B&B Al Fakhar

About

After years of travelling, above all in North Africa, the desire to change, to leave behind the short lived security of a world in decline, we found, here in Ficarra, in the centre of the Mediterranean, in the North-East of Sicily, the realisation of a dream. We found….Opportunity. We had the courage to abandon the big city of Milan, where you don't even notice the existence of a sun and a sky, to come to live and work here in Sicily, by, (as David Abulafia calls it, in his wonderful book on the history of this area) The Great Sea - the Mediterranean. Here in Sicily, appropriately named by the Arabs, the Garden of the Mediterranean, you'll find the quintessential flavours, aromas, harmonies, sun, sea and warm breeze of the region. Stripping the island of its traditional Sicilian dress, you can find corners of Tangiers, Beirut, Marseille, Tunisia, Algiers, Genova and La Spezia; you can admire landscapes with Aleppo pines or Lebanese cedars; you can suddenly feel like you are in a souk in Marrakech or in a Middle Eastern market. Here in Sicily, we encounter an old fashioned concept of time, for people like us, used to the frenetic rhythm of life, giving us the chance to notice things, to consider, to simply — be. Here time regains its real dimension, it's not connected with globalisation or the culture of celebrity and spectacle in which time is money; Here, time is life, time is the possibility of existence. And it is within this dimension, this alternative concept of time, that we have created the essence of our B & B. A place where time is managed by man, if only for one day or for one night. We want to provide and share with you the possibility of a different way of life, in which it is possible to recover our natural way of being. How? With a special breakfast "Fantasies of Sicily" or "Colours of the World," perhaps flipping through a novel or a travel guide to plan your next trip… the traveler never stops; bathed in the light here and with the view that you can admire from our terrace overlooking Ficarra (the highest in the town) that extends from the Aeolian Islands to the Nebrodi Mountains. And during the day? Let yourself be transported by the gentle waves of a crystal clear sea or by the woodland trails woven through the mountains beyond Ficarra. Then in the evening you can enjoy a mint tea or smoke a hookah pipe while gazing at the stars ... with a little imagination you could be in Istanbul or on a terrace in Marrakech. And of course, what could be better than some good music to accompany your daydreams. You will find an extensive collection of books in every corner, nook and cranny between the rooms of Al Fakhar. A spot between the land and the sea where sailors, merchants, missionaries, leaders, crusaders, pilgrims and pirates, women or men, young and old, find rest for body and mind, before departing for a new "battle," for a new destination. With us you will find the emotions of an ancient world where wonder forms the basis of knowledge to understand and to change. And if you are still not satisfied, we can organise excursions to the most evocative places on this island filled with history and culture: from the areas of Montalbano to the Aeolian Islands, to Palermo, to Catania, or wherever you would like. We will provide you with plenty of historical and cultural information about possible places to visit. With warm regards, whatever you choose. Francesco and Maria Pia