Our Experiences-Spring In Sicily
By Sally (our mum!)
We flew early in the morning from Bristol to Catania, a relatively short 3hr 10 min flight and
what a destination! We had clear skies and beautiful aerial shots of a stunning coastline and
towering Mount Etna. The shuttle coach trip to our hotel in Taormina, an historic hilltop town
on the East coast of Sicily, situated near smoking Mount Etna, was picturesque. We were
also able to check in straight away and even had a free upgrade.
HOTEL ARISTON, TAORMINA
Hotel Ariston is set in a brilliant position just below the Teatro Antico, with beautiful views
down to the coast and easy access to the main bus station. It’s only a short walk to both
Taormina town centre and the cable car. We had half board in the hotel, which was ideal
when we were on excursions and back late. The hotel was clean, comfortable and
peaceful… Our apartment was set overlooking a peaceful and tranquil cloister. The outdoor
swimming pool and outdoor relaxation areas were superb with a few hidden pathways to
discover on the site.
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Spring Holiday
The temperature throughout our week averaged about 19 degrees, so it was perfect for exploring but only brave souls were swimming. Spring is less crowded than the summer months when Italians vacate, and we would say venture to Sicily in the shoulder months if you want to explore the island, but if its swimming and sunbathing you are after then you will need to travel in the summer months.
TAORMINA
For us, grown up daughter and mother, Taormina was the perfect place to stay. Yes, it is
touristy, and can be expensive but you can easily get away from the crowds and explore
beautiful alley ways, medieval buildings, browse the shops and eateries. There are ample
places to eat to suit all budgets. Sicily is famous for its unique culinary experiences, with
influences from many cultures and Taormina is no exception. Freshly caught swordfish,
sardines and tuna feature heavily on the menus as do local tomatoes, capers, olives,
pistachios, almonds and lemons. We recommend grabbing a freshly made cannelloni and
watch the world go by.
Our Experiences: Exploring Taormina & Excurions from Taormina
Day 1
Horse shoe shaped Teatro Greco in Taormino is set in a superb location with fantastic views
of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea and well worth visiting for a step back in time. We
recommend arriving early to beat the crowds and having a coffee and sweet treat in the cafe.
If you want to escape the busy town centre, head to Trevelyan’s public garden, established
by a former Scottish aristocrat.…it’s completely free to enter. Wander under the shaded trees
and beautifully tended gardens and seek out an array of follies. We found it the perfect place
to sit under the shade of the trees with a cooling drink and ice-cream from the small café on
site. The views to the coast were spectacular.
Day 2
On our second day we set off on a stunning uphill walk from Taormina to a beautiful church
set in a grotto, and then on to Castlemola. Without meaning to preach, wear comfortable
shoes, take water and wear a sun hat! This was one of the highlights of our holiday, and
especially our stop for lunch of the perfect arancini (stuffed savoury rice balls), and rustic
sandwiches washed down with local almond wine, made from dry white wine, almonds,
citrus and herbs. Yes, the village is touristy but it’s also charming and the views are
phenomenal. The walk back down was a bit hard on my knees, but I made it!
Day 3
On our third day, we walked down a goat path, past Four Seasons Taormina at San Domenico Palace, of White Lotus fame. The wooden posts edging the path are a bit precarious but it was a wonderful way to experience the views and scents of the Sicilian countryside. We walked as far as the popular beach area of Giardini-Naxos. We don’t recommend this route for families as the traffic can be busy, but there are bus routes to here from Taormina.
Day 4
On our fourth day we took a coach trip to Syracuse, a UNESCO world heritage site, with
Greek ruins and Ortygia’s maze of alleyways and piazzas. It was a fantastic place to
explore with a wealth of eateries. We also stopped off at the Archaeological Park of
Syracuse, with its Greek theatre, Roman ampitheatre, burial chambers and grottos. One of
these caves is donkey eared shaped Orecchio di Dionisi. Legend has it that he locked up his
enemies in the cave and eavesdropped above. The acoustics are superb and you may be
lucky to hear someone singing in there!
Day 5
On the fifth day we hopped on the cable car to Mazzaro beach. We strolled along the
coastline and explored Isola Bella, a tiny island and nature reserve. The beach can get
crowded, and check out the price of sun beds first, but the setting is lovely. Lunch was a
superb Sicilian pizza from a lovely café on the hillside.
Day 6
On our penultimate day we went on a coach trip to Palmero. Arriving early, we explored the
Balloro food market before it got rammed. Here, the vendors sing to you to encourage you to
buy. The town is gritty in places, but great if you want to experience authentic Sicily. In the
afternoon our destination was the stunning seaside resort of Cefalu. The ideal location for a
swim, sunbathe and the perfect pit stop for a gelato or Sicilian granita!
There are a wealth of tours and contrasting destinations to explore in Sicily, including tours
to Mount Etna which proudly overlooks the town. We found Taormina the perfect base for
our holiday. The perfect multi- generation destination as there is something for everyone.
