Hi,
We are planning a 3 week trip in July to southern italy (Amalfi Coast, Aeolian Islands & Scily). We've not been south of Rome at all. We're keen to see Amalfi Coast etc and we also have family links back to the Aeolian Islands, so are keen to see them too. We'd like some feedback about our itinerary as we're not sure if we're alllowing enough time in the different destinations. There are 2 overnight ferries departing Naples to Liapri 3 days apart that we could take but am not sure where our time is best allocated. Our current options are:

OPTION1: (10 nights Amalfi Coast, 7 nights Aeolian Islands, 8 nights Sicily)
day 1: arrive rome -train to Naples & ferry to Ischia (3 nights)
ferry to Sorrento & bus to Positano (4 nights)
(visit Pompeii, Amalfi, Ravello)
ferry to Capri (3 nights)
ferry to Naples & overnight ferry to Lipari
Lipari (3 nights)
ferry to Panarea (2 nights)
ferry to Salina (2 nights)
ferry to Mazzina & bus / train to Toarmina (3 nights)
(visit Mt Etna)
collect car & drive to Syracuse (1 night)
drive through Noto to Modica (1 night)
(visit Ragusa)
drive to Agrigento (1 night)
(visit temples)
drive to Palermo (2 nights)
(drop off car on arrival into Palermo - at Airport? to avoid driving in the city)
depart Palermo - Rome - home

OPTION2: (7 nights Amalfi Coast, 9 nights Aeolian Islands, 9 nights Sicily)
day 1: arrive rome -train to Naples & ferry to Ischia (2 nights)
ferry to Sorrento & bus to Positano (3 nights)
(visit Pompeii, Amalfi, Ravello)
ferry to Capri (2 nights)
ferry to Naples & overnight ferry to Lipari
Lipari (3 nights)
ferry to Panarea (3 nights)
ferry to Salina (3 nights)
ferry to Mazzina & bus / train to Toarmina (3 nights)
(visit Mt Etna)
collect car & drive to Syracuse (1 night)
drive through Noto to Modica (2 nights)
(visit Ragusa)
drive to Agrigento (1 night)
(visit temples)
drive to Palermo (2 nights)
(drop off car on arrival into Palermo - at Airport? to avoid driving in the city)
depart Palermo - Rome - home

any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, Thanks

I feel like you're snubbing Siracusa and Palermo. Both could use more time than you're giving them. Also have you read about the Villa Romana at Casale near Piazza Armerina? It's a Roman hunting villa with marvelous mosaics, a World Heritage Site.

There's a nice train between Taormina and Siracusa. You could take that train and pick up your car upon leaving Siracusa. (Where I recommend staying on Ortigia, the original town; it's an island, small, semi-pedestrian.)

July is a hot time of year for this trip. And a busy time of year. I'd lock in reservations in air-conditioned hotels.

Thank you for your advice for our trip.I was thinking of spending an extra night in Siracusa.We have booked a place in Ortigia for our stay there. The reason we picked up the car in Toarmina is to visit Mt Etna on the way to Siracusa. If we got the train down, could we drive to Mt Etna from Siracusa instead? Will look into Piazza Armerina - sounds like a great place to include too. Maybe we can visit on the way from Modica to Agrigento?

We have managed to book hotels that have pools in most locations to deal with the heat, but will check on air con too. Thanks for the heads up.

Do you think it will be any less crowded & touristy on the Aeolian Islands than Ischia / Capri / Positano? Or will it be the same all over Italy?

Not sure whether we'd enjoy those 3 flexible days better on the Amalfi Coast or the Aeolians. I know we'd enjoy the more laid back feel of the Aeolians but don't want to allocate too little time on the Amalfi Coast - when it's the first time we've been & it's meant to be an amazing place! (Although Italy seems to be filled with amazing places!)

Do you know the easiest, quickest and most direct way to get from the Aeolian Islands to Toarmina? Would it be the Hyrdofoil to Mazzina or is there a ferry to Messina? then where do you get the train or bus from? We'd like to take the route with least connections & wait times.

Many thanks for all your help.

Sounds like a very relaxing trip to some beautiful places!

I agree with Mimar that you might consider adding some time to Siracusa and Palermo. Make sure you visit Monreale from Palermo.

If you want to wait to pick up a car, you can visit Mt. Etna with a tour from Taormina.

For transportation from Lipari to Taormina, check this board for posts from GAC.

Enjoy!

Piazza Armerina's mosaics are, indeed, breathtaking. Be sure
to get there as early as possible or as late as feasible b/c
the tour bus crowds are overwhelming. The site is under a
ceiling of glass that traps in the heat so it is the next
thing to Hell in the afternoon. But they are so worth it!

I wouldn't miss Montreale.

This is Ischia in various recent Julys: reasonably quiet at the start of the month, somewhat busier by the end - but where isn't it?

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/recjul

Peter

I'd add the extra days to Sicily, lots of places you're not seeing, like Trapani and Erice. Also, Taormina is very touristy, I don't think it needs three nights, while Ortigia definitely warrants more time. I haven't been to the Aeolian islands, but you seem to be spending a lot of time there - what are you planning to do?

You may find my TR helpful: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ing-sicily.cfm

Hi ,
I suggest you option2 : Capri island is very expensive, wonderful but little...I think it's enough to stay just 1 night and you prefer to stay in Ischia bigger and more accessible!!
You can choose hotel near port so you can take ferry easier. Like www.puntamolino.it on the sea and in center of Ischia Porto. Same situation for Panarea you'd better choose Lipari and then go to Panarea with little boat, it hasn't beaches and sand just boutiques!! and your plane for Sicily is perfect.

I almost envy you... good trip!!!