PLease help me. I'm planning a tour for myself later this year in south Italy. I have a bit of a gap in my planning which is from Brindisi to Sicily. I'm not sure whether to get from one place to the other by the fastest route or perhaps there are some treasures to be found if I take the slow way round.

Please, your input here would be appreciated.

Phil
Are you going by car / train how...? and how long do you have ?

Paolo, Thanks for your reply. I should have made mention that I would be travelling South Italy by train, and I have about a week in the area.

Actually, my vacation plan is to fly from Australia to
Rome for 3-4 nights .... train to Naples 3-4 nights
Then to tour South Italy for a week or so. Traveling solo by train. I'm not sure where to go or what to look at. I'm open to suggestions.
Then I'll take a 7 day guided tour of Sicily, starting Taorima ending Palermo. And then take the Ferry to Rome to return home.

Any suggestions or comments?
Phil.

Well if you are in Naples I will go see the Amalfi coast and Capri before going on the East side to Brindisi ( which is out of the way ) - I assume you have already Pompei and Ercolano scheduled as visits during your stay in Napoli -

Paolo, Yes, Brindisi is a bit out of the way. However I have been to Capri and Pompeii twice each. I have stayed in Sorrento twice also, it's full of holidaying Brits and limoncello vendors.

I'm looking for a bit more adventure in S. Italy. Any other suggestions?????

Grazie, Phil.

I've never been down on the heel and instep of 'the boot' but I have been to Sicily. And a friend of mine has spent plenty of time down there over the decades. Both Bari and Brindisi are worth the visit, Bari has a large castle and also San Nicolo is buried in the cathedral. I have also heard some good things about Taranto and Lecce - there are also the famous Trulli dwelling in Alberobello.

The only place between Napoli and Sicily that I have visited by train is Reggio di Calabria, which has a nice coastline, away from the train depot.

When on the train to Sicily make sure your section of train is going where you plan to. Some of them split at Messina and part heads to Palermo, the rest heads to Catania/Siracusa.

Also be prepared for the occasional unexplained stop on the southern trains. I was once stuck on the track in Taorimina for hours while 5 train workers held picket signs in front of the train!

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Essex Shipbuilding Museum

May I suggest lookin ginto visiting Paestum. The Greek ruins are fabulous and if you r intereted you can stay at a place like Azienda Agrituristica Seliano that has a separate buffalo farm that you can visit as part of the stay. Dinners there are quite good and only $20 per head. And there is a restaurant called Nonna Seppa that is not far and great!