Palermo & Messina

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Sicily is the largest and most populated island in the Mediterranean Sea.  Early signs of humans here date back to 12,000 BC. Separated from mainland Italy by the Strait of Messina, it has 922 miles of beautiful coastline. The interior of Sicily is mountains, and what beautiful mountains they are.  Being a small island, as you drive through the mountains they completely surround you.  Keep your eyes up as some of these mountains have active volcanos. All in all, a truly wonderful drive. 

Sicily is mostly informal, as you'd expect in an island.  The larger cities are quite different, and each have their own appeal. My sister and I had a bad experience in Catania, so there's not a lot to share.  Other than we were victims of an overnight smash and grab (a lone lightweight jacket was all to be taken), where we spent most of the following day filing reports and getting a different rental car.  But the drive from Catania to Palermo is simply gorgeous.  Mountains and beautiful landscapes.  Lots of long tunnels through those mountains, so if you suffer from vertigo beware. Palermo is lovely. The streets are lined with blood orange trees (or arancia rossa), free for anyone to pick.  What a great idea.  Those oranges make the best fresh squeezed I've ever had.  The coastline is pretty, though like many islands and coasts in Euorpe, the cruise ships have affected the views somewhat. There are some darling shops, plenty of restaurants and some great hotels. Definitely worth a trip. Our last stop was at Messina, a port city.  We stayed in a cute B&B right across from the Strait of Messina. A casual, pretty coastal town, Messina is the main port to ferry over to mainland Italy. We hadn't been on a ferry with a car before and it was a cool experience.  We spent just one night but thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

1. Start with a pastry.  That's my suggestion for everywhere in Italy.  Have it with the blood orange juice.

2. Take a Sicilian cooking class.

3. Try some of the local wines.

4. Take a 3-hour UNESCO site walking tour.

5. Visit the Palermo Catacombs.

6. Take an evening street food tour.

7. Learn to make limoncello.

8. Explore the active volcano on Mt. Etna.

9. Visit the unique and wonderful Salt Pans.

10. Have some gelato!

CHECK OUT MORE SICILY ATTRACTIONS & TOURS AND GET DISCOUNTED TICKETS THROUGH MY PARTNERSHIPS WITH:

VIATOR: https://www.viator.com/Sicily/d205-ttd?pid=P00174325&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=Sicily

GET YOUR GUIDE:  https://www.getyourguide.com/sicily-l65/?partner_id=9B7YGSE&utm_medium=online_publisher&cmp=Sicily

You can also hop over to my Attractions & Tours Ticket page for discounted tickets from TIQETS.

I have to give a shoutout to the Boutique Bastione Spasimo hotel in Palermo.  Hands down one of the most unique and beautiful places I've stayed.  Built in what was the Bastione Spasimo Monument, a fort erected in the 1500s to safeguard Palermo from enemy incursions.  We stayed extra days because it was so wonderful, comfortable and perfectly located.  Ask for a garden room.  You won't regret it.