Sicily
So "Mafia-land" and Inspector Montalbano !
3 to 4 weeks here attempting a full circuit. We took the Ferry from Villa San Giovanni but it deposited us at Tremestieri a few miles south of Messina (no signage) not a huge problem but the crossing was 40min rather than 20 and we had the delights of the Messina traffic and driving as we headed to the north-east corner of Sicily. |
We then followed the north coast road westwards and found a handy grass area to overnight at San Saba.
Continuing westwards a very nice smart camp at Tonnarella and then a simple but nice camp near Villa Margi.
Continuing westwards a very nice smart camp at Tonnarella and then a simple but nice camp near Villa Margi.
Friday 6th July. We continued west towards Palermo but as we did not like the harbour at San Nicola l'Arena we drove inland and up a significant hill to Caccamo. This an old hill-top town with maybe the best castle in Sicily, so two nights here.
www.visitsicily.info/en/castle-of-caccamo/
Slideshow below all at Caccamo
www.visitsicily.info/en/castle-of-caccamo/
Slideshow below all at Caccamo
After Caccamo we failed to find (closed) the 2 locations in Palermo for dumping waste water and takining on fresh water. A campsite for 1 night at Guidaloca (very pleasant) next Zingaro nature park. A slightly long but lovely drive but NO parking 4 Us near the entrance so we drove on to Mazaro del Vallo. TomTom misbehaved and sent us on very poor rural roads and we met a couple of large vehicles which needed squeezing past. Very nice town with a huge Tunisian influence. We used the Harbour carpark but "Spivs" demanded money so 1 night only. Then to a very nice but pricey campsite just outside. We continued eastwards and had info that the large carpark at the "Museo di Luigi Pirandello" could be used. It was shady and large but as usual strewn with litter and worse. Then at 11 pm locals arrived with young children....No threat or problem but annoying. Next Day to Ravanusa or more accurately just outside at the wonderfully named hotel "Breakfast at Tiffany's" 2 nights here and a meal in the hotel. This was more relaxing than our previous stops.
Our next "aim" was the World Heritage town of Ragusa...Very very nice but no parking let alone sleeping !
Thus a little town just outside Syracuse (Siracusa). We spent a long morning in Siracusa .. a very nice town good market and coffee in the aptly named cafe Apollo overlooking the said temple.
Our next "aim" was the World Heritage town of Ragusa...Very very nice but no parking let alone sleeping !
Thus a little town just outside Syracuse (Siracusa). We spent a long morning in Siracusa .. a very nice town good market and coffee in the aptly named cafe Apollo overlooking the said temple.
.Finally to Mount Etna
A longish drive and quite a bit of "UP" as we camped at 6300ft in the shadow of Etna. A short walk to Monti Silvestri and its crater. All very good.
Very very windy at night and all the MoHos move across the road to shelter between buildings
We had planned another night south of Messina but were confronted by another spiv at the beach carpark so we chose to get the Ferry back to Villa San Giovanni. Slight hassle with a town centre high street just south of Messina lots of squeezing past. Still no real damage just a very minor scratch.
Ferry to VSG and to the same sosta camp in Gioai Tauro mainly to collect a new credit card (which I arranged to be sent to the campsite owner).
A longish drive and quite a bit of "UP" as we camped at 6300ft in the shadow of Etna. A short walk to Monti Silvestri and its crater. All very good.
Very very windy at night and all the MoHos move across the road to shelter between buildings
We had planned another night south of Messina but were confronted by another spiv at the beach carpark so we chose to get the Ferry back to Villa San Giovanni. Slight hassle with a town centre high street just south of Messina lots of squeezing past. Still no real damage just a very minor scratch.
Ferry to VSG and to the same sosta camp in Gioai Tauro mainly to collect a new credit card (which I arranged to be sent to the campsite owner).