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Sicilian base cities

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Because a member left a good tip for me we are staying in Castellammara del Golfo, in order to be near Trapani for the Good Friday procession in April. Found a nice airbnb for $40 a night. Spending 4 nights here and planning on touring the eastern most portion by car.

Then, we head towards Agrigento for a night, then to Scicli for 3 nights, to tour the SE. Having a hard time in the northern quadrant.

We end up in Palermo for a couple days before we fly out. 15 days total.

My desire is to stay in smaller cities and take day trips. I guess my question of those in the know is there anywhere along the north coast that would cover our needs. I have driven all over Italy but for the toe and instep and actually found the driving refreshing. Same in Turkey. You know what people are going to do and you do the same.

By the way, if you really wish to see Greek ruins, drive the Aegean and west Mediterranean costs in Turkey. No crowds and the ruins have survived quite well.

Posted by
15798 posts

Ortigia (the old part of Siracusa) is a good base, even with a car. I found it easy to drive in and out without traffic. It's near Scicli so that may not work for you. I urge you to spend a day in Ortigia anyway. I took the train from Palermo for an overnight in Cefalu. I didn't get to Taormina. From what I've read, it may not be a good base, especially with a car. Neither is Catania - too much traffic in the city all the time. I thought it was worth fighting the traffic to see the WWII museum there, but then I high-tailed it out of Dodge.

Posted by
2124 posts

Next trip (not booked quite yet) is starting way up in Amsterdam, flying to Naples, then taking the train to Maratea (halfway down the coast to Sicily) where we'll spend two nights. Then train/ferry over the Strait of Messina, to Taormina for 2 nights (2nd time there), but then were thinking of basing in Cefalu on the north coast for 3-4 nights before flying out of Palermo.

So far my research has shown Cefalu to be a perfect combination--water, history, great food, a walkable town and the close-by Madonie National Forest.

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