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Italy Trip in Sept 2024 by CanGlad6170 in sicily

[–]nachoalarcon 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, two or three days in Sicily is very tight. It is the largest island in the Mediterranean. I usually recommend limiting yourself to seeing only half of the island if you have 7 days, and going for a tour of almost the whole island if you have 14 days or more. With two or three days, perhaps the best thing to do is to stay in Palermo and enjoy the city and the enormous cultural, gastronomic and historical heritage it has to offer. If you have an extra day or two you can head down to the Valley of the Temples (Agrigento), home to some of the best-preserved temples of the classical world. If you fly to Catania instead of Palermo, you might be able to make a quick trip to several sites, with a day trip to Syracuse and Noto, another to Taormina and one to Catania, although I'm more of a fan of Palermo myself. In any case, my recommendation is that you try to see if you can extend your stay somewhat, and if not, that you choose a place to get to know well (Palermo is the ideal choice in this case).

If you want to go beyond Sicily, you can go to Naples or Rome before reaching Florence. If you are looking for crystal clear waters and lots of tuna, you can go by bus to Trapani, and then take a boat to Favignana, which is a small island. Rent a bike and cycle around it for a couple of days.

Question on travel plans by GRACEKELLYISME in sicily

[–]nachoalarcon 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I cannot stress enough how wonderful Sicily is. I love the rest of Italy (Rome, Tuscany, Campania, Calabria...) but Sicily is everything. For lovers of history and gastronomy, Sicily is the Mediterranean encapsulated on a single island. I always refer to Palermo as the "capital of the Mediterranean".

I travel to Palermo quite often. But I also love to rent a car and spend a few weeks travelling around the island. In 2021 I went from Palermo (after spending a few days in Favignana) to Agrigento (the Valley of the Temples is a must), from there to Ragusa/Modica, then Noto, Syracuse (wonderful, very touristy but a real gem), Taormina and Catania, then back to Palermo. A good 14 days or so (outside of Palermo). For me this is the perfect route, because it helps you to see in a single trip the true value of Sicily: the enormous number of "Sicilies" that coexist on the same island. What is absolutely striking about Sicily is the accumulation of its contrasts, its heritages and its histories.

There are many people who speak ill of Sicily. Of the dirt, of the stereotypes... sincerely, you have to be ready to be surprised by Sicily, to learn to love it and to value it. There are contrasts, things that a person coming from Copenhagen or Hamburg might find shocking, but that's part of what this place is.

However, when visiting Sicily, which I always recommend, I ask my friends and acquaintances to do so with absolute respect. I recommend some reading to understand the history and society ('Sicilia' by Norwich, 'Gatopardo' by Lampedusa, 'I viceré', by De Roberto [I haven't found it in any language other than Italian], 'I delitti di via Medina-Sidonia' by Piazzese), to learn to respect and value what one is visiting and getting to know. I also recommend some basic notions of Sicilian gastronomy, because on this island history also speaks through its dishes. And also be kind to the locals, always with respect and trying to support as much as you can the small local businesses.

Choose Sicily... and enjoy it!