We are 2 female friends, young 60s, who will be renting a car from Palermo Airport at 9:30A on Sun April 27 to drive to Ragusa. We hope to arrive at our hotel by latest 5-6P. My friend is a confident driver and will be doing all the driving. We are aware of the crazy driving, take lots off photos of the rental car, full insurance coverage, ZTLs, and will have an International Driver's permit, google map, and a Michelin paper map. Our goal is to see the interior of Sicily at a slower pace than whizzing by on the autostrada and we had hoped to stop at 1-2 villages to explore/eat lunch. On the TA forum, a local expert advised - avoid the backroads in Palermo province and avoid stops with luggage left unattended. Our original plan was to head south from the airport towards Partinico, then smaller SP (yellow on the Michelin map) roads towards Prizzi, then onwards to SS189 to Agrigento.
We will take the coastal road from Agrigento to Cosimo and then Ragusa.
So with that in mind, we are adjusting our route and will head east from Palermo airport on the autostrada/highway A29, passing thru Palermo environs and then veer south on the SS121 to SS189 towards Agrigento.
Has anyone done this drive and would you recommend it?
Is it doable in our time frame?
Any other picturesque routes you can recommend?
If we parked in a designated village parking lot - is this safer (with luggage in the car) than parking along the road?
Any recommendations for agriturismos for a lunch stop (assuming it will be safer to leave the car w/luggage unattended in their parking lot) along the SS189 near Agrigento or along the coastal road? Nothing fancy, < 30E pp, and scenic view of the countryside would be bonus.
This particular trip - we just want to relax, wander in charming villages, take our time to enjoy the varied landscape, be surrounded by Sicilian life, eat/drink ... My friend will be exploring Catania/Etna/Taormina/Cefalu on her own before I arrive in Palermo. We will have 3 nights in Palermo, 3 in Ragusa and 3 in Ortigia together. We will not be visiting the Valley of the Temples and Villa Romana this trip. (I know, I know...)
Thank you in advance ! I have been reading RS forums for many years and know there are a lot of experienced travelers out there !