Earlier this week you got your first look at Lara and Oliver's wedding. Loved it, right? Yesterday you saw what happened before the big day. And now for the honeymoon!
The newlyweds traveled to the Italian island of Sicily, and for the first week they stayed at at friend's home in Noto, a gorgeous Baroque city near the south-eastern coast. "The architecture was amazing," says Lara. "Each day at sunset, we'd sit on the balcony with a glass of Prosecco, looking out at the rooftops and watching the birds fly by."
For week two, the couple booked a room at Azienda Agricola Mandranova, a quaint guesthouse about three hours west of Noto that they found through the boutique hotel experts at Mr & Mrs Smith. "A lovely couple owns Azienda," she says. "The husband maintains the olive groves and keeps guests entertained with his amazing knowledge of history, culture, and art, and his wife manages the kitchen and cooks the best meals ever. It's a great place for food lovers!"
While there, Lara and Oliver took day trips to ruins, museums, and the beach. They suggest renting a car (with GPS -- to cut down on the stress) and recommend these must-see spots:
- Noto. The town's known for its manicured roads, bell towers, and awe-inspiring buildings.
- Modica. Not only does it have wonderful Baroque architecture, but the city is famous for its chocolate! Make sure the chocolaterie Antica Dolceria Bonajuto is on your itinerary.
- Villa Romana del Casale. This 4th-century Roman emperor's villa is a UNESCO site, and with good reason: it's got more Roman mosiacs than anywhere else in the world.
- Catania street markets. Here, vendors sell everything under the sun, and the vibrant stands are perfect for photo ops -- especially those in La Pescheria, the fish market.
- Caltagirone. A steep, photogenic town filled with ceramic studios. Shoppers heaven!
- Ristorante La Madia. Indulge in this Michelin-starred eatery in the colorful town of Licata. It serves authentic Sicilian food like pine cone-smoked cod and eggplant parmesan.
Check out the pair on their Italian adventure below. They used the last photo for their holiday cards, wishing everyone peace in 2012 with the olive branches they're holding. So cute!
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*Was your honeymoon awesome too? Email your top 10 photos (or a link to an online album) and some tidbits about your trip to realhoneymoons@marthastewart.com. We'd love to blog about it here, or put it in the mag.
From: honeymoon packages | 3/12/12 at 8:07 am
When my fiance and I get married in a few months time I will most certainly be sharing our experiences with you. We love your site and it has given my husband and I so much inspiration for our honeymoon, so thank you for all the help and inspiration.