virginiafish

Everyone's recommendations are so very helpful. We are factoring them into our planning! This forum has been wonderful.

We are between 2 choices to stay in Lecce--Prestige B and B and Arryvo, if anyone has recommendations.

bilboburgler

Position they look fine, the Prestige doesn't have dancing girls in the foyer, so would be my choice, both are too classy for me.

virginiafish

We decided to stay at Prestige in Lecce for nights to explore the heel. Appreciate your help. Sorry we have been MIA, but we were involved in a family health crisis that worked out well. Back to planning now.

virginiafish

We are wondering if we should visit Pompeii or just Herleculean, thinking Pompeii may be too crowded. Thoughts?

HappyTrvlr

Do you have time for both or just for one?

virginiafish

Both.

virginiafish

Sassafrass, After a 2 week break in planning due to a family emergency, we are back to looking at our itinerary. We are considering your idea of going to Sicily the entire 2 weeks, with possibly time out pre- or post- to go to Herculaneum. Please...thoughts...

Scotlandmac

We love road trips(husband and myself, mid 60s) and spent a jam packed week exploring some of Sicily a couple of years back - Ortigia(bit underwhelming) , the beautiful towns of the Val di Noto, over the mountains to Cefalu(not wildly impressed apart from the cathedral and the drive itself was rather disappointing), Palermo(magnificent sights here and nearby), Mount Etna, lovely Taormina (really quite stunning) and the atmosperhic old village of Savoca (used as one of the settings in The Godfather.Loved it)

We both had mixed feelings about Sicily though certainly enjoyed our exploration overall but you need to choose wisely.It does depend on your interests too of course.

Would definitely return to Palermo and Taormina perhaps adding on some time in the smaller islands.It seems a shame though not to see something of the Amalfi Coast which is truly spectacular with stunning pastel coloured towns and villages tumbling down the steep green mountainsides.Most easily visited by using the the various inter-town ferries.Capri too perhaps which also offers some lovely walking.The superb Path of the Gods above Amalfi is very do-able.Then a day or so for Herculaneum(I actually enjoyed Pompeii better.)

If of interest, a link here to our time in Sicily with quite a lot of photos:

https://annestravelsandhikes.com/201...ily-in-a-week/

We both love Italy and have travelled quite widely through it over the years(just back from Tuscany and the Lakes which I need to write up.) I’m very interested in landscapes too as well as lovely architecture and churches so the Amalfi Coast always draws me.

virginiafish

Scotlandmac, Thanks for your detailed reply. Studying this all now, as we have to cancel accommodations by April 15th if we change our plans. BTW, we love Scotland, spent 6 weeks there once, and plan to return in Sept., as friends have moved back and have an airbnb near Dumfries.

virginiafish

Well, after a day of research, we decided to tweak our itinerary somewhat, but stay with Southern Italy. Sicily for another time. We are trying to add some time on the beginning and end closer to the west coast for a possible time along the Amalfi Coast. Looking for a private driver, Wrote to Car Service Sorrento, but have not heard back. We may be staying too far away, near Paestrum. Amy recommendations for any tours, day trips, cooking classes Our itinerary and we will have a car.
Day 1, 2: arrive Naples, go to Casale Giancesare Villa Agricola near Paestrum
3, 4, 5, 6: Messaria Aprile, Locorontondo
7, 8, 9, 10: Lecce, B&B Prestige
11, 12, 13: Borgo San Gaetano, Bernalda
14: Il Giardino Dei Glicini, Ercolano
15: Fly out of Naples
Thanks so much!

Tim_and_Jenni

Have a good trip and don't forget to share your impressions. We are also planning a trip to Italy, but our goal is small towns within an hour's drive from major cities. Your assessment of Naples and its surroundings as a place to live would be interesting

virginiafish

Hi, we are not gong to be in Naples. We desire small towns, too.

We have changed our itinerary again... !
arrive Naples
1 night outside of Naples TBD
4 nights Locorotondo (Masserie Aprile)
3 nights Lecce (B&B Prestige)
Ferry to Sicily
5 nights Sicily TBD (small towns in eastern side
1 night Ercolano (Il Giardino Dei Glicini)
fly out of Naples

To be continued. Sorry for all of the changes fellow Fodorites, but in the middle of planning this trip, our son (45) was diagnosed with colon cancer, operated on, and is now cancer-free (case for early screening). So, we have been a little preoccupied, etc., and varied in planning this trip.

virginiafish

[QUOTE=Sassafrass;17540408]
Most especially, do not try to do both Sicily and the Adriatic side of Italy in one two week trip. 3 or 4 days in Naples, Sorrento, AC works with either Sicily or Pulia, but Pulia and Sicily do not work together in 2 weeks.

Well... we made our plans and are staying in Sicily for 5 nights, limiting it to the southeast region.
May 9-arrive evening from ferry and stay at Hotel Casa Adele, Taormina
May 10-guided trip to Mt. Etna ends late afternoon
May 11-
May 12- Southeast loop with guide leaving, and returning to, Syracuse
May 13- stay in Taormina

Questions--Should we drive to Syracuse on May 10th after Mt. Etna and stay there 2 or 3 nights before returning to Taormina? We have reservations for wither decision. Will there be time to go to Villa Romana del Casale, or is that too much?

Clearly, we are getting a "taste of Sicily and will want to return someday.

virginiafish

Decided to stay in Taormina 1 night, Syracuse 3 and back to Taormina last to get to ferry. Thanks for everyone’s help, and patience!

bvlenci

I hope your trip is wonderful. Please come back and tell us how it went.

I just now noticed Sassafrass' advice about combining Sicily and Puglia. I'm just curious about why Sicily and Naples work well but Sicily and Puglia don't. It looks to me as though the travel would be very similar. Is it because you could take the overnight ferry from Naples?

ekscrunchy

Why are you staying twice in Taormina?

It is not so pleasant to drive in and out of that town, and park. And honestly, you can get the feel in one overnight. During the day it teems with tourists and is not so pleasant in season.
For the last night in Sicily, I might consider staying on the northern slopes of Etna, or even near Messina, or maybe even north of Catania---in each of those places, you could find an agriturismo with good food on site.

Far different option and maybe not a good one for you: Ragusa is so different from Siracusa and I think you have time for an overnight there....it's 2.5 hours drive to the ferry from Ragusa.

virginiafish

Thanks for the sound thoughts. Interestingly, we did not think of spending time in Taormina. We are getting in late, and leaving early, on the ferry and found this the closest place to stay. I will re-check this thinking. There is parking for a fee. On day, we have a private guide to take us on a tour of Southeastern Sicily, including Ragusa. We looked into staying there one night, but it didn't work out.

ekscrunchy

But isn't the ferry out of Messina?

Taormina is FAR from the closest point to stay near the ferry...there are dozens of great options that would be closer and, for me, more interesting.

Scotlandmac

I must say I loved Taormina during our Sicily trip - along with Palermo itself it would be one of two places we visited which would draw us back.Taormina is small and yes, busy but it's so beautiful and the views of Etna are wonderful.We only had one evening in the town (after a day time wander) as we were staying way up in Castelmola.Fabulous sunset views over the volcano from there too and a lovely old castle to wander up to.
The wider area around Taormina, we also enjoyed - specifically, Savoca, an under restoration, pretty hill top village with church bells ringing and a choir singing in one of the churches as we passed by.Will never forget it.As a big fan of The Godfather films ,lovely Bar Vitelli, used in the film so evocatively is still there at the village entrance.Loved that stop we had there too, with some excellent Pistachio Cake.

We also found a long shingly beach for swimming between the village and Taormina, far from the madding crowds in the pretty but too -busy-for-us little beaches beside Isola Bella.

virginiafish

ekscrunchy and Scotlandmac, Thanks for your advice! We have changed our last night to be near the ferry at Villa Pulejo and will explore the Taormina area after our first night staying there at Hotel Casa Adele.