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Sicily Itinerary suggestions welcome

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Thank you for putting my mind at ease and I booked ITA as really it offered the most flexibility. Paying for seats is annoying but... it seems to be the way. We fly into Palermo and leave from Catania. Have a car. Looking to organize our stay I have booked two nights already in Palerm--beyond that, flexible still.

Here is our tentative itinerary and looking for any off the beaten track ideas. We love to mix culture, with natural beauty (hiking); local culture (people watching), ancient archeology--prehistoric through Roman. Pretending to live like a local (grocery shopping, markets). Happy to hear tips as in the next couple days I want to book places to stay. Thank you thank you thank you.

Friday
Palermo: arrive Friday morning. Afternoon, walk around and get to the market before 2:00
Saturday Monreale. Question: Cefalu or back to Palermo ?

Sunday:
Pick up Car at Airport. Drive to Trapani and stop at Segeste en route
Plan to see Erice, we are birders so Riserva Della Zingaro.
Question: Anything we might be missing here.

Tuesday:
Drive to Agrigento. Stop at Selinunte.
Plan to see: Valley of the Temples, Scala dei Turchi
Looking at AirBnBs/apartments on the beach (yup, it will be cool weather) OR agritourismo if any good suggestions... although I don't really care about sitting down for a long dinner. Happy to just be in the countryside.

Thursday
Drive to Siracusa. Stop at Villa Romana
Stay in Ortigia
Want to see ruins, museum, Ragusa

Saturday
Mt. Etna Wineries OR a day in nature of some sort. I don't have to see wineries as we have a place in the Finger Lakes, NY that is wine country.
Question: Looking for suggestions for parks etc. I don't need to hike up the volcano but looking to spend some time in that area.

Sunday
Fly to Rome and home (assuming the immigration stuff will be once we get to Rome)

Thank you

Posted by
424 posts

"Friday Palermo: arrive Friday morning. Afternoon, walk around and get to the market before 2:00
Saturday Monreale. Question: Cefalu or back to Palermo ?"

Palermo - not Cefalù, or when are you going to see Palermo? Just on Friday afternoon/evening?

"Sunday: Pick up Car at Airport. Drive to Trapani and stop at Segeste en route
Plan to see Erice, we are birders so Riserva Della Zingaro.
Question: Anything we might be missing here."

For birds the salt pans of Trapani Mozia might be more interesting than Riserva dello Zingaro?
https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com/2019/02/west-coast-sicily-day-10-saline-mozia.html

"Saturday
Mt. Etna Wineries OR a day in nature of some sort. I don't have to see wineries as we have a place in the Finger Lakes, NY that is wine country.
Question: Looking for suggestions for parks etc. I don't need to hike up the volcano but looking to spend some time in that area."

For nature, hiking and birds and because you are visiting in April when the flowers along the coast should be specatcular, have a look at Vendicari nature reserve:
https://www.riserva-vendicari.it/
I would stay in Ortigia without wasting time changing base again and add Noto and maybe Modica if you're not that bothered about the winery. Also, hiking along the coast in April might be more spectacular than Etna (which is currently erupting a little so road closures going up etc).

Posted by
82 posts

Agree--it's our wish list, although we do love to drive.
I would not know what to cut as I am not sure when I will get back to Sicily and my husband has limited vacation time so I can't stretch it or that will be his vacation for the year. (US!!).

The Vendicari reserve sounds like a good option... hate to miss Etna but......

Posted by
16331 posts

I went to the Reserve of Vendicari when I was at an agriturismo near Avola. I’m not a bird watcher, but I was not impressed. We have similar stuff in the San Francisco Bay Area. I liked the Zingaro better, although different (cliffs with great pebble coves for swimming). I’d spend more time in Siracusa at the archeological park, or go to Taormina and Etna.

Posted by
82 posts

Ok thank you -- I don't want to spend much time in Taormina --was there a long long time ago and even then... it felt very high end touristy despite the beautiful setting--I am not a big shopper. (unless local crafts or something odd). Not sure my husband would be into it. I do want to figure out what to do regarding Mt. Etna. I realize it is erupting and hiking to the top doesn't seem essential to me... but would love a day trip and some natural beauty in that area to see it Suggestions?

My husband doesn't love the Sicilian pottery of bright orange and red but he would love to buy pottery from someone more directly so looking for that too. Thank you

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