I am having trouble with my itinerary from Ragusa to Palermo in Sicily. I need recommendations on where to go on the western side; we have looked at Caltagerone, Agrigento, Erice , Segesta, Piazza Amerina?? We have about 4-5 days and don't know how to schedule or if I want to see all of those. We do like the historical sites plus the beautiful scenery. Also is there one or two places that would be good bases for our trip? Thanks Marianne Also we would like to see a few things well that all of it on the run.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16243 posts
You may want to add Selinunte and Cefalu to your list. Also for pure scenery, the Zingaro Reserve is worth a visit (and a hike plus a dive in the sea). San Vito Lo Capo has the best beach in Italy (according to several annual rankings). I like to use Scopello as a base, a very quaint village (but you need a car).
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Segesta and Monreale are easydaytrips from Palermo. Cefalu could be a daytrip but it's a great place to chill out for a couple of days. Piazza Armerina is a good base for a daytrip to Villa Romana. Erice can easily be reached from Trapani, or you could overnight there.
Does the 4-5 days include your stay in Palermo, or is it just the time you have after you leave Ragusa and before you reach Palermo?
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
For an idea of about the fastest way it can be done and our favorite hightlights, compare Rick's Sicily tour itineraries (three versions, depending on travel date).
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
8056 posts
We stayed in several of the places you mentioned in December 2012 (lots of 1-night stays in our brief week on Sicily), and Erice was fabulous (need a tiny car for those winding streets), and Piazza Armerina and Caltagirone are very close to each other - we stayed in Caltagirone, and found driving to, through, and around it was easier than Piazza Armerina town. Near both of those is Aidone, with its small but very interesting museum, and the nearby ancient site of Morgantina, which is well worth visiting. Agrigento was challenging driving up in the old town. We visited the Segesta temple on our way to Erice. If we'd had more time in Sicily, we'd have spent an extra night or two in Modica in the southeast.