“Even from here #Palermo and its shores are stunning. How are the holidays going down there? #Italy #VITAmission,” the 60-year-old wrote on Twitter.

The veteran astronaut embarked on a new mission to space at the end of July, celebrating his third space flight in 10 years.

The Russian Soyuz rocket blasted off to take Nespoli to the International Space Station (ISS) on July 20, and he is set to return to Earth in December.

With ANSA