Sciacca

 We found our best ice cream in Sciacca to be in Cafe Terreza on Piazza Scandaliato. We were spoilt for choice with the delicious selection of flavours including pistachio (an Italian favourite), nutella stracciatella, strawberries and cream, and tiramisu. Gorging on our choice of 3 flavours we sat at one of the tables with prime position to watch the fishing boats come into the port. Sciacca is a key port for seafood in Italy and fishing is the largest contributor to economy of the town. Keen to sample some of the local produce, we rushed down to meet the fishing boats, marvelling at all the spectacular colours of the houses built into the cliffs. We got to the boats in time to see the fisherman lifting the weird and wonderful produce onto land. The haggling for the fish began and joining in we emerged with a 20kg box of prawns! We quickly learnt that it tends to be restaurant chefs and the market traders who buy their seafood on mass at the port. The best place to buy fewer numbers are at the market stalls and many fishmongers in town, There is an amazing assortment to choose from and it’s a great deal cheaper than any seafood we have bought on the island.

Sciacca has a long history of being a spa town with thermal baths that have been healing medical conditions for centuries. People flock to the town to be healed by the famous mud rich in minerals and the sulphurous vapours in the water. Terme di Sciacca is one of the most well known spas in Sciacca. It is a beautiful rose coloured building with stunning grounds and a vast array of treatments. For those who want to experience the famous waters of Sciacca for free the Molinelli Pool is an open air natural pool with sulphurous water that can be used by public in the summer months.

This big town has an eclectic range of shops, most are situated in its centre and it's a creative hub with many fascinating antiques and artist studios. It is famous for its ceramics and there are shops on every street, boasting a variety of ceramic plates and crockery. All of these are decorated in the colourful, bold Sicilian style. The beautiful Corso Vittorio Emmanuelle is the main street for shopping with a tempting range of designer and high street stores and many excellent shoe boutiques. The town centre is so charming and accessible that it’s easy to spend hours walking through the quaint streets, gorgeous palazzos and courtyards, popping into stores that take your fancy and then taking a break for a relaxing coffee or glass of wine. Another place for shopping in town are the markets which take place on a Saturday in a place called San Michelle. There are plenty of delicious local products to buy, olives, cheeses and fish to name a few, along with any household item you need. There is a big clothes and shoes market where you can haggle for great bargains.

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We were pleased to see that Sciacca has a great range of restaurants and we fell upon these by simply strolling around the centre soaking up the atmosphere. Sciacca has everything from the trattorias in the old part of town that serve traditional pizza, pasta and set menus to modern mediterranean cuisine and of course fantastic seafood restaurants. Many of the more expensive seafood restaurants are based at the port with tourist prices but we have experienced better dishes in town that are great value for money. Delightful cafes are placed on every street corner, perfect for people watching in the summer and the hotels are plentiful, ranging from simple no frills 2 star apartments to boutique 4 star hotels. There is also a campsite on the beach with a few apartments that are also available for rent. There is also the luxurious new Vedura Golf Resort that has magnificent rooms set in beautiful olive and almond groves, only 15 minutes from Sciacca. Being coastal the town has many impressive beaches and some of the whitest in Sicily, particularly San Marco and Contrada Sobareto, which are untouched and not too over crowded in the summer months.

Sciacca is a very colourful town which has many festivals throughout the year, that they celebrate with plenty of food, music, parades and dancing. Their ultimate one is the Carnival of Sciacca also known as Mardi Gras. This carnival is one of the oldest in Italy and remains as one of the most popular. It takes place in the middle of February and beginning of May and no expense is spared for this extravagant street party. There is a marvellous parade of giant colourful characters on floats which represent well-known politicians and celebrities in Italy. These papier mache characters are bigger than the buildings as they take part in the procession and crowds block the streets to watch. There is a wonderful sense of excitement, fun and celebration and these parades occur daily over the six day festival.

Sciacca is a firm favourite of the places we have experienced so far in Sicily and it has plenty to offer with being too touristy. Please see below for some of our favourite Sciacca sights to see.