cindyjo

Hello, we will be in Sicily for 6 weeks 29 January to 13 March. Our path takes us to Palermo, Selinunte, Agrigento, Petralia Soprano, Cefalu, Piazza Amerina, Scicli, and Ortigia. We have some long stays and some short stays. We plan on 1 long day trip from Palermo to Segesta and Erice. We are definitely slow travellers and will also have a rental car for the trip excluding Palermo.

#1. We have 4 nights at the end of our trip unplanned before flying back to Rome and we have two good choices: 4 nights in Taormina at Villa Shuler with possibility of day trips (we will still have our rental car) or heading west again to Rosemary Tasca’s B&B for a 3 night stay including a tour of the Tasca d’Almerita with a last night in Cefalù.

We have the choice of flying out of either Catania or Palermo so that is not an issue.

#2. As it stands now, we have 5 nights in a rental apartment in Scicli with another 4 nights in Ragusa. We have chosen Scicli in order to visit the Montalbano sights and Ragusa as I had a hunch we would enjoy staying there and exploring the town and area. Now I am wondering if 9 days in that area of Sicily is too much. (We are 9 nights in Ortigia).

I seem to be totally incapable of making a choices at this point. Please help with any thoughts or suggestions.

Thank you.

massimop

Given the unpredictability of the weather, and the length of your trip, I would stick with what you have regarding Ragusa and Scicl. I probably would lessen the time in Ortygia, but others adore the town, so can't really advise. (But will advise maybe taking an excursion out to Pachino for lunch one day when the weather is fine if you haven't already put it on the agenda.

Were it me, I would spend the unplanned nights in Catania, but I mainly say that because I haven't been and am really interested to go. Plus, it is on the side of the island that tends to get marginally warmer, drier weather (but who knows?) However, not everybody likes cities or a lot of sightseeing in churches & museums, plus Catania is one of those Italian cities where people get warned a lot about thieves and what gets called "gritty".

Never have been to Cefalu (but were I going, I would go in winter). Not a big fan of Taormina, but if you want to see it without the mobs of cruise ship tourists, that would be a good moment to try. If you don't much like it, you've got a car and head out. If rain that makes that impossible, there are probably worse spots on the planet than Villa Schuler to curl up with a good book and a glass of wine from Etna.

massimop

Also, having never read the Montalban series I don't know what sites in Sicily you already have mapped out, but this is an interesting interactive guide to little known towns in that area, and maybe some of them would interest you as a lunch destination and a look-see:

http://www.italythisway.com/places/buscemi.php

PalenQ

From Taormina I'd suggest a drive around Mt Etna and head to Philosopher's Tower to ascend to the crater (by lift and all-terrain vehicle) or just drive around the base - one of highlights on my Scilian trip - though I did not ascend to the crater - just took train around the base - roads parallel the railway. Weird landscapes of lava flows and nice towns. Head to Randazzo from Taormina and go counter clockwise around.

tatteredsuitcase

How fortunate for you to have 6 weeks in Sicily!

I would take any chance I have to be by the sea in Taormina, but you may feel differently. Taormina has access to more restaurants than would your B&B by Cefalu.

You may find 9 days in the area of Scicli/Ragusa a bit much, especially when the beach areas are shut down. Marzamemi, Torrefano, Portopalo, would be a nice place for a drive and some seafood for lunch.

If you want to see Catania, take the train or bus from Siracusa or Taormina, and leave the car at home. It wasn't our favorite city, rather dark and depressing.

Happy planning!

PalenQ

I only transited Catania changing train stations from Trenitalia one to CircumEtnea station and was surprised at elegant tree-lined boulevards and a much more spiffy looking city than Palermo but of course I did not see all of it.