3 weeks in Sicily
Nov 21st, 2014, 04:35 PM
#21
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Hi John,
I wasn't soliciting thanks. Just didn't want to bury you with redundant information if you had already researched the trip reports
appriliacs, thanks to you too for the inspiration to visit the Aeolian Islands. My 5 nts in the villa on Lipari were my dream-come-true down time and I loved every minute - especially the views!
John - highly recommend the islands.
I wasn't soliciting thanks. Just didn't want to bury you with redundant information if you had already researched the trip reports
appriliacs, thanks to you too for the inspiration to visit the Aeolian Islands. My 5 nts in the villa on Lipari were my dream-come-true down time and I loved every minute - especially the views!
John - highly recommend the islands.
Nov 22nd, 2014, 02:34 AM
#22
just looked at that B&B in Ortigia, kJ - it looks very nice. is it worth paying extra for the balcony do you think? how long do you recommend staying in Ortigia to get the best out of the area? [sorry to hijack your thread, john. When i get planning properly, just supposing I get the go-ahead from my DH, I will start my own, but for now, I hope you don't mind my tagging along here?]
Nov 22nd, 2014, 02:57 AM
#23
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@ annhig - it depends on what YOU want to do! When I was there (2007) the rooftop balcony @ L'Approdo delle Sirene was available to all guests 24/7, and I took full advantage of that option! MY room didn't have a view worth mentioning; because I (a solo traveler) used the room only for sleep and hygiene, that was not problem for me. YMMV. As for the time in the area, as I said above: "I gave Siracusa itself about 2.5 days, which felt about right for my very intense travel style (up in time for morning sightseeing, on the move until everything is closed, then relax over dinner). If you prefer a more leisurely style, or even want time to each lunch ;-) , you might want to give it more time! Or not -- again, it really depends on your priorities." And to be clear, the 2.5 days that I gave Siracuse did NOT include Noto, which I thoroughly loved and was glad to give an overnight (the differences in the ways the light played off stonework were well worth seeing IMO, not to mention the pleasure of seeing it after daytrippers had left!); but Noto CAN be seen as a 1/2 day trip from Siracusa. Adjust your time accordingly. My time in Siracusa didn't include any other day trips, either. Hope that helps!
MY room didn't have a view worth mentioning; because I (a solo traveler) used the room only for sleep and hygiene, that was not problem for me. YMMV. As for the time in the area, as I said above: "I gave Siracusa itself about 2.5 days, which felt about right for my very intense travel style (up in time for morning sightseeing, on the move until everything is closed, then relax over dinner). If you prefer a more leisurely style, or even want time to each lunch ;-) , you might want to give it more time! Or not -- again, it really depends on your priorities." And to be clear, the 2.5 days that I gave Siracuse did NOT include Noto, which I thoroughly loved and was glad to give an overnight (the differences in the ways the light played off stonework were well worth seeing IMO, not to mention the pleasure of seeing it after daytrippers had left!); but Noto CAN be seen as a 1/2 day trip from Siracusa. Adjust your time accordingly. My time in Siracusa didn't include any other day trips, either. Hope that helps!
Nov 22nd, 2014, 05:11 AM
#24
helps a lot, kja- thanks. I think that probably 3-4 nights, depending on what we want to do with the rest of our time [and what other time we've got] seems about right. Staying in Noto sounds like a good plan too.
I am just reading a new [to me] Andrea Camilleri, called Angelica's Smile, so my appetite is being whetted again for a trip to Sicily.
I am just reading a new [to me] Andrea Camilleri, called Angelica's Smile, so my appetite is being whetted again for a trip to Sicily.
Nov 22nd, 2014, 07:22 AM
#25
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I'll just chime in with my time on Ortigia. 3 full days, no outside day trips. Loved this tiny island and all there is to see and do. Even though I was there over the big May 1 holiday and there were lots of visitors (mostly Italian), it did not seem overrun or crowded at all.
Beautiful in the evenings and the piazza in front to the duomo is really one of the most beautiful I have seen anywhere in Italy.
It was a toss up on lodging choice given all the good recommendations from everyone's trip reports. I ended up choosing La Via della Guidecca and thought it was excellent. My room was on the first floor facing the tiny piazza in front of a church. 2 sets of French doors with Juliet balconies. Separate bedroom and cool modern bathroom with huge shower. The whole room was like an apartment without the kitchen. Roberta, the manager, was very friendly and helpful. Highly recommend.
John, I'm getting envious. I wish I was going again.
Beautiful in the evenings and the piazza in front to the duomo is really one of the most beautiful I have seen anywhere in Italy.
It was a toss up on lodging choice given all the good recommendations from everyone's trip reports. I ended up choosing La Via della Guidecca and thought it was excellent. My room was on the first floor facing the tiny piazza in front of a church. 2 sets of French doors with Juliet balconies. Separate bedroom and cool modern bathroom with huge shower. The whole room was like an apartment without the kitchen. Roberta, the manager, was very friendly and helpful. Highly recommend.
John, I'm getting envious. I wish I was going again.
Nov 22nd, 2014, 08:58 AM
#26
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Nobody's mentioned the mosaics at the Roman villa at Casale unless that's what you mean by Piazza Armerina. Probably the best example of Roman mosaics in the world. And the Valley of the Temples at Agrigento.
Your proposed trip seems to me like an awful lot of driving back and forth. You need to allow for the unexpected, even more so than in mainland Italy. In about 10 days (too short, too short) we encountered 2 freeways with fences blocking entrance and one accident that tied us up for 2+ hours, then required a long detour.
Like others we didn't use our usual hub-and-spoke method of travel in Sicily. When I plotted all the places we wanted to see on a map, it came out more linear. So we flew into Palermo, picked up a car after a couple days in the city (too short) drove to Segesta then to Agrigento, where we spent 2 nights. The next day we drove to and toured the villa at Casale and stopped overnight at an agriturismo. From there we drove to Noto for a few hours, then back to Siracusa/Ortigia for several nights. We ended up in Taormina, which we found to have extremely beautiful views and be very relaxing. Flew out of Catania.
Your proposed trip seems to me like an awful lot of driving back and forth. You need to allow for the unexpected, even more so than in mainland Italy. In about 10 days (too short, too short) we encountered 2 freeways with fences blocking entrance and one accident that tied us up for 2+ hours, then required a long detour.
Like others we didn't use our usual hub-and-spoke method of travel in Sicily. When I plotted all the places we wanted to see on a map, it came out more linear. So we flew into Palermo, picked up a car after a couple days in the city (too short) drove to Segesta then to Agrigento, where we spent 2 nights. The next day we drove to and toured the villa at Casale and stopped overnight at an agriturismo. From there we drove to Noto for a few hours, then back to Siracusa/Ortigia for several nights. We ended up in Taormina, which we found to have extremely beautiful views and be very relaxing. Flew out of Catania.
