/ 18 May 2021

My Sicily With… Jiawa Liu

Contributing editor to Harper’s Bazaar Singapore and one half of the duo behind the popular Instagram account @MinimalStreetStyle, Jiawa Liu spends her time travelling the world and picking up cool fashion pieces along the way. When she’s not travelling for work or splitting her time between Sydney and Paris, Sicily is her go-to destination – having visited countless times, she now considers herself somewhat of a local. Here, she shares her must-visit spots, as well as her favourite places to stay and shop.

Save To My Favourites

Palermo

Palermo is the capital of Sicily, renowned for its historic architecture, fantastic food scene and rich culture. The city is best explored in a few days, but you could easily spend a week here.

STAY:

Eurostars Centrale Palace Hotel

This gorgeous hotel is a grand nod to the property’s opulent past. Truly palace-like, the labyrinthine halls and antechambers are decorated lavishly with gilded mirrors, colourful Italian tiles and velvet chairs. The rooftop restaurant, which overlooks the city, has a beautiful vantage point from which to watch the sunset. The rooms have everything you need for a special stay and the hotel staff go above and beyond to make sure you have the best time.

Visit EurostarsHotels.co.uk

BB22

For something a little more understated, BB22 is a charming B&B in Mondello. During a stay here, you’ll feel like a real local when families pop in for impromptu dinners and you hear the buzz from the streets below from your window. The facilities are modest, but the rooms are chic, and the breakfast is delicious.

Visit BB22.It

EAT:

Osteria Pane e Alivi

This restaurant is a lovely family-run place tucked away on Piazza Sant'Onofrio. The food here never disappoints, especially the house special – spaghetti with sundried tomatoes, olives, capers and breadcrumbs.

Casa Stagnitta

This is best place in town to get granita – a sorbet-like dessert made famous in Sicily. In this little backstreet café, you’ll see people queuing up for one of their granitas and enjoying brioche buns and coffee in the morning.

SHOP:

Palermo Markets

Palermo’s historical centre is divided into four quarters – each has its own street market which is open day and night. Make a beeline for Ballero, Vucciria and Capo – I ate the most delicious, candied fruits here. The markets are a great place to get a feel for the local way of life and of course, they’re the best places in the city to try authentic Italian food and drink.

SEE & DO:

Chiesa Santissimo Salvatore

Chiesa Santissimo Salvatore is one of the best vantage points for a view of the city. Climbing up to this ancient baroque building is in itself a mini adventure, as reaching the summit requires walking through secret passageways and staircases. The top floor has been left in a slight state of disrepair, so it gives you the impression of having discovered an archaeological site – truly beautiful.

Cantieri Culturali della Zisa

During one of my visits to Palermo, I made a documentary with the charity Libraries Without Borders about the community of migrants and refugees in the city. A community library was set up at Cantieri Culturali della Zisa and today, it’s a centre of culture and art that holds events, bringing people of all walks of life together.

Visit CantieriCulturaliZisa.it

Villa Palagonia

Villa Palagonia is a decadent baroque villa, just a 30-minute drive from the centre of Palermo. It’s served as the setting for several famous movies, most notably Baaria, directed by Giuseppe Tornatore. The building itself dates back to the 18th century and the gardens are particularly beautiful.

The Backstreets

While there are countless landmarks in Palermo, like the Pretoria Fountain and Palermo Cathedral, my fondest memory is getting lost in the backstreets of the historic centre, where you never know what you’ll come across. It’s a great way to get a feel for the city, have a chat with the locals and stumble across cool restaurants and cafés.

Cefalù

Cefalù is a stunning coastal city in Sicily. A great destination for a summer holiday or lazy break by the sea, there’s plenty to see and do, whether you’re travelling alone, or with friends and family.