It is late autumn and we are ready for a new adventure! Today, we island girls set off towards Nicosia in the province of Enna, a town in inland Sicily that has remained in our hearts since our first visit in June. This time, we are accompanied by Francesco, known as Franco, a professional driver and passionate tour guide. Driving along the road to Nicosia, we notice how the landscape has completely changed: the golden yellow of the summer wheat has given way to the red tones of the tree leaves, a clear sign that autumn has arrived. After about an hour and a half by car from Catania, we arrive in Nicosia where Francesco is waiting for us to give us a weekend full of surprises and 5-senses experiences!

The dairy farm visit and the first food experience

Our tour begins with a visit to a dairy farm known for its zero-kilometre buffalo milk cheeses. We are welcomed by Ignazio, the owner, who explains the production process, from milking the buffaloes – about 400 animals – to collecting the milk and processing it into a high-quality, genuine final product. His explanation is so interesting that time flies without us noticing. Before heading to our next stop, we taste freshly made dairy products: mozzarella, braided cheese, and warm ricotta, served with homemade bread.

The craft brewery and a friendly return visit

We continue our food and wine journey with a visit to the craft brewery run by two brothers from Nicosia, whom we had already met in June. A quick stop is a must for a friendly greeting and a glass of cold craft beer, impossible to refuse!

The ruins of Nicosia Castle and the four hills

From here begins an unexpected tour, and as a surprise, Franco takes us to see the ruins of Nicosia Castle. Very little remains of it, and the path to the top is rarely traveled, but once there we are rewarded with a breathtaking view over the four surrounding hills: Uliveto Hill, San Salvatore Hill, Cappuccini Hill, and Santa Maria Maggiore Hill. It is autumn and, despite the windy weather, the temperature is pleasant, allowing us to surrender to the silence of this peaceful place filled with natural sounds. We sit on the grass while Francesco shares the history of the castle and many interesting anecdotes. It is truly a magical place, making it hard to leave, but we are expected for lunch, so we return to the car and continue.

Lunch in the heart of Nicosia and local flavors

We arrive in the center of Nicosia, where the restaurant owners, jokingly called by Franco “the Micheli”, both sharing the same name, are waiting for us. Their warm welcome includes a beautiful centerpiece made with prickly pear leaves and fruits, a typical product of the Enna area. Lunch begins with excellent local appetizers, followed by homemade macaroni, then a melt-in-the-mouth pork shank, and finally a dish of prickly pears, pomegranate seeds, pistachios, and honey. It is hard to get up from the table after such generosity, but this moment also comes to an end and we must get back to work to respect our schedule.

The Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art and cultural Nicosia

The afternoon is dedicated to cultural visits in Nicosia, to discover hidden gems we had not seen during our first visit. We arrive at the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art, with a special opening reserved just for us, where we are welcomed by Santino and Lella. Lella personally guides us through the museum, showing priceless masterpieces ranging from the 19th century to the present day: paintings, statues, various liturgical chalices, richly embroidered vestments with gold threads and fine fabrics, nativity scenes, and artworks that leave us speechless.

Walking through Nicosia at sunset

At the end of the visit, we take a walk through the streets of Nicosia, the “city of the 24 barons”, full of history, beautiful views, and noble palaces that still reflect the grandeur of the past. As it is late afternoon, taking photos at sunset is a must, when everything is painted in shades of pink and the atmosphere becomes even more magical. It has been a long day, but we have once again rediscovered a Nicosia full of things to see and do, and we feel very satisfied. We go to sleep to be fresh and rested for the forest walk awaiting us the next day.

The Sambughetti-Campanito Nature Reserve

Sunday morning. We meet Francesco and Michele, technical director of the Silvio Pastorale special agency, in the square to drive to the Sambughetti-Campanito Nature Reserve. Walking through the narrow streets, we notice the typical Sunday atmosphere of Sicilian villages: quiet streets, people heading to mass, and elderly locals chatting in the square and reading newspapers. After a short introduction video and some photos, we set off. Along the way, we admire the rich autumn vegetation and in the distance we see our Mount Etna smoking! Once there, we immerse ourselves in untouched nature, among beech, maple, pine, holly, cyclamens, saffron flowers, and aquatic vegetation emerging from two natural lakes, creating a magical landscape. It is a relaxing walk, full of photo opportunities, before setting off again for a new experience.

The 19th-century farmhouse and homemade bread

We are welcomed by Enzo and Alessandra, who have prepared a “tasty surprise” for us. We arrive at their farmhouse, an 19th-century building, once owned by Baron Gioacchino Salamone, a doctor with a noble heart. Today it has become the home of Enzo and Alessandra, who with passion and love have restored it to live a more authentic life and welcome guests from all over the world, offering them experiences of tradition and warmth. They take us back in time, to our childhood, showing us the traditional bread-making process: wooden trough (maidda), natural flour, water, yeast, and elbow grease as the main ingredients. The wood-fired oven burns strongly and everything is ready for baking. The room is filled with an incredible aroma, and we can only enjoy the table, tasting delicious bread and focaccia seasoned with olive oil and anchovies, accompanied by excellent local cheese and wine. After lunch, we visit the farmhouse, and every room—from the living room to the kitchen and bedrooms—makes us imagine what it would be like to stay in this paradise. The feeling? Being at home. But every place becomes home thanks to the people who welcome you, and in this case our hosts did so naturally, as if we were old friends. After chatting in the living room, we say goodbye with the promise to meet again. Autumn days are getting shorter, and it is time to return home, even though our desire to discover new places and meet new people never ends. A special thanks for these two “on the road” days goes to Francesco, who with his professionalism, knowledge, and friendliness introduced us to many wonderful people and local realities we hope to collaborate with soon.

We are ready for a new experience …. and you?