Sicily - Southeastern/Southwest corners in 13 days?
 

I am really hoping to get some answers today and bring this itinerary to end.

Please critic my agenda as much as possible!

Arrival to Catania: June 30
Departure from Rome: July 14

What are we looking for: history, realaxation, good food, beach time, since we will be there on July

Travellers: me, my husband and 19 months old baby

Since we are bringing our toddler with us and this is going to be our first trip with a baby, I am thinking that if we stay in 2 locations each place and do day trips from east and west parts of Sicily... would make it easy on us???

I gathered info and it seems like Ortigia would be a good choice for us to stay.
And it would be a lot cheaper if I reserve an apartment for a week stay... but wouldn't that be too long?

The areas we want to explore from Ortigia are: Noto, Ragusa, Mt. Etna, Taormina, Caltagironi, Piazza Armerina, Modica, Scicli, Lido di Noto...
Does 7 nights seem reasonable?
The highlight of one of the nights is going to be Andrea Bocilli's concert in Syracusa on July 1 - which I am so looking forward to!!!!

Our next base will be Scopello, with day trips to Agigento's Valley of the Temples, Marsala, Ercie and Segesta, Selinunte, Lo Zingaro reserve... golden sand beach at San Vito Li Capo...

We will return to Rome probably a day or 2 earlier before our departure to home.
Do you have any suggestions? should I limit our stay in Sicily to 10 days?
Our budget is set at $6000 - however, I already spent $3000 on airfare...
is $3000 moderate enough for lodging, food and sightseeing?

Thanks and looking forward to your replies.

I'm not qualified to talk about some of the towns, travelling with a baby or going in July...however I'll offer a few observations since I just returned yesterday after 7 days there...

I hated Taormina other than the view. It's overcrowded with people looking for souvenirs and lava ash trays.

Erice and Modica were our favorite towns.

The valley of temples is well worthwhile.

Don't ever go to Palermo unless you're driving a tank.

Eat as much ricotta cheese and chocolate as possible while in Sicily.

Have a great trip!

buongiorno, welcome back! I am glad you still have fresh memories to share...

Thanks for your thoughts! I will certainly consider it. Taormina will be certainly a day trip for us.

How expensive was Sicily? Is it true that its not as bad as Rome, Florence... etc...

Will you have a car? If not, Scopello will be a bit out of the way for sightseeing - I'd suggest Trapani instead. Also, while I wouldn't want to drive in Palermo, it's fine by public transport and you really shouldn't skip it.

Be prepared to take siestas - I hate to think how hot it's going to be in July.

We plan on renting a car from Auto Europe. I am guessing Palermo will a fly to Rome destantion for us only.
Thanks for suggesting Trapani!

I agree about the heat. Bear in mind that driving in Sicily - outside of the few major highways - takes much longer than you (or Google maps) would expect. And a lot of the towns you mentioned are hill towns which means you walk UP a lot which won't be easy with a little one. For example, we stayed in Modica & our excursion to Caltagirone & Piazza Armerina was a whole day.

My trip report: http://members.rennlist.org/imcarthur/sicily.htm

Ian

I stayed here in Trapani: http://www.ailumi.it/home-eng.asp

Great location, although not luxurious.

I also stayed in Erice, which I loved, at: http://www.hotelmodernoerice.it/modernoeng.htm

Click on my name for my Sicily TR.

To answer the question, our experience was that Sicily was less expensive than the mainland and certainly cheaper than Rome and Florence in general. Meals seemed much less expensive.