Sicily: an Italian 3 days long fairy tale. Auto route for independent travel.
It's said to understand Italy, you have to visit Sicily...
So, here is the largest island in the country, washed by the waters of three seas - the Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian and Ionian... Chaotic traffic on the streets and quiet beaches, temperamental, but cordial people, cute villages and magnificent cities, and, of course, the famous and immortal mafia...
For the next three days, dedicated to an independent trip to Sicily, we will see the most grandiose architectural monuments, relish the colours of ancient cities and small villages, and admir the power and beauty of natural attractions... Well, soak in a truly Italian spirit and try to understand what is Italy…
Let's say right away: to see all the local attractions, both architectural and natural, you need not days or weeks. The density of interesting things here is so high that you can find them at almost every step without trouble. Our goal is to see the very best. And do it without haste but with pleasure.
Mission Possible. Three days for everything. Rent a car and… Let's go!
Initial:
- The routes are made considering brief stops on the road, time for a snack and sightseeing, considering the daily start of the trip at 7-8 AM and settling in the place of lodging no later than 8-9 PM.
- The opening hours of attractions and prices for visiting are not mentioned, because they may change depending on the season and other conditions. We strongly advise you to clarify the information before the trip.
- The starting point of the route is Palermo, the capital of Sicilian region and the place of arrival for most tourists. But we do not consider the attractions of Palermo as part of our route.
- You can choose and order a car for rent here.
On the first day of our trip, we part from Palermo to the south. Primarily we will examine the most famous archaeological monument of Sicily - the Valley of the Temples, near Agrigento city. It is a complex of ten ancient temples from the 5th - 6th centuries BC. Some of them have survived to our times in very good condition, while others are left only in ruins. But the scale and grandeur are worth spending a few hours in this place. The walk between the temples is easy to do on foot.
Reference:
- Coordinates - 37.33620997584185, 13.578354098786969.
- Distance from the start of the route – 130 km.
- Distance from the previous point of the route – 130 km.
The other must-see and the next point of our trip will be the Stair of the Turks, a white limestone cliff known for its unusual form of steps. Splending sea coast, beautiful sandy beaches, bright turquoise sea and incomparable photos you will want to share. A very popular place for Instagrammers.
Reference:
- Coordinates - 37.29266594957928, 13.472706187867848.
- Distance from the start of the route – 145 km.
- Distance from the previous point of the route – 15 km.
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Impressed by ancient monuments and natural beauty, we go to admire the Sicilian architectural “pearl”. We drive along the south coast and, of course, keep the camera ready: there will be many places you want to remember.
The towns Ragusa, Modica, and Noto are bridges, numerous steps, spectacular panoramic views and Sicilian baroque. At the end of the 17th century, a powerful earthquake occurred in Sicily, the epicentre was in the Noto Valley. Most of the towns in this place turned into ruins and then were rebuilt in the same style, later called the Sicilian Baroque. You can choose any of these towns, can visit them all - at your preference. It makes no sense to single out individual monuments. Just walk and look around. Architectural beauty in Sicilian baroque style combined with colourful southern landscapes will be everywhere here. In one of these towns, a hotel is worth booking in advance to have a comfortable rest after the first day of travel.
Reference:
- Coordinates - 36.89267863838821, 15.067787391574168 (Ното).
- Distance from the start of the route – 339 km.
- Distance from the previous point of the route – 194 km.
The second day of our trip will also be remembered for its colourful landscapes, the stunning grandeur of ancient architecture, and the sunny appeal of Sicilian towns, unhurried and seething with vitality at the same time.
We go to the east coast of Sicily. The first point of the route is the town of Syracuse and its historical centre, the island of Ortigia (Isola di Ortigia). Luxurious palaces, chamber squares, bustling farmers market, pretty streets and cute family restaurants - this is town life that you would like to taste.
List of must-see attractions: Temple of Apollo, Archimedes Square, Arethusa Fountain, Maniace Castle (the fort that protected the town from the part of the sea and the residence of the Sicilian sovereigns), Church of the Weeping Madonna, etc.
In particular must mention the Neapolis Archaeological Park with its Roman amphitheatre, Greek theatre, quarries and caves. This Roman amphitheatre is the biggest in Sicily and one of the biggest in Italy. Shows, musical concerts and theatrical performances have been held in the Greek theatre from ancient Greece to the present day. The majestic cave, named by the artist Caravaggio the Ear of Dionysus, looks like an auricle, has incredible acoustics and can amplify sounds 16 times...
And all this is within walking distance. We park the car and go for a walk.
Reference:
- Coordinates - 37.09243194687067, 15.282085042376648.
- Distance from the start of the route – 381 km.
- Distance from the previous point of the route – 42 km.
The next point of the route is a small town with a magnificent panorama of Catania plain, Etna and the isle Isola Bella. Taormina is one of the most touristic towns in Sicily, where wealthy people from all around the world like to pass the time. Be sure to go down to the beach on the Isola Bella, that‘s like a visiting card of the town and then take the funicular back up. Visit the Greek theatre and take panoramic photos with a view of Etna, the sea from Piazza IX Aprile and the small village of Castelmola, located 5 kilometres above Taormina. And in the evening, be sure to walk along the promenade and look carefully: chances to meet some celebrities are very high.
Accommodation in Taormina is expensive, so do not forget to find an option for lodging in advance, if not in the town itself, then somewhere in its vicinity.
Reference:
- Coordinates - 37.85137715525347, 15.300112611018363.
- Distance from the start of the route – 503 km.
- Distance from the previous point of the route – 122km.
Day three. And today we have planned a visit to the attraction №1 of Sicily - the volcano Etna.
The volcano Etna is the biggest in Europe. Its height is about 3,000 meters, and it changes after each eruption, which happens quite often, about once every three months. On Etna, there are more than forty craters, and the closeness to Etna causes a lot of anxiety to the inhabitants of nearby towns. Catania, for example, was destroyed twice in its history.
From Taormina, it is more convenient to get to the volcano through the small village of Zafferana on the eastern slope of Etna.
You can climb the volcano by funicular (up to a height of 2500 meters), then by excursion jeep, special bus or on foot. The route is not easy, it requires at least minimal physical fitness.
Reference:
- Coordinates - 37.85137715525347, 15.300112611018363.
- Distance from the start of the route – 558km.
- Distance from the previous point of the route – 55km.
A walk along the volcano will take at least half a day, and if you still want to visit some wine-making production, of which there are many on the hillside of Etna, then even more. Therefore, tired, but satisfied after visiting the volcano, we head for Palermo, the final point of our route. But on the way, we will pass to Enna, the only province of Sicily without access to the sea, but at the same time called the "heart" or "navel" of the island.
Enna is situated at an altitude of more than 900 meters above sea level. The main attraction is the castle Castello di Lombardia. Its main tower offers a gorgeous view of volcano Etna and the neighbouring villages.
Reference:
- Coordinates - 37.570075804083274, 14.28790068381584.
- Distance from the start of the route – 673km.
- Distance from the previous point of the route – 115km.
Seems that we already have some idea about Italy after our Sicilian trip. And if w will add to this the indispensable components of any trip: incomparable cuisine and excellent wines, then the picture will definitely will bright and remembered for a long time. And then we return to Palermo.
Reference:
- Coordinates - 38.153699469795015, 13.351146180095485.
- Distance from the start of the route – 813km.
- Distance from the previous point of the route – 140km.
Well, we coped with the task. We saw all the most important things in Sicily. We tasted not only local cuisine and wines but also a little bit of Italian life, so different, contradictory and bright... And we were also saturated with the salty and sunny spirit of Sicilian happiness. Isn't three days enough?
translated by Marta Alekseeva