dwl
Reged: 02/12/04
Posts: 59
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We will unexpectedly be in Europe the first week or two of August (I know, the worst time to go)....and are looking for holiday options that will not be too crowded.
Has anyone every been to Pantelleria or any of the Aeolian Islands (in particular Salina (where Il Postino was filmed)? If so, what was your impression? Where did you stay, etc.
Also, anyone been to Ponza or Sperlonga btw Rome and Naples?
Another possibility may be Puglia -- any suggestions?
We ideally would like to be in a spot with the fewest number of Americans...hence the off the beaten path type of destinations appeal to us.
Any other suggestions for off the beaten path destinations in Italy or Europe? We have already been to Florence, Tuscany, Umbria, Rome, Naples, Amalfi Coast, Capri and Ischia -- and don't feel up to fighting the mobs that time of year in any of those locations. I think the Lake region will be similarly crowded.
Would love to hear thoughts from any of you.
Thanks.
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15736
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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In a word..Sicily..it will blow you away...and the entire Island other then Palermo, is off the beaten path.....if this interests you let me know and I can give you full run down on it..we were regular visitors to it until 9/11....
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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dwl
Reged: 02/12/04
Posts: 59
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Sicily interest us too...but it seems so large I wouldn't know how to start planning. Where would you recommend being based? Any hotel or villa reccs?
One of the reasons I was looking at smaller islands, is that we like to really emerge ourselves into the local town culture, and get a feel for living in the small town on that island or in that country for a week. To emulate that feel, and not be overrun by American, British or German tourists in August in Italy will be hard. But I am still optimistic. Let me know if you have suggested itineraries for Sicily.
Thanks!
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15736
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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I can't help you much with lodging because other then in Taormina ( where we stayed at the Hotel Lido which was nice ) we stayed with relatives....but what I would do ( and have done ) is fly into Palermo....rent a car and go west..through the town of Alcamo, which is one of my namesakes) and a wonderful litle town by the sea, to Trapani..from there just go south and then east all along the coastline....you're next stop will be Arigento..from there the towns will be fewer and farther between until you get to Syracusa...there are some incredible ruins in Syracusa......the temple of Hercules etc..all in magnificent shape...the theaters from the days of Rome are in such good shape they still use them today...from there you go to Catania....a beatiful town where I have had some of the best meals in Sicily.....from there you go to the crowned jewel of Sicily...Taormina....make sure you go to Mt Etna from there....very cool to see...they actually have a rickety old lift for skiing and I still want to ski it someday....spend a few days in Taormina...you can then drive up to Messina where the ferrys connect Sicily with the Calabrian mainland of Italy...from there I would go backwards a bit rather then taking the north coast route and drive through the middle of the island...Catania to Caltinesetta and back to Arigento and then north back to Palermo.......honestly if it wasnt for 9/11 and everyone in my family's paranoia over terrorism...a lot of my St Barts trip would be Sicily trips instead....and if I dont get back there soon, I'm going to give up on my family and go myself.....its a wonderful island..and you hardly see any Americans ( I think they think we are all down there shooting each other and putting horses heads in each others beds) and the food, the scenery, the people are all incredible
Edited by Mike R (05/13/05 01:14 PM)
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