Sicily Roadtrip 1,000
The Sicilian Tourist Board has announced some major measures to entice travellers back to their wild and woolly coastline. They are offering to partially cover the cost of your flights and hotels whilst also opening up galleries and museums for free. An enormous sum of €50million has been allocated to this ‘too good to be true’ offer. It is an exciting glimpse into the urgency of which the island and country wants to welcome international visitors to back. Who can blame them, Sicily alone has estimated to have lost almost $1billion of income from tourism so far and their high season traditionally starts this week.
Enticing a traveller to travel shouldn’t, in theory, be hard. Enticing a traveller to Italy even easier, the country tops travel lists annually with the same reassurance Monday offers the beginning of a week. Where Sicily might not be of Rome and Venice fame, it is certainly not far behind them and presumably in the short term, people probably won’t fancy sharing a sticky sweaty city with tens of thousands of others.
Sicily is Italy’s untamed and unruly coastline. It brags the authenticity the Amalfi Coast longs for, secret spots Puglia can now only reminisce about and a smattering of smaller off-shoot islands Sardinia would love to have on their repertoire. Sicily is a destination for those hoping to experience authentic Italian life, eating with the locals, swimming with the locals and being with the locals.
It cannot be caveated enough - a road trip across Sicily is not for a nervous driver. Those fearful of driving on the ‘other side’ or the road and traversing roundabouts backwards are best left at home or parked in the passenger seat. Locals are anarchic in their vehicles come countryside, come city, come unfathomably narrow forty degree inclined street lined either side with cars kissing bumper to bumper and eighteen stray cats sunbathing across cat eyes. Channel your inner rally car driver and be prepared to be more pushy and punchy than a London bus. Speeds are fast, punctures are common and the local law enforcement more unpredictable than British weather.
Have I put you off yet? You might be hoping that I have a handy solution, a wise insider to a route around the roads. I don’t, because Sicily is undoubtedly one of the best European road trips there is to be had.
x2 nights Butera 28 Apartments
From £70 a night
A city that perfectly illustrates the islands grandeur and dishevelled mane. A church for every week day of the year and revolting new builds proudly attached to ancient relics.
Foodies flock here so visiting a market even briefly is a must. Ballaro, is one of the best, a fish and farmer's market that stretches across alleys and piazzas, where crates overflow with fresh Sicilian produce
Visit the Normal Palace and admire the Palatine Chapel’s Arabic styled ceiling
For a break from the city there is always Piazza Marina, a lush garden of giant ficus trees
Late nights spent on the Via Chiavettieri
2 hour 30 minute drive (stop in coastal fishing town Sciacca for lunch)
x1 night Azienda Agricola Mandranova
From £130 a night
This is the kind of place you’ll find yourself returning to. Welcomed to the bosom of a Sicilian family you will have to forcibly wriggle your way out in order to accomplish what you really came for - the Valley of Temples, one of the worlds best preserved complex of Greek temples.
Half an hour away by car, the Valley of Temples are mandatory. I insist
There are a choice of beaches from coast between Licata and Agrigento and if your feeling up for the walk, it is not hard to find a beach entirely for yourself
Visit Port Licati one afternoon to take in the daily fish market. Stay for supper, here is served the best fish in Sicily. 2 Michelin Starred La Madia for special occasions
Immerse in the local with a cooking class or soap making lesson making the most of the ingredients on your doorstep
September to November visitors will have the added bonus of experiencing the olive harvest
1 hour 20 minute drive
x3 nights Baglio Occhipinti
From £70 a night
Each and every fine and mighty Baroque town that makes this region splendido is within half an hour of this tranquil agriturismo. Up sticks for the day and return in time for dinner in the evening.
Ragusa - Jaws to the floor over this hill top town. If for nothing else visit the Basilica di San Giorgio, built in 1738 by Rosario Gagliardo. It lies at the top of some 200 steps
Modica - a city that lines two sides of a valley bursting with Baroque architecture thanks to an earthquake in 1683. Be sure fuel your trip on the famous local chocolate
Syracuse has honey hued medieval streets that run right down to the sea. A coastal promenade for Aperol spritz and plenty of history to dine out on
Should you tire of towns and infrastructure there is eerie gorge of Ispica, whose cliffs teem with Neolithic tombs: a rewarding hike
2 hour drive
x2 nights B&B Villa Antonia
From £85 per night
Taormina is an undisputed highlight on the island. With a town tumbling down to the sea it is a box tickers paradise - swim in the morning, shop in the afternoon and dispute over ample list of restaurant options.
Visit the Greek Amphitheatre before the heat of the day strikes
Take the cable car down to the beach at Mazzarò and snorkel in the translucent water, watch out for jellyfish
Day trip to Europes’ most famous volcano, Mt Etna and hike up the mountain
Splash out in the towns boutiques and markets, ceramics are particularly good to purchase on the island
1 hour drive dropping off car in Milazzo
Hydrofoil hourly to Salina island
x3 nights Hotel Signum
From £100 a night
Explore at a snails pace by foot. Chug up and down the coastline by boat. Hire a moped to zip between village and hotel for breakfast or a beauty spot for a picnic lunch. Scale the volcanic peaks for the absolute best views of the little plot you are temporarily calling home.
Return flight from Catania Airport
