Independent travel around Sicily by car. Route. Five places worth visiting Sicily Traveling around Sicily by car

Experienced tourists are often interested in how best to organize their own trip to Sicily. The best way would be to rent a car, which will be useful for active trips to various ancient cities and beach resorts.

Features of independent travel in Sicily by car

Initially, you need to choose a car to rent. To have a successful trip to Sicily, it is advisable to contact a reliable company, carefully study the official data and determine the potential benefits. Local and even international companies are trying to take care of themselves and think about the potential benefits, so you need to carefully study the terms of the contract, evaluate the prices of the services offered, and inspect the rented vehicle.

It will be especially important to thoroughly check the condition of the machine. Otherwise, they may try to pin scratches and dents on someone who did not take care of their additional safety.

Traveling around Sicily by car

It is recommended that you agree to additional insurance through a third party company. This is due to the fact that local residents are still not accustomed to following driving rules and can drive as they please. It will be especially difficult to drive a car in a city where there are traffic jams and the number of vehicles is off the charts.

Advice! Sicily is a relatively small island in Italy, so you can navigate around the best route. In addition, pointers help in most cases. If you are planning a trip to a small town or even a village, you need to plan your route in advance in the navigation system and use local maps.

Only by taking into account such features will an independent trip to Sicily be successful.

Excursion walks

Route around Sicily by car

The main task is proper planning of the tourist route. If you plan to actively travel around Sicily by car, you need to resolve numerous issues.

• It is recommended to decide in advance on overnight stops and visits to outlets, small towns and real resorts. In this case, you can focus on exploring the entire island in one trip (a circular route will be made) or divide the entire program into 2 parts (western and eastern). If you plan to split the program, you can carefully study Sicily and get the right impression of the resort island.
• Be sure to choose hotels for an overnight stay. It is advisable to contact hotel complexes where you can leave your car in the parking lot. It is not advisable to park your car in city centers. You can stop with a car on the outskirts of Italian cities and even in villages, since in such conditions the issue of parking will be easier to resolve.
• A navigator and a road map of the region often become travel companions. Navigators do not always allow you to navigate Italian cities with numerous confusing streets. Only having a road map of the region will make traveling easier.

When planning to visit Sicily, it is important to plan the route by car correctly. The answer to this question will depend on proper travel planning, taking into account time, financial capabilities and personal wishes.

Important! The most obvious option is to start your upcoming trip from Palermo or Catania. Both Sicilian cities are the largest, so you can easily get to almost any point of interest from them. In the future, you can stay in the most interesting and important cities for 1-2 days, since most local resorts are of particular interest to tourists.

Day trips around the area are possible from Palermo and Catania. This will allow you to visit many places in the region, including:

• Syracuse;
• Taormina;
• Noto Valley;
• Etna;
• Segesta.

If you don’t get attached to one place, there will be a lot of route options. You can create a circular route or go deeper into Sicily. The most important thing is to clearly understand what you need to focus on for an active trip around the Italian island.

Sicily - what to see by car

In Sicily, you can drive your own car and, of course, focus only on your personal wishes regarding your upcoming vacation. In addition, many Sicilian cities and resorts surprise with their architectural appearance and ideal conditions for staying on sandy beaches.

Sicilian roads

Palermo

Palermo is the capital of Sicily. The first acquaintance will take about 2 days. Here you can see ancient architecture, visit luxurious beaches and taste delicious Italian cuisine. In Palermo, it is advisable to book accommodation in the center, avoiding the outskirts, as safety depends on this.

The Palermo Cathedral is considered an important landmark of the city. If you wish, you can pay attention to other attractions, including the Norman (Royal) Palace, which was formerly occupied by kings.

In the future, you need to decide what to do on the island of Sicily.

Cefalu

A charming city in Italy, which is famous for its many attractions:

• The Cathedral, decorated with picturesque mosaics;
• the Mandraliska Museum, famous for its valuable collection of paintings;
• natural attractions: La Rocca rock, Madoni National Park.

On a note! It should be noted that Cefalu beach is considered one of the best in Sicily.

Taormina

When planning to travel on your own, you should definitely visit Taormina. The resort is located 210 kilometers from Cefalu, so the trip will take about 2.5 hours. Many people think of the resort as pretentious and expensive, but you can actually experience a different side to this city. You can stay here for a couple of days, but you need to leave your car outside the historical center.

Taormina is famous for its ancient theater, which was built before our era and still hosts important cultural events. The ancient Corvaggio Palace, where the Museum of Art of Sicily operates, deserves attention. It is not surprising that the city attracts many tourists.

Syracuse

Syracuse is an ancient city in Sicily. You can stay here for 2-3 days. In the ancient city you can see the Old Town and various attractions, and enjoy a beach holiday. Most attractions are located in the historical center.

Syracuse is an ancient city of Sicily

Parking in Sicily

If you are planning to give up public transport when moving between cities, you need to know how to drive around Sicily by car. One of the significant issues is city parking.

There are different types of parking:

• large parking lots on several floors, but the space will be expensive;
• regular parking areas, which are cheaper, but sometimes there are not enough spaces;
• multi-colored parking spaces in cities: white ones are free (there are almost always no spaces); blue paid (fully employed during working hours); yellow ones are private (they cannot be occupied).

When wondering how to get to the island of Sicily cheaply, you need to take into account the specifics of paying for parking. At organized places, payment is always made to the person in the booth. With blue parking spaces, payment can be made to a "caretaker" or at a machine, sometimes requiring special coupons.

Parking in Sicily

When planning active skiing in Sicily, you need to consider the following tips:

• Many Russians are afraid of toll roads. In fact, there are practically no toll roads in Sicily, so the cost will be minimal. In addition, the system works according to the usual scheme: entry is organized through a checkpoint, and you need to use a ticket from a machine. After driving along the toll highway, you need to go through a checkpoint and pay in cash or by credit card. The main difference between the tracks is their ideal condition.
• When wondering how to travel to the island of Sicily on your own, it is advisable to plan refueling on weekdays and for the day. Professional services can only be used at specified times. At night and on weekends, gas stations operate only in self-service mode. In addition, you won’t be able to transfer to a bus, because the route requires travel only in a rented car.
• Beginners will find it difficult to operate the car. The situation on the roads is often chaotic. It is important to prepare for constant maneuvers.

If you are attracted to the island of Sicily, then what to see while traveling by car needs to be determined in advance, taking into account your personal wishes. Only in this case the trip will be successful.

You can get to Sicily by car from any city in Italy, as well as Europe. However, it is worth considering that this is the most expensive way to travel to Sicily. Gasoline in Italy is quite expensive and almost everywhere there is a fee for using roads. The cost depends on the category of the car and the mileage, as well as the mileage of the road. But if you still decide to come to Sicily by car, several resources will help you create a route: https://www.viamichelin.it , https://www.tuttocitta.it. These sites are in English and Italian. With the latter, you can immediately track traffic jams and generally assess the traffic situation. If you don't speak languages, Google Maps will also be a great help. Whatever route you choose, the road to Sicily involves a ferry crossing either across the Strait of Messina from the town of Villa San Giovanni or Reggio Calabria, or by ferry from Rome (Civitavecchia), Genoa, Naples, Salerno. You can view information about the ferry service.

Preparing for traveling by car

Before planning a route, it is important to think it through. Of course, not to the smallest detail, since this is not realistic, but the main points, without organizing which the trip will simply be impossible, should be thought through in advance. Such a question is.

If your trip does not start in Italy, then in addition to the documents required to create a package for a Schengen visa (described), you will need to provide an itinerary sheet, which is drawn up in free form. In it you indicate the dates of your stay at the hotel (from what date and to what date), the country and city of location of this hotel, and the name of the hotel, including its full address and telephone number. Everything can be presented in the form of a table, but this condition is not mandatory. It might look like this:

When traveling by car, it is very important to have an insurance policy. If you are traveling in your own car, in addition to your travel insurance policy, you must take out international vehicle insurance (Green Card).

Rules of movement

If you are good at driving in Russia, you will not have any special problems in Italy. The traffic rules are in many ways similar to Russian ones, but there are some differences that you should know about in advance so that your trip is not overshadowed by additional costs in the form of fines. Traffic in Italy is also on the right. During daylight hours, drivers must turn on low beam headlights outside populated areas, in areas of poor visibility, and when driving through tunnels.

As noted above, most roads in Italy are toll roads. There are also free roads, but in some cases it is more convenient to travel by highway. It's still faster and more comfortable. Closer to the highway there are warning signs with information about how many kilometers are left before the entrance. At the entrance you need to take an entrance ticket, which will be used to pay when leaving. Payment can be made by credit card or cash, depending on the band you have chosen. Blue and white stripes are intended for tourists. Blue payment is self-service only using credit cards and Viacard. White, along with the listed methods, makes it possible to pay in cash. Telepass customers have a special yellow lane that they should not enter. When entering the highway, be careful; there are no U-turns. Having passed your turn, you will have to drive through a toll entrance to select the highway in the desired direction.

Speed ​​limits

The maximum speed on the highway is 130 km/h, on the Strada Statale highway – 110 km/h, outside the populated area – 90 km/h, within the populated area – 50 km/h.

The speed of movement is controlled by multiple cameras. For speeding, you can be fined, and quite a hefty one at that. It depends on how much the excess was. The higher the speed, the higher the fine. Fines are charged for absolutely everything: for lack of documents for vehicles, insurance; for overtaking in the wrong place; for driving through a red traffic light; for talking on a mobile phone while driving; for staying in paid parking for more than the allotted time; for failure to comply with the requirements of prohibitory signs or road markings; for not wearing a seat belt; for transporting children without using restraint systems (depending on the age of the child). Moreover, the fines imposed are quite serious, so it is better to drive according to the rules and enjoy your trip. Although the Sicilians themselves often break the rules. A fairly common picture is when a driver sees an acquaintance and stops right in the middle of the road to exchange a couple of dozen phrases. And it doesn’t matter what’s behind, there’s already a decent amount of traffic jam.

Parking

Parking deserves special attention. The scope of the problem in every big city in Sicily increases several times. Narrow streets, historical areas, a large number of cars, all this will not give you the opportunity to park quickly and easily.

As for parking at historical monuments, the driver must not only pay a fee, but also set the time of arrival at the parking lot on a special plastic clock (disco orario), which can be purchased at gas stations and post offices. The watch is placed under the windshield so that the traffic inspector can see it. Without these watches, you can run into a very large fine.

If you park in the wrong place, be prepared for the fact that when you return, you will not find your car where you left it. Such cars are taken to a parking lot, which is usually located nearby. The fine will be quite significant, even if the car has been parked there for only a short time. You can check with any police officer about the location of the parking lot. Another important point is the difference in mentality and worldview. There is no point in negotiating with the police if you have committed any violation. You'll create even more problems. They can open a case and add it to the database of violations in Europe. So be careful and follow the DD rules.

Alcohol

Italy is a country of fine wines and high drinking culture. A traditional glass at a delicious dinner leaves its mark on the norms for the permissible presence of alcohol in the blood. Previously, the law was not so significant, but with mass immigration, the law was tightened, since our compatriots quite strongly abused the permission to drink a glass of wine at dinner.

Today, the permissible level of alcohol in the blood is 0.5 ‰, which is more or less equivalent to a bottle of beer (0.5 l). The slightest excess may result in a very large fine. The size of the fine depends on the degree of intoxication. For example, if the blood alcohol content ranges from 0.5‰ to 0.8‰, the fine will range from €530 to €2000, plus a possible license suspension for a period of 3 to 6 months. If the blood alcohol content is between 0.8‰ and 1.5‰, the fine ranges from €800 to €3,200 and possible imprisonment of up to 6 months. The most severe punishment is provided for when the blood alcohol content is more than 1.5‰, the fine ranges from €1,500 to €6,000 with loss of rights from 1 to two years with imprisonment from 6 months to 1 year. Sometimes a vehicle is seized. The same penalty is provided for refusal of a medical examination.

However, the permissible ppm in the blood composition has its own nuances. Italian law prohibits people under 21 from driving after taking even the smallest dose of alcohol. Also, the norm does not apply to taxi drivers, truck drivers and public transport drivers. The permitted norm of 0.5‰ applies to young people who have reached the age of 21 and have driving experience of 3 years or more.

By car to Italy!
Every year my friends and I go on road trips. We have already covered tens of thousands of kilometers along the roads of Europe. As a rule, we lay the route through cities with famous museums, architectural monuments, and other attractions. That is, not a beach holiday.

This year we decided to combine business with pleasure. In between museums and other spiritual nourishment, spend a week on the seashore in Sicily. We have already been to the island, stayed at a hotel in Taormina. The idea came to me, why not try to find a good villa on the seashore, and certainly have a swimming pool. I found what I needed on the website www.homelidays.com. Excellent villa with a large pool, with its own beach right on the seashore south of Catania. I called the owner and agreed that we would arrive to her on May 2nd.
We bought ferry tickets from Finland to Germany and back. An A-class cabin for four with sea views and car transportation cost 860 euros. No hotels were booked. Suddenly you want to change the route.

On April 23, we loaded our luggage into the car and headed to the Finnish border. Lucky. We didn’t have to spend a long time stuck in a traffic jam at customs. We moved towards the capital of Finland. If previously the ferry to Rostock departed from Hanko, now it leaves from a small town near Helsinki, which is 160 km closer to the border. A small thing, but nice. At 20-00 we were already settled in our cabin. We set sail at 21-00.

More than a day of sailing and at 23-00 the next day our car left the belly of the ferry onto German soil. The first hotel we came across along the way was the Ibis in Rostock. Since it was already late, we decided to stop there. The head waiter spent a long time looking for available rooms on the computer, making excuses that it was his first day at work and he didn’t understand everything yet. Finally, he gave us key cards for two neighboring “doubles” for 78 euros each. I inserted the card into the slot and could not understand what was happening. The door opened on its own and froze in that position. After 15-20 seconds it closed by itself. Everything became clear when I entered the bathroom and saw the grab bars around the toilet. These were rooms for disabled people.

Early in the morning we were already in the car, as we had a long drive of 960 km to Innsbruck in Austria. We arrived there around 7 pm. I was lucky with the hotel. It was located in a picturesque place, surrounded by high mountains, on the slopes of which, despite the warm weather, there was still plenty of snow. The air is clean mountain with a slight hint of the smell of fresh manure. The Austrians who lived next door to the hotel kept cows in their yards. We got a large four-bed room on the top floor. What we especially liked about it was the terrace with a glass roof.
In the morning we left for Italy, to Verona. There we met friends who were traveling by bus. Together with them we explored the city. Roman amphitheater, 12th century Cathedral, monument to Dante Alighieri. We went into the courtyard of Juliet's house.

We said goodbye to our friends and headed to Florence (Firenze). Arrived late at night. We spent the night again at the Ibis in the suburbs. The next morning we went to the city center. We found a hotel where we stayed 5 years ago. Moreover, they gave us the same number. We spent two days in this wonderful city. We visited the famous Uffizi Museum, saw the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Baptistery dedicated to John the Baptist, the Basilica of Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio - the oldest bridge in the city of Florence.

We didn't initially have plans to go to Bari. But we still decided to deviate from the route and visit the famous Basilica of St. Nicholas. Magnificent temple. It has a very democratic atmosphere. The service is going on, and tourists are scurrying back and forth. I liked the little room where priceless exhibits were displayed behind glass. Among others, a silver lamp of the Russian Emperor Nicholas II. What’s especially nice is that the inscriptions on the exhibits are duplicated in Russian. We didn’t spend the night in Bari, we moved towards Sicily. We found a hotel in Taranto.

Early in the morning, after breakfast, we drove towards the island. At about two o'clock we arrived at the port of Villa San Giovanni. Following the signs, we found the ferry departure terminal. We stood in a long line, where, along with cars, there were many buses and heavy trucks. We stood for an hour and a half, but the line did not move a meter. I began to doubt and asked the drivers of neighboring cars if we were standing here correctly. They answered: “yes, this is the queue for the ferry.” Luckily the police were passing by. I turned to them. I heard from them: “Do you need to go to Sicily? Go over there.” And they pointed in the direction. After leaving the queue, we drove literally 100 meters, turned left, and entered an empty square with a small pavilion, which turned out to be a ticket office. We paid 23 euros for the car and calmly entered the ferry. It still remains a mystery to me why so many people stood in that long, never-ending queue when there is another, completely free, terminal very close by. The ferry set off, and after about 20 minutes we got off in Messina.

We drove along the northern coast of the island to the west towards Palermo. Closer to night we arrived at Cefalu. A beautiful ancient city with a cathedral, the apse of which is decorated with the famous 12th century mosaic “Christ Pantocrator”. We decided to go to the city center. Night. We drove out onto a narrow street leading down, at the end of which a small illuminated square could be seen. Suddenly I notice that cars on the left and right are facing us with their front bumpers. I understand that we are moving against one-way traffic. It’s okay, I think I’ll turn around downstairs. Approaching the square, I notice a police car there. One of the law enforcement officers runs towards him, waving his arms. Well, I think we got it. Long proceedings and a fine lie ahead. No, everything worked out fine. I tell the policeman: “Sorry, we’re looking for a hotel, we got lost.” He shouts to his partner: “Hey, Mario, they’re looking for a hotel. Do you know if there is anything nearby?” His partner approaches and an untranslatable word game with intense gesticulation begins between them. Gradually, our car is surrounded by about 30 sympathizers from among local residents. They argue. Everyone has their own version. Nobody wants to give in. Everyone wants to help lost tourists from Russia find accommodation for the night. And everyone points in different directions. An elderly man in a jacket draped over his shoulders like a burka approached. He says I have a bed and breakfast nearby, it’s full, I can’t help. Finally, one long-haired guy in a black suit calls on his cell phone. He's calling someone. Making our way through the crowd, a tall, shaven-headed young man approaches us. Introduces himself - Francesco. He gets into our car and shows us the way to his house. A 12th-century house on three floors with a tiny courtyard-well. He and his brother and his family occupy two apartments in the house. The rest are rented out. Antiquities such as Byzantine stone crosses and all sorts of amphorae are scattered everywhere. A two-story apartment cost us only 70 euros for four of us.
The next morning we visited the cathedral, toured the city, visited the wonderful embankment, said goodbye to Francesco, and moved on to Palermo.

We didn’t spend the night in the capital; we wanted to quickly get to the villa. But the calendar only shows May 1st. And we agreed on a rental from the 2nd to the 9th. I'm calling the owner. Everything is fine. For a symbolic 50 euros she agreed to let us in a day earlier. I ask how to find a villa. He answers that it is difficult to do this on your own. He says that at the 30th kilometer of the Catania-Siracusa highway there is an Esso gas station, wait there. We arrived at the appointed place, we are waiting. About 30 minutes later the owner of the villa arrived on a motorcycle with a basket in her hands. It turned out that the basket contained all sorts of goodies that her mother had prepared for us. Her husband, with the now familiar name Francesco, was driving. Subsequently, we often came across this name. One gets the impression that there are no less “Franceskovs” in Sicily than “Don Pedros” in Brazil. Following the motorcycle, we arrived at the villa.
Before the trip, I had concerns that the colorful photographs on the website exaggerate the real advantages of the villa. That in reality she will not be so attractive. It turned out to be the opposite. The reality exceeded all expectations. The villa turned out to be amazingly beautiful and cozy. Comfortable cool house. Two-level landscape. Spacious terrace. Lovely pool. Wonderful garden with exotic plants. View of Mount Etna with a snow-capped peak. By opening the gate, one could go down steep steps to the sea.
We spent 8 wonderful days. Late breakfasts on the sun-drenched terrace. Swimming in the pool. Long dinners in the courtyard with the famous Sicilian wine “nero diavollo”. Warm black nights.

But we didn’t sit in the villa all the time. We traveled around the island. We visited the surrounding area. We visited neighboring cities. Separately, I would like to say about the peculiarities of local driving. It seems to us that Russian drivers are the worst and most reckless. This is far from true. Compared to the Sicilians, ours are simply lambs of God. Of all the rules, it seemed to me that southerners adhere to only one - stopping at a red light. And that's not all. Few people pay attention to other little things, such as, for example, a continuous lane, a parking ban, etc. Here is one example. The main street of the small town of Augusta. Two rows of traffic in one direction, two in the other, separated by a solid strip. Quite a lot of traffic. The outer rows are occupied by parked cars. So that leaves only one row in each direction. A lady is coming. Suddenly he notices a store on the opposite side. She doesn't even think about turning around. He simply turns sharply to the left, crosses the continuous lane, stands in the oncoming lane, the only one free, turns on the emergency lights and leisurely stomps into the store. And for hundreds of cars on this street there is only one lane left for traffic in both directions.

On May 9th, having said goodbye to the hospitable hostess of the villa, we set off on our way back. We crossed the strait and ended up in mainland Italy. By evening we reached the outskirts of Naples, the town of Caserta. We found ourselves at some kind of religious holiday. The crowd moved through the streets, carrying a sculpture of the Virgin and Child on a platform. At the front of the crowd, a large brass band performed a lively performance of Tchaikovsky.

The next day there was a long haul to Innsbruck. We spent the night and went to Munich. We visited the Pinakothek once again. Then we spent two days in Amsterdam. Then we went to Hamburg.

On the evening of the 15th we arrived in Rostock. On the night of the 16th we boarded the ferry. On the morning of the 17th we were already driving from Helsinki home to St. Petersburg.

In total we covered about 7500 km. Drive by car to Italy was a success. There are many pleasant memories left. We liked the villa so much that we are planning to visit it next year. But of course we will change the route. We are planning to visit Portugal, where we have not been before.

At the time when I decided to write a guide for those planning a trip to Sicily, I had visited this island of wonders almost 5 times. How can you fly to the same place every year, you ask? Easily! If we are talking about Sicily. Even for the fifth time, I discovered a lot of new things and spent an unforgettable 7 days, unlike all the previous 4 trips.

This island smells of history. Each stone has absorbed several centuries of intense events that unfolded on the territory of Sicily. Beach holidays fade into the background here, because it is simply impossible not to visit the ancient excavations. And there are many of them here. So many! So I finish the foreplay and move on to the detailed story.

Mathematics

All last years I stayed in hotels. Mainly in the suburbs of Palermo, in the city of Santa Flavia. An unremarkable Sicilian village with beautiful views and clean but tiny beaches. Why there? Because it's convenient. Firstly, there is an excellent hotel Domina Coral Bay Sicilia Zagarella, and secondly, the location is ideal for those who want to travel every day. Convenient access to the main highway connecting Catania and Palermo. This year there were no available rooms in our favorite hotel, so we decided to rent an apartment.

A stylish apartment with a luxurious view of the sea, with an area of ​​65 meters, cost us 40 thousand rubles per week. It could easily accommodate 4 people, so the price, in my opinion, is very reasonable. Large kitchen with living room, 2 bathrooms and a cozy bedroom. Perfect. I realized that I like living in apartments much more than in a hotel. This is the only way I will travel from now on.

Airplane tickets from Moscow to Catania are reasonably priced. 24 thousand round trip per person. A rental car – in our case, a convertible with a Smart for two automatic – costs 40 thousand rubles from AVIS.

Gasoline is expensive - about 100 rubles per liter, so it is recommended to take a car with low consumption and preferably a diesel one. We spent about 11 thousand on fuel in 7 days, but we rode every day, crossing the island first along and then across. For convenience, you can first live in the northern part of the island, somewhere in the Palermo area, and then move closer to Catania so that you can explore the surrounding area without traveling 400 - 500 kilometers every day. A small life hack:

If possible, take a small car, because some streets are so narrow that even a Smart car will have difficulty getting through there.

So, Palermo is my favorite city on Earth, after Moscow, of course. Big, noisy, not at all touristy, slightly shabby, not very well maintained, but so beautiful and congenial. I feel at home there. I don’t stop there only because it’s not very convenient to get onto the intercity highway. I stopped once in Mondello (one of the most fashionable areas and beautiful beaches of Palermo) and quickly became disillusioned with this idea.

What is the first thing to do when you find yourself in Palermo? Eat! The city is simply teeming with breathtaking and completely non-touristy restaurants. To understand the scale of how delicious it is, I returned to Sicily for the second time solely because of the food.

And only then, on the second trip, I truly discovered this island. My favorite restaurant in Palermo is Badalamenti Cucina e Bottega. Firstly, it’s delicious, secondly, it’s cozy, always crowded and fun, and thirdly, the owners are excellent.

The kindest and most hospitable Sicilians, brothers Marco and Luca Badalamenti. Now they are my good friends. The guys are fans of their business, so the food in their restaurant is always very tasty. Only fresh products. Seasonality is observed. Great service. In general, you must visit, I promise you will be delighted.

The second favorite place is El Baro pizzeria. The most delicious pizza I've ever tried. In both places there are always a lot of people who want to spend the evening there, so it’s worth booking a table in advance. By the way, I would also like to recommend visiting a nightclub/bar on the seashore, it’s called Kalandria - it’s the most fun party I’ve ever been to.

Be careful: according to Palermo law, all night discos end at 3 am. So arrive early to enjoy plenty of dancing and delicious cocktails, which locals say are made by the best bartender in Sicily. You can also dance in Calamare, Baia, Solemar. We didn’t have time to visit, but they say it’s a lot of fun there. We'll definitely stop by next time.

Palermo has many attractions that are worth seeing.

The Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady is one of the most majestic buildings not only in Palermo, but in the whole world. Incredible size and beauty, amazing history. Being around him is simply breathtaking.

The legendary Massimo Opera House is not inferior in scope. This is the third largest theater in Europe, only Paris and Vienna are larger.

The chilling Capuchin Catacombs are another controversial calling card of Palermo. Creepy burials of the Sicilian nobility: human remains unceremoniously hung on the walls. Royal Norman Palace, local botanical garden, fountain of shame, street of five corners, Palatine Chapel, Admiral Church of Martorano.

And a whole day is not enough to explore all corners of incredible Palermo. I beg you, don’t skimp on your guide. Be sure to find a good guide, this city is worth learning about its history. Why is there a city - the whole island. Just the stories about the mafia's antics can captivate you for the whole day.

By the way, about the mafia - these are not some kind of horror stories for children. One of the main reminders of the horrors that once reigned on the sunny island is the alley in the center of Palermo: frightening and futuristic, studded with strange pillars that do not fit into the architecture of the city, and names all around. Who are these people? Prosecutors who had the temerity to simply take this position. Some of them did not survive even a couple of months after joining the job - the mafia dealt with them with particular bloodthirstiness. Another terrible reminder is a monument near Palermo airport, which does not allow one to forget about the terrible massacre of the legendary Giovanni Falcone, a symbol of the fight against the mafia.

On May 23, 1992, 100 meters of the highway went up in a matter of seconds as the magistrate's motorcade rushed along the ill-fated road. This was the fate prepared for him by his enemies, who were greatly annoyed by his active work. By the way, since then the airport has been called Falcone Borsellino. Borsellino is Falcone's friend, who continued his work after the terrible tragedy. True, not for long - exactly 57 days later the mafia reached him, terrifying Palermo with another explosion right in the city center.

Montreal

In the suburbs of Palermo there is a small but very picturesque town of Monreale, where the Cathedral in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is located. This is truly one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world, famous for its incredible mosaics.

Among the attractions neighboring Palermo, it is also worth noting a small town called Bagheria. Firstly, there is the quaint Villa Palagonia or “Villa of the Monsters”, as tourists used to call it. A beautiful building of the 18th century, decorated with creepy sculptures of unknown animals. Time yourself to be there at lunchtime, because just around the corner, hidden behind an inconspicuous door, is the stunning Michelin-starred restaurant I Pupi. Get ready to hang out there for two hours, because every dish is a work of art.

50 kilometers from Palermo there is another piece of paradise called Cefalu. This is a small tourist town with an incredible cathedral in the heart of the pedestrian street.

There is a toll road on the Palermo-Cefalù section of the highway, its cost is 250 rubles. We arrived there early in the morning and found parking (I would like to note that at 12 o'clock in the afternoon we had great difficulty parking, so it is better to arrive early). We found a place on the beach (which also turned out to be problematic, since Cefalu is a favorite beach for tourists). Before lunch we lay on the beach and went to a restaurant. We were very hungry, so we sat down in the first place we found. It was terrible. Okay, not really terrible, but usually. But Sicily is still famous for its cuisine, so you don’t want to eat just anything. There are many restaurants in Cefalu, so read the reviews carefully and choose what you like.

Another feature of the city is the huge number of small shops with unusual things. Let's just say it's a Sicilian craft. Products, ceramics for which this island is so famous, textiles, jewelry, clothing and shoes. What’s remarkable is that there is no repeating assortment, each shop is unique.

In Cefalu we tried a local sweet for the first time - a brioche bun. A huge-sized muffin in which 300-400 grams of ice cream is placed and decorated with a waffle. Let's face it, this delicacy contains more than 1,000 calories. But it’s possible just once, right? By the way, if desired, the bun itself can be spread with chocolate or peanut butter. But this is completely for those with a sweet tooth. By the way, about sweet tooths. Sicilians are obsessed with sweets. You can find a confectionery here even in the most God-forsaken wilderness. And believe me, it will still be very tasty. The coffee will also be excellent. Everywhere. Even at gas stations. So feel free to taste pastries, cookies, cakes, buns and ice cream wherever you meet them.

And one more life hack: if you like latte coffee, then know that to get it here you need to say “Latte Macchiato”, if you just say “Latte”, you will get a glass of hot milk. I left the gas station several times with milk without coffee and only then found out what was going on.

In general, the history of Cefalu is worth studying more closely (like every Sicilian city), because it is very rich and interesting. Here you can find both Roman and Greek architecture, as well as Arabic. And that's impressive too.

Segesta

Let's move on. About 50 kilometers from Palermo lies the inimitable Segesta. A majestic temple built on the very edge of the mountain. Despite its incredible size and venerable age (the second half of the 5th century BC for a second), it is perfectly preserved and still fascinates with its beauty, grandeur and energy.

On the neighboring mountain there is a Greco-Roman theater of no less advanced age (III-IV centuries BC). The view from there is amazing. I can sit there for hours. There are not many tourists at all, so no one bothers you. The most incredible thing is that this theater is operational and, if you plan your vacation, you can get to some performance or concert. I haven’t succeeded yet, but it’s in the plans, because the atmosphere there is indescribable. Imagine, the stage is at an incredible height and in the background there is a view of the mountain valleys. Breathtaking.

It's a stone's throw from Segesta to Marsala. If you love good wine, you can’t help but visit here. The vineyards begin long before Segesta and do not end at all. There are many beautiful, ancient buildings, a very picturesque port and embankment, there is a tapestry museum and an archaeological park where you can see the wreckage of a Punic ship that sank in the 3rd century BC. But basically, everyone comes here for good wine. There are a lot of shops at factories where you can taste and buy the best Sicilian alcoholic drinks, as well as many other locally produced delicacies: from fish and cheese, to sweet almond or pistachio paste.

Life hack: fly to Sicily with an empty suitcase, or better yet, put a small one in a large suitcase. I won’t explain anything, just take my word for it, later you will thank you for this advice.

Corleone

Goosebumps, perhaps? Yes, that same legendary city, it exists, right here in Sicily, just 40 kilometers from Palermo in the interior of the island, hiding between the mountains and rocks. A quiet and cozy town, where only the name reminds of the mafia. Although the mafia really lived there and, according to rumors, still lives there. Corleone is called the city of churches, of which there really are a lot. So be sure to walk around the city, carefully studying the location of all the churches, because getting around Corleone is difficult. You constantly have to make sharp ascents and descents.

I also recommend visiting the nature reserves near the city: Carcachi, Monte San Genuardo and Ficuzza. And on the territory of Monte San Genuardo you can explore the Abbey of Santa Maria del Bosco. There is also a cross towering over the city, even two. Few people know, but there is a road to both. One can be reached by car, the second is more difficult. Halfway through the journey you will have to leave your car and walk. But believe me: it's worth it! Seeing this beauty from such a high altitude is indescribable. Well, the photographs turn out breathtaking. There are not many restaurants, so it is better to eat in advance. There are mostly tourist cafes around, but the coffee is still very tasty.

Agrigento

I’m writing the name and my hands are shaking. Memories came flooding back. Lord, how beautiful it is there, my friends. Agrigento is home to one of the largest archaeological excavations, bearing the majestic name “Valley of the Temples”.

So that you understand, the history of Agrigento dates back to the 6th century BC. Many of the exhibits have survived to this day in their original form, which certainly attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world.

But don’t be afraid, the park is so huge that at times you will feel like you are completely alone. Comfortable shoes, a cap and water are mandatory attributes for this walk. Agrigento is one of the southernmost points of the island and it is really hot there.

70 kilometers from Agrigento is the town of Sciacca, famous for its thermal springs.

And just 18 kilometers from Agrigento you will find the Scala dei Turchi coast with snow-white cliffs and a clear, turquoise-colored Mediterranean Sea.

However, we were unlucky: there was a storm, and the water near the shore was muddy. Although there is not much to swim there, despite the beauty of the water. Firstly, even in August, when it was 43 degrees Celsius outside, the water was icy, and secondly, the entrance to the sea is rocky - huge stones will block your path.

There are desperate people, but they are few. And is it necessary? A little further from this place towards Agrigento, there are beautiful sandy beaches. Yes, there is no view of the snow-white cliffs, but the sea is no less attractive.

Life hack: park your car only in a specialized parking lot; we received a fine of 3,000 rubles for leaving a car in the wrong place.

I'm indifferent to Catania. Probably because it reminds me of Paris and I'm not a big fan of France, race aside. I prefer bright Italian architecture to gloomy French houses, but it’s worth a walk there. My friend Anya, with whom we traveled to Sicily this year, really liked it there. The main square is incredibly beautiful, the proximity of Etna, the fortress, a lot of people and restaurants. A typical tourist city, in my opinion. You can spend 2 hours on it, that’s enough for you.

Life hack: On the Palermo-Catania highway, about 70 kilometers from Catania, there is a huge outlet with approximately 160 stores. Here you will find everything from Prada to Nike. Feel free to spend the whole day walking, no one has ever gotten out of here faster. Sometimes a day wasn’t enough for us and we had to come back again. The prices here are very reasonable, especially if you are in the sales season (July, August, January), when in all stores, where there is always a 50% discount on everything, they make an additional discount and once again cut the price in half.

Well, are you ready to see horror and greatness in all its glory? Then go ahead to conquer Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Just a hint – it’s always cold on Etna. Even if it’s 45 degrees at its foot (as it happened to me twice), you only have to go up a little and that’s it – the North Pole. Take the warmest clothes if you want your walk to be long and comfortable. The crazy, icy wind last year literally knocked me off my feet. You can easily get to the middle of the mountain by your car. Then it’s better to park it in a small tourist town and choose a route: a ski lift (about 2,000 thousand per person round trip) or on foot (for the most desperate). By the way, the lift has been demolished twice recently, but don’t be alarmed, eruptions are usually known in advance. By the way, last year I was lucky, and while living in a hotel in Taormina, right from my room window I watched black smoke pouring out of the central crater of Etna. True, I never had a chance to see the eruption; I flew away the day before the cherished event. But I believe that sooner or later I will be able to see this beauty with my own eyes.

Local residents dote on their volcano, call it kind and are not at all afraid. And this despite the fact that during its entire existence, Etna erupted more than 200 times and claimed the lives of more than 100 thousand people. The land on it and in its surroundings is very fertile, so villages and small towns here are shamelessly located almost to the middle of the volcano. Who knows first-hand about the saying: “Living like on a volcano.” The funicular will not take you to the top, but will leave you in the middle of the road. You can get higher by a special bus. I’ll be honest: I’ve never been to the very top. There are several reasons: even in the middle it’s so cold that none of the warm clothes can save you, you really need a ski overall, it’s scary to imagine what’s at the top. Plus, it's cloudy. It is almost impossible to catch Etna without haze. Even in the middle of the volcano, your head is already in the “sky”, so you won’t be able to see all the landscapes from a height of 3,000 meters above sea level, and the mountain itself looks the same, both below and above: ash and frozen lava, nothing more.

Do not wear light-colored and new shoes; you will not be able to wash them off from soot later.

Taormina

From Catania to Taormina it is about 50 kilometers, along a toll road (about 200 rubles one way), 30 of which will seem like an eternity to you, because the serpentine road will begin. It is, however, brightened up by the landscapes. And the higher you go, the more beautiful they become.

And when the view of the sea opens up, with Etna rising in the background, you will forget about everything in the world. Ilya Ehrenburg, the author of the phrase “See Paris and die,” simply did not see this landscape. This picture is especially beautiful in May, when the top of Etna is still covered with snow. Taormina is the most expensive city for tourists to live in. Prices for good hotels there are exorbitant and reach 200 thousand rubles per room per day. On the main street you will find boutiques of all famous brands and hundreds of shops selling souvenirs, ceramics and local products.

Don’t rush to buy gifts here, prices in this city are very inflated: you will find everything the same in Cefalu for 2 times cheaper. This also applies to boutiques - in Palermo you can shop for less money. Taormina is Monte Carlo in Sicilian style. The Taormina Film Fest, concerts of world celebrities take place here, and simply all the rich people who fly to Sicily on vacation are based here.

I lived there for 5 days last year, in the beautiful Atahotel Capa Taormina, but given the thirst for knowledge and adventure, this place seemed inconvenient to me, because the path from here along the serpentine towards adventure takes too much time. Plus, crowds of people confuse and slightly spoil the impression of the holiday.

Among the attractions: ruins of the ancient Roman period and an ancient theater. The latter was built back in the Hellenistic era (III-II centuries BC), although 300 years later the Romans, who took possession of the city, rebuilt the theater and made it a venue for gladiator fights. Nowadays, musical and theatrical performances are held here, as well as the annual International Arts Festival Taormina Arte. Entrance to the theater is paid and will cost you 700 rubles per person, but the main thing in Taormina is the views. Beautiful landscapes, picturesque capes and that incredible view of Etna.

Alcantara

Not far from Taormina you will find the famous Alcantara Gorge, a favorite place for tourists. The length of the gorge is approximately 6 kilometers, 3 of which you can walk along the water between the rocks. Entrance to the park is paid, approximately 700 rubles per person, depending on the time of visit. The most expensive ticket will cost 1,000 rubles. In Sicily, prices for visiting museums, parks, and so on are generally very reasonable.

On the way from Catania to Syracuse you will find the first Baroque city of Nomo. And not only in Sicily, but throughout the world, it seems to me. If you are a fan of this style like me, you definitely need to come here. Incredibly beautiful, harmonious, cozy. It's like you're in your own little fairy tale. Lots of cafes near the most picturesque buildings. I recommend visiting a small pastry shop called Sicily, which is located on the central street of Noto; the desserts there are truly divine.

Last year I was lucky and found myself in this city in May, during the flower festival, when several central streets are lined with paintings of flowers. I climbed onto one of the elevated observation platforms and got the opportunity to see all this beauty en masse. There is a minus - on this day the small town is literally bursting with an influx of tourists and you cannot drive there by car. The police park you in the suburbs, and then you ride on special free buses. There are thousands of people, it’s a little annoying.

Syracuse

This pearl of Sicily is located just 110 kilometers from Catania on the shores of the Ionian Sea. Why should you stay there? Firstly, along the way you can stop by the city of Nomo, and secondly, there is an incredible archaeological park in which you will see Greek and Roman amphitheaters.

"Ear" of Dionysius in the famous quarries of St. Venus. By the way, this is where, according to legend, the grave of Archimedes, who lived in Syracuse, is located, but opinions differ - whether the grave really exists or these are fairy tales for tourists. Unfortunately, the most beautiful part of the quarries, which now looks more like a park, has been closed for two years for unknown reasons. I was able to visit there only once, then they stopped letting me go beyond the “Ear” of Dionysius, and this is really a loss, because I remember the second part of the park with bated breath. It looks like landscapes from some expensive fantasy. I hope it will be reopened to tourists soon.

Also in the city of Syracuse there are incredibly beautiful embankments and alleys in the center, hundreds of restaurants, a beautiful port, incredible architecture in both the old and new parts of the city.

Grand Canyon of Cavagrande

Let's classify this place as unexplored Sicily. Few people know about its existence. It is located in the suburbs of Syracuse and Noto. We traveled unprepared and had no idea what awaited us.

Climbing higher and higher along the mountain roads, we asked ourselves the question: “How can we even place a lake here?” The answer did not take long to arrive. We arrived at a specialized tourist parking lot and realized that we had “got it” when we saw the treasured turquoise water somewhere in the distance below.

Descent is only on foot, along the rocks. About 4 kilometers down and the same amount up, respectively. But we didn’t regret this hike for a single second, although the road was undoubtedly difficult.

Landscapes, air and the anticipation of beauty give strength. Dear readers, don’t be lazy, this is truly amazing. The purest Tiffany-colored water: we are back in a fairy tale.

Selinunte

I would also like to mention the archaeological park of Selinunte - a Greek colony founded around 650 BC. Unfortunately, the temples did not survive to our times; those that we see in the pictures are restored. I went there for show, but I wouldn’t go back a second time, especially if I had a choice between going there or to Agrigento. But it is certainly very beautiful. Temples (albeit restored) against the backdrop of the sea are an incredible sight. The main advantage is that there are almost no people. We were the only ones there, so we had the opportunity to jump over all the stones, touch them with our hands and take pictures wherever we wanted.

Villa Romana Del Casale

It is located somewhere in the center of the island, near the town of Piazza Armerina. Its construction dates back to around the 4th century AD. Why should you stop by? To simply be stunned by how the rich Romans lived and that their villas were not inferior to modern ones. Heated floors, guys, they had heated floors! But the main highlight of the villa is, of course, the mosaic. These mosaics are among the most important and valuable collections of ancient Rome that survive to this day. The subjects are different: horse racing, tiger hunting, erotica, famous girls in bikinis... In general, the place amazes with its beauty, wealth and decoration.

Sicily is synonymous with sun, history, lemons and mafia. But don't let thoughts of the mafia put you off visiting this place, they don't want tourists. Instead, you will receive a warm welcome from most Sicilians, who are more interested in showing off their treasures than depriving them of yours. There are many reasons to visit Sicily, a huge island in the Mediterranean, including magnificent cities, fascinating archeology of ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, delicious seafood, wine and cassata (a local dish). It has everything you need for a holiday: the best food, good beaches and, ultimately, this is Italy!

Ancient city of Palermo

The ancient city of Palermo, the capital of Sicily, is an excellent starting point for exploring with a rental car. Arriving there early on the overnight ferry from Naples, we took a taxi to the main train station, where we caught a local bus for the 15-kilometer journey to Montreal, famous for its great Arab-Norman Cathedral, decorated with colorful glass mosaics from the 12th century. Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox cultures are wonderfully mixed here, so there is much to admire, including the monasteries and their bronze doors.

The bus took us back through Independence Square, home to one of the most beautiful castles in Europe. The Royal Palace in Palermo has housed the rulers of Sicily since the 9th century and is even now the seat of regional officials. Local politicians were lucky enough to govern in such an architectural gem with its beautiful mosaics, painted roof and marble walls.

In 1599, a local nun was mummified in Palermo, so you can still pray for her. Today her body joined thousands of others that lined up like a painting within the walls of the Capuchin catacombs. There are their bodies in original medieval clothes, skeletons and even children. This, of course, is an eerie sight, but then we went out into the fresh air with the bright sun and still had lunch of pepperoni, salami, olives, fried eggplant and polenta.

Ancient fishing town of Cefalu

With our rented car it was easy to drive an hour east to Cefalu, which initially positions itself as a fishing port. It is now an attractive cobbled tourist town with a sandy beach not yet completely filled with sun loungers. We settled in an old stone house just a minute's walk from the Cathedral on the main square. It's easy to find a table at a restaurant overlooking the sea, serving chilled Sicilian wine while the explosive sunset sky provides a backdrop for strolling families. The next day, after a croissant and cappuccino in the square, we headed further to the coast of the town of Tindari to enjoy a refreshing swim in the sea. We then took the motorway to Taormina, through tunnels past Messina, until we climbed a steep hill from where we could see the entire city at a glance.

It took us a while to find the entrance to the car park from where we took the elevator to our hotel, located on Corso Umberto, the main pedestrian street here with its extraordinary views of the Ionian Sea, located just 250 meters below, and overlooking Mount Etna above, one of those operating in Europe.

Sicilian walk

Taormina has many bars and restaurants where you can drink a Marsala or Campari martini and just people watch. On most evenings you can see Sicilians, dressed in their finery, strutting through the streets. Alternatively, book the Opera or visit the Ancient Theatre, dating back to Greek and Roman times. It's a pity that the Opera was canceled during our stay. But washing down the cooked swordfish at a local restaurant with local wine helped ease the bitterness of the loss. 🙂

Two days later we arrived in Syracuse on the southeast corner of the island, one of the most powerful cities in the Mediterranean. We stayed on the island of Ortigia, in the oldest part of the city, which is connected to Syracuse by a bridge. With its mix of magnificent medieval buildings, including an early 7th century Cathedral and Greco-Roman amphitheaters on the outskirts, it's no surprise that UNESCO has included the area as a World Heritage Site.

The next day was an easy day trip to the ancient limestone cities of Modica, Ragusa and Noto, the latter of which was quickly rebuilt in the 18th century in Baroque style after the city was destroyed by an earthquake in 1693.

After two nights in Syracuse, we drove through the countryside through olive groves and vineyards to find the world's largest collection of Roman mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale in the Piazza della Armory. The large villa once belonged to Emperor Maximian and is also under UNESCO protection. Its mosaics are very well preserved because they were covered with earth during a landslide in the 12th century.

Valley of Greek Temples

Our final destination of the day was Agrigento, famous for its Valley of the Temples. It was exciting to look out the hotel window and see if there were Greek temples there. In ancient times, this city was called Akragas, dominated by seven great Doric Greek temples built in the seventh and sixth centuries BC. Today, some of them are perfectly preserved, making this area one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. It is very good to walk here for a couple of hours with a local guide, especially at the end of the day, when the setting sun illuminates the temples.

We had planned to spend our last night in northeastern Erice. I had read that it was a medieval town close to the coast, but didn't realize, as our GPS directed us into the hills, that it was located on top of a mountain with dramatic views down to the wide plain and town of Trapani.

It seemed as if our hotel pool was on the edge of an abyss, and the city was hidden behind an old stone wall. Erice, with its slippery polished slabs, also tumbles down the hill with its bars serving icy cocktails and excellent restaurants where vineyards hide their doors.

From here it was easy to take the motorway to the airport in Palermo to catch our flight the next morning.

Our week in Sicily gave us a great taste of the region - food, wine, archeology and stunning medieval cities - and we hope to return for another trip.

How to get to Sicily?

By air: by plane to the cities of Palermo, Catania or Trapani from the international airports of Rome or Milan (there are good connecting flights).

By train: there are a lot of railway connections that go through the Strait of Messina.

By sea: Ferries and ships depart to Sicily from several cities in Italy. The ferry ride from Naples takes 5 hours, some companies can additionally transport your car. Ferries depart from Naples, Citavecchia (Rome), Genoa, Livorno, Salerno, Calabria, Malta and Tunisia. One of the most popular ferries is from Villa San Giovanni in Calabria to Messina, in eastern Sicily.

We traveled overnight on the Tirrenia ferry from Naples to Palermo www.aferry.com/Tirrenia-Ferries. The cabin was clean and tidy and there was a canteen style restaurant on board. Arriving at 6.30am gave us a full day to sightsee in Palermo before we picked up our rental car in the afternoon and drove to Cefalu in the evening.

Hotel Belvedere

Restaurants we visited:

Trattoria Don Camillo, Taormina
Trattoria Archimedes, Syracuse
Ristorante Monte Sa Guillano, Erice