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Sicily, April/May, archeology & Norman history, staying in just a few places

Posted by on

01/18/24 04:18 PM
13 posts

I (with husband) want to go to Sicily in April/May 2024. I'd like to spend 2 (maybe a few days more) weeks driving around the island, northwest corner to the south to the east then across the north back to Palermo.

We're interested in prehistory up through Norman times: Palermo (Monreale), Selinunte, Segesta, Agrigento, Piazza Armerina, Syracuse, Mt Etna, Cefalu.

What towns would you recommend we stay in? We'd like to spend multiple nights at a relatively few places. We enjoy day trips. We'd like to stay in a place big enough for a couple of restaurants.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

Elizabeth

Posted by
1045 posts

In general, you’ve got a good overall plan and the right amount of time to do it. Trapani’s a decent base for Segesta, Selinute, and Erice might interest you. There’s also some scant Carthaginian ruins on Levonzo(?) island nearby. So, you can easily justify a few nights there. Seeing Selinute en route from Trapani to Agrigento would be good. You’ll want to at least spend the night in Agrigento.

Piazza Armerina is a popular base. There’s some smaller towns nearby that might be an option, but honestly even Piazza Armerina was pretty sleepy. Based on your interests I’d recommend visiting Morgantina. The ruins are almost completely unmarked, but it’s largely unvisited and very evocative in that way. Has magnificent views over the countryside with Etna looming in the distance. With a full day you could see both Villa Romana and Morgantina.

Ortigia is the place to stay in the southeast. The Paulo D’Orsi archeological museum may be the finest in Sicily. But Ortigia is so outrageously charming you may find yourself forgetting about all the history! Give yourself some breathing room here, 3-4 nights, more if you feel like daytrpping to some of the hill towns to the south.

Posted by
7206 posts

Between Palermo and Cefalù is the Norman castle of Caccamo. It’s off the main road between the cities and up a hill. In Cefalù we stayed at Hotel Alberi del Paradiso. It had free parking and a good buffet breakfast. While a mile from the historic center it had a free shuttle to/from the center.

In Agrigento we stayed at B&B Villa San Marco. It’s off a dirt road and I’m glad looked up how to get to it beforehand. From it we walked to the Valley of the Temples through an olive grove.

We only visited Selinunte en route from Agrigento to Marsala. In Marsala we stayed at Hotel Carmine. It’s within a ZTL, but you can enter for up to 30 minutes to unload. The hotel moved our vehicle to a free spot on the side street outside the ZTL.

Rather than try and drive in Palermo we stayed at B&B Elvira Al Duomo in Monreale. It had free parking. We took the public bus into Palermo.

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