Borgo dei Parrini, Italy
On the island of Sicily, the tiny community of Borgo dei Parrini is a true hidden gem. It's unquestionably one of the European fantasy towns you must see! The population, which was already small, remained declining until a few years ago when young people left the village life for jobs that were assured in Sicily's bigger cities. Something needed to be done to resurrect Borgo dei Parrini from the brink of oblivion.
Local artists decided to give the town a makeover and painted the buildings in vibrant colors, adding murals and lovely tile work that is slightly evocative of Park Guell in Barcelona. They took inspiration from Catalan Modernism. Take a stroll through the narrow alleyways and stop at the hamlet pizzeria Nu Parrinaru to sample the lemon pizza, which is a specialty there.
Due to its remote location, Borgo dei Parrini must be reached by your own means of transportation. Borgo dei Parrini is the ideal day trip from Palermo if you have a car. The town is little and can be explored in one to two hours, but if you combine a visit to Borgo dei Parrini with a trip to Cefalu, it is well worth enduring the terrible driving conditions in Sicily and spending the day outside the busy capital of Sicily.
Location: western Sicily, Italy
