pgriffin

Hi everyone

We are currently contemplating our honeymoon this September/early October. It will be for almost three weeks.

At the moment we are thinking Sicily and Calabria – what do people think of this option? Initial thoughts based on my limited research produced something like this:

Fly into Catania or Palermo.

Taormina (6 days);
Aeolian Islands (6 days);
Tropea (8 days – use as a base and do day trips by rental car).

We are conscious of not wanting to move around too much. Our interests are nice beaches, picturesque, non-touristy villages, food and wine and some nightlife (Catania, Reggio Calabria??).

I am aware that we are not staying anywhere in the West of Sicily – should we try and make it over there? It is likely that we will be flying in to Palermo so perhaps it would make sense to start with 3 or 4 nights on the West and then cut back a night for each of our other locations. If so, where would people recommend in the West?

I believe the weather should still be in the mid-20s in late September and early October – is this the case?

Thanks a mil in advance!!

PG

pgriffin

Can anyone please give me advice?

Thanks.

ekscrunchy

Sounds like a good enough plan. I was in Calabria at the end of September 2010 and temperatures were in the high 70s-low 80sF. You could certainly swim in the sea, and sunbathe on the sands. If I were you, I would consider flying into Lamezia Terme, just a bit north of Tropea. And fly home, perhaps, from Catania.

ekscrunchy

Sorry..in the west, look at Scopello and San Vito lo Capo, both close to Palermo. Make sure to investigate the Couscous Festival in San Vito, as that is held the last week of September and supposed to be great fun.

Bus from Palermo:


http://www.russoautoservizi.it/orarien.html


http://www.sanvitoweb.com/english/events.php



Also, I believe that there are excursion boats/ferry from Tropea to the Aeolians, and possibly to Taormina. You could do only the one-way journey:


http://www.marasusatropea.com/things/during-the-day




http://www.comerci.it/escursioni-eolie-en.html


http://www.tropeamar.it/taormina.html

BebFiorelloMilazzo

Hello pgriffin!
if you find a flight to Palermo is just as well start your honeymoon over there visiting Palermo (the place of Mondello have a beautiful beach) and Trapani (San vito Lo Capo the beach is very beautiful), and then continue with the Aeolian Islands (I advise you to the island of Salina is the greenest and produce excellent wine) and then visiting Taormina with Etna and Alcantara gorges! Your journey will continue in Calabria! ask if you need more info!

pgriffin

Many thanks for the recommendations guys!

Bearing in mind that Sicily is so big and seemingly so varied, I am now wondering would it make sense to stay there for the entire three weeks and really explore...what would you say to that? Would it be too much time on Sicily, esp for a honeymoon?

mamcalice

Three weeks in Sicily would be lovely. It would allow you to combine beach time and sightseeing and, IMO, would make a lovely honeymoon.

bon_voyage

We spent two weeks in Sicily, and I left wishing we'd had more time for the Aeolians and several other places. Here's the link to my trip report:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ecial-trip.cfm

ekscrunchy

I thought this was also a good report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...an-islands.cfm

thursdaysd

There's more than enough to keep you occupied in Sicily for three weeks. I spent part of my time there with a tour group and part independently, but it should give you a good preview of what's available:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ing-sicily.cfm

However, I wouldn't use non-touristy and Taormina in the same sentence. One or two nights should be plenty. I'd recommend Ortigia as an east coast base instead, especially if you're spending 6 days on the islands - you might want to do that first to recover from the wedding! On the west, besides Scopello, take a look at Trapani and Erice.

pgriffin

Thanks again everyone!

So having done a bit more research, I now propose three weeks all spent in Sicily, flying into Palermo and out of Catania. Hire a car and spend approx one week in each of the following (with limited day trips obviously):

West coast: Trapani (have Erice, San Vito do Lobo, ruins inland);
North coast: Cefalu (Palermo, Aeolian Islands);
East coast: Siracua or Ortigia (Catania, Taormina etc)

What do people think? Is this better?

Thanks in advance!

bobthenavigator

I like it !

Here are some images to get your juices flowing.

http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=3828

Sassafrass

Sicily is so beautiful, and there is more than enough to do and see for 3 weeks or more. Then you have time to see and explore and get a real feeling for the culture - so yes, stay in Sicily. Don't miss Agrigento.

BebFiorelloMilazzo

It's a good plan but I would recommend a few things:
- While staying in Trapani also visit the Zingaro Reserve, the Reserve of Cofano Mountain, the saline di Trapani. In Trapani September 24 to 29 there will be the international festival of cous cous!
- to Palermo visit Mondello where there are white beaches, go Sferracavallo where you can eat good fish, go to Monreale;
From Palermo-Cefalù are not near the Aeolian Islands ....
- At Syracuse, in addition Taormina and Catania, take a trip to Etna, Gole dell'Alcantara and then the whole area of Modica-Noto-Ragusa-Siracusa.
Have a good trip! Giuseppe

pgriffin

Ok, thanks again for all your ideas...but, I am flip flopping again on this one!! I now think Rome (5 or 6 days) and Sardinia (2 weeks) could be a better option. I've read in more than one place that Sicily is a little bit of a stressful place, esp for a honeymoon. Sardinia certainly does seem more tranquil.

To reiterate, we are after mainly beaches and nice food/wine, with some day tripping options by car to ruins etc.

What do people think?

Thank in advance!