PANAREA, SICILY
JULY 25
PANAREA IS SEEN AS THE MOST HIGH-END OF THE AEOLIAN ISLANDS, THE CAPRI OF SICILY, IT IS ALSO THE SMALLEST. PANAREA IS SO PRETTY, WITH WHITE WASHED HOUSES, BOUGAINVILLEA DRAPED ALLEYS, AND RUGGED CLIFFS THAT PLUNGE INTO CRYSTAL CLEAR WATERS. YOU HAVE TO SEE IT FROM THE SEA, SO GO OUT ON A PANGA WITH ONE OF THE LOCALS. AT NIGHT THE STYLISH BARS AND RESTAURANTS OF SAN PIETRO COME ALIVE. THERE ARE ONLY A FEW HUNDRED ALL YEAR ROUND RESIDENTS, IT IS A MIX OF LAID-BACK ISLAND LIFE AND ELEGANT SUMMER ENERGY. I STAYED AT AN AMAZING AIRBNB OWNED BY A FILM DIRECTOR WITH EXCEPTIONAL TASTE. THE HOUSE WAS SET ON AN ESTATE OF BEAUTIFULLY RENOVATED VILLAS SET IN THE FOREST, WITH A PRIVATE SWIMMING COVE DOWN SOME STEEP STEPS. IT IS CALLED VILLA COLOMBA, ALTHOUGH THE LOCALS CALL IT CASA BLASI. I WOULD GO BACK IN A HEARTBEAT.
