PORTICELLO IN WINTER
- milena479
- Sep 9, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 28
"We Sicilians only swim in the sea in July and August," one Sicilian told us. "The Germans are so crazy, they go into the water as early as March."
In fact, we also swam in the sea on our trip in January and December 2024.
It must be said that Sicily had a particularly mild winter. We found the weather wonderful! It rained a lot in Germany during this time, and in Sicily, many things were already in bloom (almond trees, bougainille, camellias, etc.), and the trees were laden with oranges and lemons. You had to dress warmer in the evenings, but when the sun came out, you always had that lovely warm feeling on your skin that made you happy - the best cure for the German winter blues! ☀️❤️
Moments of happiness in January - of course, there is no guarantee of sunshine, even in Sicily there are storms and rain - fortunately, because nature has to create reserves for the hot summer months.
In winter, Porticello offers: walks to the Solunto archaeological site with a view over Porticello or to the Capo Zafferano lighthouse (photos from December and January)
In winter, the weather may not always be suitable for swimming, but you can still enjoy wonderful walks, for example, at the Solunto archaeological site with its magnificent view over Porticello and the bay, which offers little protection from the sun and is therefore very hot in summer. Or to the spectacularly situated Capo Zafferano lighthouse. Excursions to the metropolis of Palermo, with its countless impressive churches and palaces, are a good option whatever the weather. The same applies to the charming town of Monreale with its famous Byzantine cathedral, the beautiful coastal town of Cefalù, the less famous but also very interesting City of Termini Imerese or the lively neighboring town of Bagheria with its stately villas.
In the metropolis of Palermo, there is much to see whatever the weather; the Cathedral of Monreale is world-famous for its Byzantine gold mosaic, and Cefalù is particularly impressive due to its location between the rocky massif and the sea.
Orange trees in January
In the neighboring town of Bagheria, there are several villas to visit – the most impressive is definitely Villa Palagonia with its monster figures! The orange trees there are full of fruit in winter. And an aperitif in the neighboring fishing village of Aspra is delicious even in December!
We've heard of trips to Sicily where vacationers had really bad luck with the weather – sunshine is only guaranteed in the summer months. But we ourselves had some particularly beautiful days on the island in southern Europe during the winter, with mild temperatures. In Porticello, you'll find virtually no tourists then, only locals. You're part of everyday life, and that – perhaps not for everyone, but for us – is a truly wonderful and authentic experience.
In Sicily, houses aren't typically equipped with heating, as is common in Central Europe, because there's rarely a need for it. At Casa America, we have air conditioning units that can not only cool in the summer but also heat in the winter, and they work surprisingly well! As is generally the case, the prices of our vacation apartments are much lower in the off-season than in the summer. For dinner, we highly recommend the pizzerias (e.g., Kantuccio), as the pizza ovens radiate a cozy warmth. There are many reasons to embark on a Sicilian adventure in winter!
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