri are reliable addresses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
For a more contemporary approach to cooking, visit :<\/p>\n\n
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- L\u2019Ottava Nota, in the cosmopolitan Kalsa district, for ceviche or amberjack tataki,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- or at A\u2019Cuncuma, which offers a tasting menu featuring Sicilian flavours of sea and land.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
If you\u2019re looking for something sweet, Sicilian pastries are of course legendary, from cannoli to cassatelle filled with ricotta. Pasticceria Cappello, a Palermo institution, is just a stone\u2019s throw from the Palazzo dei Normanni, a major tourist attraction. It serves all the classic Sicilian dolci, as well as its famous setteveli cake, made with seven layers of chocolate and hazelnuts. <\/p>\n\n
Michelin-starred restaurants in Sicily<\/h3>\n\n
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In Taormina, you\u2019ll find a number of gastronomic options, including two Michelin-starred restaurants at the forefront of contemporary Sicilian cuisine.<\/p>\n\n
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