A 10 day tour through the most beautiful Sicily. From Palermo, passing through Mondello, Erice and Trapani and again San Vito lo Capo, Syracuse, Ortigia and finally Messina. A low cost tour in Sicily.
I've been to Sicily several times now, but always for a few days, at most 3 or 4 days. I have never done a ten day tour and so this time I let myself be told 10 day tour of Sicily organized, and already tried, by Maria Cristina. She did it this summer and she was very enthusiastic about it, if you like, take some ideas, because this tour seems to be worth doing;)
First day
Arrival a Palermo with Snav ship from Naples. Accommodation at the Hotel Casena Dei Colli, a very nice accommodation in a strategic position near the Stadium, between the city center and the seaside resorts. Sea direction on the beautiful Mondello beach. Afternoon visit of the city and its monuments such as the Teatro Massimo, Piazza Politeama, the Cathedral. Dinner in Sferracavallo, a seaside resort near Isola delle Femmine, at the Il Delfino restaurant: fixed menu based on fish, abundant and low prices. The only one sore note is the speed of the service: they bring you all the courses within 30 minutes at a fast pace. Not recommended for those who love to eat slowly while enjoying every single dish.
Second day
Saddened by the news of the closure of the Zingaro Reserve, due to the devastating fire a few days earlier, we head towards Scopello. A very nice little village where we buy the famous one for lunch Pane Cunzato at the ancient oven. We decide to swim in one of the many coves reachable from the road and we opt for Cala dell'Ovo, since Cala Mazzo di Sciacca is already very full. After a steep descent we arrive in this very suggestive rocky cove with a spectacular sea. A little less pleasant the uphill return under the scorching sun, but it is the price to pay for such a place. The day continues in the direction of San Vito lo Capo with great expectation which however leaves us with a bitter taste as we find a super crowded beach and a disappointing sea due to the presence of algae and waste deposited by bathers who are not civil at all. Sin! Last swim of the day in one of the places that we will remember with greater enthusiasm of this holiday: Macari. On the road to San Vito you find this strip of crystal clear sea which at sunset allows you to enjoy a unique experience. Return to Palermo in the evening and dinner with arancini and brioche with ice cream at Spinnato.
Third day day
We leave for Trapani. Sea day on the beach of San Giuliano at the Isla Blanca beach. In the afternoon visit to the salt pans and evening to Erice. You go up with the funicular from Trapani enjoying an exceptional view from above. Once in the village you are truly speechless for the beauty of the place. Dinner in La Pentolaccia where we tasted an absolute specialty: the escalope of swordfish with marsala. For the sweet stage, the ancient one could not miss Maria Grammatico pastry shop, destination of many tourists: Genoese hot and superlative almond paste!
Fourth day day
Sea day a Island of Women. Equipped beaches and convenience of parking at affordable prices. In the afternoon visit to the cathedral of Monreale and to the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia. In the evening, last stop at Spinnato to taste, this time, cannoli and cassata. The quality of the ancient Palermitan pastry exceeds all expectations. If you start from Palermo here I will explain how to get there by bus to Monreale low cost and in a very simple way.
Fifth day day
We leave for the second stage of the tour at a time of Syracuse, with an intermediate stop in the splendid Catania. Arrived under a scorching sun and having little time available, we opt for a ride on the classic tourist buses, chosen a little by foreign tourists but which proved to be very convenient because it allowed us to have a 360 ° view of the city without risking a sunstroke, plus all alone 5 € per person. Arrival in the afternoon at the Best Western Hotel Siracusa: classic chain hotel, a little cold but functional and located in a strategic area because it is close to the motorway junctions. Evening on the spectacular and evocative Ortigia. Dinner at the Last Supper: typical Sicilian trattoria managed entirely by two very nice guys who are divided between the tables and the kitchen, thus considerably slowing down the waiting times but, I assure you, it's worth it. I highly recommend the Syracusan spaghetti, octopus on cream of potatoes and cannolata. Low prices.
Sixth day
Calamosche beach inside the Vendicari Reserve. I recommend parking at the Agriturismo Calamosche on the Pachino-Noto state road for only 3 euros for the whole day with the presence of showers and a very useful bar on the way back. The beach can only be reached on foot along a dirt road for about 1,5 km. The effort of the route is amply rewarded by the charm of this bay and the spectacular sea. In the afternoon visit to the ancient Byzantine village of Marzamemi, cute and characteristic. On the spot we made purchases of fish products such as tuna and bottarga in a store next to the ancient tonnara. Evening in the suggestive Noto, a pearl of Sicilian Baroque. Dinner at the Trattoria da Ducezio. Large, quality portions at reasonable prices.
Seventh day
Grand tour of the Baroque: Ragusa Ibla, Modica and stage a Punta Secca, driven by the desire to travel a movietour in the footsteps of Montalbano. When we say the power of the audiovisual! Enchanting places full of history. In Ragusa, the Cathedral, the Hyblean Garden and the historic center are worth seeing. In Modica the Duomo and the house of Quasimodo with a stop at the ancient Bonajuto chocolate shop.
Eighth day
Mid-August on the beaches of White Fountains and Arenella, the two main beaches of Syracuse. Not recommended during the August period due to the crowds of bathers that make these places inhospitable. Evening in Avola and dinner at the restaurant The Bow, trendy restaurant offering revisited traditional local dishes. Evening walk in the very crowded Noto with a stop in one of the famous local pastry shops.
Tenth day
Morning at the excavations of Syracuse to admire the beauty of Greek Theatre and the Ear of Dionysus. Despite the heat already in the early hours of the morning, it is a must-do stop. Last day at the beach at Lido di Noto, blue flag 2012. Beautiful sea, a little less the beach. Evening ad Ortigia.
Eleventh day
Departure for Salerno from port of Messina. You will certainly return satisfied by the beauty of the places visited: history, tradition and southern warmth embellished by superlative cuisine and breathtaking landscapes.
