ITALY IN GENERAL
taly has long been a popular tourist destination due to its abundant cultural and historical sites, great cuisine and extensive Mediterranean coastline.
Each region of Italy has something to offer its visitors. The North is where you will find the city of Venice, which has been built across more than one hundred small islands, the fashion centre of Milan and the picturesque area of Lake Como. This is also a popular area for skiers visiting the many resorts dotted along the mountain ranges. The capital city of Rome can be found in Central Italy and is home to many famous landmarks such as the Roman Forum, the Colosseum and the Pantheon, to name but a few. Other well known cities in this region include Florence, Pisa and Siena. Southern Italy encompasses the city of Naples and the idyllic island of Capri as well as the Amalfi Coast. This is also where you will find the ruined city of Pompeii and the source of its destruction: Mount Vesuvius. Further south is the region of Calabria, off the coast of which lies the island of Sicily.
A Mediterranean climate dictates the weather patterns throughout Italy meaning summers become very hot, especially in the south. The north of Italy, especially around the mountainous areas can become very cold in the winter. The best months to visit, to avoid the summer holiday crowds, are September and October.
Saturday, 29 June 2013
FANTASTIC SICILY
Just back from an amazing week in Sicily. We flew into Catania airport and out of Palermo one week later. Sicily is a very special place and surpassed all my expectations...
What is most impressive about Sicily is how authentic it is, with the exception of Taormina, each town we visited truely had its own identity and character. The Sicilian people are extremely kind, friendly and helpful. I really hope mass tourism does not change life on this very special island.
Our itinerary was carefully researched and planned, we spent one night in Siracusa, 2 in Taormina and we spent our last 3 nights in Palermo. I will write a short review on the accomodation on the individual pages on the TA site for the respective hotels.
Firstly, a word on driving in Sicily - practically every review we read in advance of our holiday spoke about the 'madness' on the roads and how difficult driving was in Sicily. Our experience was different, sure it was a little stressful in the main towns and around Palermo but overall if you plan to travel in the afternoon, it is fine. The motorways are great with stunning views along the coast. We would suggest not driving in Palermo ( you don't need to), we dropped our car back to the airport at Palermo before we visited the city and paid 5 euro to get the bus back to the centre of Palermo.
It is well worth having a few Italian phrases as it is much appreciated by the locals and is particularly useful in restaurants in the smaller towns!
A few words on the towns we visited - firstly Siracusa. The old town in Siracusa is breath-taking. Lots of interesting cobbled streets to wander around, the gleaming 'duomo' in the centre of the old town and my personal highlight, the seafront lined with massive yachts! In retrospect, 2 nights would have been great there instead of 1.
Next, Taormina - although set in an undeniably naturally beautiful setting, we were both a little disappointed at how crowded and 'touristy' the town was. Lots of nice little shops and plenty of restaurants to choose from though. We spent a really enjoyable day at the beach there. The Greek Temple is definitely worth a visit.
Palermo is a most interesting city - certainly earns the description I had come across in my research - 'raw' !!! There is so much to see in Palermo - if you are interested in art & history, you will not want to miss Palermo. Highlights definitely the street market at Il Capo, the Opera House, the Cathederal and the spooky Catacombs with the remains of 8000 locals!
Overall, the standard of accomodation was good but I was disspointed with the 'minimun stay' policy of many of the hotels. Like most travellers, we only had a week and wanted to see as much of the island as possible which meant a night here and there.
Re. the food, my expectations were high, granted, but I did expect to see more fresh fruit and vegetables. The seafood was excellent. It would be nice if the hotels and guesthouses provided freshly squeezed fruit juices in the mornings.
I can't wait to go back to Sicily and see Agrigento and visit the islands. It is a wonderful place and lucky you if you are planning a holiday there!!
Just back from an amazing week in Sicily. We flew into Catania airport and out of Palermo one week later. Sicily is a very special place and surpassed all my expectations...
What is most impressive about Sicily is how authentic it is, with the exception of Taormina, each town we visited truely had its own identity and character. The Sicilian people are extremely kind, friendly and helpful. I really hope mass tourism does not change life on this very special island.
Our itinerary was carefully researched and planned, we spent one night in Siracusa, 2 in Taormina and we spent our last 3 nights in Palermo. I will write a short review on the accomodation on the individual pages on the TA site for the respective hotels.
Firstly, a word on driving in Sicily - practically every review we read in advance of our holiday spoke about the 'madness' on the roads and how difficult driving was in Sicily. Our experience was different, sure it was a little stressful in the main towns and around Palermo but overall if you plan to travel in the afternoon, it is fine. The motorways are great with stunning views along the coast. We would suggest not driving in Palermo ( you don't need to), we dropped our car back to the airport at Palermo before we visited the city and paid 5 euro to get the bus back to the centre of Palermo.
It is well worth having a few Italian phrases as it is much appreciated by the locals and is particularly useful in restaurants in the smaller towns!
A few words on the towns we visited - firstly Siracusa. The old town in Siracusa is breath-taking. Lots of interesting cobbled streets to wander around, the gleaming 'duomo' in the centre of the old town and my personal highlight, the seafront lined with massive yachts! In retrospect, 2 nights would have been great there instead of 1.
Next, Taormina - although set in an undeniably naturally beautiful setting, we were both a little disappointed at how crowded and 'touristy' the town was. Lots of nice little shops and plenty of restaurants to choose from though. We spent a really enjoyable day at the beach there. The Greek Temple is definitely worth a visit.
Palermo is a most interesting city - certainly earns the description I had come across in my research - 'raw' !!! There is so much to see in Palermo - if you are interested in art & history, you will not want to miss Palermo. Highlights definitely the street market at Il Capo, the Opera House, the Cathederal and the spooky Catacombs with the remains of 8000 locals!
Overall, the standard of accomodation was good but I was disspointed with the 'minimun stay' policy of many of the hotels. Like most travellers, we only had a week and wanted to see as much of the island as possible which meant a night here and there.
Re. the food, my expectations were high, granted, but I did expect to see more fresh fruit and vegetables. The seafood was excellent. It would be nice if the hotels and guesthouses provided freshly squeezed fruit juices in the mornings.
I can't wait to go back to Sicily and see Agrigento and visit the islands. It is a wonderful place and lucky you if you are planning a holiday there!!
Sardinia
About Sardinia
The Sardinian landscape and climate is legendary, offering plenty of sun and sea experiences in a spectacular setting of rich colours. There are idyllic coves and beautiful beaches to explore as well as eye catching hills, plains and gorges.
Sardinias major fame is the breathtaking beauty of its coastline which makes it one of the premier holiday destinations of Southern Europe.
Sardinia has some fascinating historical sights with an array of medieval towns, temples and castles that will make your jaw drop.
Popular regions of Sardinia include the pristine Costa Verde coastline, the beaches near Alghero and the traditional villages of Nuoro Province which offer superb walking country.Travel Tips
Spring and autumn are good times to visit when the scenery and colours are at their best and temperatures and crowds are less oppressive. Summer months are for serious sun seekers.
Be warned Sardinia can be expensive compared to many other Mediterranean destinations. Package deals may offer the best holiday deals even for independent minded travellers. Make sure you shop around for bargains.
Flights are limited from the UK and you may have to transfer via Rome or Milan.Recommended
Nuraghe Santu Antine
These Bronze towering stone cones on the Torralba plain date back to 1500BC. Built of basalt blocks you can venture inside to experience a variety of corridors, staircases, squares and rooms. They are somewhat of a mystery. One theory is they are linked to the lost civilisation of Atlantis.
Santa Teresa
Popular tourist area with beautiful beaches, first-rate hotels, restaurants, clubs and bars. This is the closest point to Corsica and offers views of the French island on a clear day as well as daily ferry trips.
Costa Rei
Beautiful resort area with many white sand beaches and gorgeous blue sea bays. Attractions in this area include Piscina Rei megalithic complex and Monte Nai tourist zone with its many luxury facilities and superb coast.
Grotte di SantAndrea Priu
Carved into the side of a hill near the town of Bonorvo this large 6,000 year old burial chamber and dwelling features Byzantine frescos and carvings. The top of this Neolithic rock wonder contains a carving of a bull which is several thousand years old
Garibaldis House
The revolutionary hero Giuseppe Garibaldi is buried here in the garden of his former island home. The undeveloped island of Caprera can be reached by a short ferry hop from Palau on the Sardinian mainland. Tours take you around the impressive house and gardens.
Burgos
This picturesque hill towns main attraction is its spectacular and mythical looking castle which towers above a winding road. The nearby forest of Burgos and the surrounding scenery are an added bonus.
Trenino Verde
A pleasant way to explore Sardinias mountain scenery is aboard the Trenino Verde, a vintage green steam train that billows smoke as it makes its way through forests and tunnels.
Cagliari
Includes wondrous old town and castle area which sits on top of a massive hill. Highlights inside the ancient city walls include two 13th century white lime-stone towers. Many other buildings make use of this startling white lime-stone which creates a beautiful effect in the sunlight. Other highlights include the towns Cathedral, the Sardinian Archaeological Museum and the traditional crafts workshops.
Muravera
Major town connected to Cagliari in a charming setting on a river valley surrounded by hills. Muravera is well known for its clean beaches such as San Giovanni and Torre Salinas.Culture
Sardinia, the second largest Mediterranean island after Sicily is situated between Italy, Spain and Tunisia. It takes its cultural influences from both Africa and Europe. Sardinia has been colonised by the Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans and Spaniards to name a few and there are plenty of reminders of this impressive past. Its architecture and buildings are constantly surprising while its people are colourful and vibrant. As well as Italian you will hear the Sardinians own language spoken frequently.
Key Facts
- Country - Italy
- Capital City - Cágliari
- Currency - Euro
- Time Zone - GMT +1 in winter, GMT + 2 in summer
- Population - 1.65 million
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