Sunrise in Palermo

On our sixth day in Sicily, Nelson and I woke up bright and early for a day trip to Palermo. When I say bright and early, I really mean that! We left an hour before sunrise so we could have the dreamy golden hour for photos and experience a tourist-free beach! We met Anna, our photographer, in Mondello and drove together into the Riserva Naturale di Capo Gallo, a beautiful park with staggering cliffs and calm blue waters.

Riserva Naturale di Capo Gallo

This breathtaking reserve is just a few minutes outside the bustling city of Palermo and a hotspot for city dwellers to get away from it all! It’s been inhabited since the Paleolithic period and is full of winding trails, hidden caves, and a variety of wildlife including foxes, hawks, lizards, and more — we even saw a herd of mountain goats descending the steep cliffs!

That morning, we climbed up on the seaside rocks and relaxed as the sun rose in the distance. It was absolutely gorgeous and there wasn’t a soul in sight—except for Anna, of course! We walked down to the sandy beach and played in the water a bit as the sun got brighter and air got warmer. Once people started arriving, we headed back to the car and onto our next adventure!

To read a full detailed itinerary of our two week trip back in 2018, head to my previous blog! And stay tuned for Part III where we spent the afternoon exploring Palermo’s city center. For now though, simply enjoy browsing through the stunning pictures…

Ummmm, hello there! Isn’t my husband super handsome?!

Look closely and you’ll see the mountain goats…

Photos by Anna Vlasiuk Photography