3 weeks in Sicily itinerary
Dec 30th, 2015, 01:05 PM
#21
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Re: the ferry to Naples -- I boarded in Lipari late one afternoon. It went by a few of the other Aeolians as the sunset, and then passed Stromboli after dark, but on a night when Stromboli was, unfortunately, quiescent. The ferry passed the Fariglioni Rocks and Capri a bit after sunrise, with magnificent views of Vesuvius and the coast and then Naples itself. Truly wonderful!
Dec 30th, 2015, 01:29 PM
#22
Not exactly sure what your itn is after all the comments, but wanted to add a couple thoughts. We have taken the overnight ferry from Naples to Palmero and didnt love it. Ferry was packed and named, so crowded and rather noisy. Cabins were tiny - dont remember the class we had, but it was claustophobic and we did get a larger one which wasnt a whole lot better.
Agree that one can easily visit Villa Romana del Casale in a few hours and move on if you choose. We visited Morgantina and found it disappointing. Perhaps it just pales in comparison to other ruins and the mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale.
We enjoy mixing in agriturismos with town/city stays. We enjoy apts, B&B's and small hotels. But you get a very different feel with agriturismos. You get a very local country feel in them. In Sicily others staying where we stayed tended to be from Sicily or the mainland. They tend to only have a couple rooms and the owners are extremely helpful & caring, often they didnt have great English. We've stayed on farms and all the food was grown on site. Generally food is fabulous and very reasonably priced. We've not stayed in ones isolated in the middle of nowhere, but have stayed in many including in Sicily that are 15 to 20 minutes drive from nearby towns, but you have the feel of being a million miles away from anything or anyone. For example we stayed in one between marsala and Marza de Vallo that was about 15 minutes or so to each. We don't mind driving back from town for some of the nights, but sometimes eat at the agriturismo. They truly can be lovely stays.
We liked Sicily so much the first visit in the fall I vowed to go back in the Spring which we did this past May - and yes, the flowers were grogeous. Have a great trip!
Agree that one can easily visit Villa Romana del Casale in a few hours and move on if you choose. We visited Morgantina and found it disappointing. Perhaps it just pales in comparison to other ruins and the mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale.
We enjoy mixing in agriturismos with town/city stays. We enjoy apts, B&B's and small hotels. But you get a very different feel with agriturismos. You get a very local country feel in them. In Sicily others staying where we stayed tended to be from Sicily or the mainland. They tend to only have a couple rooms and the owners are extremely helpful & caring, often they didnt have great English. We've stayed on farms and all the food was grown on site. Generally food is fabulous and very reasonably priced. We've not stayed in ones isolated in the middle of nowhere, but have stayed in many including in Sicily that are 15 to 20 minutes drive from nearby towns, but you have the feel of being a million miles away from anything or anyone. For example we stayed in one between marsala and Marza de Vallo that was about 15 minutes or so to each. We don't mind driving back from town for some of the nights, but sometimes eat at the agriturismo. They truly can be lovely stays.
We liked Sicily so much the first visit in the fall I vowed to go back in the Spring which we did this past May - and yes, the flowers were grogeous. Have a great trip!
Dec 31st, 2015, 10:31 AM
#23
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Yestravel--the ferry itself was nothing to write home about, but the experience was.
After Villa Romana's crowds and tour buses, I found Morgantina very relaxing. You have to know what you're looking at, but it is one of the better preserved Greek cities with a few unique features.
After Villa Romana's crowds and tour buses, I found Morgantina very relaxing. You have to know what you're looking at, but it is one of the better preserved Greek cities with a few unique features.
Dec 31st, 2015, 10:39 AM
#24
ugh -- the crowds, they really can change an experience. First time to Villa Romana crowds were awful. This past May we went around 10 and it was delightfully uncrowded. Maybe try to get there close to opening in the am.
Dec 31st, 2015, 03:43 PM
#25
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lol, yestravel, I so loved the views from the ferry that I completely forgot the cabin! It was, indeed, small -- but impressive for its efficiency. ;-) The night I took the ferry, there weren't that many people on board, so crowds weren't an issue.
And crowds weren't an issue for me at the Villa Romana del Casala, either. I visited rather late in the day, but it was fairly long enough ago (2007), so things could have changed. And I'm not sure that visiting early in the day is possible with the OP's current plan? I could easily be wrong....
And crowds weren't an issue for me at the Villa Romana del Casala, either. I visited rather late in the day, but it was fairly long enough ago (2007), so things could have changed. And I'm not sure that visiting early in the day is possible with the OP's current plan? I could easily be wrong....
Jan 23rd, 2016, 02:14 PM
#26
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Oh so many responses. Thank you all. I have been busy re configuring our trip.
The reason we do not want to pick up a car in Palermo and drive to Trapani is that we will have been travelling for over 30 hours from Melbourne and will be sleep deprived. This does not make for safe driving or even for stopping and seeing things eg Segesta on the way.
We are booked into a B & B Marina Bay for five nights. This will give us time to visit Segesta, Erice and Marsala and the salt flats on different days without tiring ourselves out. All travel here done by public transport.
We then pick up a car through Auto Europe. Not yet settled as they are unable at this point in time to allow pick up in the city but we have to travel out to the airport. Still working on this aspect with them.
Drive to Selinunte and stay one night Il Tempio Di Hera.
Drive to Agrigento via Siacca and possibly either Scala dei Turchi or Porto Empedocle depending on time.
Arriving in Agrigento to view the temples in the afternoon.
Stay one night Hotel Agrigento Home.
Leave next morning driving towards Enna. Whether we visit Enna or not depends on the condition of the roads and traffic. We will make this decision at Caltnissetta. If time poor then we will head straight to Piazza Armerina and Villa Romana del Casale and spend the night at Caltagirone. Stay at Casa Alba B & B Siciliano.
Drive to Ragusa and spend night in Modica. Villa Ambra B & B
Modica to Noto. Stay in Noto.
Noto to Syracusa. Viewing Tellaro on the way and purchasing combo ticket for Tellaro, Archeological Museum, Park and Palazzo Bellaro. Drive to lodging and drop off luggage. Drive to Archeological Museum. See Museum, Sanctuario della Modonna delle Lacrime and Catacombes. Return car.
Three nights in Syracusa (no further need for car) then bus to Catania Three nights in Catania allowing for a day trip to Etna. Bus to Taormina. One night in Taormina Hotel Villa Nettuno (close to the bus station) then bus to Messina. Connect to bus to Milazzo
Stay in Milazzo and next day take hydrofoil to Lipari. Three nights in Lipari (may or may not visit Stromboli).
Return to mainland and train to Palermo. Five days in Palermo with day trips to Monreale and Bagheria and Cefalu.
Fly to Rome. 8 days in Rome with day trips to Ostia Antica, Cassino. Visit Villa Borghese and take Colosseum Underground Tour.
Return to Melbourne.
We considered flying Palermo to Naples - 4 days in Naples and then returning to Rome for four days but the flights Palermo to Naples other than the cheap airlines, are far fewer than those to Rome and are in fact more expensive. Also we could not see the luggage conditions and costs online. We are not travelling for 7 - 10 days but 5+ weeks so do not travel with just a carry on. We could be hit with unexpected costs.
Many thanks for all your helpful responses. Will post trip report as we travel along provided internet available.
The reason we do not want to pick up a car in Palermo and drive to Trapani is that we will have been travelling for over 30 hours from Melbourne and will be sleep deprived. This does not make for safe driving or even for stopping and seeing things eg Segesta on the way.
We are booked into a B & B Marina Bay for five nights. This will give us time to visit Segesta, Erice and Marsala and the salt flats on different days without tiring ourselves out. All travel here done by public transport.
We then pick up a car through Auto Europe. Not yet settled as they are unable at this point in time to allow pick up in the city but we have to travel out to the airport. Still working on this aspect with them.
Drive to Selinunte and stay one night Il Tempio Di Hera.
Drive to Agrigento via Siacca and possibly either Scala dei Turchi or Porto Empedocle depending on time.
Arriving in Agrigento to view the temples in the afternoon.
Stay one night Hotel Agrigento Home.
Leave next morning driving towards Enna. Whether we visit Enna or not depends on the condition of the roads and traffic. We will make this decision at Caltnissetta. If time poor then we will head straight to Piazza Armerina and Villa Romana del Casale and spend the night at Caltagirone. Stay at Casa Alba B & B Siciliano.
Drive to Ragusa and spend night in Modica. Villa Ambra B & B
Modica to Noto. Stay in Noto.
Noto to Syracusa. Viewing Tellaro on the way and purchasing combo ticket for Tellaro, Archeological Museum, Park and Palazzo Bellaro. Drive to lodging and drop off luggage. Drive to Archeological Museum. See Museum, Sanctuario della Modonna delle Lacrime and Catacombes. Return car.
Three nights in Syracusa (no further need for car) then bus to Catania Three nights in Catania allowing for a day trip to Etna. Bus to Taormina. One night in Taormina Hotel Villa Nettuno (close to the bus station) then bus to Messina. Connect to bus to Milazzo
Stay in Milazzo and next day take hydrofoil to Lipari. Three nights in Lipari (may or may not visit Stromboli).
Return to mainland and train to Palermo. Five days in Palermo with day trips to Monreale and Bagheria and Cefalu.
Fly to Rome. 8 days in Rome with day trips to Ostia Antica, Cassino. Visit Villa Borghese and take Colosseum Underground Tour.
Return to Melbourne.
We considered flying Palermo to Naples - 4 days in Naples and then returning to Rome for four days but the flights Palermo to Naples other than the cheap airlines, are far fewer than those to Rome and are in fact more expensive. Also we could not see the luggage conditions and costs online. We are not travelling for 7 - 10 days but 5+ weeks so do not travel with just a carry on. We could be hit with unexpected costs.
Many thanks for all your helpful responses. Will post trip report as we travel along provided internet available.
Jan 23rd, 2016, 02:37 PM
#28
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Just a few thoughts:
"Arriving in Agrigento to view the temples in the afternoon."
Be sure to give yourselves enough time in Agrigento. It can take 5 or 6 hours to see the temples there (depending, of course, on what you want to see) and the museum can take another 2 or 3 hours.
"to Syracusa. ... Drive to lodging and drop off luggage. Drive to Archeological Museum. See Museum, Sanctuario della Modonna delle Lacrime and Catacombes. Return car."
If you stay in Ortygia -- which I strongly recommend -- you may not be able to drive to your lodging. Make sure you check that with your hotel. Also, you probably do not need a car to see the sites you list in Siracusa.
"Visit Villa Borghese"
Be sure to book your visit to the Borghese Gallery well in advance.
Should be a great trip!
"Arriving in Agrigento to view the temples in the afternoon."
Be sure to give yourselves enough time in Agrigento. It can take 5 or 6 hours to see the temples there (depending, of course, on what you want to see) and the museum can take another 2 or 3 hours.
"to Syracusa. ... Drive to lodging and drop off luggage. Drive to Archeological Museum. See Museum, Sanctuario della Modonna delle Lacrime and Catacombes. Return car."
If you stay in Ortygia -- which I strongly recommend -- you may not be able to drive to your lodging. Make sure you check that with your hotel. Also, you probably do not need a car to see the sites you list in Siracusa.
"Visit Villa Borghese"
Be sure to book your visit to the Borghese Gallery well in advance.
Should be a great trip!
Jan 23rd, 2016, 06:29 PM
#29
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Rasputin...........we are travelling thru Sicily for 21 days also.Arriving April 20th in Catania........departing for Rome May 11th from Palermo.
We are spending our initial 4 nites in Taormina.....then 3 nights on Ortigia. Probably picking up a car in Siricusa and using it until our last stop in Palermo.....dropping it at the airport beforehand.
We will spend one nite at Piazza Amerina.....2 nites in the madonie Mountains at an agriturismo in Polizzi Generosa....then one nite in Agrigento.
While Foresteria Planeta sounds divine....when I checked the rate was $250/night....not MY budget. We are staying in Marinella di Selinunte at Villa Sogno @99 euros/night.....much more affordable
and supposedly delightful.
We are also staying in Scopello for 2 nites and Palermo for 3 nights.
Whatever we all experience, I'm sure it will be memorable.
Safe travels.
PS Since we will be staying in Taormina, we will either take a small organized tour to Etna and the gorge OR there is a HOHO Bus around Etna that you may want to check out.
We are spending our initial 4 nites in Taormina.....then 3 nights on Ortigia. Probably picking up a car in Siricusa and using it until our last stop in Palermo.....dropping it at the airport beforehand.
We will spend one nite at Piazza Amerina.....2 nites in the madonie Mountains at an agriturismo in Polizzi Generosa....then one nite in Agrigento.
While Foresteria Planeta sounds divine....when I checked the rate was $250/night....not MY budget. We are staying in Marinella di Selinunte at Villa Sogno @99 euros/night.....much more affordable
and supposedly delightful.
We are also staying in Scopello for 2 nites and Palermo for 3 nights.
Whatever we all experience, I'm sure it will be memorable.
Safe travels.
PS Since we will be staying in Taormina, we will either take a small organized tour to Etna and the gorge OR there is a HOHO Bus around Etna that you may want to check out.
