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Italy
- Thread starter Anubis
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Ian Sutton
1000+ Posts
Hi Arthur
I can't say for sure, but in the tourist locations, I'd expect so. However for me the weather is ideal in those periods, so IMO they are a great time to visit. If having to choose between them I'd choose Apr/May for slightly longer daylight, or Sept/Oct for slightly more settled weather and warmer sea if you plan to go swimming in the sea. Some great food in either period. Neither is a bad option.
I doubt I'd be confident driving in Palermo, so to help ease that
- Consider either staying 2-3 nights in Palermo to get over the flight(s) before hiring a car, or hire the car at the airport & skip Palermo (the city) itself
- If you get the chance to hire the car away from a busy time, then that can help. Sometimes the 1-4 slot can be good, as can be Sundays, though in both cases check the car hire place is open then. Hitting a quieter spot for starting can be a big help
Regards
Ian
I can't say for sure, but in the tourist locations, I'd expect so. However for me the weather is ideal in those periods, so IMO they are a great time to visit. If having to choose between them I'd choose Apr/May for slightly longer daylight, or Sept/Oct for slightly more settled weather and warmer sea if you plan to go swimming in the sea. Some great food in either period. Neither is a bad option.
I doubt I'd be confident driving in Palermo, so to help ease that
- Consider either staying 2-3 nights in Palermo to get over the flight(s) before hiring a car, or hire the car at the airport & skip Palermo (the city) itself
- If you get the chance to hire the car away from a busy time, then that can help. Sometimes the 1-4 slot can be good, as can be Sundays, though in both cases check the car hire place is open then. Hitting a quieter spot for starting can be a big help
Regards
Ian
Thanks Ian: We were in Palermo many moons ago. It was so hot we only spent a night and half a day. Missed the Cathedral, Opera House, Museums, the city. Hope to try again.
SuzanneT
10+ Posts
Anubis, I hope you'll consider adding this short 1/2 day trip to Monreal (part of Palermo). I spent a month and drove the island decades ago (lke in the 1960's) and the thing I remember most is the temples in Agrigento and this magnificent byzantine church and the magnificient variety of food.
http://www.wondersofsicily.com/palermo-monreale-cathedral.htm
http://www.wondersofsicily.com/palermo-monreale-cathedral.htm
Ian Sutton
1000+ Posts
I asked my Italian tutor this evening, who rather conveniently is Sicilian!
She suggested on the initial route out of Palermo, to take in the Salt production at Saline di Trapani and the stunning (and high) medieval village of Erice. She also made a case for not ignoring heading inland. She also said don't leave valuables in the car (or at least not visible).
She suggested on the initial route out of Palermo, to take in the Salt production at Saline di Trapani and the stunning (and high) medieval village of Erice. She also made a case for not ignoring heading inland. She also said don't leave valuables in the car (or at least not visible).
Ian Sutton
1000+ Posts
One more to add, and the example she mentioned by way of example for heading inland at some point. The Ceramic producers of Caltagirone, decorated these remarkable steps (Scale) using a different tile design for each of the 142 steps. A great excuse to take the steps slowly!
Ian Sutton
1000+ Posts
NO PROBLEM 
Hope you have a great trip.
p.s. If you find yourself in a market in Sicily and see a cheese called 'Tuma' then I'd recommend getting some. It's more specifically a curd rather than a cheese, but is both creamy and light/fresh/almost fruity. My tutor brought some back from a previous visit and it was one of those 'wow!' moments where you taste something the like of which you can't recall tasting before.
Hope you have a great trip.
p.s. If you find yourself in a market in Sicily and see a cheese called 'Tuma' then I'd recommend getting some. It's more specifically a curd rather than a cheese, but is both creamy and light/fresh/almost fruity. My tutor brought some back from a previous visit and it was one of those 'wow!' moments where you taste something the like of which you can't recall tasting before.
Hi.
As Sicilian, I would suggest you late April instead of late September (both periods are very good to travel to Sicily but as other said, you will have more daylight in April).
Regarding your plan to drive from Palermo to Siracusa you have to consider that it will be a very long driving time (this in case you would like to do it in just one day).
If you can do this in several days, well, the route is pretty interesting.
You can choose to drive from Palermo to reach the Erice first (very nice Medieval village). Erice is situated on top of a mountain so you better leave the car at the parking at the slop of this mountain and take the funicular to Erice.
From Erice down to Marsala (very famous for their wine production) and maybe have some wineries visit and a good wine tasting there.
During the drive from Erice to Marsala, you will drive through the Salt Way Road where you can still see some mills used for the salt production.
In this area, you have also MOTHIA Island, the house of the Withaker family (the British creator of Marsala wine). It is a very interesting little island to visit, reachable by boat.
Once in Marsala, I suggest you to stop there for the first day.
On day 2, you can visit Selinunte Archaeological park (very close to Marsala) and then drive along the coast you can also stop in Sciacca (fishers man town and very good if you like to eat some fresh fish).
From Sciacca, you can drive to Agrigento and stop there for the second night.
On day 3 you can visit the Greek Temples Valley in Agrigento and then you can reach the center of Sicily were you will find Piazza Armerina (the site of the ROMAN VILLA DEL CASALE). After lunch, you can drive to Caltagirone (the capital of Sicilian ceramic) where you can visit the town and some ceramics laboratory.
From Caltagirone, you will easily reach Siracusa and that’s it.
As Sicilian, I would suggest you late April instead of late September (both periods are very good to travel to Sicily but as other said, you will have more daylight in April).
Regarding your plan to drive from Palermo to Siracusa you have to consider that it will be a very long driving time (this in case you would like to do it in just one day).
If you can do this in several days, well, the route is pretty interesting.
You can choose to drive from Palermo to reach the Erice first (very nice Medieval village). Erice is situated on top of a mountain so you better leave the car at the parking at the slop of this mountain and take the funicular to Erice.
From Erice down to Marsala (very famous for their wine production) and maybe have some wineries visit and a good wine tasting there.
During the drive from Erice to Marsala, you will drive through the Salt Way Road where you can still see some mills used for the salt production.
In this area, you have also MOTHIA Island, the house of the Withaker family (the British creator of Marsala wine). It is a very interesting little island to visit, reachable by boat.
Once in Marsala, I suggest you to stop there for the first day.
On day 2, you can visit Selinunte Archaeological park (very close to Marsala) and then drive along the coast you can also stop in Sciacca (fishers man town and very good if you like to eat some fresh fish).
From Sciacca, you can drive to Agrigento and stop there for the second night.
On day 3 you can visit the Greek Temples Valley in Agrigento and then you can reach the center of Sicily were you will find Piazza Armerina (the site of the ROMAN VILLA DEL CASALE). After lunch, you can drive to Caltagirone (the capital of Sicilian ceramic) where you can visit the town and some ceramics laboratory.
From Caltagirone, you will easily reach Siracusa and that’s it.