Nine nights, three places, two moves. We start in Palermo on Fri 23 Oct, cross Sicily by train to Siracusa on Tue 27, fly from Catania to Rome on Fri 30, sleep by the sea in Fiumicino next to the airport, spend Saturday in Rome, and fly home on Sun 1 Nov. The Toulouse group takes the 06:40 home. Everything is booked: five flights, three stays, the train and the airport bus.
The three land 17:10 and do the check-in at Via Lampionelli about 18:15. The Toulouse Volotea now lands 21:00; a regular taxi from the rank reaches the door about 22:05. A late, light dinner in the Kalsa together, or takeaway at the apartment, then bed.
The Norman city: Palatine Chapel and Palazzo dei Normanni at 9:00 (booked), Cathedral, Quattro Canti, Piazza Pretoria, Martorana. Siesta, Teatro Massimo tour, aperitivo. Clocks go back tonight.
Slow morning, then a taxi to Mondello for a long seafront lunch, the promenade and a swim for the brave. Rain plan: Palazzo Abatellis and the Serpotta oratories.
Monreale mosaics and cloister at opening, back by noon. Lunch in the Capo or Ballarò market. Afternoon of nothing.
The station is 400 m from the apartment. Train 09:31 → 13:38. Taxi to Ortigia, lunch near the market with the bags, check-in at Via Cavour 32 from 15:00. Piazza Duomo, Fonte Aretusa, sunset from the Lungomare Alfeo.
The archaeological park in the morning (Greek theatre, Ear of Dionysius, flat paths, two hours), lunch back on Ortigia. Afternoon swim off the rocks at Cala Rossa or the Forte Vigliena solarium. Evening passeggiata.
Noto by bus or train for the baroque Corso and a granita at Caffè Sicilia, back for a late lunch. Boat around Ortigia from the Marina (1h) or nothing. Pack, online check-in, book the 07:30 taxi.
Taxi 07:30 to the bus terminal, bus 07:56 → 09:59 to Catania airport, a long coffee, flight 14:35 → 16:00. Taxi to the house on the seafront, in by 16:45. Sunset walk on the beach, fish dinner at the port.
Taxi to the airport station, train to Trastevere by 10:30. Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Campo de' Fiori, a long lunch, Trastevere. Train back, at the house by 20:00, bags packed, both taxis confirmed.
The Toulouse group and Didier leave at 05:15 for the 06:40; the other two leave at 07:30 for the 09:20 and check out. Home by lunch.
Taxi at 05:15, terminal by 05:30, bag drop before 06:00, flight at 06:40. Didier stays airside until boarding, then waits for the others.
Check out, taxi at 07:30, terminal by 07:45 for the 09:20. Everyone meets at the gate area.
Ask the host for a local driver, or book both rides with the itTaxi / FreeNow app. Fiumicino town taxis are metered, about €20 to the terminal.
| Item | Valencia (each) | Toulouse |
|---|---|---|
| Flights, three legs each (booked; 4 Oct estimates, replace with what we paid) | ~€147 | ~€223 |
| Cabin bags, three flights | €75–135 | €75–135 |
| Palermo 4 nights, €100–160 per room ÷ 2 | €200–320 | €200–320 |
| Siracusa (Ortigia) 3 nights, €110–170 per room ÷ 2 | €165–255 | €165–255 |
| Fiumicino house 2 nights, booked, ÷ 4 | add the price | add the price |
| Train to Siracusa, airport bus, Rome day return, shared taxis | ~€55 | ~€55 |
| Arrival taxi in Palermo (Toulouse group alone) | — | ~€45 |
| Palatine Chapel, Teatro Massimo tour, Monreale, Neapolis park, boat around Ortigia, Noto bus | ~€80 | ~€80 |
| Total before food | €720–990 + house | €840–1,110 + house |
Food is extra and Sicily is kind to the wallet: a trattoria lunch for four with wine is about €100, street food €5 a head. Rome is dearer.
The alternatives we weighed (Taormina, other flight days, home via Valencia) are closed now that the flights and the Sicily stays are booked. They stay on the comparison page for the record.
Five flights, three trains, one bus, nine taxis. Local times. Flights, train and airport bus are booked; flight prices are the 4 Oct estimates until we note what we paid. Orange edge = the Toulouse group's own leg.