I stayed at Casa Maria e Litterio for the entire month of September. "One of the most memorable experiences of my life"
So, where do I start and what can I say to describe this amazing piece of heaven. The views are absolutely amazing from any point of view of this home. Relaxing on either the front or rear balcony would make you feel as if you hadn't a worry or a trouble in the world, there were days I had to force myself to go out. Watching the sheep grazing on the nearby mountain side and the sound of cow bells and baaa was very relaxing, I may never get that sound out of my head. The highlight of my day was to play with little Balto and Selina, Maria's wonderful pets. The home is extremely clean and comfortable and the plants and gardens are meticulously maintained by Litterio. The location was perfect as a home base to make my day trips to many other towns that I wanted to visit. It is a very short drive into Castelbouno, just park at the Castello di Castelbouno and walk into Piazza Margherita where you will find an abundance of restaurants and shops. My go to restaurant was Sesto Senso, with its three levels of outdoor garden, you wont be disappointed by the food or the view. Cefalu is 30 minutes away and is another amazing place to eat and shop. Another beautiful place that shouldn't be missed is Taormina, I stayed overnight at the Villa Maybel in the center of the city for a 115 Euros for 2 rooms with balconies overlooking Piazza April.
"What can I say about Maria" the word that comes to mind is Angel. Maria treats you not as a guest but as her family. Her care and compassion is never ending. On my arrival she met me in town to assure I made it to the house with no problems. Waiting for me on the kitchen table was one of Maria's famous freshly baked Torta, cosi delizioso. The dinners she brought to my table were better than any restaurant, all made by hand and grown in her garden. There was one evening where I made myself a salad with grilled chicken for dinner, I was still feeling hungry and not sure what to do, and there was Maria with a plate of roasted peppers and bread, It was as if she knew I was starving. I had family members visit me during my month stay, they were treated amazingly by Maria and litterio and greeted with a welcome home cooked dinner upon their arrival. Litterio brought me to the local winery for the first time to buy local Sicilian wine, just a short distance down the road, I was a regular from there on in. From our morning talks and our evening goodnights, to our welcome, and to our farewell dinner, I will always remember " My friend Maria"
The whole experience made me reflect on my Sicilian heritage and think of my ancestors constantly. I Just returned home to the US and I'm already planning next years stay at Casa Maria e Litterio. Ciao