Sicily

[SmiledWithTheRisingSun]

Have you been?
Where did you stay?
What did you do?
Where is the best area to stay?

I went a few years ago with friends and stayed just outside a town called Cefalu, absolutely beautiful, not touristy at all, would totally recommend! We rented a cottage with a pool up in the hills which had the most amazing view, but we had to use the car whenever we went out which was a bit of a pain.

We had a city break to Palermo. I loved it. It's beautiful, so many amazing buildings, the cuisine is amazing, the beach outside the city in Mondello is gorgeous and there was a lovely vibe, everyone we met was very proud of their city. It is also very crazy - don't drive there and watch every tiny crossing for mopeds zooming about!
I would love to go back and go around the island, i'm also very keen to visit the Aoelian islands.

We went last year during a heat wave (40 degrees plus) so didn't fo as much as we would have liked.
THe island was also much bigger than I realised

Taormina is beautiful and worth a visit - ancient Greek amphitheatre (visit early in the morning/later in the afternoon to avoid cruise ship parties)

We also went up Etna which was amazing. You can go in several stages - drive to one level, chair lift to the next, and then if you want you can go in a 4x4 minibus with a mountain guide to see the more active areas. The kids loved that.

We stayed in Taormina. It was brilliant, stayed in a hotel in the center and you can walk to everything. it's very pretty with great views

I am going on a road trip there with my father at the beginning of June and really looking forward to it. I am interested in what people think as well.

Taormina is gorgeous, but we went in Easter and it was verging on too hot for me. Very few hotels seem to have pools if you stay in the town (unless you spend a fortune). DSis got an airbnb with a shared pool just outside the town when she went in the summer. We flew in and out of Catania and had a night there due to flight times. It was a total dive and I did not like it at all - would be seriously disappointed if we had planned a city break there either end of the holiday.

I really want to go to the aeolian islands next.

The Aeolian islands are amazing. Take a night-time expedition up Stromboli if they're running - the volcano is still live and occasionally rumbles excitingly or throws out a shower of sparks.

We stayed in Cefalu last year during the heatwave. Like Seeline we didn't explore as much as we would have liked as it was too hot. We stayed at the Astro Suites Hotel and it ticked all the right boxes for us. The pool was rather small, but we were just across the road from the beach and excellent sea swimming.

The location was really good for going into the old town - a 5 minute walk, and the food was brilliant - especially the cannoli . We never had a bad meal. There were very few English people and the place was very Italian.

We stayed in an agriturismo (farmstay) near Catania but right on the beach. I hear taormina is beautiful but would have been too much of a drive with little ones I think.

Pre DC we went to Taormina. Lovely town, but on steep hillsides if that is relevant.

Stayed in a hotel with rooftop pool.

Was V Hot, but there was shade around the town etc.

Mount Etna was a great trip, but not sure if they are currently running that due to recent volcanic activity.

Also went to neighbouring islands (Lipari, Vulcano) and tried mudbaths etc.

Thanks all.** Looks beautiful.
What was the name of the agriturismo nomad?

www.sicily.country

Sicily Country House and Beach. If you look on agriturismo.net you can find lots of them.

Ours had access to the beach, an orange grove, playground, restaurant and pool. You usually need a hire car as public transport is notoriously unreliable there.