12-Day Sicily Family Holiday Itinerary - Italy

Arrive on the fertile north side of Etna to find an ancient agriturismo among grape vines and orlij trees, overlooking the Alcantara valley. From Catania airport, it is about an hour’s drive to this estate, which mainly grows grapes for wine production. In the shade of the olive trees, take in your surroundings: a rolling landscape of vineyards and oaks, with a view all the way down to the coast. After seeing Etna volcano from afar today, you’ll get to take a closer look in the morning.

You’ll head to the north side, where it is quieter and a more varied landscape. If the weather is good and the volcano is calm, you can take a 4×4 bus to the northeast crater at 2800 meters. You’ll travel past petrified lava and steaming cracks in the ground to the Etna crater. Rinse off the gray dust of Etna and get back in the car for a drive to the Gambino winery, about twenty minutes from your agriturismo. The sommelier welcomes you in the wine cellar, where he will explain the different wines of the house and of course pour them for you. Italians will not drink without eating, so small snacks also appear on the table, completing the tasting perfectly. The rest of your time is yours to enjoy the relaxed pace of the countryside. 

Arrive at a lesser visited stretch of Sicilian coastline, with its sandy, pebble beaches and hidden coves. The centre of the fishing village has a medieval atmosphere and because Cefalú is built against the mountain, you have great views over the terracotta roofs out to sea. In the afternoon, the centre is closed to traffic for a few hours, so you can roam the streets and acquaint yourself with your home for the next few days. 

Fill the next few days however you please. Enjoy the sun, sea and calmness on one of the several beaches in the Cefalú area. Sant’Ambrogio is about 6kms form the centre and is the quietest. Or if you prefer to stay active, the other side of the city wall is a hiking trail, which follows the coast and runs from the old harbour to the lighthouse via several city gates and through the narrow streets, passing Norman cathedral and many other traditional buildings. 

It’s now time to head to the interior of Sicily, which you may expect to be dry and barren, but the fertile area around Piazza Armerina is surprisingly verdant and fertile. You’ll stay in a small-scale country house, aka an agriturismo, in the South of Piazza Armerina with a swimming pool and a good restaurant. It’s a working farm and a busy one too, producing wine, olive oil and harvesting fruits and nuts. Upon arrival, take a stroll through the serene, rolling countryside or relax with a book by the pool. 

Today you learn how this fertile area makes the region of Piazza Armerina the vegetable garden of Sicily. In the afternoon, you will go out onto the land with a local chef to collect some fresh, seasonal ingredients and prepare a custom dish. Afterwards you all sit down at a long table and a truly homemade fresh meal is served. Before you leave the next day, there is one more treat in store for you, the Villa Romana del Casale. This impressive Roman villa, covered with mosaic floors from the 3rd century, is the main attraction of Central Sicily. The mosaics in the former summer residence of a Roman emperor were only rediscovered in 1929 and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  

Arrive at your characteristic massaria, a country house, by the sea and discover the wonders of the quiet south-eastern coast of Sicily. A perfect alternative to Taormina and other busier seaside resorts near Catania. From your mansion home you look over the grain and potato fields with the sea in the distance. The attractive rooms are located in the former horse stable and it’s only a five-minute walk to a hidden golden sandy beach. 

Get up early the next morning and take a dip before breakfast. The beach near your masseria is located on a river estuary and is not signposted from the main road, so there are few tourists here. Explore the adjacent Vendicari Nature Reserve, one of the few places in Europe where flamingos breed. Also in the vicinity you will find Noto, with its many hidden beaches and coves along the coast. Another great place to visit is the port city of Syracuse, which has a very rich history that you can take in whilst strolling through the narrow streets, spotting remains of Greek temples along the way.