Anyone been to Sicily?

[DalekStarmer]

Since our travel to USA came to a halt DH and I have been going to Italy every year. So far we have done Venice, Rome, Garda, Verona, Naples and Cilento.

We were going to go back this year but I quite fancy trying Sicily. DH thinks Sicily will be boring other than the godfather sights - I think it will be an experience.

YABU - just go back to Italy
YANBU - Sicily is worth seeing

Yep, only to Taormina but that alone had enough ancient sites and the volcano to entertain us for a week. The amphitheatre is amazing. Loads more on the rest of the island.

That’s where I’m looking at so that’s helpful, thank you ☺️

Did you hire a car btw?

Have you watched the White Lotus? That's enough to get you booking - though the hotel they use is 10K per night, so probably not staying there!

I’ve not been but would like to (so following for ideas) but we were in Puglia last year and it was wonderful, so I would recommend for another option in Italy

I loved Sicilly when we used to go as a kid (one of my grandfathers was Sicillian)...we visited 'La Valle dei Tempi' (which I probably spelled wrong) and Mt Etna. My grandpa's village was near Etna so sadly we never got to go to the beach.

No, if we had been just us we would have done but it was a group of 7 so harder to balance everyone's wants

No, if we had been just us we would have done but it was a group of 7 so harder to balance everyone's wants

Another vote for Taormina. We actually went for our last “abroad “ holiday and the town we stayed in was on the cliffs above here after a MNer recommendation to Castlemola. The views were breathtaking including Etna. I’d go again for sure

We were booked to go in 2020 🙄it looks like there are lots of interesting places (especially Greek and Roman sites) but may not be easy to get around without a car.
I guess it depends on what sort of things you and your DH find ‘boring’…we’d have no interest in ‘godfather sights’.

Sicily is amazing!! Personally I favour Siracusa over Taormina. Siracusa has Roman ruins, you can swim off the ancient city walls, lovely centre, and then you’re also closer to the Baroque towns. I enjoyed Noto, Scicli, Modica. Ragusa. And for a longer drive Agrigento. We also went into the centre to visit the incredible Roman mosaics at Piazza Armerina. Plus have visited the western side starting in Palermo and seeing Segesta (amazing!!) and going to the beach at San vito lo capo

In the east, you can’t miss a visit to Etna. Incredible.

it’s a very big island and very interesting. I would suggest picking East or West and going from there. There is loads and loads to do. It’s much bigger than you anticipate. A car is an absolute must.

On a slightly different note, when we last went there in an August the heat was intolerable. 40s. For me, it will not be a high summer choice again. Very sadly.

Is the driving crazy? DH drove in Naples so I’m assuming it can’t be much worse than there?

We also stayed in Taormina and loved it.

We didnt have a car but there were lots of coach excursions (etna etc), I think we got the bus to the beaches along the coast, and of course the cable car to isla Bella. It was amazing, the amphitheatre alone was worth it

We usually go around May time ☺️

May is perfect - you lucky thing. It may even be cold in parts, at night time at least. You’ll avoid all the massive crowds you get with high summer.

Driving - no more or less bat shit crazy than the rest of Italy.

I’m not sure I’ve even seen any godfather things, apart from the Opera house in Palermo where he gets shot. I didn’t go and see the Opera house because of the film. It’s an incredible thing to see in its own right. Palermo would be amazing to explore at that time of year. There are so many amazing sites there and the food is out of this world if you do a bit of digging around and find eg on the Michelin Guide recommended restaurants (not necessarily with stars just good food). It’s also massively rundown, but that kind of makes it interesting.

San Capo lo Vito has a Caribbean blue beach and is a lovely town

I am bias as I spent 3 months living there when I was a student but Sicily is absolutely beautiful. If you haven't been before then I would suggest the east coast. The most popular town to stay in is Taormina. It is a bit touristy but has a lot of ohtels and restaruants and is a good base if you plan to do day trips to see other parts of the island.

It's close to Mt Etna, which you will have to spend day visiting. If you hire a car you can easily visit places like Catania, Syracuse, and some of the smaller towns inland like Enna, Modica or Noto. Then there are the beautiful Cavagrande Lakes, an numerous small towns and villages whih are perfect for getting a coffee and watching the world go by.

You will need to hire a car to get around. There are trains which run from the major towns but to see the real Sicily you have to drive.

Spent around 10 days a decade ago (time flies!) visiting LOTS of spots (I'm a Historian) and eating fabulous meals. One of my favourite holidays ever.
We rented a car, driving could be stressful at times though.

Re driving - there’s a very good network of major roads and bridges essentially all round the island (don’t think about who might be buried in bridge supports 😜) but within towns you need to be paying attention! Parking skills of the locals is next level bumper to bumper stuff.

Another vote for Sicily here - my favourite region of Italy. It has a very diverse archeological history, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Norman, you name it. Taorimina quite touristy, but pretty. Food variety amazing, seafood, huge variety of vegetables, great wines. Try antipasti vegetal, fabulous! We stayed in Catania last trip & saw Mt Etna, then on to Palermo, much to see, & a major foodie scene going on there. Hire a car, but prepare yourself for Italian-style driving, though roads outside of cities not too busy. Generally safe, though always take care in cities. Prepare yourself for triple parking in Palermo (& in other cities) but it is the local custom. Other downside, a lot of rubbish on roadsides, esp near cities. I think it is relatively cheaper than other parts of Italy, people generally friendly & helpful. Countryside beautiful, interesting geology, amazing hilltop villages. Do avoid high summer, better spring-autumn

It was a bigger place than I thought. Etna was a long way from our eastern coastal area.
It was wonderful and will be going back.

I've only been to Palermo but loved it there - it's a beautiful city. Did a street food tour which was really fun.

We're going in February. DH wants to visit Montalbano country (where Inspector Montalbano was filmed). I'm not fussed about Montalbano but it looks amazing, can't wait. Loads to see, do and eat.

Quite intrigued by what kind of a person thinks Sicily will be "boring". Our reflections on recent holidays, including Rome, were that our best memories were of the more unusual, less "top ten" things to do. The Italian police car museum in Rome was a surprise hit, for example.

I went about twenty years ago and loved it. We stayed in Taormina, which is a lovely historic town, and did day trips to Etna and volcanic islands where you could bathe in volcanic mud (had to bin that bikini - couldn’t get the smell of sulphur out of it). We didn’t hire a car and didn’t miss it.