Hi. We will be in Sicily for a week in September. We fly into Catania and have 3 nights in Ortigia. We will then drive the northern route and head to Palermo for 4 nights before flying to Puglia for a week. I realize that we will be limited in what we can see but hoping for some recommendations of what to see/do during the time we have. Thanks!
Posted by
Irving
3593 posts
Sleep in Siracusa and Palermo.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
9451 posts
Posted by
1035 posts
It's fine. I don't know what you mean by "northern route". Your Ortigia-Palermo drive will be a long ass drive, made longer if you detour up to drive along the northern coast. There's lots to see in between but you are really short on time. So does driving make any sense if you don't really have time to stop and explore along the way.
TLDR: Think about taking the train to Ortigia and a Bus to Palermo. It'll be cheaper, less hassle and you can chill rather than drive.
Posted by
58 posts
Hi!
We just returned from Sicily a couple of weeks ago. We had a driver pick us up in Catania and take us to Ortigia (just shy of an hour) because we did not want to deal with driving or parking after a transatlantic flight. We picked up a car in Ortigia and drove to Cefalu so similar to your drive to Palermo. We enjoyed the scenery and had a good lunch at an AutoGrill along the way. The road (A19) that we took was under construction much of the way so the drive took longer than estimated, but we had planned for the travel day so did not mind.
One of the highlights of Ortigia was a food tour: https://www.tasteofortigia.com/. Dario was absolutely wonderful. Our schedule did not work with his regular tour so he arranged a private tour for us. The food was amazing, but the off the beaten path aspects of the tour were really special. He took us on a tour of the tunnels under the island that were used as bomb shelters during WW II. I saw another group as we were leaving so there must be other options to access them, but think anyone with an interest in history would enjoy seeing them.
Enjoy!
Posted by
1035 posts
To see the tunnels and the Mikva, you don't need a tour guide. Just go to the church and pay the small fee. They will guide you.
Posted by
6 posts
If you can add Segesta Archaeological Park to your Palermo itinerary, i think you would remember it forever.
Enjoy Sicilia!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
908 posts
That’s pretty fast for Sicily. You will miss much. Have you considered spending two weeks in Sicily and not going to Puglia? You might well find that to be a more satisfying trip.
FWIW we spent a fair bit of time planning a southern Italy trip two years ago. Others on the forum suggested two weeks minimum for Sicily. That was not our original plan, but I think that was sound advice.
We ultimately chose slightly less than that by taking a Rick Steves tour (our one and only) and then we flew to Puglia for 11 days and finally finished with 6 days near and in Naples. Trip Report is at https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/southern-italy-30-days-three-ways-to-travel
Your plan leaves out what may be Sicily’s best Greek and Roman ruins (Agrigento and Villa Romana de Casale) and you’ll have the minimum time for much of what you do hope to see in Siricusa/Ortigia and Palermo. The drive from Siricusa to Messina to Palermo along the norther coast involves over five hours of drive time and that is without stops for Catania, Taormina, Messina or Cefalu (or meals).
One suggested quick visit in Siricusa is the Church of the Sepulchre of Saint Lucy with Caravaggio’s portrait, The Burial of St. Lucy