Originally Posted by
gobears293
Boosting this thread rather than creating a new one.
I think I know the answer to my question, but was hoping to get everyone's advice. My wife, infant daughter (19 months) and I will have four nights in Catania; this is our only time in Sicily during the trip. (We wish it could be longer!) Is a day trip to Agrigento and Valley of the Temples worth it considering the 2 hour drive to and from Catania? We're concerned about 4+ hours round trip in the car with our daughter. Are there other sites / great restaurants we should stop at along the way? And considering it is only ~160km, is the speed limit relatively low and/or strictly enforced? Seems like it should be closer to 1.5 hr drive.
If we don't go to Agrigento, pretty sure I can convince my wife to do a day trip to Siracusa and a winery in Noto.
Thanks for any advice!
You do (or at least should). Driving back-and-forth Sicily for a day trip isn't my idea of fun (and I don't have an infant). See the post above - all of those are more accessible to Catania.
Personally, I think Ortigia is fantastic. Great historical (ancient) architecture surrounded by beautiful seas. When we went to Siracusa 10 years ago, a work colleague (Italian) asked his college roommate (from Siracusa) for a restaurant recommendation. He suggested Red Moon Pub and I recommend it heartedly with a caveat - it's a simple, casual locals place in a very large, yurt-like tent with about a dozen tables (the kitchen is in a building right next door). It's not in Ortigia but at the harbor across from the island. Great fresh seafood.
Architecturally, Noto has some great baroque architecture and is an interesting town to wander through (although be prepared for climbing as it's built on a hill).
Each town could easily occupy a day by itself.