Six days in Southern Sicily
 

Ciao a tutti!

My wife and I have six nights to spend in Sicily in April 2024. We're flying into Catania and driving immediately to Siracusa/Ortigia for two nights. Then we planned to stay at a B&B in Noto for another couple nights to visit Noto, Modica, and Ragusa. Our final two nights are up in the air, however we would prefer something less touristy, walkable, and "authentically Sicilian." Eventually we must make our way to Palermo from where we're flying out on day 7.

Questions for those who know Sicily:

1) Does the current time allocation seem appropriate, or would you spend an extra night in either Syracuse or Noto?
2) Would Gangi be a great town inland to spend the 5th and 6th night, perhaps allowing for a day trip to Cefalu (or vice versa)?
3) Are there other candidates worth seriously considering?

Thank you

Cherry_Wonderdog, this dated TR shows our Palermo days. The beach at Mondello​​​​​​, the amazing Monreale, and Casales' mosaics would get my vote.

https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...ispreloading=1

Caltagironia (known for its ceramics) and Piazza Armerina appeared less touristy in spite of their own appeal

Ragusa Ibla!! I would base there are visit Noto on a day trip.

SABBINIRICA B&B.


https://sabbinirica.com/en/


https://www.hungryonion.org/t/sicily...-2023/34398/43

Thank you.

First, why be based in Ragusa Ibla and visit Noto on a day trip and not be based in Noto and visit Ragusa Ibla on a day trip?

Second, Sabbinirica looks great, but are you sure it's as nice now that management has changed hands?

DG

Wait...how did you f ind out its changed hands since May?? Let me know, please!! Thank you!!

Noto seemed very touristed to me.....not the same feeling at all as Ibla or the upper Ragusa.

I heard directly from Laura, the owner. In fact, she still owns the property with her sister-in-law, however the new manager since August is Marco. From the reviews I've read so far on TripAdvisor, he is very nice and attentive.

When you stayed there, were you in a classic, superior, or deluxe room?

No Idea what room but it was a few steps off the back street and had a double bed and a single and was FANTASTIC!

Will see if I can find room number.....you CANNOT GO WRONG WITH THAT PLACE!

I also recommend staying in Ragusa Ibla. We stayed at Cuturissi, which we really enjoyed, but Sabbinirica also seems great. We enjoyed Ragusa more than Noto, overall, although Noto is also charming.

As to where to stay after leaving the Hyblaean region... Caltagirone, Piazza Armerina, and the small towns of the Madonie (Gangi, but also Geraci, Castelbuono, the Petralia's, Isnello, Collesano) are all nice... But if you haven't been to Palermo and have to leave from there anyway, definitely spend a couple of days (at the very least, ideally much longer) there. It's really unique and interesting and beautiful. You can easily do a day trip to Cefalu' by train from there.

Thanks. We only have six nights total, so after two in Siracusa and three in Ragusa Ibla, we'll only have one last night before flying home from Palermo. Perhaps Caltagirone would be a worthwhile stopover on the way to Gangi. I suspect Palermo might be better suited for a future visit when we have more time and arrive there (e.g., before we rent a car). You agree?

Ah, yes, if you’re thinking you’ll come back for a longer visit, it makes a lot of sense to skip Palermo this time. Or you could get a taste this time, seeing the highlights in a day, and come back for longer next time, to explore further. It’s up to you.

Caltagirone is nice and so are its ceramics… Although, to be honest, as far as traditional ceramics towns I like the less touristy Santo Stefano di Camastra better. Santo Stefano could also work well as a last stop before flying from Palermo, better than Gangi (because Santo Stefano is on the coast with direct access to the motorway, so it takes less time to get to Palermo from there). But if you’re set on Gangi, that’s also nice.

Piazza Armerina and the Villa del Casale are worth a stop on the way to Gangi, and so does the hilltop village of Sperlinga (with a castle and cave dwellings), if you have time.

(I’m confused though, 2 nights in Siracusa, 3 in Ragusa, 1 in Caltagirone and 1 in Gangi makes 7 nights, right?)

No nights in Caltagirone. I was just thinking of a possible stop-over along the driving route to Gangi. I'll definitely check out Santo Stefano di Camastra, although I've heard a lot about Gangi being one of Italy's prettiest villages, and it might offer some contrast to the previous towns visited.

Ah, I see. Making a stop in Caltagirone on the day you leave from Ragusa and drive north definitely makes sense.

Gangi is indeed part of the “Borghi più belli d’Italia” (most beautiful villages in Italy) association, but to be fair so are Calascibetta, Sperlinga, Agira, Geraci, Petralia Soprana and more. See what accommodation is available in the different villages.

I would personally spend an extra night or two in Ortigia (with day trips to Noto and Modica) and then spend a couple of days in Palermo (it's a truly wonderful city).

Amar

Personally I would stay 3 nights in Ortigia and 2 in Ragusa. You can easily see Noto on the way from Ortigia to Ragusa Ibla, or else visit from Ortigia. (40 min), but personally I think Ortigia / Siracusa has more to offer than Ragusa. It definitely makes more sense to base in Ragusa Ibla or Modica rather than Noto if you are heading in the direction of Palermo. I would highly recommend a stop to see the mosaics at the Villa Romana near Piazza Armerina rather than Caltagirone, unless you are keen ceramic shoppers. We will be in Sicily in April too - this time trying to tear ourselves away from the places we keep returning to and going Catania - Palermo via a more southern route. In Ortigia don't miss the market. Have lunch at Fratelli Burgios. And we have already booked Cortile Spirito Santo for dinner the one night we are stopping there. (We have visited the city already 3 times which is why I'm recommending it despite not staying long this trip).

Tell me more why you would spend three nights in Ortigia and only two in Ragusa versus the opposite. My thinking was that Ragusa Ibla (Noto has already been ruled out as a hotel spot) would allow for easier travel to the neighboring towns and sites which, in the aggregate, merit more time. Are you implying that Siracusa/Ortigia is so spectacular on its own that we're better off shrinking the time spread between Ragusa Ibla, Modica, Noto, and Scicli? (BTW, you're not the first to speak highly of Ortigia to us, but even the B&B suggested that two nights would be sufficient.) Incidentally, do you have a favorite hotel there?

Thank you.

You need at least two more nights in Ortigia. We spent a week and didn’t want to leave.

We spent 4 nights in Ortygia, which gave us three full days. A day trip to Noto, another visiting the sights at Sirscusa and the third at Ortygia itself. We had the evenings there too and thought it was perfect. 😍