Sicily Holiday Reviews

Very interesting city, but a bit hectic! There are some good shops, but also some really run down areas. The big church is good, and the markets are good.

Palermo is a fantastic city, very vibrant and energetic. The local market is brilliant, all types of strange food and vegetables are sold there. The Arabic/Christian built cathedral is a great sight.

Lovely resort, though we didn't think too much of the beach. You must go up Mt Etna, which is very refreshign with its surprisingly cool weather!

Almost unavoidable on a stay in Taormina, the beach everyone raves about in is the one at Isolla Bella. You can see why though, as the views of the little cove with a small causeway out to an island as you enter Taormina are spectacular, it truly lives up to its name as something to look at.

In physical terms, the terrain is mid sized to large pebbles and at times going into the water can require some finesse and identifying the correct route. The slope once in the water is neither steep, nor shallow. There are a large number of larger rocks, including the island itself which do make interesting viewing whilst snorkelling.

When my wife and I were in Agrigento we arranged for a private tour of the Valley of the Temples and the Archeological Museum with Michele Gallo from a recommendation in Lonely Planet Sicily Travel Guide. We were very happy with the tour! Michele picked us up at our Hotel and drove us to the Archeological Park and Museum. Michele is very knowledgeable and a real authority on Greek and Roman history. I don’t know when we have had a better guide who was very accommodating to our interests and time. His prices are very reasonable. We were able to get a much better appreciation for Agrigento because of Michele’s excellent tour. We highly recommend him

A lovely resort. Brilliant views down the cliffs and over to Etna. Still very hot at the end of September, I probably wouldn't fancy visiting in July or August though. Plenty of trips you can take too, Catania is well worth a visit to explore the gritty backstreets round the port. Etna is a must too!

This resort would have probably been a lot more lively in the height of the season. It was lovely and clean and people were very friendly and couldn't do enough for you. It was a very relaxing holiday.

The market is most memorably, fishmongers. A cacaphony of sellers' pitches. All at the same time. A Verdi or a Pucccini could never replicate the scene, the sound, the soul, of this chorus. Cigarettes hanging from every other monger's mouth. Nobody seems to notice that there is above a sky. Those mongers are down in a depression in the man-made environmnet. Sort of like a buy and sell pit on a commodities exchange. And just as pandemonious. Around the upper (by about three feet) permimeter are raw meat makeshift "stalls", as imperminent as they are open all around, with dogs and goats hanging naked and usually headless up side down. Below an ancient creek has been contained in concrete, but still open to view from the passageway above. It whooshes by down below you. In the early afternoon blessedly all this mercantile madness and mayhem is gone.

Palazzo Mirto is maybe one of the most beautiful hidden treasures of Palermo. It took us some time to find it, which, in some way, added to its breathtaking charm. Ok, there is no information in English and no English-speaking guide on hand, but that didn't cause us any problems. In fact it was quite liberating to be able to wander from room to room, soaking up the wonderful atmosphere. The attendants in the rooms were discrete, particularly given that we were with out two young (7 and 3.5) children, both of whom also loved being there. (Yes, even the little one!) Our 7 year-old was full of questions and we had fun trying to work out where items had come from, the dates of things etc. The staff at the ticket office were delighted we had enjoyed our visit and happily encouraged us to explore with our children.

Really enjoyed the holiday but the resort suits older people more perhaps. There is a small beach, and a few nice bars and restaurants. Catania is well worth a visit.

We could quickly stroll(in 3 Minutes) to the beautiful pedestrian main street of town, and browse through the wonderful shops, restaurants, and breath-taking sites. We felt safe the staff was always available and made many wonderful suggestions and took care of all our needs

This is a very rural area and you need a car, its about a half hour drive to any of the beaches. Beautiful views across the hills. The Gole Alcantara gorge park provides a great place to explore. There are organised activities in the park and the hotel provides a free pass for the gorge area (if you ask). Overall a relaxing place with beutiful scenery. Taormina is about a half hour drive and provides nightlife and designer shops. Beaches are also about a half hour drive. Mt Etna is an hour trip by car.

The location is great, as you are in the city center and close to all the major sights. Our room had small balcony with a fantastic view of the city and sea. The room was a typical European-sized hotel room.

Archaeological Zone Visiting these sites really was breathtaking, a pretty easy walk around and just makes you feel such a little spec in the scheme of the world! My three year old liked climbing and dashing between everything. Nice area with plenty to see and do, Roman and Greek history here! On another note, there's a wee cafe there that sells a nice bite to eat but their freshly made limon or orange with ice is very refreshing on a hot day

Set in bloom-filled gardens, this family-run hotel is brimming with traditional charm. Dating back to the 19th-century, this hotel serves up a slice of authentic Italy. It features buttermilk walls and wrought-iron balconies wrapped in pinky purple bougainvillea. And it’s set in gardens that are as old as the property itself. The place has a modern face, too, though. It was renovated a few years ago, so you’ll find plenty of contemporary Mediterranean style among all the traditional touches. Take the bedrooms, for instance. They’re bright and airy spaces designed with relaxation in mind. Cue big beds, soft muslin curtains, and private balconies or terraces that look out over the gardens or the sea. Satellite TVs come as standard and air-conditioning is available for a little extra. Outside, a rectangular pool is framed by a greenery-rich terrace. Look one way and you’ll see tall pines and palms. Turn around and there’s nothing but uninterrupted sea views stretching all the way to Mount Etna. When you fancy swapping pool for beach, meanwhile, just follow the winding stone steps that lead down to the sea – or take the easy option and hop on the nearby cable-car. In terms of food, the Villa Belvedere keeps things simple. There’s a poolside restaurant serving up hot and cold breakfasts, as well as snacks throughout the day. For evening meals, though, you’ll need to head into Taormina itself. It’s only a five-minute walk away, and has a good supply of restaurants and trattorias serving up homemade pasta and fresh seafood.