I went to Cinque Terra villages in Novemeber one time, and found over the half the restaurants completely closed. Is it like that in Sicily, particularly coastal towns?
Posted by
Sapulpa, OK, USA
6366 posts
RailRider, I don't have much to add, but we were in Sicily in February a few years ago, and in at least one town popular with tourists (Ragusa) we had a very difficult time finding an open restaurant. Most of the "recommended" places were closed for the season. I don't remember having that much trouble in the other towns we visited, though.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15453 posts
If you go to a small seaside town that might be bustling in July or August, it might appear like a ghost town in January. I had once that sensation in the popular seaside town of Fontane Bianche, near Siracusa, and I was there in May.
If you go to a location not subject to the seasonality of tourism, everything will be open. Palermo, Catania, Taormina, and generally all major cities and towns, will have restaurants open for the locals.
If you go there in January, when it is often rainy, although not extremely cold, I recommend you stick with very big towns, or even better, cities like Palermo, Catania, or Siracusa. Taormina is not huge, but it’s part of the largest metro area in the island (the Catania plain), therefore it won’t be a total ghost town, even in winter.
Posted by
OP
Los Angeles, CA
548 posts
Thank you everyone. I think I just need to stick there larger cities like Palermo and Catania. What about Siricuse?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15453 posts
Siracusa is good. With approximately 120,000 residents it is big enough, although not as huge as Palermo or Catania, and it is one of the prettiest cities in Sicily, especially the Ortigia Island, in the historical center. Personally I consider Siracusa and Palermo the two most beautiful cities in Sicily. You could split your stay in both, if you are staying long enough.