scrb11

Though it should be said that Sicily has a reputation for disreputable rental agencies, who will claim damage to cars that the renter isn't responsible for. The TA forums have a lot of such accounts and warnings to be wary with the local rental agencies. Hertz and Europcar are there but they tend to be more expensive.

The main issue is parking where you're staying, making sure they will take care of any ZTL crossings if you have to cross into ZTL to reach your lodgings.

Maria_G

Thanks so much, your info is great. No worries about jet lag for us, this is just one leg of a longer stretch in Italy. One thing I know we want to see is Etna, possibly taking the trip up if we can. Our flight into Catania arrives fairly late (only 1 a day from Milan) so we don't want to have to go too far for the first few days. Then to somewhere around Agrigento for 3 nights, might seem like a lot but we love taking day trips each day, maybe as far as Selinunte. Our last 4 days are booked into a beachfront apartment in Cava d'Aliga, we want to see Noto, Ragusa, etc.

kja

Do you mean to go as near to the top as you can, or do you mean to take a trip to visit its wineries? I did the former as part of a full-day tour from Taormina that also included a visit to the Gole dell'Alcantara (which I wanted to see). The tour involved a combination of bus, train, cable car, 4x4 or some such thing, and foot (some of those on 2 or more legs) and it took us to an area just below the final peak. Some people climbed that final peak; I stayed with the main group and guide for an exploration of that area. Etna had been smoking in the days before my visit, some of the fumaroles were venting while I was there, and there was some relatively new lava (just a month or so old). I found it fascinating, in part because there was still extensive snow / ice cover (I was there in May), and the contrasts of black lava and white snow against some spectacular scenery in the background (I was lucky with that!) made for some striking images. And the experience of heat through my very thick-soled shoes while needing earmuffs to protect from bitterly cold winds made for a bizarre and interesting experience. Without snow cover or if the views were blocked (as I'm told they often are late in the day), I'm not sure I'd find it so interesting.

Definitely bring cold weather gear and thick-soled shoes. In addition to MANY layers, I had earmuffs, silk gloves, and protective goggles (there was a lot of grit flying around up there!) and was the envy of my tour group.

Marija

There are many flights to Catania from Milan leaving from Linate airport which is close to the center of the city.

Redlandsneen

Hello. The full day tour sounds amazing. Do you mind sharing the name and details of the tour you took? TIA.

kja

I thought that tour quite wonderful! It was with Gruppo Guide Alpine Etna Sud, starting in Taormina at about 7 a.m. and returning to Taormina at about 5:30 p.m.; it cost something over $100. But please note: I took that tour in 2007, so I would expect that the options and prices will have changed.

Redlandsneen

Hi kja. Thanks. I checked out the Gruppo Guide Alpine Etna Sud website. It doesn't appear they offer pickup from Taormina/Giardini-Naxos any more. I found another company, Sicily Active, which seems to have similar tours. The Gola dell'Alcantara looks amazing too.

kja

I certainly enjoyed the Gola dell'Alcantara!

The tours I see on the Sicily Active website involve trekking or mountain biking, and so may be wonderful, but aren't like the tour I took. It seems that the SAT Group has something like the one I experienced:
https://www.getyourguide.com/taormin...orges-t167897/

joan

Rose Travels, so glad you enjoyed Scicli. I was starting to have second thoughts, but like you we don't care for large cities. Our 9 night itinerary, beginning in a few days:
We are driving from Puglia, and will spend a night in Pizzo en route to the ferry.
3 nights Cefalu (with a food tour booked in Palermo)
4 nights Scicli
2 nights Taormina (we're thinking of bus up to Castelmola and walking back down, then cable car to the beach for our day. Thoughts?)
We plan to visit Ragusa, Modica, Ortigia on one of our Scicli days.
Also, is it feasible when transferring from Cefalu to Scicli, to stop for a visit at Villa del Casale. Google tells me it is right in our path (we're driving).
At the end, we have to return the car to FCO, so will spend a night in Maratea en route to Rome.
Fingers crossed this will be bellissimo!

Redlandsneen

Things to do around Scicli

I've heard such good things about Scicli. We are basing ourselves in Modica and plan to drive to Scicli for a look around. If you can find the documentary The World's Most Scenic Train Journeys, there is an episode on Sicily. There is a train that runs from Modica to Ragusa and the track in that section was built inside a mountain - by hand - in a circle because the grade is so steep. That's on our to do list - much easier than worrying about parking the car right?

joan

Wow! What a cool idea, I will check out that train and documentary, thanks!