Traveling with family in Sicily

Hello travelers, this is Julie, Capucine’s older sister. Today I’m taking you to Sicily, where I spent my last family vacation with my boyfriend and our two daughters, ages 7 and 3.
We had 8 days to explore the island, so we decided to split the island in two for this trip and focus on the western part, also called «the African Sicily» due to its geographical position facing the African continent.

How to get to Sicily? 

There are two main airports in Sicily, Palermo and Catania. Although several airlines serve these two airports during the summer season, we chose the airline Volotea for its very attractive prices, but also for the quality of its services. The on-board staff is really professional, the planes are comfortable. + What we especially liked was the plane ID card with all the measurements available on the company’s app, very fun for children.
For those who are wary of flying, whether for environmental reasons or out of a phobia, there are other alternatives that take a little longer but are equally enjoyable since the journey is an integral part of the trip. I am thinking in particular of the train or the car that you then use on the ferry.

Renting a car in Sicily 

We rented a car to be able to explore the West Coast of this beautiful Italian island in peace and at our own pace. Upon our arrival -late in the evening - in Palermo, we picked up our rented car a few days earlier from the BSP AUTO. An indispensable part of our trips, this rental company offers the best rates and the easiest arrangements. This time we had a SEAT ARENA that was large enough for our personal belongings, including the baby girl's stroller, and compact enough to easily park in the streets of Sicily.
Parking in Sicily is very easy; there are many open-air parking lots that are easily accessible: between 0.30 and 1 € per hour, depending on the location.

For your car rental, please check carefully before leaving the country regarding the formalities, and especially regarding this new issue when paying the deposit, which can only be done with a credit card in 90% of the cases.

To check, it’s very simple: take your credit card and check if it says “CREDIT” or “DEBIT”.

Our Top 3

1 – The Island of Favignana

You can get there by ferry from Trapani in just 30 minutes. The arrival in the small fishing port that is still in operation is very picturesque. Here you cycle, the electric version is available. This beautiful island off the west coast has a rich history, magnificent beaches and coves, and to top it all off, there is a master ice cream maker in the small fishing port that is really worth a visit.

2 – The Sicilian cuisine

Let’s face it, Sicilian cuisine was one of the 5 key factors when choosing a travel destination for our summer of 2022. I can tell you that we have never been disappointed. Sicilians love to eat, to get together with family or friends.
There are many specialties, sweet and savory alike; it’s a festival, and we have chosen to talk about the three following:
The arrancini: these are round rice balls stuffed with different fillings such as cheese, tomato sauce cooked in ragù, or tuna. The ball is then pan-fried and crispy on the outside while still soft on the inside: it’s a delight…
The buciati: a great Sicilian specialty is the local and regional pasta. It is a thick and twisted spaghetti. It is most often enjoyed with a good pistachio pesto from Bronte. The canollo: on the sweet side, the Sicilians are true gourmets; aside from their delicious gelato, which we enjoyed every day, the canollo is at the heart of every Sicilian’s palate. It is a small fried tube filled with a cream made from ricotta. When prepared well, it is a delight.

3 – The Cathedral of Santa Maria Nuova in Monreale

Dominant Palermo, the Cathedral of Monreale is majestic and in excellent condition. Its Arab-Norman style is absolutely magnificent. The children (3 and 7 years old) loved running through the corridors leading to the cloister, from where the view is superb, but also discovering the gardens with rare and several hundred-year-old trees.

ADVICE AND GOOD PLANS

We loved this family trip thanks to the car we could take a detour off the beaten track and head towards villages unknown to the tour guides but which once we got there we were won over, I think especially by the Marinella of Selinunte with its small restaurant on the beautiful beach lined with white sand or even The charming village of Bolognetta where we enjoyed delicious brioches filled with ham and mozzarella.
My advice for a successful trip to Sicily is: Get involved in the local community, take the time and enjoy every moment, be curious.
My second piece of advice is: Eat at least one ice cream* or a granita** per day 🙂

You absolutely have to try the ice cream in the brioche; that’s how the Sicilians eat their ice cream, with whipped cream for the most gourmand of you

**The pistachio ones are amazing, the watermelon ones really refreshing.

Commercial collaboration – vehicle rental offered