Two women have stopped to talk beside a low cart stacked with wooden crates. One wears a loose brown jacket and wide dark trousers, the other a black jacket and tall boots. Their hands are up mid-conversation. A shopper with a gray backpack passes close by, and on the right there’s a produce stand with bright red fruit and a red plastic crate underneath. It’s a photograph of a … [Read more...] about Where Palermo Comes to Talk, Ballarò, Capo and Vucciria
Accor and Hard Rock Link Their Loyalty Programs and Distribution as SONIFI Puts Guest Tech for 5,000 Hotels on One Screen
Two hotel announcements from November 9 are about the parts of the business guests rarely see but that decide who wins. Accor and Hard Rock International signed a global partnership covering loyalty, distribution and hotel development. SONIFI, which runs in-room TV and Wi-Fi for hotels, rolled out a single management platform to about 5,000 of its customer properties. Accor … [Read more...] about Accor and Hard Rock Link Their Loyalty Programs and Distribution as SONIFI Puts Guest Tech for 5,000 Hotels on One Screen
AutoCamp Waives Pet Fees and Gives Guests a Fi GPS Tracker as Dog-Friendly Travel Bookings Jump 260 Percent
AutoCamp, the outdoor hotel chain known for its Airstream suites, has teamed up with Fi, the maker of GPS collars for dogs, on a package aimed at people who won't travel without their pets. The AutoCamp VIP, short for Very Important Pet, covers a two-night stay in an Airstream suite, cabin or adventure tent, waives the pet fee and hands the guest a Fi Mini tracker with three … [Read more...] about AutoCamp Waives Pet Fees and Gives Guests a Fi GPS Tracker as Dog-Friendly Travel Bookings Jump 260 Percent
Monreale Cathedral, Sicily’s Extraordinary Norman Masterpiece of Mosaics and Architecture
Just a short journey from Palermo, the Cathedral of Monreale is one of Sicily's most extraordinary monuments, where Norman ambition, Byzantine artistic traditions and Islamic decorative influences meet. Officially the Cathedral of Santa Maria Nuova, it was commissioned by William II in the 1170s and remains one of the greatest surviving achievements of Norman Sicily.Monreale is … [Read more...] about Monreale Cathedral, Sicily’s Extraordinary Norman Masterpiece of Mosaics and Architecture
Monreale, The Balcony Above Palermo and the Gulf of Sicily
Palermo, the Tyrrhenian Sea and Monte Pellegrino from Monreale.Monreale is famous for its magnificent Norman cathedral and extraordinary Byzantine mosaics, but one of the most memorable experiences begins outside the church, where the town opens onto a sweeping panorama of Palermo, the Tyrrhenian Sea and the mountains beyond.Perched on the slopes of Monte Caputo, roughly eight … [Read more...] about Monreale, The Balcony Above Palermo and the Gulf of Sicily
Cucina Povera in Sicily, Why Potatoes Appear in Salad and Pasta
A restaurant table in Palermo, where potatoes appear alongside pasta, tomatoes, olive oil and wine. There is a small culinary mystery waiting for visitors to Palermo. Order a salad and you may find generous pieces of boiled potato among the tomatoes and onions. Order pasta and, depending on the recipe, potatoes may turn up there too. In countries where pasta and potatoes are … [Read more...] about Cucina Povera in Sicily, Why Potatoes Appear in Salad and Pasta
Las Vegas Led 2026 American Bookings on eDreams and Tokyo Tops the 2027 Wish List as Navan Finds 58 Percent of Business Travelers Expect More Trips
Two travel reports landed on November 5, one about where Americans actually went and one about why companies keep sending people on the road. Read together they say something simple. Americans booked close to home in 2026 and are dreaming further away for 2027, and the trips that are hardest to cut are the ones the boss pays for. eDreams ODIGEO's "A Year in Travel 2026," built … [Read more...] about Las Vegas Led 2026 American Bookings on eDreams and Tokyo Tops the 2027 Wish List as Navan Finds 58 Percent of Business Travelers Expect More Trips
Porta Nuova in Palermo, A Monumental Gateway to Sicily’s Spanish Past
Porta Nuova is one of Palermo's most recognizable historic landmarks, a monumental gateway standing beside the Norman Palace at the western end of Corso Vittorio Emanuele. At dusk, when the upper loggia glows above the darker stonework, the gate becomes an especially dramatic reminder of Sicily's long and complicated history.Porta Nuova at dusk, beside Palermo's Norman … [Read more...] about Porta Nuova in Palermo, A Monumental Gateway to Sicily’s Spanish Past
Sicilian Cuisine in Palermo, From Rich Pasta to Strawberry Pastries
Sicilian cuisine is one of the great attractions of visiting Palermo. It combines centuries of Mediterranean influences with an unmistakably local approach to ingredients, preparation and presentation. Two photographs from a recent visit capture different sides of this food culture: a restaurant table filled with generous pasta dishes, olives and red wine, and a selection of … [Read more...] about Sicilian Cuisine in Palermo, From Rich Pasta to Strawberry Pastries
Cefalù Cathedral, Nine Centuries of Norman Sicily Beneath the Rock
Just an hour east of Palermo, Cefalù offers one of Sicily's most memorable encounters with Norman architecture. Its cathedral stands beneath the enormous limestone cliff known as La Rocca, surrounded by a broad brick-paved square and the compact streets of the old town. The Cathedral of Cefalù across Piazza del Duomo, with La Rocca rising behind it. Commissioned by Roger II, … [Read more...] about Cefalù Cathedral, Nine Centuries of Norman Sicily Beneath the Rock