Sicily Podcast

Listen to my 30-minute podcast about Sicily. I was interviewed by Chris Christensen of The Amateur Traveler. Download it (25 MB) here or stream it below:

 

 

Photo of me in Taormina by Sanjay

Comments

[Lucia]

Just listened to your fabulous podcast at Amateur Traveler. We moved to Sicily last month so your post was very timely for us.Still trying to get settled and eager to start exploring and learning more about our new home with all of its intensity and beauty!

[Madeline]

So glad you enjoyed the podcast Lucia! It was a lot of fun talking to Chris, and he did a good job editing too, so it flowed.

Where did you move to?

There was so much I feel like we didn't cover in the 30 minutes (the giant volcano near Catania, for one....) so if I have a chance I will do more blog posts on Sicily.

[Eden Claire]

i only heard/learned of sicily in the Godfather series and then on Eat.Pray.Love, but I want to explore this place

[Chris]

Hi Madeline, I've just listened to the excellent podcast about Sicily. I found it really useful. My wife and I will be flying from our home in Norway to Sicily for a weeks holiday - first week of sept. This will be our first trip to the island, although we've been to many other parts of Italy. We want to do a half and half week. Half sightseeing of cultural sights and half lying on a beach. So I've booked us into a hotel just outside of Trapetto for 5 nights and then the last 2 days we are booked in a hotel 5 km from the Turkish steps , outside of Agrigento. I thought Trapetto would put us within close distance of some good beaches on the golfo di castellamare. But I'm not so sure now. I haven't found any nice beach photos on the internet from that bay. Have you been there? The hire car is booked and paid for. So we will be mobile.Any tips ?
Best wishes , from Norway
Chris

[Madeline]

Hi Chris, so glad you found the podcast useful! I love Norway especially the Vigeland park in Oslo.

But I digress: near Trappeto I'd suggest not only Erice and the gorgeous fishing village of Levanzo, but for beaches and a gorgeous walk, head out to San Vito Lo Capo. I would also hit Palermo's Mondello beach, and since you're mobile, consider the beaches of Favignana: http://sicilia.indettaglio.it/eng/comuni/tp/favignana/images/favignana3.jpg

Have a wonderful time!

[chris]

Thanks for the helpful comments, Madeline. This website of yours is great. It's giving me lots of good ideas for future trips to Italy. Keep up the good work!

[Madeline]

thanks so much, nice to hear :-)

[roselynd]

Hi Madeline,

Im listening to your podcast of sicily and I have a questions. I'm going to be in Sicily for 6nights. I was planning to spend 3 nights in Taormina and 3 nights in Siracusa - is this advisable or shd we stay in Taormina for the entire time and drive to Siracusa for a day trip
Can we pick up a rental car at the catania arpt ?

[Madeline]

hi Roselynd! I would definitely keep your plan and stay 3 days in each place. Taormina and Siracusa are about 90 minutes apart, and are each surrounded by (easily) 3 days of sightseeing. From Taormina you can explore the town itself but also Etna and Catania and there are some gorgeous little towns near there like Castelmola and Novara di Sicilia and Savoca. From Siracusa you can explore not only the town but head down to the Vendicari nature reserve and you can also visit Modica and Ragusa and Ragusa Ibla. And yes, Catania airport has rental cars. Have fun!