Best Place you've visited in Southern Italy/Sicily? (life, train, people)

[internetuser]

I am curious to know how Sicily and other parts of southern Italy are. Can anyone share their experiences?

I've been to Bari, Italy, it seemed very laid back, I am curious if Sicily or other places in the south have more going on. What would be the most lively city in the south?

Thanks for sharing info!

[Davy-040]

Have not been to Italy yet but Sardinia seems more interesting and beautiful to me than mainland Southern Italy (South of Lazio), not sure about Sicily.

[arctic_gardener]

Sicily is VERY laidback but that's what makes it charming. I have nice memories of visiting the little village of Cerda (with its two artichoke-themed restaurants where every item on the menu has local artichokes in it) and the town of Castellamare del Golfo, right next to Zingaro Reserve. Unlike in mainland Europe, having a vehicle would be immensely helpful in Sicily. Palermo is OK but it's the smaller villages and towns that are more interesting. I have not been to Catania.

[bale002]

Originally Posted by internetuser

I am curious to know how Sicily and other parts of southern Italy are. Can anyone share their experiences?

I've been to Bari, Italy, it seemed very laid back, I am curious if Sicily or other places in the south have more going on. What would be the most lively city in the south?

Thanks for sharing info!

I don't know what your objectives and expectations are, but for most outsiders Sicily and southern Italy offer history which is very, very, very laid back, as in laid way, way, way back in time.

Bari became prominent in history relatively late in the game, while Sicily probably offers the most in terms of ancient history, even more than Greece (but Catania, along with Lecce, is more baroque period), however Campania, notably the mount Vesuvius area, is arguably just as compelling. On the other hand, Calabria and Basilicata offer some niche places. I have taken very slow train rides - and I mean very slow - from one end of the Ionian Sea to the other. But they gave me life.

What do you mean by lively, then? Sicily and southern Italy are not exactly places on the move in the modern and contemporary social and economic sense (except perhaps young people moving out), they haven't been for centuries, and their situation has only become more complicated in the past several years.

[xander.XVII]

Amalfi coast, Salento and Valle dei Tempi are among the most beautiful places on Earth and you'll eat nowhere like in Sicily.

[virulentpeach]

I am Sicilian and I'd say the following places on the island are worth seeing;

1) Taormina. You can view Mt. Etna from there and it is a quaint town that feels very similar to a Greek island. A lot of ancient Greek architecture and artifacts are nearby, and the town sells a lot of souvenirs and has pretty much every type of shop. It feels like your typical southern Italian coastal town, but it's specifically touristy.

2) Mazara del Vallo, or any other city in Trapani province along the coast. On the western side of Sicily, these towns make you forget you're still in Europe, as the architecture and culture is heavily influenced by North Africa and the Near East. This is good for people who want to experience Near Eastern culture without having to actually travel to countries that are considered dangerous.

[Joliefille]

Casserta is interesting if you want to visit the last royal palace before Fascism rose up. I think they are also famous for silk weaving. The town itself isnt very mych.

[Urania93]

Originally Posted by Joliefille

Casserta is interesting if you want to visit the last royal palace before Fascism rose up. I think they are also famous for silk weaving. The town itself isnt very mych.

it's Caserta, with just one S. However, it's true that in Caserta there is a fantastic royal palace (we call it "Reggia di Caserta").

[Muscovite]

Caserta there is a fantastic royal palace (we call it "Reggia di Caserta").

Yes, it's an excellent royal residence. Really worth visiting. Not overcrowded.

Naples itself is interesting too, but the public transport is overcrowded, there are pick-pockets there.

[Bruins_Fan]

Really liked Taormina (was just there ~2 weeks ago). Absolutely breathtaking views of the sea! We didn't have a car, so didn't really travel around, but will definitely go back again and see more of the island.