Sicily
- Thread starter arcadion
- Start date
I have fond nice travel report with beautifull photos. For now it is my main source of info.
www.alongdustyroads.com
sicily —ALONG DUSTY ROADS
www.alongdustyroads.com
Thank you for sharing. Many moons ago I went to Sardinia. Stayed at a resort there. I just remember eating one of the best meals there.
First of all, Sicily is in Italy. Not in Spain.
Second. I've been to Sicily more times than I can count. Here's a brief writeup of what a tourist should see/be aware of.
Of things you shouldn't miss in Sicily, top of my list is the 'Valley of the Temples' in Agrigento (1-2 hours from Palermo): 5 Greek temples in a row. Most are reasonably well preserved (Sicily was Greek from about 800 BC until 241 BC). Go early: the valley becomes hot and crowded after around 11am.
On the coast near Agrigento, check out "Scala dei Turchi", a fantastic stepped white sandstone rock (closed bc vandalism, Summer 2022, might be OK now).
Also near the top of the list is Syracusa on the East coast, which has a really lovely city centre, an island called Ortigia. Look out for the cathedral (duomo), which is in fact originally a Greek temple. The columns still form part of the wall.
Palermo is a nice place to visit. Look out for little churches with the completely overloaded "Sicilian Baroque": marble carvings that look like overloaded pastries.
Also, in Palermo, go see The Royal Palace, with Norman, Arabic and later decorations; have a look at the markets (keep an eye on your wallet), the street food: panelle, arancine, 'pane con meuza' (for the adventurous), sweets like the famous cannoli, etc.
The catacombs of Palermo are not very old, but exhibits citizens from the 1800-1900s. If you're that way inclined.
Near Palermo (some 10km) is Monreale, which is worth a visit for its magnificent cathedral mosaics. All golden, it can completely blow you away. It’s an easy bus ride from Palermo. There's little else to see in Monreale, so that's a morning outing - you can be back in town for lunch.
Sferrocavallo, half an hour from Palermo, with good bus connections, is nice for its fish restaurants. You could also consider staying there. It's a picturesque little village.
Marsala on the Western end of the island doesn't present itself really well, as it is fairly industrial. It's famous for the port-style wine called 'Marsala', and also has a nice, small museum with Phoenician exhibits. Phoenicians were a force to be reckoned with in the central parts of the Mediterranean, until the rise of Imperial Rome – the Punic Wars were between Rome and the Phoenicians. Close to Marsala on the South coast, you may want to see Selinunte for another well preserved Greek temple. The Greeks were everywhere in Sicily, 2500 years ago.
Erice, near Trapani just North of Marsala, is a medieval village, intact, perched on top of a hill. It is somewhat restored and somewhat touristy.
If the more famous village of Taormina, near Catania, is on your list, you can skip Erice. Taormina is about an hour's drive North of Catania, and is another beautiful little mountain village, overlooking the coast. Also, of course, somewhat touristy.
Catania doesn't have a lot of really important sights, but it's a nice city. The old fish market, currently reinventing itself as an area for good restaurants, the subterranean river (all of downtown was covered by lava from Etna in 1669), and the duomo, are all worth a few hours and are in centre town. For cheap local eating, check out the "carne di cavallo" restaurants next to Castello Ursino downtown. If you're not happy about eating horse (=“cavallo”), there are lots of other cheap and good things on the menu. Consider also “Tavola Calda”, handy street food, for a cheap lunch or a snack.
The "Paesi Etnei" (Etnean villages) and the countryside, uphill and nearer Etna, is where people from Catania head out to cool down in the summertime.
Near the time of the eruption that destroyed Catania, earthquakes destroyed a lot of the South East. As the local lords were very rich at the time, and also didn’t have to worry about public opinion, a selection of cities were rebuilt in spectacular baroque style. Well worth a visit, as the area shortly thereafter turned very poor, and the old buildings haven’t been touched. Modica, Noto, Palazzolo Acreide, Ragusa, Scicli, etc., are on the list, but visiting all of them is only for specialised historians or architects (all within easy reach of Syracusa).
Coffee with milk is breakfast in Sicily. You will stand out as a tourist if you ask for a cappuccino after about 11am, even if most places will still let you order it. If the normal 'cafe' or 'espresso' is too small for your taste, order a 'lungo', which will give you two-three sips and not just one. An ‘americano’, espresso with boiling water, is close to ordinary filter coffee, and I actually have a Sicilian friend (one) who drinks it.
Beaches are everywhere. The locals (if they speak English) will be thrilled to tell you where the good ones are. Often, there will be a "lido" constructed, which may offer a bar, deck chairs, showers and changing rooms. They usually cost a few euros for day visitors.
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wow, amazing info. thanks.
tips for architects
. Im architect, but we have childeren, so I have to restrain my appetites
south of the Sicily i think is for us too far.
How about itenerary? it is doable?
1) morning arrive to Catania, by car to Castelmare del Golfo (stop at Cefalu)
2) beach, relax
3) Palermo/Monreale
4) Trapani/Erice (maybe more around)
5) San Vito Lo Capo/Faraglioni di Scopello/Segesta/Lo Zingaro
(options around Castelmare)
6) by car to village near Catania (optionaly Enna on the way)
7) Taormina
8) Etna (walk around parking)
9) beach
10) morning return home by plane from Catania
(Sorry I post Sicily in Spain, but I cannot move the thread)
tips for architects
. Im architect, but we have childeren, so I have to restrain my appetites south of the Sicily i think is for us too far.
How about itenerary? it is doable?
1) morning arrive to Catania, by car to Castelmare del Golfo (stop at Cefalu)
2) beach, relax
3) Palermo/Monreale
4) Trapani/Erice (maybe more around)
5) San Vito Lo Capo/Faraglioni di Scopello/Segesta/Lo Zingaro
(options around Castelmare)
6) by car to village near Catania (optionaly Enna on the way)
7) Taormina
8) Etna (walk around parking)
9) beach
10) morning return home by plane from Catania
(Sorry I post Sicily in Spain, but I cannot move the thread)
Make sure the kids get all the ice cream they can eat. Granita for breakfast (possibly with a brioche) & gelato in the afternoon.
Sicily is also famous for sweets: cannoli, cassata, etc.
The only tricky thing is that you choose what you want at the bar, but then turn around to pay at the cashier, who will then give you the receipt for you to present to the barman. If you don't know the names (in Italian) of the stuff you've selected, expect a bit of confusion.
Sicily is also famous for sweets: cannoli, cassata, etc.
The only tricky thing is that you choose what you want at the bar, but then turn around to pay at the cashier, who will then give you the receipt for you to present to the barman. If you don't know the names (in Italian) of the stuff you've selected, expect a bit of confusion.