Where to Find the Best Italian Gelato in Sicily
Are you looking to find the best Italian Gelato in Sicily? We know a place!
Have you ever had Italian gelato? Smooth and creamy, it is heaven in a dish!
So when John and I (along with the kids) visited Sicily over the summer, my plan was to find a really great gelateria and indulge in this wonderful treat as often as we could.
And we were pretty darn successful too.
We found a small, family-run gelateria that was a favourite of the locals, AND served some incredible gelato.
Want the scoop? Let’s jump right in!
Where is Gelateria Vernaci Located?
Hubby’s family comes from Castellammare del Golfo, a small coastal town near Palermo. This is where we came across our hidden gem.
Located in the heart of town, you will find a quaint pedestrian-only area known as the “Quattro Canti.”
This pretty area is filled with restaurants, shops, nightlife and plenty of charm.
Not only was the Quattro Canti filled with tourists in the summer months, but it was also a hangout for the locals.
It was here that we happened across Gelateria Vernaci.
This awesome little shop soon became known as “Our Happy Place,” and was definitely the best Italian gelato around.
Gelateria Vernaci
Address: Corso Bernardo Mattarella, 40, 91014 Castellammare del Golfo TP, Italy
Open: Tuesday to Sunday from 11 am – around 2 am (closing time varies)
Italian Gelato vs Ice-Cream
But before I really get into our experience with Vernaci, let me quickly explain what Italian gelato actually is!
There are, in fact, several differences between gelato and ice cream.
Firstly, gelato is made with a higher ratio of milk vs cream, and does not, for the most part, contain egg yolks.
Secondly, the churning process for gelato is also much shorter than it is for ice cream, allowing the addition of less air.
As a result, the gelato is denser and has a different mouth-feel (texture) than ice cream.
Is Italian gelato healthy?
Italian gelato is lower in fat than ice cream, with only a 4-9% fat content.
It is also full of healthy proteins, calcium and vitamins.
And if you choose fruit-based gelato flavours, they are lower in calories and are packed with more vitamins and antioxidants.
Would I say it’s healthy? Probably not. But if you enjoy it in moderation, it also won’t hurt!
Of course, the big question always is, does Italian gelato still taste as good as full-fat ice cream? Heck yeah!!
What’s on the Menu at Gelateria Vernaci?
Vernaci offers amazing artisanal gelato made only from fresh local ingredients and no preservatives.
They also offer gluten-free, dairy-free and sugar-free ice gelato.
This little mom-and-pop shop did not disappoint with either their flavours or the variety of frozen desserts and drinks that they offered!
And saying it was the best Italian gelato I have EVER tasted, was an understatement!
Gelato
I can’t even remember how many different flavours that Vernaci offered.
Put it this way, in the 11 days we were in Sicily, we never had the same flavour twice (and we were there EVERY. SINGLE. DAY)!
Our family enjoyed unique gelato flavours like Amarena cherry, pistachio, cassata, stracciatella, tiramisu, Nutella, cannoli, and cappuccino.
Of course, the usual flavours like chocolate, strawberry and vanilla were also available.
Trust me, the list of gelato flavours seemed endless!
Dairy-Free Gelato
Now I almost forgot to mention an important fact: I have a dairy sensitivity that prevents me from eating most gelato. Sigh! 😞
So you can imagine the sheer joy that I felt when I saw that the dairy-free gelato flavours offered by Vernaci, took up at least a third of their cooler space!
I literally clicked my heels with excitement, knowing that I would not be limited to raspberry sorbet (which seems to be the ONLY dairy-free flavour offered in most Canadian ice cream shops).
I enjoyed dairy-free gelato flavours like banana (my fave), pineapple, cantaloupe, peach, strawberry and lemon.
I definitely DID NOT feel as though I was settling, which happens often when John and I go out for ice cream.
Granita
Originally from Sicily, a granita is a slush-like dessert, made from sugar, water and flavourings.
What I really loved, was that the fruit-flavoured granitas at Vernaci usually contained pureed fruit, rather than just a flavour syrup.
And because they were also dairy-free, I could indulge to my heart’s content!
My favourite flavour was Mandorla (almond).
Think of an Italian almond cookie (Amaretti). Then imagine that sweet nutty flavour set to a refreshing icy treat. Deee-licious!
Brioche con Gelato
Vernaci also offered ice cream sandwiches.
But not those frozen ice cream bars you would find in North America.
An actual SANDWICH!
Picture a soft brioche bun filled with your choice of gelato flavour!
Leave it to the Italians to find another thing to stuff into a delicious artisan bun! 😆
Hubby loved them… often meeting his daily gelato quota in this way.
I preferred to skip the bun and just indulge in my gelato straight up!
Other Desserts
While we did not try any of the other desserts, they looked absolutely divine!
From ice cream sundaes with hot fudge topping (as well as a variety of other toppings), Bubble cones, Crepes with ice cream, ice cream brownies, and more, you have a ton of options.
Frozen Drinks
Vernaci also serves up a variety of cold and frozen drinks.
From ice coffees to milkshakes, smoothies, and slushies made from real fruit juice, you also have plenty to choose from.
Does Gelateria Vernaci Have Outdoor Seating?
While Vernaci does not have any indoor seating, they do have a few tables with chairs set up directly outside the shop.
Unfortunately, we found that they were usually all taken. We preferred to grab a bench in the park that is located directly across from the gelateria.
If you were lucky, there was usually a live band playing in the park on summer weekends. That was definitely the perfect backdrop to enjoy our gelato.
Our Experience with Vernaci Gelateria & Why We Are Experts
As I mentioned earlier, we were in Sicily for 11 days. I’m not sure how we managed it, but we visited Vernaci every day (and sometimes twice per day).
The store is a family-run business, so we got to know the owners pretty well. They would always wave and smile when they saw us entering the queue.
We were initially told about this place by our family (who are locals). In fact, they even told us not to bother with other gelaterias, because Vernaci was the best.
And judging by how busy the place always was, everyone seems to agree!
Open until 2 am every day, there always seemed to be a line-up out the door.
Our youngest son, who shared a name with one of the young men who worked there, developed quite a banter with him.
The rest of the staff was really nice too. We were greeted like family!
Gelato and More Gelato
So just for comparison purposes, we did try Italian gelato in some of the other places in Sicily that we visited (against our family’s advice).
For the most part, the gelato flavour was good, but it was the variety that was lacking in most shops we found.
Hubby and the kids were able to find some unique gelato flavours, but unfortunately for me, the dairy-free options were scarce.
Even some of the sorbets contained dairy… a true disappointment considering Sicilian lemon ice is one of my faves!
Final Thoughts
By the end of our stay in Sicily, we were Italian gelato connoisseurs!
Vernaci will forever be the best Italian gelato we have ever tasted, and the standard to which all other gelato is held.
And as with family, our last day together was a sad parting, filled with promises to someday return.
And YES, having met our goal to try a different flavour every day, we not only left Sicily with a feeling of great accomplishment, but with a strong Italian gelato addiction as well!
Have you tried Gelateria Vernaci? What were your favourite gelato flavours??
Pin This Post for Later!
