We are basing ourselves in Terassini for a couple nights. (my grandparents are from here) We are arriving the first week of September in Palermo and will go to Terassini from the airport. While there, I want to go to Grotto del Columbe and am wondering of other day trips. We are a family of 4 adults. Erice is also on my list. Any advice on boat tours to some of the smaller islands? After a few days exploring that area, we will be going to Mazara Del Vallo for about 5 days and from there wish to take some day trips. Does anyone have advice from their experience in this area?
Posted by
back in the Americas
727 posts
Don't know if you will have a car or depend on public transportation. Here are a few ideas.
Daytrips from Terrassini
- A visit to the cave sanctuary of Santa Rosalia ( patron saint of Palermo) on Monte Pellegrino,
- There is a very small but cute, colorful village/ hamlet called Borgo Parrini, not far from Terrassini on way towards Partinico. It apparently was almost abandoned and has been brought back to life by colorful Gaudi style art.
- Pretty beach town - Castellammare del Golfo
-Scopella and Zingaro Nature Reserve
-Segesta
- Erice
- Monreale
- Have you seen the sites of Palermo? Lots there.
Mazara del Vallo - I visited here a few years ago and really liked it. The historical center is filled with narrow alleyways great for wandering around. Lots of colorful ceramic murals on the walls depicting scenes from the town's history. Very notable Tunisian influence. Make sure you visit the little museum that houses the Dancing Satyr that was pulled from the sea by local fishermen. On way from Terrassini to Mazara del Vallo you will pass the Trapani salt pans and then pass through or stop in Marsala, which is famous for its wines.
We did a daytrip from Mazara del Vallo to the beautiful Greek ruins at Selinunte. Selinunte is not far by car but we did go by public transportation. Train to Castelvetrano and then a local bus picked us up at a stop right in front of train station and dropped us off very close to the archeological park entrance. The park is amazing, vast and expansive right on the coast with multiple ruins and relatively few crowds. I recommend that you visit here. Not far from Selinunte is the town of Sciacca which is known for its pottery.
Posted by
OP
28 posts
Pat, thank you very much!
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7208 posts
Marsala is nice to walk around, but has no must see sites. We enjoyed the salt farms at both Trapani and Marsala.
Pat mentioned everything else I would have mentioned.
Posted by
Sacramento, CA
290 posts
Will you have a car?
Erice is a nice stop. Also near Palermo, you could consider Palermo, Monreale, Mondello, Bagheria, Cefalu’, San Vito Lo Capo.
Some others a little further from Palermo include Segesta, Selinunte. Others sort of on that side of the island include Agrigento, Sciacca.
I haven’t been to other islands as there is plenty to do on Sicily.