Sicily for 2 months

Posted by Cindy (Langley, Wa, Usa) on 04/30/17 04:09 PM

Hello, we are considering a 2 month stay in Sicily next winter. Sicily has been on our bucket list for awhile. We have been to Italy: Rome x3, Tuscany, Amalfi Coast, Venice, Puglia. Each time was an extended stay. I have been researching and do understand it is low season and the weather can be bad, but our goal is to vacate the Seattle wet gloom in a place that will above all be interesting and allow some hiking and cycling as well as visiting historic sites. We often travel off season and enjoy it. Our garden and living in the beautiful NW keep us home during the other 3 seasons!

We are looking for 1-2 bases that would allow day trips or overnight trips in areas where folks stil go about their business in winter, perhaps 1 city and 1 small town. We would rent an apartment or home. My guess is that agriturismos would be seasonally closed but would love to be proven wrong. It would have to be heated in winter.

I would so appreciate your feedback. Thank you.

Posted by Harold

New York, NY, USA

04/30/17 06:31 PM

11294 posts

It was in May and I was only there for two nights, but I had a great stay at an agriturismo practically in the center of the island - Azienda Agricola Silvia Sillitti. Here's my review: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy-reviews/sicily-caltanisetta-central-sicily-agrigurismo

Note that while Silvia runs the place, her husband is a doctor who works in Palermo, and commutes to his work each day from the house. It's about a two hour drive from the house to Palermo (that is, once you know where you're going), and it was less to Agrigento. So, you could see a fair amount of central Sicily from there, as long as you don't mind some long drives (I wouldn't try to see Taormina or Siracusa from there as a day trip, though). The rooms have kitchens or kitchenettes, and so would be great for a long stay.

I'd certainly check with Silvia first; if she's not open during the winter, she may know another agriturismo that is.

In my review I talk about a Garmin didn't know her address, but she said a TomTom would. The next year, my friend went back with a TomTom, and so I can confirm that a TomTom does indeed have her address, and the roads around her house. He said this made things much easier on that second visit.

In two months, I'd aim for three bases, to reduce commuting time for sightseeing. I'd think Palermo would be good for one of them, as it will have lots of things to see and do in less than optimal weather.

If you want more ideas, here's my very detailed report from April-May 2014: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/sicily-palermo-caltanisetta-siracusa-taormina

Posted by Zoe

Toledo, Ohio, US

04/30/17 08:19 PM

11613 posts

Sicilia has a triangular shape, so I would pick at least two bases and perhaps a third. Palermo and Siracusa are my favorites, Piazza Armerina or Enna (in the interior) for s third.

Posted by Nancy

Corvallis OR

04/30/17 08:58 PM

7179 posts

I definitely think you should have at least 2 bases, and probably 3. Somewhere around Palermo in the NW, somewhere around either Catania or Syracuse on the eastern part of the island, and maybe a 3rd base in the middle. I agree that Enna would be a good choice, it's a smaller hill town pretty much in the center. I also like Sciacca, a little bit larger than Enna and on the southern coast - I'm partial to coastal towns. I'm assuming you'll be leasing a car for your two month stay to get around, so any place you pick will have many day trip options to explore and hiking should be good even in the winter. If you'll be sticking with public transportation, then Palermo and Catania will be good choices for better transport options to other places and maybe for day tours to surrounding areas.