[Travel] Sicily

[AmexRuislip]

It's a funny thing - we don't actually need gluten - but it's in so much stuff.

Similar here, as my wife's an ex chef, we mainly eat home cooked food.
Fresh ingredients from the allotment help, but only what's in season.
As you say, you wouldn't know if gluten free or not.

 

[Bombardier]

Been to Sicily last two years running and off again this August. Not explored the East coast so, could not comment on Etna etc, however, others who have been have been enchanted. It's a huge island and needs to be explored over a period of three to four weeks to do it justice. Go in May and you should avoid the intense heat when we go (August). So, a flavour....

Palermo is a brilliant city. It's bonkers and it's not that expensive. The markets are busy, noisy and lots of discreet mafioso activity going on. We were having a few cheap Messina's (local beer) watching the locals and one guy threw a meat clever at another for saying something out of turn. Just walk and take in the architecture such as the Quattro Canti, the Cathedral (and area), the Norman Palace, the Royal Palace, the teatro Massimo (amazing theatre and I believe the 3rd largest in Europe). It was also the last scene from the Godfather trilogy. We took in a visit to the mafia museum. Gruesome pictures your thing? Donations and no entrance fee.

Cefalu. Train from Palermo and worth an overnight. Just don't go at weekends or school holidays as the beach will be over run.

Trapani worth a visit. Head on up the cable car to the hill overlooking the town. Erice and Castle Venus. Salemi (if you want the chatty man rebuild a house experience). Further East is Sciacca old town and is stunning and the fish restaurants are amazing. On from Sciacca is Agrigento where you will find the Greek temples. The town is also worth a visit. That's as far east as we have been.

Getting around. Car is needed for the rural parts but train from Palermo airport to the city is cheap and easy.

Shout if you need anything else!

 

[beefypigeon]

Patient: "Doctor, Doctor, I keep thinking I'm a Mediterranean island off the southwest coast of Italy"

Doctor: "Don't be Sicily"

 

[aftershavedave]

We've been several times. Taormina is fabulous and next to Etna, San Vito Lo Capo equally pretty but less historic, but my vote would be Cefalu and a couple of nights in Palermo

 

[Binney on acid]

Any more constructive up to date advice please. We're off to Sicily on Tuesday.

 

[Ali_rrr]

Any more constructive up to date advice please. We're off to Sicily on Tuesday.

Agrigento is well worth a visit. Just make sure you're there fairly early as the sun can really hit you at peak hours.

Another vote here for Ortiga/Syracuse. Palermo and Trapani were lovely. The Messina Sale beer is incredible.

There's a breakfast place in Catania ran by an Aussie called Ciao. That was great, relatively cheap and good company.

Noto and Marsala both have great beaches too.

 

[sullyshuffle]

Vote here for Taormina. Went in September last year, and it was busy but a lovely place to stay and relax. Plenty of great bars and restaurants. As "seen" on White Lotus, but the beach scenes weren't at Taormina!

 

[Insel affe]

My mum used to go to Taormina and loved it. Lots of ruins, spectacular views, Etna next door.

Seconded, Loved Taormina (lots of steps) and the Teatro Antico di Taormina was pretty cool with Mount Etna as your back drop.
Mount Etna is worth a trip, try and get a local guide if you can.

We stayed with a friend in Palermo, it was ok, one night there was a loud explosion and in the morning a burnt out car in the street. Our friend asked what happened to a neighbour as we left his apartment and apparently the car had an "electrical fault"

Yeah right'o

Love Sicily

​

 

[Albion my Albion]

Any more constructive up to date advice please. We're off to Sicily on Tuesday.

Sicilians closely resemble mainland Italians and Greeks genetically. It is a misconception that Sicilians are of primarily Moorish or otherwise African origin, but this has been entirely disproven by genetic analysis of Sicilian genomes.

 

[Southern Scouse]

I went last year to Naxos, just south of Taormina, it was great.
Off again in 3 weeks to the west coast Cefalu which is supposed to me lovely.
I like exploring and the lady likes the beach, crystal seas and boat trips.
Sicily has everything and the food/drink is great.