Sicily — particularly Taormina — has become a special place for my family over the years. Although our Sicilian heritage traces back to a small town almost 200 miles away, the strikingly beautiful hilltop town, lively beaches below, and friends we've made have captured our hearts, and we can't stop going back.

The moment Italy reopened to Americans, we promptly shifted our collective energy from whining about missing Sicily to planning our imminent return. (What can I say? I come from a long line of proactive women.) Anyone who hadn't yet been fully vaccinated made an appointment; I cross-checked calendars and COVID rules from our respective points of departure; my aunt started distributing her Delta miles; and my sister began visualizing our coordinating vacation wardrobes.