Oct 24

Oct 24 Photo Journal: Creative Retreat in Sicily

Photography, Travel, Creativity, Destination Guides

I recently visited Sicily in partnership with House of Notoire for a week-long women’s photography retreat. It was my third trip with the global community after our previous trips to Bali and Marrakesh.

This time, we headed to the Mediterranean island of Sicily, and September is the perfect time of year to explore—we had amazing sunny weather and encountered very few tourists. We stayed in a dreamy seaside town called Mondello on the northwest coast of Sicily near the capital, Palermo. I loved discovering the secluded rocky beaches, trekking through Palermo and taking a day trip to the beach town Cefalu. I’ll always have golden, sunny memories of Sicily.

We stayed in Mondello, a quaint fishing village on the northwest coast of Sicily that’s known for its stunning beaches, vibrant atmosphere, picturesque views, and historical charm. Luckily, a local friend was also in town at the same time, and she brought us to her favorite ‘secret’ beach that she grew up visiting with her grandmother, who has a home nearby. In my opinion, the best beaches take some effort to find, and this one was certainly isolated! We had hiked for a while along the remote, rocky coast, passing goats and prickly pear cactus along the way.

Mondello was a choice location for a girl's trip. A few mornings, I woke up without a foggy wine-induced dizzy spell, I climbed to the roof of our villa for a quiet yoga sesh to welcome a new creative day with a view of rocky mountains before the day became inevitably hot and sticky. Our evenings were spent chasing the last bit of light as the horizon turned fluorescent orange before fading to pitch black. Then it was time for a quick change to dinner attire before choosing from one of three delicious restaurants in the town where we ate our weight in pistachio pesto, pistachio gelato, pistachio liquor, pistachio cannolis... the list goes on! The food in Sicily is incredible and adding pistachio to everything is the only way I want to eat from now on.

A DAY TRIP TO MONREALE
We visited the town of Monreale and explored the old cathedral and Benedictine Monastery. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back to the 13th century. This was a fun afternoon for experimenting with portrait photography!

A SEASIDE AFTERNOON IN CEFALÚ
From Montereale, we ventured to the postcard-perfect coastal town of Cefalù. I was really excited to visit as this beach town came well recommended by locals and friends alike. We dined on local dishes and toasted with Aperol Spritz at a restaurant with a perfect view of the beach, before heading to the shore for a swim. This particular afternoon felt like we were in a mid-century technicolor film, very la dolce vita vibes … until a mass of ominous dark clouds rolled in over the bay and abruptly ended our photoshoot along the prominade. Then it was back to our Mondello villa for aperitivo and another plate of pistachio pesto pasta.

We also spent a few days exploring the Sicilian capital, Palermo. It was fun to explore with other photographers who understood the need for solo time and were open to creative collaboration.

Wandering terracotta-tinted streets with my camera in hand and indulging in everything tasty along the way. The hearty arancini (fried rice balls) were the most delicious I've ever had. The sweltering September weather made blood orange granita a perfect treat to cool off with. Foodie Tip: Top your granita with a little gin for a refreshing kick, just like my grandma taught me.