Have you missed out of getting away this Summer? Don’t despair, Sicily is a fantastic destination to visit at the start of autumn.
September is still one of the warmest months of the year, and in October you can still enjoy the beach life.
Here are a handful of reasons why an autumn escape with Sunset Terrace Mazara could be just the ticket…
1. Fantastic weather
Late September, October is a lovely time to visit, actually one of the best periods with fewer crowds, the cooler temperature, but warm seas after summer’s heat. Fall daily highs range from 85.3°F (29.6°C) and 65.1°F (18.4°C), which will feel very nice given the humidity and wind. In October can also be quite chilly (22°C during the day ) at this time of year and properly cold in the mountains.
2. The Distance
There aren’t many short-haul destinations for an autumn getaway, but Sicily ticks all the boxes. Flights from mere two-and-a-half hours; more tolerable than four hours to the resorts of the Canary Islands or Greece. There are direct and cheap flights with British Airways, Ryanair, EasyJet from the UK, and from many other European countries.
3. Great value for flights and rental prices
In September, October you can get better value for your holiday. Great value for flight and rental car, but also for accommodation. Palermo and Catania are the island’s main airports.
Palermo Falcone e Borsellino/Punta Raisi Airport (33 km / 20.5 miles to the city centre), is perfect to discover North/SouthWestern coast. Catania Fontanarossa, (7 km / 4.3 miles) is the closest airport for those who want to visit the east coast. If you’ve booked already your accommodation, well done! If you haven’t, why not have a look at our apartments? Get advantage of our special offer, for a limited time only, you can get20% off, contact us for a quote.
4. Far from the crowds
April to June and late September to October are the best months for traveling in Sicily when temperatures are usually mild and there are fewer crowds.
The weather and sea are still warm but many of the tourists have left. You may still find crowds at major site. Cooler temperatures than in high summer make this a great time for walking and cycling, you will enjoy the turquoise crystalline waters and white sandy beaches only for you.
5. Best Time for Sightseeing and hiking
Mid September/October are great months for sightseeing and visiting Sicily’s plethora of world-class archaeological sites and delightful, historic towns.
You can hike Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro, a wonderful unspoiled nature reserve that runs for 7km from Scopello to near San Vito Lo Capo, (Western Sicily) enjoy breath-taking viewpoints over mountain tops, white sandy beaches, and crystal clear waters, better to avoid in Summer with no shade around you.
6. Great Food festivals
For all the foodies, in addition to restaurants, September/October in Sicily host some the best food festivals and local food fairs. In every city/town you’ll find a local fair, below the main events in Western Sicily:
- San Vito Lo Capo’s Couscous Fest (20 – 29 September), the small village known not only for its fantastic beach but also for the biggest couscous event in the world with ten days rich in events, from morning to afternoon, cultural meetings, cooking shows and talk-show, and in the evenings great live music and entertainment where you can try couscous from 10 different countries .
- Blue Sea Land Expo Mazara del Vallo (17-20 October), Expo of the Mediterranean, Africa, and Middle East Clusters.Workshops, talk shows, exhibitions, music at the Expo and obviously, great food! You’ll have the chance to taste the best street food, local land/sea products of Western Sicily in one go. The expo will take place inside the Casbah: the fascinating Arabic neighborhood of Mazara del Vallo.
7. Sicily’s wine roads – open wineries
Many wineries are open to the public for wine tasting & winery tours, were you could appreciate the production of Sicilian wines DOC and DOCG, derived from the cultivation of native grape varieties: first of all the Zibibbo, the oldest, imported from the Phoenicians in Pantelleria, Black Avola, Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante, Catarratto, Cricket, Frappato, Perricone and Inzolia.
Wine-growing is concentrated for 80% in the provinces of Trapani, Agrigento, Palermo. The Province of Trapani represents over 50% of the total regional amount. Besides the possibility to taste wines and buy them straight from farms, you can enter the wineries to discover the secrets of winemaking and refining. You can choose between more than thirteen Wine Roads crossing Sicily wineries tour. Book directly with wineries to avoid overpriced tourist tour.
7. Islands off the island
Although Sicily is the largest island in Europe it has many satellite Islands and Archipelagos that you may visit in few or more day trips. A boat day trip to the Aegadian Islands is easy and quick from Trapani (Western Sicily)
Favignana is the largest and better equipped island, also there are Marettimo with white low houses and blue doors, and then Levanzo the smallest island.
You can do another boat trip to the Aeolian Islands are located in Northern Sicily, volcanic archipelago made of 7 islands. The most visited are Lipari, Salina, Vulcano, and Stromboli.
8. Culture, history and art
From Ancient Greece to the Roman Empire, Sicily is home to countless signs of past civilisations.
A number of fascinating archaeological parks are dotted around the island, from the Temples of Selinunte and the mosaics of Villa Romana del Casale, to the UNESCO World Heritage Valley of the Temples and the ruins of Segesta.
9. A night at the opera
Teatro Massimo in Palermo, re-opens the opera season in September. One of the largest opera-houses in Europe, Teatro Massimo is renowned for its excellent acoustics, its impressive facade and beautifully decorated art-nouveau interiors, together with its operas, ballets and concerts.
10. Water sports
The province of Trapani is recognized as kitesurfing heaven in Sicily:
- Lo Stagnone of Marsala in Sicily is known all over Europe kiteboarding heaven for beginners and freestylers thanks to flat and shallow waters. The spot is absolutely perfect for beginners and experienced kiters alike, being knee-deep and sheltered from big waves by an island
- Capo Feto, Mazara del Vallo, South Western Sicily. Is located within a Natural Reserve offering great conditions with southern and northwestern winds. Wide and safe sand dunes area where it is easy to set up and launch your kite. The crystal clear waters and the peaceful and quite beach make of it recommended a spot for experienced kiters.
Where to stay
Sicily is a big Island, almost impossible to enjoy the Sicilian slow rhythm life in just one holiday. Better to split your plans in Western Sicily and Eastern Sicily.
We’ll focus here in Western Sicily that is a rough diamond, less touristic and sophisticated than Eastern Sicily (Siracusa, Taormina, Ragusa, Modica), fascinated about baroque architecture? go for Eastern Sicily.
To see the real Sicily, you need to get out of the city. If you don’t like big crowds we recommend a small town Mazara Del Vallo.
Why Mazara del Vallo?
Mazara del Vallo, South-Western coast of Sicily, (Trapani province), is only one hour drive from Palermo airport. Mazara is a very colorful small town, famous for its fishing industry and home of its famous Red Prawns exported in the best fine restaurants around the world. It has a historic centre and harbour, full of flavour, intriguing, an Arab influence, local markets, pubs, wineries and crystal clean water beaches. A real and authentic town to experience local Sicilian life in southwestern Sicily and the perfect base to reach the top Western Sicily attraction.
Want to go off the beaten track? Then don’t go further book now one of our apartments in Mazara del Vallo.
With a large top roof solarium, one of our stylish apartments is perfect for any traveler. One minute from the beach, in a very central area, but far from the crowd. What better way to spend your free time sitting on the sun loungers in our roof terrace enjoying the sunset with a glass of Sicilian wine in your hand, after a day walking on the fells.
our apartments by the sea.