Casa Pianino

Cities

Palermo is a 45 minutes drive away. There you can spend hours getting lost in the small streets, sniff the smells of local delicacies, stroll around the many markets or visit museums.

A few attractions in Palermo are:

Cathedral
Palace of the Normans (Palazzo dei Normanni)
Catacombs of the Capuchins
Regional Archaeological Museum
…

From Palermo you can also take a boat to the island Ustica.

Trapani is located on the west coast of Sicily. While you are there, go and visit the salt mills, take a stroll through the streets. Here you can take the boat to the Egadi Islands Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo.

Erice is a small medieval fortress on top of a mountain, near Trapani. You can reach the old town by car or use a gondola lift. This town is definitely worth a visit!

Culture

In Segesta, a fifteen minute drive away, you can admire the magnificent Greek temple. Take the bus up (or climb by foot) to the theater, which in summer is still occasionally used for outdoor performances.

In Selinunte, near the seaside village of Marinella, you can visit the archaeological site which includes two reconstructed temples.

The temple valley of Agrigento is a world heritage. It is thé place in Sicily to visit temples. This is a 2 hour drive from Balestrate.

Be sure to visit the 12th century cathedral at Monreale. Next to the cathedral is the monastery with an impressive portico.

Islands

Favignana is definitely worth a visit. You can rent a bike and spent the rest of the day cycling from one beautiful place to another. Take a dip in the azure bays and imagine yourself in paradise.

Book up in advance you ticket for the boat (usticalines.it) from Trapani. The boat trip takes only half an hour.

Ustica is a small island about 65 km north of Palermo, from which it can also be reached. It is a getaway for walkers and snorkelers, so do not forget your snorkel!

Nature

For nature lovers there is the Zingaro nature reserve in Scopello. It is a beautiful park where you can walk, swim, visit caves …

The (still active) volcano Etna can be visited from both the north and south. One can use a gondola lift or one can climb the mountain all by itself by foot.

Beach

You can reach the nearest sandy beach in a few minutes. It is ideal for families with children. The beach is well maintained, and the sea has shallow water. During high season there are numerous lidos where you can rent beach chairs and umbrellas. Or in the morning you can choose a nice spot on the free beach. Be cautious: on Saturday and Sunday the beach is very busy!

San Vito lo Capo has one of the most beautiful beaches of Italy. With its azure sea, swaying palm trees and white beaches, you feel like you’re somewhere on a tropical island.