Convince me that I should go to Sicily
#46
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: London
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Posts: 689
(Fellow Italian here, Ciao) That is fair enough, but I would hope not everywhere in Noto you will get similar prices to conclude prices are generally a lot higher than it past. I am not saying prices aren’t higher, as inflation and energy prices have driven prices high everywhere (personally I was surprised by prices in Atlanta GA-USA last month, very close to prices in Miami Beach for instance, not the case in previous visits) but I actually found prices in Catania, Taormina, Syracuse (and towns in between) quite affordable last September (2022) when I was there.
#47
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MSY
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 5,929
We were also in Sicily in Sept. 2022 and were amazed at how cheap everything was (particularly food and alcohol) compared to prices in the US. We live in a relatively modestly-priced city in the US, and Sicilian prices were substantially lower than at home—I think there might have been one or two times, maximum, when we paid more than EUR 5 for a drink. That’s less half the price we would pay at home (including sales tax + gratuity) for something similar. Granted, the USD was particularly strong right at that moment (USD 0.99/EUR) but even now it’s not much different.
#48
Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: California
Posts: 27
Questions about Sicily
Last time I visited major Italy tourist cites and I loved it. For the second time, I am curious if Sicily is a good choice to experience Italy differently.
1. what cities in Sicily and time do you recommend? For a family with a toddler?
2. Is it safe for tourists? (Mafia?)
3. We also want to visit Amalfi. Any tips to visit the two in the same 2 week trip.
Thank you very much!
1. what cities in Sicily and time do you recommend? For a family with a toddler?
2. Is it safe for tourists? (Mafia?)
3. We also want to visit Amalfi. Any tips to visit the two in the same 2 week trip.
Thank you very much!
#49
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,567
Easy answers:
1) Simply read all posts in this thread...
2) Absolutely. As for the Sicilian Mafia, it is neither involved in petty criminality, neither in kidnappings for ransom.
3) In principle yes! But is that really worth the hassle (e.g. getting from the one to the other for a couple of hours drive?). Unless you want to spend a few days in a Costiera town, in which case I'd personally say why? Priorities: Sicily very high, Amalfi town rather low.
Some notes on the above:
1) There's a good chance that having a toddler with you will limit your local trips (valid for both Sicily and the Costiera amalfitana). So just carefully choose a base which will satisfy all of you.
2) I'm older and I've been to these parts of Italy quite a few times. Therefore, as a... lover who is still, after decades, still... very much in love in the South of Italy (thus, sort of blasé) some of my suggestions (even if I only provided few) may be one-sided.
1) Simply read all posts in this thread...
2) Absolutely. As for the Sicilian Mafia, it is neither involved in petty criminality, neither in kidnappings for ransom.
3) In principle yes! But is that really worth the hassle (e.g. getting from the one to the other for a couple of hours drive?). Unless you want to spend a few days in a Costiera town, in which case I'd personally say why? Priorities: Sicily very high, Amalfi town rather low.
Some notes on the above:
1) There's a good chance that having a toddler with you will limit your local trips (valid for both Sicily and the Costiera amalfitana). So just carefully choose a base which will satisfy all of you.
2) I'm older and I've been to these parts of Italy quite a few times. Therefore, as a... lover who is still, after decades, still... very much in love in the South of Italy (thus, sort of blasé) some of my suggestions (even if I only provided few) may be one-sided.
#51
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,238
Last time I visited major Italy tourist cites and I loved it. For the second time, I am curious if Sicily is a good choice to experience Italy differently.
1. what cities in Sicily and time do you recommend? For a family with a toddler?
2. Is it safe for tourists? (Mafia?)
3. We also want to visit Amalfi. Any tips to visit the two in the same 2 week trip.
Thank you very much!
1. what cities in Sicily and time do you recommend? For a family with a toddler?
2. Is it safe for tourists? (Mafia?)
3. We also want to visit Amalfi. Any tips to visit the two in the same 2 week trip.
Thank you very much!
- In 2021, there were 302 murders in Italy, 4 less than Memphis in the same year. Italy has 60 million people, Memphis 630 thousand.
- A chart, provided by the italian gov't, compares Rome & Milan with some world cities:
source:
- In terms of theft and robbery, in 2021 there were 811,578 reports of theft and 22,093 robberies, of which almost 13,000 happened on what the government calls "public roads" - purse snatchings, that sort of thing. Again, for a country of 60 millions it's not that high.
- If you look at "furti con strappo", meaning acts of theft happening on the road like pickpocket, purse-snatch and the evergreen 'Rolex nicking' the highest chance of that happening is in Naples, where there have been 68 reports/100,000 residents in 2021. I can't quite find an exact match for the crime, but if I look at Burglaries in NYC the rate is 141/100,000 (2018), and that's the lowest of the handful of cities I could be bothered to compare with (San Jose, San Diego, Boston)
PS: please please please don't go asking around "Is it safe here? You know, the mafia..." when in country. It's quite insensitive. It's a bit as if I went 'round in the US asking if I'm safe because you have so many guns and mass shootings. I know this is a forum, a safe space for asking questions, and one won't know until you ask but I've heard it when in country (or here in London for that matter).
#52
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: my heart is on the shores of the north Italian lakes
Programs: LX Senator Lifetime, Relais&Chateaux Club5C, ex ! "Amanjunkie", ex LHW LC, hate chain hotels
Posts: 2,515
Coming from an educated well traveled person it might seem insensitive, but from people with litte travel experience considering there is only one center of the world it is understandeable.
And yes, of course Italy is safe as is Europe as a whole. Not much guns around .
#53
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Delta Gold, UA Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 275
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.
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.
Otherwise we also really enjoyed our time in Catania, had several great dinners, enjoyed a city historical walk and the fish market. Really vibrant and energetic city. Look forward to taking more time and exploring more of Sicily during our next trip.
#54
Join Date: Feb 2022
Posts: 24
Re:Montalbano
The series is available on MHZ international mystery as a channel through Amazon or a separate account. Other wonderful foreign mysteries, like Murder in....which goes to regions of France with very appealing female and male detectives. Subtitles in English, which is never an issue for me.
#55
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 75
I'll make this easy for future travelers: Sicily is where the Italians go for "good food." Let that sink in. All the Emilians, Milanese, Romans, Genovese, and Tuscans I've met, traveled with, grown up with, whatever, DROOL when they talk about Sicilian food. It's just that good.
I've been four times and if you like to eat, there isn't a better place to do it.
I'm happy the OP had a great trip. Catania is a wonderful and vibrant city.
I've been four times and if you like to eat, there isn't a better place to do it.
I'm happy the OP had a great trip. Catania is a wonderful and vibrant city.
#56
Join Date: May 2014
Location: BRU
Programs: BA GGL, TK E (*G), ITA exec
Posts: 4,111
I'll make this easy for future travelers: Sicily is where the Italians go for "good food." Let that sink in. All the Emilians, Milanese, Romans, Genovese, and Tuscans I've met, traveled with, grown up with, whatever, DROOL when they talk about Sicilian food. It's just that good.
I've been four times and if you like to eat, there isn't a better place to do it.
I'm happy the OP had a great trip. Catania is a wonderful and vibrant city.
I've been four times and if you like to eat, there isn't a better place to do it.
I'm happy the OP had a great trip. Catania is a wonderful and vibrant city.
#57
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,238
Ditto. I will admit to being a polentone, but in fairness I've always considered everywhere in Italy to have great food as standard. Perhaps Bologna has, in my subconscious, somewhat of a primacy in terms of quality but that's about it.
#58
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,567
I think it's the combination of really decent, "honest" food and the environment (i.e. weather, nature, antiquities, cities) that makes people believe that the food is "ambrosial". Same in Crete; after coming back to Greece and living in Heraklion for exactly 40 years I'm so used to the food here that I just find it, simply, good. In contrast, friends visiting from abroad find it "strepitoso" (I'm using the word to justify the inclusion of the post in the Italian forum ).
#59
Join Date: Oct 2022
Posts: 223
Not sure the best food in all of Italy ; but Sicily does have some really good regional specialties that are better there than anywhere else ; which is true in most regions of Italy I suppose.
Point being the food will unlikely disappoint ; nor will the weather and the crowds are not as bad as most of the mainland of Italy.
Just returned from a trip to Sicily if anyone has any questions, maybe I can help. Drove a decent number of KM with a rental car but only saw about half of the island.
Point being the food will unlikely disappoint ; nor will the weather and the crowds are not as bad as most of the mainland of Italy.
Just returned from a trip to Sicily if anyone has any questions, maybe I can help. Drove a decent number of KM with a rental car but only saw about half of the island.