Sicily in the winter time?
Apr 16th, 2011, 03:37 PM
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Sicily in the winter time?
We're thinking about traveling to Sicily next January/February. Any recommendations for a winter itinerary? We're interested in museums, art, food and Roman/Greek architecture (aka "ruins"). Also hiking, weather permitting. Some of the places we plan to visit are Palermo, Erice, Agrigento, Cefalu and Taormina. We're figuring ten days to two weeks. We went to Sicily 16 years ago and are due for a revisit. Thanks!
Apr 16th, 2011, 04:21 PM
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Your winter itinerary looks fine to me, so long as you basically stick to ringing the coast as opposed to trying to cross the interior mountains. For food and architecture, consider spending time Ragusa/Modica/Noto, often referred to as "the baroque towns". For Greek and Roman ruins, the area of Siracusa/Ortygia is immensely rewarding. Obviously 2 weeks would be better than 10 days.
I've noticed that on Fodor's a lot of people who encourage Sicily as a winter destination have never actually been in winter themselves. Neither have I, but I visited Sicily in early April one year and there was significant storminess, including snow in Palermo. That isn't to say it will happen during your visit -- some winters can be cool, sunny and dry -- but to advise keeping your plans flexible and not too crammed in case you need to make adjustments for weather. The very end of February might be better than the beginning of January -- but no guarantees.
Remember too that in winter, daylight is short. I would arrange my days so I wasn't driving in the dark in Sicily.
I've noticed that on Fodor's a lot of people who encourage Sicily as a winter destination have never actually been in winter themselves. Neither have I, but I visited Sicily in early April one year and there was significant storminess, including snow in Palermo. That isn't to say it will happen during your visit -- some winters can be cool, sunny and dry -- but to advise keeping your plans flexible and not too crammed in case you need to make adjustments for weather. The very end of February might be better than the beginning of January -- but no guarantees.
Remember too that in winter, daylight is short. I would arrange my days so I wasn't driving in the dark in Sicily.
Apr 16th, 2011, 06:28 PM
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Hi Gottravel, spent the third week of February in Taormina some years back. The weather was fine for touring. It was particularly warm the day we went to Siracusa. We also took the trip to Mt. Etna where it was cold and snowy - reminded me of Mt. Washington in NE in winter. But back in Taormina, the weather was delightful. Saw many Italians in mink coats because to them it is really winter.
Apr 18th, 2011, 03:56 AM
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January and February can be better than March. The sunny days are pleasant although it gets chilly at night. From Taormina, take the hike to Castelmola. It's roughly a 2 hour hike, excluding the time in the wonderful little town of Castelmola where you can have something to eat, taste the almond wine and buy beautiful linens at better prices than in Taormina. The hike isn't very strenuous - I've done it in rubber soled shoes, but it isn't paved all the way. You go up one side of the hill and down the other side on the Saracen path. Beautiful vistas of Etna and the sea.
The Circumetnea train is a charming, relaxing way to see Etna and a little of the off-coast area. It's about E6,00 and takes 3 hours if you don't get off. I was just in one of my favorite towns, Randazzo, in March and it was weather-wise lovely and devoid of tourists. You can dismount the train there, wander around and re-board. It runs almost hourly since it is used by many of the local kids to go to and from school. I would take the regular train to Giarre-Riposto and catch the Circumetnea train there since the ride out of Catania is like leaving any other big city, so no need to be in a train for a scenic trip.
Piazza Armeria's Villa Casale has re-opened. Don't miss it. Caltagirone, with it's ceramic workshops alongside the grand staircase in the middle of town, is fabulous, too.
If you go to Cefalù don't miss the town of Sant'Ambrogio just 5 miles to the East. A very special, very small town where you can meet locals and sample their home-made products.
In Catania, the pescheria is a must, open 6 days until around 12:30-1:00
The Circumetnea train is a charming, relaxing way to see Etna and a little of the off-coast area. It's about E6,00 and takes 3 hours if you don't get off. I was just in one of my favorite towns, Randazzo, in March and it was weather-wise lovely and devoid of tourists. You can dismount the train there, wander around and re-board. It runs almost hourly since it is used by many of the local kids to go to and from school. I would take the regular train to Giarre-Riposto and catch the Circumetnea train there since the ride out of Catania is like leaving any other big city, so no need to be in a train for a scenic trip.
Piazza Armeria's Villa Casale has re-opened. Don't miss it. Caltagirone, with it's ceramic workshops alongside the grand staircase in the middle of town, is fabulous, too.
If you go to Cefalù don't miss the town of Sant'Ambrogio just 5 miles to the East. A very special, very small town where you can meet locals and sample their home-made products.
In Catania, the pescheria is a must, open 6 days until around 12:30-1:00
Apr 19th, 2011, 02:45 PM
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Sicily might have very warm days in January. On the other hand February and March were quite cold and rainy in the last year (I live in Sicily). So if you want to rent a holiday home please pay attention to what kind of heating it has.
This kind of weather is great if you like to walk a lot and see things since walking in the Sicilian heat can me exhausting.
On the west side you should take at least 3-4 days to visit Palermo, you must see Erice and Segesta and don’t miss Selinunte.
This kind of weather is great if you like to walk a lot and see things since walking in the Sicilian heat can me exhausting.
On the west side you should take at least 3-4 days to visit Palermo, you must see Erice and Segesta and don’t miss Selinunte.
