Only natural remedies against the heat: a tasty and refreshing Sicilian granita!

Summer finally arrives and with it the beautiful days, the sun, the refreshing water of the sea, the happiness of the holidays, the beaches populated by happy and carefree people and that scent in the air of sea salt mixed with that of sunscreens and shea butter tanning creams.

The desire to travel is back, to visit festive places and get lost in endless walks along the seafront of the wonderful and varied Sicilian coast. This is what hundreds of international and national tourists do every year in our splendid island which, as always, awaits them full of adventures, familiar places and places yet to be discovered, surrounded by a very blue sea, full of restaurants serving excellent fresh fish, inns where they can quench their thirst but, waiting for them, there will also be the heat.

Well yes, our temperatures are among the most famous in Europe: in Sicily from mid-June to mid-October they reach between 30 and 45°C. But fear not, we have the right remedy for you to overcome the sultry summer days: granita!

Granita is a cold spoon dessert, typical of Sicilian cuisine and served with a nice freshly baked brioche. In fact, the locals would say “ni pigghiamu na granita ca brioscia?” (Lit. “Shall we have a granita served with brioche?”). It is a semi-frozen liquid mixture prepared with water, sugar and a fruit juice or other ingredient (almonds, pistachios and coffee are more common in addition to fruit). Nowadays, the most widespread and most requested granitas are those with lemon, mint and almond, even if originally those with jasmine and black mulberries were in great demand.

Granita is often confused with sorbet, together with which it can be considered one of the progenitors of ice cream and from which it differs due to its more grainy and creamy consistency at the same time.

Although of undisputed Arab origin, an original formulation cannot be determined with absolute certainty. A creamier granita is certainly widespread especially in the Messina area, while in Catania it is usually quite thicker than ice cream. In Messina the granita is often accompanied by cream, due to its similarity to ice cream, and, out of habit or tradition deeply rooted in the territory, it should usually be consumed all year round.

Villa Luce: A few kilometres from Taormina, one of the most important international tourist centers and one of the greatest destinations of the famous Grand Tour, you will find this wonderful property. You just have to let yourself be caressed by the sea breeze in the large terraces of Villa Luce that will give you an unprecedented and uninterrupted view of the sea and the bay of the city. Whether you want to relax on the sofas of the spacious outdoor patio on the first floor, or take a dip in the refreshing swimming pool located on one of the two large terraces, this delightful residence is for you. With its 4 double bedrooms, one of which is a master bedroom on the first floor with a view of the blue sea of ​​Taormina, the residence is ready to welcome you whether you are with family or friends.

Villa Tao: Villa Tao is a wonderful luxury residence located in the beautiful city of Taormina, just 10 minutes walk from the center and just over a kilometer from the fantastic Sicilian sea. Immersed in a garden of 2000 square metres, the villa is surrounded by fragrant Mediterranean vegetation with a thousand shades of green where you will find the splendid private salt purified pool and a fantastic Jacuzzi where you can relax surrounded by the smells of north-eastern Sicily.

Nerello Mascalese: Splendid country residence located on the slopes of the Etna volcano, very close to the characteristic town of Randazzo. With its 5 bedrooms, it is ready to welcome you whether you are with family or friends for a holiday of peace and quiet, detached from the chaos of the city. The residence has many shaded corners in which to relax and a delightful private swimming pool in which to cool off in the hottest hours and be able to observe the wonderful panorama over the hills of Eastern Sicily.

Buena Vista: Majestic and elegant private villa in one of the most sought-after cities by world tourism: Taormina. With its 3000 square meters of garden, get ready for a holiday in the colors of eastern Sicily, enjoy the quiet inside the wonderful Jacuzzi located on the terrace of the house to give you an unprecedented view of the sea and the bay of the city since always most praised by writers, philosophers and artists such as Goethe, Nietzsche and Klimt.

Borgo degli Aranci: In the village of Fiumefreddo, at the foot of Mount Etna and in front of the Ionian Sea, this spectacular residence is born, surrounded by citrus trees whose scent of oranges will delight your holidays. The residence is divided into three wonderful houses close to each other and surrounded by 11 hectares of land whose green lawn will lead you to the splendid swimming pool overlooking the gentle slope that naturally slopes towards the sea.

Viagrande: Luxurious villa with private pool located in Viagrande, on the south-eastern side of Etna. Furnished with taste and elegance but with a modern spirit, this splendid residence will give you moments of absolute quiet on its well-equipped and covered terrace or in its swimming pool immersed in the green of the English lawn and surrounded by Mediterranean plants.

Vecchia Dimora Resort: Wonderful residence just a few kilometers from the Etna Volcano Park, detached from the chaos of the city and the classic tourist circuits to give you the opportunity to breathe the pure and nostalgic Sicily of an aristocratic past. Villaetna is an aristocratic home that has been renovated with great taste and attention to detail to preserve its splendid Baroque architecture. With its fantastic private swimming pool surrounded by the green nature of eastern Sicily, it is ready to give you immense peace and tranquility but also an excellent starting point for exploring this delightful part of the island.