I had high expectations of this trip to Sicily, and to say the least, I wasn’t disappointed. I’d even go so far as to say that in some respects it exceeded my expectations. So it’s time for the traditional debriefing to note the strong points and areas for improvement.

You’ll find a summary of articles about this trip to Sicily at the bottom of the page.

The destination

I’m not going to surprise anyone by saying that Sicily is a very pleasant destination that combines the advantages of a rich cultural heritage, an atmosphere that encourages relaxation, quality gastronomy and a favorable climate almost all year round.

The timing was also perfect: late April. Up to now, I’d only ever been there in January, and although the temperatures are milder than in France at that time, the weather is still not summery. Here I had the advantages of early heat and permanent sunshine (25°) without the suffocating temperatures of summer. Similarly, there were enough people to make it lively, but it wasn’t summer crowded, so the various sites were pleasant to visit.

If I go into more detail, I’ll start by saying that I was really pleasantly surprised by Catania, which is the city I least expected.

Let’s not kid ourselves about the poverty of the region and the city’s economic context, which means that when you’re on the outskirts of the city, you might doubt its tourist appeal. But in the end, I found an impeccably preserved city center and a heritage of a certain richness.

On to Taormina. Here I knew I was going to discover something exceptional, and I wasn’t disappointed. Of course, there’s the ancient theater, which alone is worth the detour.

But Taormina shouldn’t be reduced to this one site. Not only does the town have many other sites of interest, but it also has a unique atmosphere that makes it a real pleasure to stroll around, so much so that I regretted not having taken a night on the spot or in Naxos to enjoy it longer and visit the surrounding area.

Let’s finish with Syracuse, about which I’d say the same thing as Catania, only more exacerbated: as you leave the station, you’ll find the city plain and simple, and as you arrive in the historic center of Ortigia, you’ll feel as if you’ve changed worlds.

A small paradise of just 1km2 where you can spend several days visiting and enjoying the soothing atmosphere.

But don’t limit yourself to Ortigia: a little further along the edge of town you’ll find the Neapolis Archaeological Park, a must-see.

So there you have it: this is a destination that doesn’t disappoint, and is even full of pleasant surprises.

For a future trip, I would add Palermo and Etna to my program, as well as a few days in Naxos.

Catering

Don’t be fooled by my articles, as I’ve deliberately chosen gourmet restaurants. In Sicily you can eat very well at very modest prices, but once you want to move upmarket the prices start to approach French or even Parisian rates. In any case, these restaurants don’t cater primarily to locals.

Hospitality

I’d say the same as for restaurants: there are plenty of small, inexpensive hotels, but if you start looking for top-of-the-range accommodation, prices can quickly rise.

I won’t dwell on the choice of the Four Points in Catania, which is nice but really old-fashioned, but where we have our habits, but I will dwell on the Ortea Palace in Syracuse.

A very nice, recent hotel, but I found the prices a little excessive. On the other hand, the superb upgrade I received really helped to make up for it and changed my impression from “it’s still expensive” to “excellent value for money”.

Transportation

Let’s start with the essentials: the flight.

This trip was an opportunity to discover ITA, born a few years ago from the ashes of Alitalia.

I can tell you right away that I wasn’t impressed by the on-board service, but I was blown away by the business class cabin fitted to the airline’s A321Neo, surely the best medium-haul product in Europe.

On the spot I used Trenitalia’s regional trains, which are really excellent quality and not expensive at all.

Last point: in Catania I favored Uber over cabs, which are always a bit ” crooked “.

Bottom line

A successful stay beyond my expectations on an island that hides more cultural masterpieces than you might think, with a very rich history and a great quality of life.

The articles about this trip to Sicily

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