You can also get to Sicily by car, from any city in Italy, as well as Europe. However, keep in mind that this is the most expensive way to travel to Sicily. Gasoline in Italy is quite expensive and almost everywhere there is a fee for the use of highways. The cost depends on the category of the car and the mileage, as well as the mileage of the road. But if you still decide to come to Sicily by car, several resources will help you plan your route: https://www.viamichelin.it , https://www.tuttocitta.it. These sites are in English and Italian. On the latter, you can immediately track traffic jams and generally assess the traffic situation. If you are not fluent in languages, Google maps will also be a great help. Whichever route you choose, the road to Sicily provides for a ferry crossing either across the Strait of Messina from the town of Villa San Giovanni or Reggio di Calabria, or by ferry from Rome (Civitavecchia), Genoa, Naples, Salerno. You can see information about the ferry service.

Preparing for a road trip

Before planning a route, it is important to think over it. Of course, not to the smallest detail, since this is not realistic, but the main points, without the organization of which the trip will simply be impossible, should be thought out in advance. It is such a question.

If your trip does not start in Italy, then in addition to the documents required to form a package for a Schengen visa (described), you will need to provide an itinerary, which is drawn up in a free form. In it, you indicate the dates of your stay at the hotel (from what date and to what date), country and city of location this hotel, and, the name of the hotel, including its full address and telephone number. Everything can be arranged in the form of a table, but this condition is not mandatory. It might look like this:

When traveling by car, it is very important to have an insurance policy. If you are traveling in your own vehicle, in addition to insurance policy Travelers must take out international vehicle insurance (Green Card).

Movement rules

If you are good at driving in Russia, you will not have any problems in Italy. The traffic rules are in many ways similar to Russian ones, but there are some differences that you should be aware of in advance so that your trip is not overshadowed by additional costs in the form of fines. Traffic in Italy is also right-handed. During daylight hours, drivers must turn on low-beam headlights outside settlements, in a zone of poor visibility, as well as when driving through tunnels.

As noted above, most of the roads in Italy are paid. Bes toll roads are also available, but in some cases it is more convenient to get on the autobahn. It's still faster and more comfortable. Closer to the freeway there are warning signs with information about how many kilometers are left before the entrance. At the entrance you need to take an entrance ticket, according to which the payment will be made at the exit. Payment can be made bank card or cash, depending on the lane you have chosen. Blue and white stripes are for tourists. Blue payment provides for self-service only with the help of credit cards and Viacard. White, along with the listed methods, makes it possible to pay in cash. For Telepass customers, there is a special yellow lane that should not be entered. When entering the freeway, be careful, there are no U-turns on them. Having passed your turn, you will have to pass through a toll to select the freeway of the desired direction.

Speed ​​limits

The maximum speed on the autobahn is 130 km/h. highway Strada Statale - 110 km/h, outside locality- 90 km / h, within the settlement - 50 km / h.

The speed of movement is monitored by multiple cameras. For speeding, they can issue a fine, and quite a decent one. It depends on how much was the excess. The higher the speed, the higher the penalty. Fines are charged for absolutely everything: for the lack of documents for vehicles, insurance; for overtaking in the wrong place; for driving on a red traffic light; for talking on a mobile while driving; for staying in paid parking more than the allotted time; for non-compliance with the requirements of prohibition signs or road markings; for an unfastened seat belt; for the transportation of children without the use of restraint systems (depending on the age of the child). Moreover, the fines are quite serious, so it's better to drive by the rules, enjoying your trip. Although the Sicilians themselves often break the rules. A fairly common picture when a driver saw a friend and stopped right in the middle of the road to exchange a couple of dozen phrases. And it doesn't matter what's behind, a decent congestion has already accumulated.

parking

Parking deserves special attention. The scope of everyone's problem big city, in Sicily increases several times. Narrow streets, historical areas, a large number of cars, all this will not give you the opportunity to quickly and easily park.

As regards parking historical monuments, here the driver must not only pay a fee, but set the time of arrival at the parking lot on a special plastic clock (disco orario), which can be purchased at gas stations, post offices. The clock is placed under the windshield so that the traffic inspector can see it. Without these hours, you can run into a very large fine.

If you parked in the wrong place, be prepared for the fact that when you return, you will not find your car where you left it. Such cars are taken to a fine parking lot, which, as a rule, is located nearby. The penalty will be quite impressive, even if the car has stood there for quite a bit of time. You can check with any policeman about the location of the parking lot. Another important point- the difference in mentality and worldview. It makes no sense to negotiate with the police if you have committed any violation. Get more problems. They can start a case and add it to the database of violations in Europe. So be careful and follow the rules of DD.

Alcohol

Italy is a country of fine wines and a high culture of drinking. A traditional glass at a delicious dinner leaves its mark on the norms for the permissible presence of alcohol in the blood. Previously, the law was not so significant, but with mass immigration, the law was tightened, as our compatriots abused the permission to drink a glass of wine with dinner to a fairly strong extent.

Today, the permissible presence of alcohol in the blood is 0.5 ‰, which more or less corresponds to a bottle of beer (0.5 l). The slightest excess threatens with a very large fine. The amount of the fine depends on the degree of drunkenness. For example, if the blood alcohol content ranges from 0.5‰ to 0.8‰, the fine will be from € 530 to 2000, plus a suspension of the license for a period of 3 to 6 months is possible. If the blood alcohol content is from 0.8‰ to 1.5‰, the fine ranges from €800 to 3200, and imprisonment for up to 6 months is also possible. The most severe punishment is provided for if the blood alcohol content is more than 1.5 ‰, the fine is from € 1,500 to 6,000 with loss of rights from 1 to 2 years with imprisonment from 6 months to 1 year. Sometimes the vehicle is seized. The same punishment is provided for refusal of a medical examination.

However, according to the permissible ppm in the blood composition, there are some nuances. Italian law prohibits the management vehicle after taking even the smallest dose of alcohol to people under the age of 21. Also, the rule does not apply to taxi drivers, truck drivers and public transport drivers. The allowed rate of 0.5 ‰ applies to young people who have reached the age of 21 and have a driving experience of 3 years.

Driving to Italy!
Every year my friends and I go on road trips. We have already wound more than one tens of thousands of kilometers along the roads of Europe. As a rule, we lay the route through cities with famous museums, architectural monuments, and other attractions. That is, not a beach holiday.

This year we decided to combine business with pleasure. In between museums and other places of spiritual food, spend a week on the seashore in Sicily. We have already been on the island, stayed at a hotel in Taormina. I thought why not try to find nice villa on the seashore, and that there was certainly a pool. On the website www.homelidays.com I found what I needed. Great villa with large pool private beach right on the seashore south of Catania. I phoned the owner and agreed that we would come to her on May 2nd.
We bought ferry tickets from Finland to Germany and back. An A-class cabin for four with a sea view and a car cost 860 euros. Hotels were not booked. Suddenly you want to change the route.

On April 23, we loaded our luggage into the car and set off for the Finnish border. Lucky. It didn't take long to get stuck in a traffic jam at customs. We moved towards the capital of Finland. If earlier the ferry to Rostock (Rostock) departed from Hanko (Hanko), now from a small town near Helsinki, which is 160 km closer to the border. A trifle, but nice. At 20:00 we were already settled in our cabin. We left at 21:00.

More than a day of sailing and at 23-00 the next day our car left the belly of the ferry to the land of Germany. The first hotel I came across was the Ibis in Rostock. Since it was already late, we decided to stop there. The head waiter spent a long time searching the computer for free rooms, justifying himself that it was the first day at work, and he still didn’t understand everything. Finally, he gave us key cards from two neighboring "doubles" for 78 euros each. I inserted the card into the slot and could not understand what was the matter. The door itself opened and froze in that position. After 15-20 seconds, it closed by itself. Everything became clear when I went into the bathroom and saw the handrails around the toilet. These were handicapped rooms.

Early in the morning we were already in the car, as we had a long haul of 960 km to Innsbruck (Innsbruck) in Austria. Arrived there around 7pm. The hotel was lucky. It was located picturesque place surrounded by high mountains, on the slopes of which, despite the warm weather, there was still plenty of snow. The air is clean mountain with a slight admixture of the smell of fresh manure. The Austrians who lived next door to the hotel kept cows in their yards. Got a large quadruple room on the top floor. What we especially liked about it was the terrace with a glass roof.
In the morning we went to Italy, to Verona (Verona). There we met friends who were traveling by bus. Together with them they examined the city. Roman amphitheater, Cathedral 12th century monument to Dante Alighieri. We went into the courtyard of Juliet's house.

We said goodbye to friends and headed to Florence (Firenze). We arrived late at night. We spent the night again in the "Ibis" in the suburbs. In the morning we went to the city center. Found the hotel where we stayed 5 years ago. Moreover, they gave us the same number. We spent two days in this wonderful city. We visited the famous Uffizi Museum, saw the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Baptistery dedicated to John the Baptist, the Basilica of Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio - the most ancient bridge city ​​of Florence.

We didn't originally have plans to go to Bari. But still we decided to deviate from the route and visit the famous Basilica of St. Nicholas. Magnificent temple. It has a very democratic atmosphere. There is a service, and tourists scurry back and forth. I liked the hall, where priceless exhibits are exhibited behind glass. Among others, a silver icon lamp of the Russian Emperor Nicholas II. What is especially pleasant, the inscriptions on the exhibits are duplicated in Russian. They did not spend the night in Bari, they moved towards Sicily. We found a hotel in Taranto.

Early in the morning, after breakfast, we went towards the island. At two o'clock we arrived at the port of Villa San Giovanni. Guided by the signs, we found the ferry departure terminal. We stood in a long line, where, along with cars, there were many buses and heavy trucks. We waited for an hour and a half, but the line did not advance even a meter. I began to doubt and asked the drivers of neighboring cars if we were right here. They answered: “yes, this is the queue for the ferry”. Luckily, the police were passing by. I turned to them. Heard from them: “Do you need to go to Sicily? Go over there." And they pointed in the direction. Leaving the queue, we drove literally 100 meters, turned left, and drove into an empty square with a small pavilion, which turned out to be a ticket office. We paid 23 euros for the car and quietly entered the ferry. Until now, it remains a mystery to me why so many people stood in that long, endless queue when there is another completely free terminal very close by. The ferry started moving, and after 20 minutes we had already left for Messina.

We drove along the northern coast of the island to the west towards Palermo. Closer to the night drove up to Cefalu (Cefalu). The most beautiful ancient city with a cathedral, the apse of which is decorated with the famous mosaic of the XII century "Christ Pantokrator". We decided to drive to the city center. Night. We drove out into a narrow street leading down, at the end of which we could see a small lighted square. Suddenly I notice that the cars on the left and on the right are standing with their front bumpers in our direction. I understand that we are moving against one-way traffic. Nothing, I think, I'll turn around at the bottom. Approaching the square, I notice a police car on it. One of the law enforcement officers runs towards them, waving his arms. Well, I think they did. Long trials and fines lie ahead. No, everything worked out. I tell the policeman: “sorry, we are looking for a hotel, we got lost.” He shouts to his partner: “Hey, Mario, they are looking for a hotel here. Do you know if there is anything nearby?” His partner approaches, and an untranslatable pun with intense gesticulation begins between them. Gradually, about 30 sympathizers from among the locals surround our car. They argue. Everyone has their own version. Nobody wants to give in. Everyone wants to help lost tourists from Russia find accommodation. And they all point in different directions. An elderly man came up in a jacket draped over his shoulders like a cloak. I, he says, have a “bed and breakfast” nearby, it is full, I can’t help. Finally, one long-haired guy in a black suit calls on his cell phone. Someone is calling. Making our way through the crowd, a tall, shaven-headed young man approaches us. Appears to be Francesco. He gets into the car with us and shows the way to his house. House of the XII century in three floors with a tiny courtyard-well. Two apartments in the house are occupied by him and his brother and his family. The rest are given away. Antiquities such as Byzantine stone crosses and all sorts of amphoras are scattered everywhere. Two-story apartments cost us only 70 euros for four.
The next morning we visited the cathedral, examined the city, visited the wonderful embankment, said goodbye to Francesco, and moved to Palermo.

We didn’t spend the night in the capital, we wanted to get to the villa as soon as possible. But on the calendar only May 1st. And we agreed on a lease from the 2nd to the 9th. I'm calling the owner. Everything is good. For a symbolic 50 euros, she agreed to let us in a day earlier. I ask how to find a villa. She replies that it is difficult to do it on her own. He says that there is an Esso gas station on the 30th kilometer of the Catania - Siracusa highway, wait there. Arrived at the appointed place, waiting. About 30 minutes later the owner of the villa arrived on a motorcycle with a basket in her hands. It turned out that the basket contained all sorts of goodies prepared by her mother for us. Behind the wheel sat her husband with the already familiar name of Francesco. Subsequently, we often happened to encounter this name. It seemed that there were no less Francescos in Sicily than there were Don Pedros in Brazil. Following the motorcycle, we arrived at the villa.
Before the trip, I had concerns that the colorful photos on the site exaggerate the real merits of the villa. That in fact she will not be so attractive. It turned out the opposite. The reality has surpassed all expectations. The villa was amazingly beautiful and comfortable. Comfortable cool house. Two-level landscape. Spacious terrace. Great pool. Wonderful garden with exotic plants. View of Mount Etna with a snow-capped peak. Opening the gate, it was possible to go down the steep steps to the sea.
We spent 8 wonderful days. Late breakfasts on the sun-drenched terrace. Swimming in the pool. Long dinners in the courtyard with the famous Sicilian wine "nero diavollo". Warm black nights.

But we did not sit without getting out in the villa. We traveled around the island. We visited the neighborhood. We visited neighboring cities. Separately, I want to say about the features of local driving. It seems to us that Russian drivers are the worst and most reckless. This is far from true. Compared with the Sicilians, ours are simply the lambs of God. Of all the rules, it seemed to me, the southerners adhere to only one - stop at a red light. And that's not all. Few people pay attention to the rest of the little things, such as, for example, a solid lane, a parking ban, and so on. Here is one example. The central street of the small town of Augusta. Two rows of traffic in one direction, two in the other, separated by a continuous strip. Pretty intense movement. The outer rows are occupied by parked cars. So there is only one row in each direction. The lady is going. Suddenly notices a store on the opposite side. She doesn't even think about turning around. He just turns sharply to the left, crosses a continuous lane, stands in the opposite lane, the only free one, turns on the emergency gang and slowly stomps to the store. And for hundreds of cars on this street there is only one lane for movement in both directions.

On May 9, after saying goodbye to the hospitable hostess of the villa, we set off on the way back. They crossed the strait and ended up in mainland Italy. By evening we reached the outskirts of Naples, the town of Caserta. We were at a religious festival. The crowd moved through the streets, carrying on the platform a statue of the Mother of God with a child. In front of the crowd, a large brass band played Tchaikovsky in a roaring fashion.

The next day was a long haul to Innsbruck. We spent the night and went to Munich. We visited the Pinakothek again. Then we spent two days in Amsterdam. Then we went to Hamburg.

On the evening of the 15th we arrived in Rostock. On the night of the 16th we loaded onto the ferry. On the morning of the 17th we were already driving from Helsinki home to St. Petersburg.

In total, they wound about 7500 km. Drive by car to Italy succeeded. There are many good memories left. We liked the villa so much that we are thinking of visiting it next year. But the route, of course, will change. I plan to visit Portugal, where I have not been yet.

My fourth a trip to Italy - this time I examined only one region - but which one - SICILY is the largest region in Italy. And the trip turned out to be the longest in duration - 29 days and was accomplished without knowledge of foreign languages ​​and only thanks to my careful preparation!

It can be said that all these days I have been slowly and slowly putting together a multi-colored Sicilian mosaic, which turned out to be extremely colorful. As a result, Sicily shone with the brightest colors - this is the azure and blue color of the seas that wash it from all sides, - this is the black color - the color of its volcanoes and lava, on which many Sicilian cities stand, - this is - and white - the color - her white sandy beaches, golden color - in its Byzantine mosaics, green color - its subtropical vegetation - cacti, cypresses and palm trees, red color - a riot of its colors (I have not seen so much red anywhere in Italy), burgundy color - this is the color of its famous wines - Nero Diavolo and fortified Marsala and so on…

All colors intertwined into a single picture and an unforgettable Sicily turned out!

The Sicilian mosaic was also made up of many components, none of which I wanted to miss - these are its sights. More than thirty cities and towns were examined (from its capitals, such as Palermo and Catania - to ancient and very small ones, such as Erice (in which only 500 people now live), I saw dozens of Byzantine, Arab, Norman castles and fortresses, a huge number of outstanding cathedrals and modest churches, ancient Greek temples (which are better preserved than in Greece itself), ancient Roman villas and fortifications, climbed two active volcano(Etna and Vulcano), was on the mountains and rocks, and almost every day - swam and sunbathed on the beaches of the Tyrrhenian, Ionian and mediterranean seas visited several natural parks. All the main attractions of this very big island in the Mediterranean have been examined! Therefore, now I can firmly say that I have completed the Sicilian mosaic!

The decision to travel to Sicily was made in the summer of 2014, after the third trip to Italy, it was decided to dedicate the next trip to Southern Italy, and at first I had Napoleonic plans — to explore all of Southern Italy (Calabria, Apulia and Basilicata) in a month, along with Sicily. Allocating two weeks for these two parts. However, having started preparations, I realized that I didn’t fit in two weeks - neither in southern Italy, nor in Sicily. I decided not to suffer and make two trips a month. This summer was Sicily. And next summer will be devoted to southern Italy.

I have already noted that it is impossible to cover Italy in one, two or three times - one must patiently and slowly inspect anywhere from one to three regions of this country. It doesn't bother me, because Italy is my favorite country in Europe.

Sicily, in general in terms of its scale in Europe, can be considered as separate country. In terms of population (more than 5 million inhabitants), for example, it is larger than countries such as Croatia and Slovakia, in terms of territory it is almost equal to Belgium.

Although I would not separate Sicily from the rest of Italy. Sicily is Southern Italy and I didn’t find any special differences in the way of life, in the population - compared, for example, with the Campania region (Naples) - but the sights are, of course, different!

Here is what Goethe wrote in 1787 after his trip about Sicily - "Italy without Sicily leaves no image in the soul - only here is the key to the whole."

I planned my trip for myself and according to my favorite and long-proven scheme (which brings me the pleasure of traveling) - this is a combination of cultural recreation (sightseeing) and a beach holiday (always on the warm sea) and Sicily in this respect is just perfect.

According to the number of sites declared by UNESCO world heritage humanity, there are ten of them in Sicily, she overtakes such tourist countries like Austria and Hungary.

So, there are no problems with what to do in Sicily.

I would also like to dispel two myths that have developed about Sicily.

First myth— the fact that in summer (in July and August) it is impossible to hot! This is not so, the weather was sunny all day, I forgot what clouds are. But the temperature was very comfortable. I can safely compare it with the weather in the Crimea - exactly the same - 26-30 degrees. Only probably drier and more windy. And the sea is naturally always warm (24-26 degrees) and, unlike the Crimea, without jellyfish (I have not seen a single one).

Therefore, do not be afraid to go - to Italy - in the summer, because in the summer you will have one of the main advantages - this is a chic and warm sea. It's so wonderful when you're tired and you're in the sights - dive into the sea and swim in the waves, all fatigue disappears instantly!

Second myth- that Sicily cannot be explored using only public transport- this is not true. I traveled all over Sicily - using only public transport (buses and regional trains). When you travel alone or together, it will be more budgetary than taking a car, and if there are three or four of you, then a car will probably already be more budgetary. True, it is difficult to deal with public transport - there are many bus companies of various companies, different stations, stops, ticket offices - but I eventually figured it out and will post all the information in the near future in the "Soviet" on this site.

Now let's finally move on to most beautiful places and cities that I saw (I tried to put everything in one report, but this is also not realistic - therefore there will be two of them) and also, I advise those who have only 14 days of vacation - to allocate two holidays to Sicily - this will be the most optimal and break the trip into two parts - East and Western Sicily. So now let's just go through EASTERN Sicily, along its coast, which is washed by the Ionian Sea.

July 15, I landed at about 1 pm at Catania, which is the capital of Eastern Sicily and the second most important city on the island, second only to Palermo.

There will be a separate report for each city in the future, but for now I will note that Catania has become the prey of many empires throughout its history from the Greeks to the Romans, from the Arabs to the Normans and Spaniards. However, the most terrible enemy of Catania is right under her side - this is the volcano Etna, which destroyed the city several times, last time almost completely in 1693. Catania has a huge number of cathedrals and other important sights. Pictured below is Catania Cathedral.

Many experienced travelers are advised to explore Sicily by car. Indeed, public transport in this part of Italy is not very well developed. But still, even tourists who do not have the opportunity to rent a car, it is quite possible to go around the main part of Sicilyusing trains. If you still rent a car (you can choose the right one at this link), you will still find useful information in our article.

Catania

Most people start their acquaintance with Sicily from Catania, where one of the largest airports in Italy is located. If you decide to rent a car, the counters of the respective offices can be easily found at Catania airport by following the signs. Car rental services are open around the clock, but we recommend that you take care of this in advance.

Taormina and Etna

If you are more attracted natural beauty and beaches, then we advise you to settle closer to the sea coast. So you can visit Isola Bella - the most famous beach of Taormina, Mazzar and a resort town located a little further Giardini Naxos . Choose the right accommodation in this part of Taormina by clicking on the names of the beaches, and in our special article, see the best hotels with their own beach. However, you can also get to the sea from the city center, for this you will need to use a bus or funicular. All types of accommodation.

Cefalu

Further, our journey will continue towards Cefalu, located on the northern coast of Sicily. To get from Taormina to this city, you need one change in Messina. Trains depart from Taormina - Giardini . Travel time is from 3 to 5 hours. The trip will cost from 12 to 23 euros.

Cefalu is notable for its beautiful scenery, Norman architecture and the lulling tranquility typical of fishing towns. To get to know him better in a short amount of time, try to find accommodation near Cathedral Square ( best offers hotels in the area you will find at this link, and all the options).

Agrigento

The next point of our trip is Agrigento, which in itself is a kind of museum under open sky. This city is located two hours from Palermo. The train arrives at the station Agrigento Bassa . The cost of the trip is approximately 9 euros.

syracuse

A trip to Sicily would not be complete without seeing Syracuse, where to this day the spirit of antiquity coexists quite harmoniously with the modern pace and way of life. A trip to this city from Agrigento by train will take a lot of time - from 5 to 8 hours, and at least one change will be required. In terms of price, a trip to Syracuse will cost 14-19 euros.

If you manage to make time for beach holiday, then Syracuse has something to offer tourists who dream of refreshing themselves in sea water. Beach Calamosche considered by many to be the most beautiful in Sicily, and the only thing in which it is inferior beautiful beaches Taormina, this is an underdeveloped service. FROM Agnone offers an amazing view of Etna. And the beach Punta Asparano will please lovers of solitude: usually there are much fewer people here.

Get acquainted with the historical and architectural heritage of the city and learn about significant events that took place in different eras the existence of Syracuse can be ordered.

Having traveled along this route, we can safely say that you have seen the main sights of Sicily, and it's time to return to the starting point of our journey - to Catania. Travel time is about 1.5 hours, a ticket will cost about 7-11 euros.

We wish you a fun and joyful trip to Sicily!

As a traveler, Sicily attracted me primarily as a land of ancient civilizations, on a small island in the Mediterranean Sea in Antiquity the cultures of the Greeks, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and other peoples converged, here already in the Middle Ages the Normans ruled and there was their own Kingdom of Sicily, constantly the Moors and the peoples of North Africa invaded. The beautiful Sicilian beaches, the excellent climate and great prospects for recreation are also worth mentioning. But Sicily is far from Italy, there are many tourists here, but there is no developed infrastructure and good service, as, say, in the north of the Apennines. You have to get used to a lot, adapt to something and take everything into account.

// think-head.livejournal.com

Movement. You can arrive on the island by ferry, by plane and even by train. Special ferries transport rail cars across the Strait of Messina, which separates Sicily and mainland Italy. You can get to Sicily by ferry from the port near Rome, from Corsica, Tunisia and Malta. Although such ferries do not run very often. Planes arrive at the airport of Catania and Palermo.

There is a railway connection on the island, but trains run relatively rarely, and the road connects only the main cities, many places can only be reached by car, and therefore I recommend renting a car. You can read about the features of moving around Sicily by car.

Cities. If you are looking for the history and culture of the region, then I recommend visiting Catania, Palermo, Syracuse and Taormina. These cities have a lot to see. Quite nice and pretty cities on the hills - Enna and Ragusa, but there is nothing special to see there, just take a walk, appreciate the views. There is nothing to do in Messina and Agrigento. Outside the cities, I can note the Valley of the Temples a couple of kilometers from Agrigento, the ancient city of Morgantina - not far from Enna, Villa Romano 4 km from Piazza Armerina, Ancient city Segesta - on the road between Palermo and Trapani, Cefalu - near Palermo, and Monreale - a suburb of Palermo. I did not visit the western and southwestern parts of the island, there is almost nothing interesting there. To relax on the beach, tourists choose Taormina and Terrasini, although almost the entire coast is suitable for this.

Crime. Sicily is often associated with the mafia and crime. I was thinking about the same. There is a mafia in Sicily, you can read about it, but you definitely won’t see a live mafia. But you can face crime. Here you need to be careful, access to valuable things and money should be as difficult as possible. Besides locals do not differ in honesty, they may well deceive and downright "dissolve". Be careful, although I personally have not encountered serious problems, except for fraud in the rental office.

Museums and attractions. The cost of visiting most museums and attractions is within 10 euros per person. Discounts are offered for students, documents are not checked here. ISIC for a trip here can not be done. But be careful, not everywhere where the entrance is paid, there is something to see. In Palermo, for example, they like to take money for visiting temples that are not worth it. In places where there are guides, one of them will definitely attach to you, who will tell something in broken English or even in Italian. Attractions usually close early, in winter it is daylight hours.

Products. Stores are usually not a problem. There are a couple in the city center, but there are large Auchan-type hypermarkets only on the outskirts of the city. Usually the exit from the highway to such a hypermarket is indicated by a sign - "Zona Commerciale". There are many grocery stores around Palermo, there is one Auchan near Catania Airport and a real Mecca shopping centers is the area of ​​Modica and Ispica. By the way, prices are somewhat lower than in mainland Italy.

Along highways and major roads, local farmers often sell oranges, strawberries and other agricultural products. Small wholesale is accepted here, but they are valuable much lower than store ones.

Souvenirs here most often offer local hand-painted ceramics. Beautiful, but expensive, and such things are stamped by the thousands.

I did not see any opportunities for some serious shopping in Sicily.

Credit cards are almost never used on the island, they say that scammers easily get access to them.

local products. The region is famous for its oranges and tangerines, which grow at every turn. Picking them from trees is useless, they are inedible. Some degenerate because the fruits are not harvested, and some are planted for decorative purposes. Another local delicacy is cactus flowers. Cacti with delicious flowers (more like cones) grow everywhere. It's funny, but I have not seen a single store in Sicily where they would be sold, but in the north of Italy, other European countries - it's full. Therefore, the flowers can be plucked independently. They taste like passion fruit, pear and dragon fruit. But there is a peculiarity here. On the flowers, as well as on the cacti themselves, there are a lot of thorns ... picking the fruit with your hand, be sure that your entire hand will be covered with small thorns that will quickly penetrate the skin. It is necessary to pluck with a glove or something like that, but you can only eat the core.

Also, the region is rich in almonds and pistachios, although they are more expensive than Iranian or Turkish ones, but they make a lot of things here - for example, sweet cream, nuts are added to pesto sauce, added to pasta, etc.

There are many in Sicily and their cheeses, with the addition of the same pistachios, for example.

And local sweets are mostly a variation of all-Italian goodies.

Of the meat, mutton is common, the herds of which are very numerous in the highlands. The island also cannot do without fish, it can be bought at local markets especially profitably, but in restaurants it will be expensive.

Weather. Winter in Sicily was from 15 to 22 degrees. In the summer, as you know, it's hot here. However, it is worth taking a jacket, strong winds blow in mountainous areas.

It is useless to contact the tourist offices in Sicily. This area is not developed here. Locals say that the unemployed are recruited there, there is no question of knowledge of languages. Here you can get a map of the city and nothing more. Employees have no desire to explain and tell something. They won't reply to you by email either. The only information I found for myself in Sicily is a private tourist office http://www.visitingsicily.it/ and visitpalermo.it The office has only a few employees, but they answer mail within an hour and even at night. Here you will be helped with information and advice absolutely free of charge, all employees speak English very well. Also through this office you can rent a car, apartments in Sicily, book excursions, gastronomic tours, etc. I compared prices - it turned out to be profitable and without the risk that you would be deceived.

Sicily - amazing and original place, ancient history, gorgeous Etna, gentle sea and simply breathtaking views and landscapes. It is worth coming here and trying to feel its special flavor.

think_head
18/10/2016 12:00

The opinion of tourists may not coincide with the opinion of the editors.