Tips for 2 weeks in Sicily?

[nksyoon]

Hi everyone,

I'm travelling to Sicily in April for 2 weeks. My tentative itinerary is:

Catania (1.5 days)
Siracusa (9.5 days - incl. 7 day workshop)
Palermo (3.5 days)

During the workshop we'll be covering the Easter processions on the eastern coast. When the workshop is over I'll move to Palermo. While based in Palermo I plan to make a couple of side trips to places like Monreale and Erice or Trapani.

I'd appreciate any information people might have on interesting locations in Catania and Palermo, as well as smaller towns near Palermo. I'm interested in experiencing and photographing local life and customs.

Thanks,
Nick

[dazedgonebye]

Take me with you.
I have cousins near Palermo and cousins make the best tour guides!

[nico]

Hi Nick,
I spent two weeks in Sicily some years a go (far before any photo addiction, so I do not have any photo to show you ) and I can tell you is a wonderful place. Siracusa is one of my favourite sicilian place (bring the widest lens you have it will be useful for the main square in town). Three days in Palermo are just enough for the city and Monreale (Beatiful Cathedral and interesting small town) and Mondello (a famous seaside touristic town I avoided in my tour...). The best places for a reportage would be the "inner" Sicily, cities like Enna or Caltanissetta are amazing, you may have the sensation to be still in the fifties ( I mean in a nice way). Sicilian people may be much more friendly than you can expect (I've been invited home for lunch by a touristic guide in Trapani!!!). Food is just great. At the time (2002 or so ... I'm not good with calendars) it was quite cheap.
If you need some more info feel free to drop me a pm.
Anyway, I'm sure you'll enjoy your staying
Ciao
Nico

[darkkavenger]

Take me with you too. I am a sicilian Lots of relatives there.
Palermo and Erice are interesting destinations (Erice/Eryx is magnificent, you will have a splendid view at sunset on the bay of Trapani), while heading to Trapani/Erice try stopping at the greek temple of Segesta.

In the inlands of Palermo, you might be interested in dropping by Piana degli Albanesi, an albanian-speaking greek-orthodox community present since the 15th century. fyi, most of albanians from albania are muslims since the expansion of the Ottoman Empire.

You might be interested also in the coastal city of Cefalu near Palermo. And of course, please do not miss the fabled Monreale. It is so wonderful....

Ah, I already start missing Sicily!

In the immediate vicinity of Monreale is the Abbey of San Martino delle Scale, where, when I was a little kid, my family was menacing me to seclude me when I was being a bad boy You should visit it if you have time, it's beautiful!

Like Nico said, the rural/inner Sicily is interesting because you will find that people are not so much affected by the modernism and its bad sides. Siracusa is one of *the* places to see if you are into greek history, definitely the greatest and most beautiful city of "Magna Graecia".

Btw Nico, grazie per le gentile parole, cumpa' !

cheers,
Max

[bob cole]

Try here:


http://search.lonelyplanet.com/ttsearch.do?Ntt=Sicily

[nksyoon]

Thanks to all for the tips!

Bob, thanks, I have the Lonely Planet book on Sicily and am also checking forums such as the Thorn Tree and Trip Advisor.

[dadsm3]

Another Sicilian here (mezza-mezz). Never been, but my mom says once you try a Sicilian stuffed artichoke you'll never be able to really enjoy another one again as long as you live. Also, my late nonna used to make a loaf of bread stuffed with onions and tiny veal meatballs, she called it pignulati, it kind of looked like a poppyseed roll when she cut it, except with that filling. Peasant food I guess, but when I was a kid it was better than lobster.
Deeply envious and looking forward to your photos,
Mike