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theViatrix | Stephanie Dosch

Embarrassing.


Last night in French class (!), we were reviewing how to talk about vacations. The teacher asked us whether we prefer mountains, beach, or cultural travel—and I jumped in immediately: cultural travel, obviously!

Before I knew it, he was asking me to talk about my favorite destinations for cultural travel, and Reader, I blanked.

I can’t even blame it on “French Brain,” which is when my language skills fail me and my brain and my mouth completely disconnect.

In my broken French, I said something to the effect of, “I do this for a living, I’ve been to a lot of places.”

Which is true. I just couldn’t think of a single one.

Somehow, I managed to get out that I went to Italy with my family last fall (as if it’s the only trip I’ve ever taken!), and that we visited Sicily.

Then he asked me what we did there, and that’s when French Brain kicked in. All I got out was, “We saw ruins and ate beaucoup.”

Of course, for the rest of class, every destination I’ve ever loved came flooding back, and I was kicking myself for my dumb answer. Japan, Mexico, Spain ... I sat there half-distracted, thinking about all the amazing places I could have mentioned.

And then there was all the super-cool stuff we did in Sicily—but “olive mill” is far above my current beginner French level.

Because of its location in the middle of the Mediterranean, pretty much every culture passed through Sicily at some point, so you have ancient Greek ruins, incredible Arab-Norman mosaics, Grand Tour resort towns … the layers just keep going.

It’s one of those places that offers a little bit of everything, which is why it deserves its own trip entirely.

And of course, it has GREAT food, which seems to be a common thread among my favorite destinations.

So, in the spirit of redemption, here are some of the actual highlights of our Sicily trip:

Visiting local artisans in the Kalsa district by ape calessino (Sicilian tuk-tuk), tasting delicious street food at Il Capo market, and seeing the glittering mosaics in UNESCO-listed Arab-Norman palaces and churches in and around Palermo

Learning about the ancient Elymians, Greeks, and Romans from our wonderful and super-knowledgeable private guides at ruins around the island.

Memorable activities like a pastry tasting in a tiny hilltop town, seeing a working olive mill during harvest season, a 4WD tour of Mt. Etna with a naturalist, and a private lunch in a “secret” garden we had all to ourselves.

Touring fascinating Syracuse and the gorgeous Baroque towns Ragusa and Noto.

Staying at special hotels including a palazzo belonging to a baroness in Palermo, a luxurious hotel with views of the Temple of Concordia near Agrigento, and the spectacular Seven Rooms Viladorata, a converted palazzo in Noto.

So yeah. “We saw ruins and ate a lot” doesn’t quite cover it.

And for the record, this is exactly the kind of trip I put together for clients anywhere in the world: immersive, deeply cultural, and full of experiences that would be nearly impossible to arrange on your own.

If that’s the kind of travel you’re craving, book a Destination Discovery Call and let’s talk. Even if you’re just in the early “I want to go somewhere” stage, that’s exactly where we start.

Ciao for now!

P.S. Next week I’ll share the full list of cultural destinations I was mentally running through for the rest of class. If you’ve been looking for inspiration on where to go next, don’t miss it.

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theViatrix | Stephanie Dosch

Insider planning tips, hidden gems, and luxury intel for transformative travel experiences. Drawing from 18+ years of award-winning expertise, I help you explore more meaningfully. Subscribe to theVialist for curated cultural guides and destination insights.

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