Esplora Travel

29/08/2025

The news from Sicily is that they are going to build a bridge across the Straits of Messina… Well, maybe…

Personally, I react to this news with a pinch of salt. Things in Sicily take a long time to reach fruition. For example, in October 2015, a landslide blocked a small section of the motorway between Messina and Catania. For almost ten years, drivers had to endure the lane-closure and resultant tailbacks until the carriageway was finally reopened a few months ago. Although I myself have no strong feelings either way, many Sicilians are virulently opposed to bridge, understandably feeling the money would be better spent on maintaining the existing infrastructure rather than investing in a potential white elephant.

But unfortunately, of course, mending a hole in the Messina-Catania motorway is not such an emblematic feat of international repute as a building a bridge across the Straits.

Messina has one of the most ancient histories of Sicily. Settled by Greeks in the eighth century BC, and the genesis of the Norman conquest of Sicily in the eleventh century, Messina already had a glorious past. And by the closing years of the 16th century, it had grown in importance to be one of the twenty largest cities in Europe. It was from here, after all, that the Christian fleet set sail for the battle of Lepanto and their victory over the Turks. Setting Much Ado about Nothing in this distant Sicilian port Shakespeare bestowed majesty on his theatre.

Sadly though, Messina today has little to show for all this: its sacking by the Spanish in 1678, an earthquake in 1783, bombardment by the Bourbons in 1848, the catastrophic earthquake of 1908, bombardment again by the Allies in WWII have all battered the poetry from its soul. Yet, looking out across over the myth-entwined Straits to the Aspromonte mountains beyond, Messina also has one of the most lovely aspects of any city in the Mediterranean.

We do not include Messina in any of our Sicily tours. But maybe we should? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below....

06/08/2025

Last week, I posted some my travels in Ankara and Istanbul in the 90s. Here, this week, are some photos from the South and the North East of Turkey - the areas of the Tauras Mountains and also Ani and Doğubeyazıt.

30/07/2025

In the 90s I spent a lot of time in Turkey and the other day I came across my old photos from my travel there. Here are some of those photos from Istanbul and Ankara:

22/07/2025

Due to an unfortunate cancellation we now have a couple of free places on our Madonie Mountains small group walking holiday in Sicily 14th - 21st October. Full details are on our website via the link below and if you would like to join us, please don't hesitate to get in touch!

https://www.esplora.co.uk/sicily/walking-tours/walking-madonie-mountains/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=post

11/07/2025

We still have some final places available on our October tour departures:

Treasures of Sicily: 1st - 12th October (1 room available)
Cappadocia walking: 5th - 12th October (1 room available)
Classical Greece: 6th - 17th October (1 room available)
Madonie Mountains walking: 14th - 21st October (1 room available)
Treasures of Sicily: 15th - 26th October (2 rooms available)
Crete : 20th - 27th October (1 room available)
Prices, full itineraries and booking are all available on our website:
https://www.esplora.co.uk/tour-dates/_2025/

We're love to have you along!

All our 2025 small group tours to Sicily, Southern Italy, Turkey, Greece, Georgia, Armenia and Albania.

05/07/2025

In May 2022 journalist Penny Wainwright travelled with us on our Aeolian Islands walking holiday and yesterday her article describing the adventure was published in the Italia! magazine. It's fantastic to see it in print and we are so proud to have another mention in this magazine. Now on sale in newsagents throughout the UK.

05/07/2025

Due to a late cancellation on the 1st October 2025 departure of our Treasures of Sicily tour, we now have one free room available. Full details and booking can be found on our website:

Our all-inclusive, escorted Sicily small group tours received 100% 5 STAR reviews in 2024. Travel with experts, stay in unique hotels.

17/06/2025

On Sunday, we said goodbye to our second Umbria walking group of the year. It has all bee whole lot of fun and thank you to all our guests for joining us and making it such a memorable last three weeks.

16/06/2025

We still have some availability on some of our Small group walking holidays this Autumn:
* Cappadocia (5th - 12th October)
* Eastern Sicily (24th Sept. - 1st Oct.)
* Madonie Mountains (14h - 21st October)
And it's still not too late to sign up if you'd like to join us! Full details can be found via the link below:

Join us on our small group walking tours. Discover hidden gems and local culture with expert guides in unforgettable destinations.

16/06/2025

Before our most Umbria walking tour, we had 2 days in Rome with our small private group visiting the Pantheon, the Villa Farnesina and Hadrian's Villa at Tivoli...

15/06/2025

We've had a late cancellation on our Crete small group tour. This tour had been fully booked for several months but now we have a vacancy for those wishing to join us this year. For full details and booking, see the link below:
https://www.esplora.co.uk/greece/cultural-tours/crete/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=crete

15/06/2025

Our small group walking tour in Umbria in the last week of May already seems like an age ago, but here are some photos to remind us of what a lovely week it was.