My husband and I are going to Sicily in the spring of 2023. My grandfather's whole family came from Bisacquino. Has anyone been there, or stayed there? Looking for tips on this area.
Also, the best place to stay in Palermo that is safe and more quiet, but still walking distance to everything.
Thanks for any help!
I have not been to Sicily yet, but it is high on my list! To help you get good input, I would share the amount of time you have and where you arrive/depart.
If it were my trip, I would pick up a car upon departing Palermo, drive south to Bisacquino en route to Agrigento, but of course much depends on what you have on your list and how much time you have. Good luck!
We plan on flying into Palermo and spending at least 3 days there, then up to Bisacquino for a day or two. We may visit a couple of places near Palermo for a couple more days. Then we leave.
Ideas?
Moneale. You can get there by public bus (or tour bus), but if you're going to rent a car anyway, it could be more efficient to hit Monreale on the way to Bisaquino. I haven't checked a map and don't know how much of a detour that would be.
Palermo is a large city. I doubt that there's an area within convenient walking distance of everything. There may be a specific area that would work well for your planned sightseeing targets.
Hi our hotel in Palermo we stayed at the Hotel Garabaldi. It checked all of our boxes. Clean, safe, walkable, good breakfast, nice size room, quiet and pleasant staff. Check it out. We booked through Venere.com
Loved Sicily and we are headed to Sardinia in September.
Lorie
Also, is see a reply from Acraven regarding walking in Palermo. Yes, it is a large city but very easy to get around. Probably can not walk to everything but our hotel was in a great location And we did walk A LOT, but that's what we do and really enjoy it. Just as a for instance we may find a restaurant 2 miles from the hotel and plan a stroll taking an hour or more to get to it. It is part of the adventure. Walk, shop, stop and have an aperitive or wine and eventually get to the restaurant then maybe a taxi or bus closer to the hotel. Our quest is to relax and enjoy the moment and the city or village we are visiting.
Try not to cram too much in too little time.
Lorie
Thank you for feedback.
We too like to walk, and expect to take our time. How many days do you suggest for Palermo? Is four days enough?
Thank you!
Palermo: 4 nights (3 full days) would be great, including the visit at Monreale up the hill.
The area along the corridor Via Roma/Via Maqueda between the Teatro Politeama and the Quattro Canti is the best, and very safe. If you stay in that area but closer to the Quattro Canti, you will have to walk less to reach the cathedral, the Palazzo dei Normanni, San Giovanni degli Eremiti Church, and the old historical center.
I've never been to Bisacquino, but based on where it is, I think you have a better chance to find accommodations in Corleone, which is only 20 min away by car. Corleone, the historical capital of Cosa Nostra (the Sicilian Mafia), has become an international tourist destination thanks to the fame brought by movie "The Godfather". Don't worry about safety in Corleone. It's safer than any American city.
My grandparents (Di Leonardo and D’Amore) were from Bisacquino. I visited in 2018. If you drive plan your route well. I used Google maps and it routed me on some remote and washed out farm roads! Make sure to have a printed map. We stayed at an agriturismo, Il Bevaio di Corleone in the nearby town of Campofiorito.
www.ilbevaiodicorleone.it/?lang=en
Make sure to visit the Civic Museum. They have a section of the museum dedicated to Hollywood movie producer Frank Capra who was born in Bisacquino. Also if you are a fan of the movie Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, it was filmed in the nearby town of Palazzo Adriano. They have a museum dedicated to that movie.
The Greek Temple of Segesta is about 45 miles away and is a must see.
Thank you so much for the information Barry! We will look into the farm you stayed at.
Interesting that your grandparents also came from Bisacquino.
And thank you for the additional tips!
If you’re still looking for accommodations in Palermo, check B&B delle Vittorie
Here’s an excerpt from my trip report:
B&B delle Vittorie is very centrally located between the Quattro Canti and Teatro Massimo. Giuseppe is very helpful and friendly and he will offer restaurant recommendations and answer all your questions about his beloved city.
My room was very spacious, comfortable and clean. I looked forward to the delicious breakfasts every morning.
Wishing you a wonderful trip in beautiful Sicilia!
