Agriturismo in Sicily ideal for kids

Hi there,

My family of 4 (kids aged 9 and nearly 5) are planning a trip to Sicily for 4-6 weeks in 2023 (and other parts of Italy too after the 4-6 weeks are up). We will rent a car for most of our stay.

We are planning to come in mid-June, which is the earliest we can arrive that spring.

My main question is: We aren't certain though if we should stay through to the end of July (6 weeks)?

We don't really know what its like in July, as we've been to Sicily in different periods befo

* early-mid June a few years ago (a bit north of Catania, Ortigia, Agriturismo Silitti near Caltanisetta, Marsala, Scopello); and

* a few days in early October for our honeymoon about 10 years ago (Ortigia and an agriturismo called Zottopera near Chiaramonte Gulfi).

We would ideally like to have a relaxing time with the kids in Sicily - and are hoping to avoid extreme heat (e.g. over 33 Celsius) during the middle of the day, crazy busy-ness and the worst of the Italian school holidays.

We are planning to stay in 2 or 3 spots as bases (about 10 days each): something like beachside near Noto/Ragusa, another near Palermo; and possibly an agriturismo in a central region or near a nice village (in a different region) as a third base. With possible weekend stays in Ortigia, Palermo, Cefalu and San Vito lo Capo.

Most places in Italy we'd like to visit mention September/October as ideal timing to visit, which I believe is also true for Sicily. But if we can visit Sicily at the start of our trip, we can leave September for areas like further north like Tuscany, Urbino, Ascoli Piceno.

First off- thanks in advance for any advice! (first time posting)

We are planning a ~2.5-3 week trip to Italy for May 2022 with our 2 kids (6 and 8).

My idea of a dream Italy vacay is cozy farms, beautiful scenery, amazing food, space for the kids to run and explore, bike rides, horse rides, and an authentic feel.

We also like to take our time in places vs trying to rush and see it all. I feel we have to see Rome and Venice but also know our kids will easily get overwhelmed and tired by the big cities.

Based on that, I have loosely come up with the following itinerary:

Fly into Rome (found a great points flight from our city); 3 nights here

5 nights in Umbria (agriturismo)

5 nights in Tuscany (agriturismo)

? 1-2 nights in Bergamo (my hubby has been and loves Citta Alta neighbourhood)

3 nights in Venice - fly home

Any thoughts on this? I love the idea of Cinque Terre but perhaps best to save it for another time (without the kids!).

Thank you!! Cait

I have been to Vendicari (twice) and Lo Zingaro and absolutely loved both. To walk through trails with not a million people around & the sea right by one's side is pure bliss.

I'd love to return to at least one this summer, Vendicari by preference, but hotels are not cheap closeby (I won't have a car). Is Baglio Sicliamo hotel too far (if part was done by bicycle)? I've had dinner there & that and Corte del Sole (now much more expensive than 2 years back) would be my ideal places to stay. Any thoughts or ideas?

Lo Zingaro is wonderful if more crowded. Scopello is lovely but more small / less space.

Any other thoughts on other reserves / nature spots in Sicily (by the sea) with nice walks, not crowded & with nice places to stay (if they do dinner like Baglio Siciliamo & Corte del Sole that would be ideal). I'm not a huge fan of the beaches with lots of people (Marina di Noto for ex). Is Cava grande cassibile worth a look?

Thanks in advance,

Andrew

My friend and I are doing a driving tour around Tuscany/Ubria for about 10 days (now). We'd love to arrange a few lunches at a vineyard, farm or similar place....preferably fairly casual rather than a posh restaurant at a winery, possibly with other guests or family members. We will be based for a few days each in a village near Montecatini, Sienna, Vitterbo and Asissi.

We'd love any suggestions.

Hi,

My wife and I are due to travel to Sicily from the UK for a 2 week trip, last week of September/first week of October. This would be our first visit and we planned to rent a car and tour some of the island staying in a few different places - Palermo, Cefalu, Aelion islands, Taormina, Syracuse.

Now that the yellow zone restrictions have been reintroduced, we were hoping for some first hand experiences as to what impact this might have for us? Ideally from locals or people who have recently visited or are currently visiting Sicily.

We would obviously follow all the local restrictions and mask rules, we are fully vaccinated ourselves, plus both recovered from previous covid infections some time ago. However we have some concerns that our plans to tour around might mean we would be wearing our masks pretty much all day every day (when not driving) and that the restrictions will result in places we would like to visit being closed or very restricted.

So we are now considering whether to book elsewhere and head to Sicily another time. Or are we worrying too much?

Hi everyone, I'm about to book flights to Catania for me and my girlfriend, it's roughly 3 hours flight from where I currently am.

We're meant to arrive on Wednesday around 8pm and return on Sunday at 5pm which gives us roughly 3.5 days.

Were really not so picky when traveling and often prefer to avoid tourist traps so Sicily sounds ideal. Catania destination form our location.

However, a good freind of mine who has been all over Sicily strongly suggested to hire a care and drive to Pallermo and spend three days there instead, which can be done in 3 hours.

Given that we only have three days im wondering if its worth spending 5-6 hours in total driving back and forth?

One one hand, our last day on Sunday we can wake up early and drive back but I'd rather hang out stress free, on the other hand pallermo seems to be a better deistanation according to my freind. general travel guides/blogs etc.

Hopefully one of you can be kind enough and advise? Would any of you do the drive in the 3-4 days?

I'm taking a trip with my mom and mother in law. One is elderly, the other has bad knees. We want to take the kids to see the volcano. How difficult is that walk? Is it possible to travel part way and stop for rests? Should they stay in Pompeii while I take the kids to Mt. Vesuvius? Thanks!

Hi! I'm planning on doing a long holiday in Italy from the end of September until November. I will be doing most of my transport via public transport, but biking/hiking or renting a car every now and then might be an option too.

What I'm currently thinking about:

- Enter sicily by train, hop off on the east coast. Visit Taormina, Catania, Siracusa, and possibly Ragusa as main sites. 5 days?

- Take the ferry from either Pozzallo or Augusta to Malta

- Spend about a week on Malta

- Take the ferry back, see (possibly Ragusa here) Valle dei Templi, and the north and west of sicily. About 10 days?

- Take the ferry from Palermo to Cagliari

- Spend about two weeks on Sardinia (not sure what places yet)

- take the ferry from Porto Torres to Barcelona

Is this a feasibily itinerary? The suggested staying times for these places seem to be all over the place (e.g. 5 days enough for Sicily, two weeks in Malta) so I'm wondering if I'm taking it easy enough or if I could include Amalfi for example. Is two weeks in Sicily enough if I go by public transport? I want to see the main sites and take some relaxed days off too. I don't need to spend days in every town exploring every alley.

I plan on staying in hostels and cheap hotel rooms mostly. I can also bring camping gear but I'm not entirely sure if it's worth it as I think a lot of campings will already be closed in October. I don't particularly have a set budget but I prefer to spend my cash on good food and perhaps some guides. I don't have a need for luxury hotels or driving a car everywhere.

What is the situation at the moment when travelling to Sicily Palermo airport from the UK and back for a holiday. For fully vaccinated people what else do they need to do. Is the process easy. I have looked on many sites with regards to tests and it's mind boggling. Also I have read about a free test centre in Palermo airport. I am hoping to book a week's trip to Trapani to visit friends. Getting the tests before departure and when you come back especially with early morning flights seems so complicated. Has anyone done this trip.

Hi guys

I need help to get my itinerary together!!!

Flying into Napoli, have two weeks, want to see Sicily and Puglia region especially Lecce

Please advise, I was going to take a train all down Cliento coast with stop offs at stay overs but now considering much more to see in Sicily! I’ve see Napoli and Amalfi coast, but would like to get Paestum and perhaps a quick visit to puglia...