Sicily 2015
Friday June 26, 2015:
This year we are going to the far south of Italy towards Sicily, it has been 20 years since we returned.
For this first day of vacation we leave work at 4:00 pm and leave immediately, direction Grenoble / Gap / Barcelonnette (due to the closure of the Lautaret pass) we spend our first night at the Larche pass on the Italian border
For this first day of vacation we leave work at 4:00 pm and leave immediately, direction Grenoble / Gap / Barcelonnette (due to the closure of the Lautaret pass) we spend our first night at the Larche pass on the Italian border
We have traveled 349 km
Saturday June 27, 2015:
Departure 8:00 am because a day's drive awaits us passing through Genoa / Florence / Rome we stop at 7:00 pm at Arpino near Cassino.
We took the badge "Fattore Amico" the equivalent of "France Passion" Italian version, that night we stop in a farm inn.
We are quiet on the other hand we do not really know what this hostel offers because we did not see any person after our arrival.
We took the badge "Fattore Amico" the equivalent of "France Passion" Italian version, that night we stop in a farm inn.
We are quiet on the other hand we do not really know what this hostel offers because we did not see any person after our arrival.
We have traveled 830 km
Sunday June 28, 2015:
As the day before departure 8:00 am, we continue our descent through Naples to reach Villa San Giovanni (extreme south of the boot) good news the highway south of Naples to the end of the boot is free.
5:00 pm we board the ferry after paying the sum of 98 €, the crossing is very fast and we are in Sicily when we disembark in Messina.
We want to reach the area near Taormina (Via Spagnulo) we take the national road that runs along the sea but the road is very narrow, we cross towns and villages nonstop, the crossings are very delicate and sometimes laborious but fortunately it begins to get late and traffic is relatively fluid.
We arrive at the superb area around 9:00 pm, happy but tired, the day and the road have been long, we are finally in Sicily the goal of our vacation.
5:00 pm we board the ferry after paying the sum of 98 €, the crossing is very fast and we are in Sicily when we disembark in Messina.
We want to reach the area near Taormina (Via Spagnulo) we take the national road that runs along the sea but the road is very narrow, we cross towns and villages nonstop, the crossings are very delicate and sometimes laborious but fortunately it begins to get late and traffic is relatively fluid.
We arrive at the superb area around 9:00 pm, happy but tired, the day and the road have been long, we are finally in Sicily the goal of our vacation.
Click on the image for the coordinates
We have traveled 729 km
Monday June 29, 2015:
In the morning we take the bus to reach and visit Taormina.
The Motorhome area is ideal,. We reach Taormina very quickly, we visit this beautiful city, very touristy and very expensive, we have lunch on the go because the restaurants are not typical and expensive.
We eat our first Sicilian specialty "arancine" (rice ball with meat or vegetable inside, breaded and then fried), we continue with the famous Italian ice cream.
We are back at the Motorhome around 4:30 pm we leave for Castiglione di sicilia using the formula "Fattore Amico" as usually we are alone.
The Motorhome area is ideal,. We reach Taormina very quickly, we visit this beautiful city, very touristy and very expensive, we have lunch on the go because the restaurants are not typical and expensive.
We eat our first Sicilian specialty "arancine" (rice ball with meat or vegetable inside, breaded and then fried), we continue with the famous Italian ice cream.
We are back at the Motorhome around 4:30 pm we leave for Castiglione di sicilia using the formula "Fattore Amico" as usually we are alone.
We have traveled 22 km
Tuesday June 30, 2015:
In the morning we visit the Alcantara Gorge, we want to take the access used by the locals and not by the tourist site.
We have trouble finding the entrance but we finally find it for a cost of € 2.
The gorges are a nice place certainly not extraordinary for people accustomed to this type of site but the place is cool and restful.
We join the north coast through Floresta, Ucria to reach Cefalu, there is little beach between Capo Orlando and Cefalu.
In Cefalu we reach the area of "lungomare Guiseppe Giardini" which is more like a car park but close to the city center and by the sea for € 15 a night.
In the evening we have lunch and visit charming Cefalu.
We have trouble finding the entrance but we finally find it for a cost of € 2.
The gorges are a nice place certainly not extraordinary for people accustomed to this type of site but the place is cool and restful.
We join the north coast through Floresta, Ucria to reach Cefalu, there is little beach between Capo Orlando and Cefalu.
In Cefalu we reach the area of "lungomare Guiseppe Giardini" which is more like a car park but close to the city center and by the sea for € 15 a night.
In the evening we have lunch and visit charming Cefalu.
Click on the image for the coordinates
We have traveled 179 km
Wednesday July 1, 2015:
Click on the image for the coordinates
In the morning we visit Cefalu, we want to reach Palermo at the end of the day but before that we want to bathe, on the road the beaches are rare and those that we find are very dirty (a lot of rubbish litter these).
We find a relatively clean and decent beach at St Nicola l'Arena.
We arrive around 6:00 p.m. in Palermo at the "Via quarto dei Mille" area, ideally located to reach the center on foot. We will spend the night in this area for a cost of 10 €. This area is a fully enclosed and guarded building parking lot.
We find a relatively clean and decent beach at St Nicola l'Arena.
We arrive around 6:00 p.m. in Palermo at the "Via quarto dei Mille" area, ideally located to reach the center on foot. We will spend the night in this area for a cost of 10 €. This area is a fully enclosed and guarded building parking lot.
We have traveled 152 km
Thursday July 2, 2015:
Visit of Palermo its monuments and markets
We have traveled 24 km
Friday July 3, 2015:
In the morning we do our shopping in the beautiful town of Monreale where we enjoy an iced coffee.
We continue our journey towards Scoppelo, or 5 km before the village we find a very beautiful Camper area with sea view, certainly a bit expensive because 15 € per night (but really ideal by the sea with shade and electricity).
Afternoon beach, in the evening we will walk to the village of Scoppelo.
We continue our journey towards Scoppelo, or 5 km before the village we find a very beautiful Camper area with sea view, certainly a bit expensive because 15 € per night (but really ideal by the sea with shade and electricity).
Afternoon beach, in the evening we will walk to the village of Scoppelo.
We have traveled 72 km
Click on the image for the coordinates
We leave Scoppelo, visit the town of Castelammmare del Golfo, a beautiful town with a pretty port where we taste a famous granite (Sicilian specialty made from almonds).
Then we reach San Vito lo Capo, the area is located 5 km from the center and not 3 as indicated in some guides.
The free "Via Calaffa Parcheggio di Spaggia Castelluzzo" area is by the sea, we enjoy this beautiful place all day long, there are quite a few cars during the day, but in the evening there are about ten Camper.
We enjoy the sunset over the sea.
Then we reach San Vito lo Capo, the area is located 5 km from the center and not 3 as indicated in some guides.
The free "Via Calaffa Parcheggio di Spaggia Castelluzzo" area is by the sea, we enjoy this beautiful place all day long, there are quite a few cars during the day, but in the evening there are about ten Camper.
We enjoy the sunset over the sea.
Saturday July 4, 2015:
Click on the image for the coordinates
We have traveled 63 km
Sunday July 5, 2015:
Click on the image for the coordinates
Early in the morning I jog by the sea, it is Sunday and we are not going to the beach because the Sicilians flock there early in the morning,
the beaches are crowded on Sunday. We are going to visit the seaside town of San Vito (we almost took a PV because we were parked without knowing it on a street with residential parking).
The city and the beaches are crowded with people we take the opportunity to taste a granite.
We follow the coast to Trapani, go to the saltworks where we have noted an area for motorhome "Via guiseppe Garibaldi Nubia".
We are only 2 motorhome, the place is really quiet and superb, we again enjoy a magnificent sunset. Note the presence of many water points in this sector along the seaside.
the beaches are crowded on Sunday. We are going to visit the seaside town of San Vito (we almost took a PV because we were parked without knowing it on a street with residential parking).
The city and the beaches are crowded with people we take the opportunity to taste a granite.
We follow the coast to Trapani, go to the saltworks where we have noted an area for motorhome "Via guiseppe Garibaldi Nubia".
We are only 2 motorhome, the place is really quiet and superb, we again enjoy a magnificent sunset. Note the presence of many water points in this sector along the seaside.
We have traveled 70 km
Monday July 6, 2015:
We reach the village of Erice via the cable car from Trapani, this allows us to have a beautiful view of the entire coast.
We stroll in this historic village which is certainly very touristy, there are not too many people and can enjoy this morning walk.
In the afternoon we swim towards Marsala, we want to use a "fattore Amico" area but it is closed.
We walk along the coast, we stop by the sea at Torreta-Granitola, we take the opportunity to make ourselves a restaurant, this village is not touristy, we stroll, people take advantage of the coolness of the evening.
It is relatively easy to find bivouac areas for the night without too much difficulty.
We stroll in this historic village which is certainly very touristy, there are not too many people and can enjoy this morning walk.
In the afternoon we swim towards Marsala, we want to use a "fattore Amico" area but it is closed.
We walk along the coast, we stop by the sea at Torreta-Granitola, we take the opportunity to make ourselves a restaurant, this village is not touristy, we stroll, people take advantage of the coolness of the evening.
It is relatively easy to find bivouac areas for the night without too much difficulty.
Click on the image for the coordinates
We have traveled 110 km
Tuesday July 7, 2015:
We start the day with shopping in Sciaccia, we will visit the scala dei turchi place that looks like pammukale in Turkey hence the name of Scala dei turchi.
The rocks are immaculate white, we could stay there a few days because there is a Camper area, we continue towards Porto Empedoccle where we have lunch by the beach.
We return to the Caltanissette area (area in the center of a quiet parking lot, free with water and drainage) beforehand we go through Agrigento, we do not visit the temples because we had visited them during our previous Sicilian trip.
The rocks are immaculate white, we could stay there a few days because there is a Camper area, we continue towards Porto Empedoccle where we have lunch by the beach.
We return to the Caltanissette area (area in the center of a quiet parking lot, free with water and drainage) beforehand we go through Agrigento, we do not visit the temples because we had visited them during our previous Sicilian trip.
We have traveled 230 km
Wednesday July 8, 2015:
Caltanissette day in the evening we reach the Ragusse area (Via Avocato Giovanni Ottaviano) in the heart of the historic city without any service.
Click on the image for the coordinates
We have traveled 207 km
Thursday July 9, 2015:
Visit of the beautiful historic town of Ragusse, we then reach Pozzalo where we find a parking lot by the sea, we are 2 motorhomes.
We enjoy the beach and spend the night there
We enjoy the beach and spend the night there
Click on the image for the coordinates
We have traveled 75 km
Friday July 10, 2015:
Click on the image for the coordinates
We walk along the seaside, find an ideal place 1 km from the city center of Marzamemi, we are 5, 6 motorhomes.
We enjoy an ice cream because the "Gelati truck stops in front of us" in the evening we go to the restaurant and enjoy this charming village, certainly touristy but authentic.
We spend a night on our bivouac.
We enjoy an ice cream because the "Gelati truck stops in front of us" in the evening we go to the restaurant and enjoy this charming village, certainly touristy but authentic.
We spend a night on our bivouac.
We have traveled 63 km
Saturday July 11, 2015:
We spend a large part of the day in marzamemi, we find that there is a brand new Camper area a few kilometers from where we are.
There is no shade and few people, we made the right choice especially since we do not need any service because we have plenty of water; At the end of the day we reach Noto, we noted the presence of a Camper area, alas as often once on the site it is actually a vulgar parking lot between buildings, it does not tempt us at all
We decide to reach the seaside hoping to find a bivouac, we locate the Vendicari reserve on the map, we arrive in a dirt parking lot where there is a pseudo hostel.
We land at the end of the parking lot where we will spend a quiet night alone with an area at the end of the world.
There is no shade and few people, we made the right choice especially since we do not need any service because we have plenty of water; At the end of the day we reach Noto, we noted the presence of a Camper area, alas as often once on the site it is actually a vulgar parking lot between buildings, it does not tempt us at all
We decide to reach the seaside hoping to find a bivouac, we locate the Vendicari reserve on the map, we arrive in a dirt parking lot where there is a pseudo hostel.
We land at the end of the parking lot where we will spend a quiet night alone with an area at the end of the world.
Click on the image for the coordinates
We have traveled 36 km
In the morning we visit the Vendicari reserve, at the end of the morning we reach the town of Noto, a charming and touristic baroque town. On the advice of a motorhome operator (on the internet) we have lunch at the inexpensive "Il Giglio" restaurant with typical Sicilian cuisine.
In the afternoon we bathe in Avola (many places of bivouac possible towards the port, in our case we join Syracuse to find family.
In the afternoon we bathe in Avola (many places of bivouac possible towards the port, in our case we join Syracuse to find family.
Sunday July 12, 2015:
We have traveled 62 km
Monday July 13, 2015:
We visit the city of Syracuse (we visited it 20 years ago we do not revisit the theater and other unmissable places) we take advantage of the market and the city center.
Tuesday July 14, 2015:
Beach day in Syracuse.
We leave Syracuse and Sicily, before that we do some shopping to bring back typical products.
We take the Ferry around 5 pm to 8 pm we use "Fattore Amico" for the evening bivouac the stop is in Calabria towards Rosarno in a dairy which produces the mozzarella di buflone.
The welcome is very warm even too much, we had gifts (mozzarella, cakes etc ...) we thought he wanted to sell us products but not at all. We spent a very pleasant night alone the smells of cows did not bother us but given the welcome we will stop in this place without any worries.
The next day we will go to the store to buy products for the quality and thank them.
We take the Ferry around 5 pm to 8 pm we use "Fattore Amico" for the evening bivouac the stop is in Calabria towards Rosarno in a dairy which produces the mozzarella di buflone.
The welcome is very warm even too much, we had gifts (mozzarella, cakes etc ...) we thought he wanted to sell us products but not at all. We spent a very pleasant night alone the smells of cows did not bother us but given the welcome we will stop in this place without any worries.
The next day we will go to the store to buy products for the quality and thank them.
Wednesday July 15, 2015:
We have traveled 244 km
Thursday July 16, 2015:
We continue our ascent by stopping towards Lamezia Terme deserted place where we took a dip.
We note that the places of bivouac and superb beaches are legion in Calabria.
In the evening we are above Naples on the Amalfi coast we have difficulty finding a stop for the night the areas are very expensive (around 30 €) we stop in Sperlonga in a parking lot at the bottom of the city.
Parking with barrier but which are out of service and in addition with a sign that indicates prohibited at more than 2.10 high (almost empty parking lot we will spend the night there without worries and without tickets)
In the evening we visit the city which is very very beautiful but it is teeming with tourists and the heat is overwhelming.
We note that the places of bivouac and superb beaches are legion in Calabria.
In the evening we are above Naples on the Amalfi coast we have difficulty finding a stop for the night the areas are very expensive (around 30 €) we stop in Sperlonga in a parking lot at the bottom of the city.
Parking with barrier but which are out of service and in addition with a sign that indicates prohibited at more than 2.10 high (almost empty parking lot we will spend the night there without worries and without tickets)
In the evening we visit the city which is very very beautiful but it is teeming with tourists and the heat is overwhelming.
We have traveled 244 km
Friday July 17, 2015:
We continue our ascent, in the evening we stop at La Spezia (Aire that we know because we used it in the spring during our trip to the Five Lands.
We have traveled 540 km
Saturday July 18, 2015:
Departure La Spezia 8:45 am arrival in Lyon 9:00 pm
We have a violent storm at the Col de Larche (we had not seen the rain for a long time).
We have a violent storm at the Col de Larche (we had not seen the rain for a long time).
We have traveled 674 km
We stayed for 21 nights, we spent 5 nights in the service area and the rest in wild camping, the bivouacs by the sea are quite easy to find No feeling of insecurity (no more when France) contrary to popular belief received.
Many things to visit monuments or daily life (markets etc ...)
Cost of living appreciably identical to France Attention Sicily is a very large island and to go around requires many kilometers Free highway south of Naples but paying in Sicily.
We traveled 5037 kilometers and spent 98 € on the ferry.
Many things to visit monuments or daily life (markets etc ...)
Cost of living appreciably identical to France Attention Sicily is a very large island and to go around requires many kilometers Free highway south of Naples but paying in Sicily.
We traveled 5037 kilometers and spent 98 € on the ferry.