Sicily

Lala

Lala

Well-known member
Have a pal just back and loved it.
Am thinking of booking a no pre-payment hotel for a few nights in Palermo next May.
Anyone been ?
 
TwelveAngryMen said:
Always fancied going there

Portillo's train journey around the island is worth a watch - it's on iPlayer
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From the pics my pal has sent me it looks amazing. Flights and accommodation also very cheap. And she said the people are the friendliest she’s ever encountered.
I believe they are getting back on their feet economically after years of Mafia rule and corruption and the government is clawing back more revenue as a consequence.
Looks ace 😊
 
LaLa..we stayed a week in Cefalu a couple of years ago and went into Palermo for a day trip on the train,a good service and about an hour away.We found the railway system to be very good and relatively inexpensive and in Italy generally especially if you pre book on line, which is not that difficult.The area around and including the cathedral is well worth a visit and there are new areas around the marina too but there were some not so great places as you walked from the railway station into the areas you might want to visit.If you do go buy yourself a map of the city( and for that matter anywhere you go because they help and also bring back memories when you come home).
We really enjoyed our holiday ,it was early season ,there including a visit( you should if you go and you can) to Mount Etna and Taormina.
Cefalu is on the rail link between Palermo and Messina with an hourly service at least and is a really nice resort with history and a great coastline.
We would definitely go again...and for that matter many places in Italy.We love cruising these days but if not Italy is definitely our number one destination if we are going outside of the UK.

We’d love to go back to Sicily if for no other reason to go to “Montalbano“ country in the south of the island Which we didn’t have time to on that visit and as it was early season no excursions were available.
 
bleach51 said:
LaLa..we stayed a week in Cefalu a couple of years ago and went into Palermo for a day trip on the train,a good service and about an hour away.We found the railway system to be very good and relatively inexpensive and in Italy generally especially if you pre book on line, which is not that difficult.The area around and including the cathedral is well worth a visit and there are new areas around the marina too but there were some not so great places as you walked from the railway station into the areas you might want to visit.If you do go buy yourself a map of the city( and for that matter anywhere you go because they help and also bring back memories when you come home).
We really enjoyed our holiday ,it was early season ,there including a visit( you should if you go and you can) to Mount Etna and Taormina.
Cefalu is on the rail link between Palermo and Messina with an hourly service at least and is a really nice resort with history and a great coastline.
We would definitely go again...and for that matter many places in Italy.We love cruising these days but if not Italy is definitely our number one destination if we are going outside of the UK.

We’d love to go back to Sicily if for no other reason to go to “Montalbano“ country in the south of the island Which we didn’t have time to on that visit and as it was early season no excursions were available.
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Excellent and thank you for your well informed response as ever 👌
 
AllezBlackpool said:
Corsica is nicer 😎
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Yes definitely another place worth a visit..our time spent there were on cruises so just a day ( around 8 to 10 hours) on each of our two visits so we only saw the area around Ajaccio .But there is a lot more to the Island, not unlike Sicily.
 
Looks nice on the Inspector Montalbano episodes shown on BBC 4. Italy is a very beautiful country full stop.🇮🇹
 
About 20 years ago my ex-boss told me his daughter was marrying a Sicilian. Before the wedding he and his wife went across to meet the in-laws and stayed in their grand villa. One evening they were guests at large gathering of the family and at the end of the meal and entertainment the men retired to a terrace where they were given cigars, red wine and large bowl of raw radishes. My boss hated cigars and radishes, but felt obliged to participate because he thought in was part of an initiation by the Sicilian mafia, some of whom were present. His wife said he had a green looking face when he returned to their room!
 
I have heard that Montalbano’s “home” on the waterfront is available to let on air b’n’b. No idea if that is true, but it looks pretty good!
 
Agrigento on the south coast of Sicily has the Valley of the Temples. It was one of the leading cities of Ancient Greece with population estimates of half a million before 400 BC. Now excavated and partially restored, these temples constitute some of the largest and best-preserved ancient Greek buildings outside of Greece itself. I have long wanted to visit. There are some great agri-tourism villas in vineyards to stay in. But you will need a hire car.
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And another that's been to Taormina and loved it. I was there the week before the G8 summit so it was locked down for a complely different reason. Of course if you do go don't forget to visit Segesta. 😁
 
Lala said:
Have a pal just back and loved it.
Am thinking of booking a no pre-payment hotel for a few nights in Palermo next May.
Anyone been ?
Click to expand...
Lala said:
Have a pal just back and loved it.
Am thinking of booking a no pre-payment hotel for a few nights in Palermo next May.
Anyone been ?
Click to expand...
I’d go Taormina nice spot. Puglia on the heel is worth checking out to.
 
Lala said:
Have a pal just back and loved it.
Am thinking of booking a no pre-payment hotel for a few nights in Palermo next May.
Anyone been ?
Click to expand...
We went a few years ago. Hired a car for 6 days and drove around the South Coast stopping in towns over night before moving on. It was fabulous, we went up as far as Agrigento. It was one of those trips when everything went perfect, hotels, food, places we visited. I would 100% recommend to go.
I did not fancy driving around Palermo so gave that a miss.
Get it booked!
 
bleach51 said:
LaLa..we stayed a week in Cefalu a couple of years ago and went into Palermo for a day trip on the train,a good service and about an hour away.We found the railway system to be very good and relatively inexpensive and in Italy generally especially if you pre book on line, which is not that difficult.The area around and including the cathedral is well worth a visit and there are new areas around the marina too but there were some not so great places as you walked from the railway station into the areas you might want to visit.If you do go buy yourself a map of the city( and for that matter anywhere you go because they help and also bring back memories when you come home).
We really enjoyed our holiday ,it was early season ,there including a visit( you should if you go and you can) to Mount Etna and Taormina.
Cefalu is on the rail link between Palermo and Messina with an hourly service at least and is a really nice resort with history and a great coastline.
We would definitely go again...and for that matter many places in Italy.We love cruising these days but if not Italy is definitely our number one destination if we are going outside of the UK.

We’d love to go back to Sicily if for no other reason to go to “Montalbano“ country in the south of the island Which we didn’t have time to on that visit and as it was early season no excursions were available.
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We also had a holiday in Cefalu with a day trip to Palermo by coach with a crowd of Germans; and yes it was all very nice.

From memory we combined the trip with a break in Naples and either flew over or caught the ferry to the island and train to Cefalu. The train was a bit of a ‘mare; standing room only and very hot, but that was the only unpleasant part of the trip.

My only advice would be don’t ever attempt to drive in Southern Italy 😂
 
Mexboroseasider said:
Yep Puglia is very nice too; and not as busy with tourists as other parts of Italy.

But you will need a car - despite my earlier advice!
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Def need a car in Puglia so many places to visit, Martina Franca a particular favourite of mine in the Itria valley
 
we hired a car in Puglia. Came back nervous wrecks. You do need one there, but driving it is not for the faint hearted.

PS don’t even think of driving in and around Naples either. It’s bad enough just being a pedestrian.
 
glasshalffull said:
we hired a car in Puglia. Came back nervous wrecks. You do need one there, but driving it is not for the faint hearted.

PS don’t even think of driving in and around Naples either. It’s bad enough just being a pedestrian.
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If I’d tried to drive in Naples I’d probably still be there. Trying to get off a roundabout.

When we were in Puglia we had a second week somewhere south of the Amalfi Coast. Now that was a fun drive! Very scenic along the coast road according to Mrs Mex. I wouldn’t know. I was too busy staring fixedly ahead at the road, knuckles turning white on the steering wheel, wondering which direction the next attack would come from.
 
Mexboroseasider said:
If I’d tried to drive in Naples I’d probably still be there. Trying to get off a roundabout.

When we were in Puglia we had a second week somewhere south of the Amalfi Coast. Now that was a fun drive! Very scenic along the coast road according to Mrs Mex. I wouldn’t know. I was too busy staring fixedly ahead at the road, knuckles turning white on the steering wheel, wondering which direction the next attack would come from.
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I experienced the same with Fr Bayern driving along the Amalfi Coast, 'look at those beautiful houses and those beaches blah blah blah'.
 
Funnily enough we once did a really superb bus ride between Sorrento and Amalfi. Fantastic views over the coast to Capri and the hillsides on the other side.

But I am here to tell you that the bus driver took absolutely no prisoners as he drove his mighty vehicle ever onwards, forcing the car drivers to reverse and inch backwards, panic-stricken into the tiniest of spaces.
Great Sport.
 
glasshalffull said:
Funnily enough we once did a really superb bus ride between Sorrento and Amalfi. Fantastic views over the coast to Capri and the hillsides on the other side.

But I am here to tell you that the bus driver took absolutely no prisoners as he drove his mighty vehicle ever onwards, forcing the car drivers to reverse and inch backwards, panic-stricken into the tiniest of spaces.
Great Sport.
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I did that bus ride in about 1984 with my girlfriend. We got a boat back from Amalfi to Sorrento!
 
Lala said:
Have a pal just back and loved it.
Am thinking of booking a no pre-payment hotel for a few nights in Palermo next May.
Anyone been ?
Click to expand...
I’m here now. Arrived yesterday. I’m in Brucoli Village all inclusive right next to the sea.
Hire car from Catania airport.
There are some great tips on this post so thank you all, I will be going to visit these places.
I also have a friend who has been here this week. I’ve just missed him. He has posted some great pics.
Oh, I have driven the Amalfi coast several times and many times in Puglia.
My only advice is the only bit of road that is safe is the part your 4 wheels are on.
I absolutely love the way they drive down here.
 
Seasided said:
I’m here now. Arrived yesterday. I’m in Brucoli Village all inclusive right next to the sea.
Hire car from Catania airport.
There are some great tips on this post so thank you all, I will be going to visit these places.
I also have a friend who has been here this week. I’ve just missed him. He has posted some great pics.
Oh, I have driven the Amalfi coast several times and many times in Puglia.
My only advice is the only bit of road that is safe is the part your 4 wheels are on.
I absolutely love the way they drive down here.
Click to expand...
Enjoy !!!
 
glasshalffull said:
Funnily enough we once did a really superb bus ride between Sorrento and Amalfi. Fantastic views over the coast to Capri and the hillsides on the other side.

But I am here to tell you that the bus driver took absolutely no prisoners as he drove his mighty vehicle ever onwards, forcing the car drivers to reverse and inch backwards, panic-stricken into the tiniest of spaces.
Great Sport.
Click to expand...
I took ferry from Sorrento to Positano and the bus back along the Amalfi coast but we digress from Sicily.
 
I've visited many places in Italy, I love the culture, people and cuisine.
I would never dream of driving there as they are all maniacs.

Sicily is a beautiful place, just like the mainland Lala and you'll enjoy every minute of your holiday.
 
Seasided said:
I’m here now. Arrived yesterday. I’m in Brucoli Village all inclusive right next to the sea.
Hire car from Catania airport.
There are some great tips on this post so thank you all, I will be going to visit these places.
I also have a friend who has been here this week. I’ve just missed him. He has posted some great pics.
Oh, I have driven the Amalfi coast several times and many times in Puglia.
My only advice is the only bit of road that is safe is the part your 4 wheels are on.
I absolutely love the way they drive down here.
Click to expand...
In Taormina Seasided. Hope you’ve missed the storm we’ve just had. Pi**ed it down for an hour
 
glasshalffull said:
Funnily enough we once did a really superb bus ride between Sorrento and Amalfi. Fantastic views over the coast to Capri and the hillsides on the other side.

But I am here to tell you that the bus driver took absolutely no prisoners as he drove his mighty vehicle ever onwards, forcing the car drivers to reverse and inch backwards, panic-stricken into the tiniest of spaces.
Great Sport.
Click to expand...
Yeh. I think I met that driver coming the other way.
 
We both love Italy as a holiday destination.From North to South .We have stayed in Malcesine (on Lake Garda) Lido di Jesolo,Pisa,Rome, Sorrento ( twice) and Cefalu in Sicily.The food,the scenery,the history,the beaches,the architecture,etc.etc...and by and large wonderful people.

Verona,Venice,Florence,Lucca,Ostia Antica,Naples,Pompeii,Vesuvius, the Amalfi Coast,Mount Etna,etc,erc......so so many great places to see.

BUT there is no way I would ever hire a car and drive over there😉

post edit...and I forgot about the Vino....worth the trip for that alone😄
 
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bleach51 said:
We both love Italy as a holiday destination.From North to South .We have stayed in Malcesine (on Lake Garda) Lido di Jesolo,Pisa,Rome, Sorrento ( twice) and Cefalu in Sicily.The food,the scenery,the history,the beaches,the architecture,etc.etc...and by and large wonderful people.

Verona,Venice,Florence,Lucca,Ostia Antica,Naples,Pompeii,Vesuvius, the Amalfi Coast,Mount Etna,etc,erc......so so many great places to see.

BUT there is no way I would ever hire a car and drive over there😉
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I think there might be a theme emerging here?
 
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