One of the pearls of our splendid Sicily: artisanal gelato.

Sicily has become, especially in recent years, the undisputed destination of international tourism. People from various cities of Europe, but also the United States, Canada, Australia, Great Britain and Norway, visit our beautiful island at different times of the year. There are several reasons: there are those who come to admire our architectural beauties, those who are interested in our history made up of a succession of invasions and dominations, those who are almost nostalgic for the Roman Empire, those who come to observe and experience our landscapes. Undoubtedly a large portion of tourists, who make Sicily a stop on their itinerary in the name of relaxation, are purely interested in our sun, our sea and… our food!

The three things go hand in hand because a day at the beach certainly whets the appetite but the high temperatures at certain times of the year don't exactly make you think of a nice hot plate of linguine with seafood or mussel soup! The only remedy for those days is ice cream with its freshness, its goodness and its sugars that help in any drops in pressure.

Today we want to talk to you about the delicious homemade ice cream which is characterised by the use of fresh raw materials.
In artisan ice cream proper, the ingredient present in the greatest quantity is milk (at least 60%) followed by sugars (14-24%) and cream (5-20%). There could also be a certain amount of skimmed milk powder to ensure an adequate supply of proteins and milk solids, vital for maintaining the structure: the lactose present in about 50% is used to absorb water while the proteins give body and stability.
The recipe for a good homemade ice cream must present a correct balance of the solid components of the various ingredients, as well as the choice of quality primary products.

Edited by Gambero Rosso, here is the list of the 7 best ice cream parlours to visit in Palermo:

• BarConi
• Cappadonia Gelati
• Galatea
• Latteria Gelati Cremosi
• Al Gelatone
• Il Signor di Carbognano
• La Vela

And after this nice feast of gelato, we recommend a nap in one of our luxury villas and a nice walk (to work off) among the most beautiful places in this part of Sicily: Palermo certainly has an infinite number of monuments and history to offer you as well as being an excellent starting point for visiting the jewels of this part of Sicily such as Monreale and Mondello or, towards the west, the marvellous beaches of Scopello (lo Zingaro) and San Vito lo Capo about 40 minutes by car, the mediaeval Erice, the salt pans of Trapani, the island of Mozia and the Egadi islands, the wine cellars of Marsala just over an hour by car , towards the east the ruins of Solunto, Cefalù at 1 hour by car.

L’Alba: Breathtaking villa with direct access to the sea in one of the major tourist attractions in Palermo: Mondello! Let yourself be lulled in the hammock by the sea breeze and the colors and scents of the sea that will stretch out before your eyes. A magical and unprecedented atmosphere, in the peace of Sicily's nature but within walking distance of the most coveted Palermo tourist scene ever.

Baia Smeraldo: Are you looking for a delightful home, with a private swimming pool, direct and private access to the sea, in an area that can give you peace and tranquillity away from the chaos of the metropolis? Do not go further because Baia Smeraldo is the perfect solution for your holidays in Sicily. Located 6 km from Cefalù, a tourist-seaside village among the most coveted of tourism at 360 °, this residence will give you moments of absolute quiet while immersed in its luxuriant garden, full of Mediterranean plants, or while you will let yourself be inebriated by the panorama on the crystalline sea ​​of ​​Sicily.

Villa D'amare: Wonderful villa with private swimming pool, immersed in a 3000 square metre garden and located in one of the most sought-after places of tourism in Sicily: Mondello. Ideal starting point for exploring the heart of north-western Sicily from Scopello to San Vito Lo Capo, from Caccamo to Monreale, from Marsala to Cefalù, this exquisite residence is ready to give you an adventure holiday in Sicily for just 700 metres from the beach, but also relaxation in its fantastic private swimming pool surrounded by the greenery of Sicilian nature.

Solemar: Superlative residence with private infinity pool, on the sea and located in Terrasini in the wonderful province of Palermo, the capital of splendid Sicily and the main destination of national and international tourism. Solemar is ready to give you a holiday full of emotions and relaxation: the undisputed protagonist is the breathtaking and uninterrupted view of the wonderful Gulf of Castellammare that you can observe from any point of the house. Its location is not far behind being almost halfway between the province of Palermo and that of Trapani, keepers of the wonders of north-western Sicily.

Limonaia: With a park within the property of 3000 square metres, in a fairly quiet area of ​​the fantastic Mondello, this splendid villa with a modern and Mediterranean taste is born. Its exquisite private swimming pool of 50 square metres is ready to give you moments of peace and freshness even in the hottest hours that enrich the Sicilian days. Its large and shady patio, adorned with armchairs and sofas, will give you great moments of carefree sharing whether you are with family or friends.

Lilla: Just 350 m from the famous beach of Mondello, this elegant residence is born with a well-kept garden of 1500 square metres and a Mediterranean taste in which there is a magnificent private swimming pool surrounded by palm trees, ficus and banana trees. Despite the proximity to one of the most popular beaches for international tourism, the property will give you moments of peace and privacy while immersed in the colours and scents of our beautiful Sicily.

Villa Blu: A little more than 2 km from the marvelous Zingaro Nature Reserve, in the province of Trapani, stands this delightful farmhouse restored with taste and simplicity. Ideal destination for your holidays in Sicily as it is detached from the city chaos and immersed in 2000 square meters of garden to enjoy the surrounding nature. At 800 m from the sea, you can enjoy wonderful afternoons of fun and relaxation, between a barbecue and a swim in its characteristic private pool.

Profumo di Mare: Located to the east of the wonderful Gulf of San Vito, this enchanting villa with its beautiful private swimming pool and its comfortable and bright rooms, is ready to give you an unforgettable holiday in one of the most popular destinations of Italian and international tourism. It is not for nothing that the area in which it is located is defined as the Caribbean of the Mediterranean Sea.

Yasmin: Splendid residence located near the town of Castelluzzo, a seaside village very close to the famous tourist-seaside city of San Vito Lo Capo. With its wonderful private infinity pool, this villa will leave you speechless. If you were looking for a holiday in Sicily full of emotions, sunsets, colors and scents, go no further: Yasmin is the one for you.