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Catania, Italy
If you land in Catania, your Sicily journey starts and ends in the second
biggest town of Sicily. If you are not planning to spend more than one night in
Catania at the beginning of your trip, I recommend immediately picking up your
rental car at Catania airport (also returning it to the same airport will save a
huge amount on your car rental costs).
In case you decide to allocate more time in Catania and are not planning on
driving outside the city, then you can pick up your car later. I also recommend
doing it at the airport as it is cheaper than in the city.
Nonetheless, having limited time in Sicily, I suggest spending a day in Catania
itself for the main sights as there are so many more other interesting things to
see in Sicily.
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Agira, Italy
Initially planned as an overnight spot, Agira turned out to be a picturesque
age-old town perched atop the steep hill (mount Teja). I have to admit, we were
pleasantly surprised to find out that our blindly picked mountain village is
also a very charming medieval settlement boasting panoramic views of Mount Etna.
According to the legend, the village of Agira was founded before the Trojan war
by Greeks in 1194 BC, and was originally called Agyrion, with the name derived
from the violent Sicilian tyrant Agyris.
The lively historic town center is situated around the piazza Francesco Crispi
and Parrocchia S. Antonio Da Padova church.
There are numerous churches worth visiting, including two fine Norman examples,
the remains of an Arab-Byzantine fortress and a synagogue, testifying to the
presence of a Jewish population several hundred years ago.
A little further away from the historic center, you can find a neighborhood of
the Rocche di San Pietro which dates back to Arab times in Sicily. Called Arab
Quarter, it is one of the last places in Sicily entirely attributable to Arab
art.
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Gangi, Italy
On day 3, we make our way to one of my absolute favorite places in Sicily- a
mysterious Gangi (pronounced “gan-chee”), located in the province of Palermo.
Surrounded by spectacular Madonie mountains and overlooking mount Etna, the
early days of Gangi are tied to the mythical Greek city of Engyon.
Named the most beautiful village in Italy, Gangi dates back to 1200 BC and was
founded by Cretans. It was destroyed during the War of Sicilian Vespers and
rebuilt approximately in the 1300s of this era. This is how we know the Gangi of
today.
The town of Gangi raises up in layers of bright color houses glued side to side
like a Lego game. While dozens of narrow cobblestone streets zigzag between the
buildings leading your way up the Marone Mount, which is the base of Gangi.
Gangi is a true hidden gem filled with rich history and charm. Once a ghost
village, selling abandoned homes for 1 EUR, today it seems to slowly come to
life and gain a little bit of attention from a few curious travelers like
myself.
At the time of our visit, Gangi was covered in fog. Although the mount Etna was
nowhere to be seen due to the weather, we will forever remember the mysterious
atmosphere of the streets in the clouds.
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Cefalù, Italy
On day 4 we left the misty Madonie mountains in search of sunshine. We headed to
one of the most picturesque seaside towns in North Sicily- Cefalù. Nestled at
the foothills of an imposing rock, and washed by the salty waters of the
Tyrrhenian sea, Cefalù (pronounced shef-a-loo) is an ancient fishing port
featuring a picture-perfect beach set against the old town walls.
Today Cefalù is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Sicily,
attracting thousands of sun-seekers during the summer months. Luckily we were
traveling during the shoulder season, the beginning of May. But even at this
time, the main street Corso Ruggero in the old town of Cefalù was quite busy.
Especially at the Piazza del Duomo. It was packed with hundreds of visitors
during the day.
Nonetheless, chilly water and stormy weather kept Spiaggia di Cefalù (Cefalù
beach) completely empty. And since swimming was only for the bravest that day,
we opted to explore the charming backstreets of the old town without the crowds.
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Ragusa, Italy
This leg of the journey is the longest on our road trip. We will be heading from
Trapani to the baroque gem Ragusa. Along the way, I have included an
off-the-beaten-path stop at Punta Bianca– a rival to the more well-known Scali
dei Tuchi (Turkish Steps) in Agrigento province.
- Casa Del Formaggio Modica
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Syracuse, Italy
The gem of the Eastern part of Sicily is the baroque island of Ortigia (or
Ortygia) – in a lack of a better word-an appendix or an extension of the Greek
town of Syracuse.
Pedestrian-friendly Ortigia is renowned for its cultural heritage with a
significant Greek influence. A UNESCO landmark, Ortigia was inhabited for over
3000 years and plays an important role in shaping the Mediterranean culture over
the centuries.
Today, Ortigia attracts many culture lovers who will have a delightful time
exploring its exquisite piazzas with impressive church facades and suggestive
tiny streets. Whitewashed sun-kissed houses surrounded by crystalline sea and
many restaurants are said to serve the food just as good as the one in Palermo.
Moreover, Ortigia is less touristy than Taormina and more polished than Catania.
Meanwhile, mainland Syracuse is the birthplace of Archimedes (a famous
mathematician, philosopher, and inventor) with Neapolis Archeological Park, home
to 5 century BC Greek theater, being an important historical attraction. While
Valley of Temples in Agrigento is the most significant site showcasing how
strong Greek influence was in south-east Sicily, the ruins of Neapolis in
Syracuse come close to second.
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Etna, Italy
Etna – Europe’s most active volcano, constantly keeping inhabitants of the
surrounding villages on edge. You have probably seen pictures of the mighty
volcano spitting lava flames and fuming like a giant dragon.
The active volcano is not something you aim to conquer but you can still take a
careful glimpse at its crater from afar. The highest point you can reach in Etna
is 3326 meters above sea level.
You have 3 options to visit Etna:
* Self-guided hike (cheapest but hardest option) starting at the base camp of
Rifugio Sapienza at 1910 m above sea level. Here you can park your car and
start a grueling 1416 meters climb over challenging terrain with very steep
inclines. Recommended only for confident and fit hikers.
* Semi-self-guided hike. You can cut off the grind by taking a cable car from
Rifugio Sapienza to 2500 m base (33 EUR per person round trip), and then a
4×4 bus to 2920m (24 EUR per person round trip). From here you will only have
to hike the crater area.
* Guided tour. Apparently, the most popular way to visit Etna volcano. The
prices of guided tours range significantly. Possibly one of the best deals is
this one on Get Your Guide (only 45 EUR per person, not including cable car
cost).
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Taormina, Italy
Taormina is the most famous mountain town in Sicily featuring an imposing Greek
theatre set against the beautiful panorama of the Sicilian coast. It is also the
most touristic town in Eastern Sicily. Although Taormina looks pretty in the
pictures, we had no intention of visiting it on our trip mainly because of it
being overrun by tourists (we experienced over-tourism in Positano, and it was
just not for us).
Nonetheless, there is a reason people come to visit certain places. Undoubtedly
Taormina must have its charms and spending a night there might give you an
opportunity to enjoy a beautiful sunset and stroll tourist-free old town streets
during the early morning or late evening hours.
Since you are in the area, it is also worth stopping by Savoca- a tiny hill-top
town famous for the Bar Vitelli, where one of the famous scenes of the Godfather
movie was filmed. Note that the bar itself is heavily overpriced, but if you are
a fan of the film, it is worth having an espresso in this special place which
still keeps the original setup as seen in Godfather.
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Catania, Italy
And that’s a wrap for our Sicilian road trip, sadly… But with a strong feeling
that we will soon be coming back to this gorgeous Mediterranean island of Italy.
I hope you will find this itinerary inspiring and useful when planning your own
Sicily road trip. If you have any questions regarding travelling around Sicily,
do not hesitate to drop me a message.
If you loved the article and/or found this information useful, I would love it
if you also join me on Instagram where I share my travel stories as I go
(@theroadreel).
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