Beach of San Vito lo Capo, (Sicily, Italy) - location, description, opening hours, entertainment and infrastructure. Useful tips and practical information from the "Subtleties of Tourism".

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San Vito Lo Capo is a paradise beach from the Bounty advertisement, which you don’t even expect to meet on the territory of old Europe, everything here is too azure-white-emerald, like in the Caribbean or in Southeast Asia. And yet, this luxurious sandy coast is located precisely in the Old World, or to be more precise, in romantic Sicily, just an hour's drive from Palermo.

The beach of San Vito lo Capo is located in a picturesque bay, on one side the coast is crowned by a high brutal rock, giving the local “sweet” panorama a little hardness. The beach is very wide and long, its length is almost 3 km, it can easily accommodate a battalion of vacationers. In addition, San Vito is well equipped: there is a bar, a restaurant, rental of umbrellas and sun loungers, a toilet, and, of course, the opportunity to practice all kinds of water sports.

San Vito lo Capo

Everything you need for a great holiday, by the way, can be purchased in the town itself, although it is small, it is quite “independent”. On the main street of Via Savoia there are a lot of cafes and bars, a cozy church, a large shop and a scattering of souvenir shops. Near the beach there is a bicycle rental point, climbing a little further into the city, you can also rent a car. By the way, not a bad idea, given that in the vicinity of San Vito Lo Capo there is an amazing Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro reserve with its beaches. Detailed information about it can be found at the tourist information points on Via Savoia, where you can book a tour if you wish (about 10 EUR).

As a rule, a trip to the reserve (entrance 5 EUR “from the nose”) takes half a day: you will have to spend no more than half an hour one way on the way, give time for a walk in the park and, of course, for swimming. The beaches here are simply a masterpiece of nature, there is no point in describing them, this must be seen. The only caveat: stock up on water, there are no shops or kiosks on the territory of the reserve.

It is best to first take a walk along the paths of the peninsula that follow the rocky coast, and then, having looked after a cozy bay and a comfortable descent, freshen up in the azure waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The best local beaches are Cala Marinella, Cala Beretta and Punta della Capreria.

Divers, by the way, will also appreciate this reserve: there are reef thickets with flocks of silvery fish of all stripes.

Prices on the page are for September 2018.

Diving in San Vito lo Capo

Coordinates

Address: San Vito Lo Capo.

How to get there: the town of San Vito lo Capo is located about an hour west of Palermo, getting there is not difficult on a rented car. In addition, buses run from Palermo and Trapani, usually once every two hours. The fare is about 8-12 EUR. You can also easily get to San Vito from the airport by public transport; you will have to pay about 11-15 EUR for the bus journey.

San Vito lo Capo is a resort town in the northwest of the island of Sicily in Italy, whose beaches are recognized as the best in Europe. Photo-reviews about holidays in San Vito lo Capo and Zingaro Reserve.

I had high hopes for San Vito lo Capo. This beach is considered one of the best in Sicily and almost the best beach in Europe. It is not surprising that all the inhabitants of the island and other vacationers strive to get there.

At the entrance to San Vito lo Capo, for a moment it seemed to me that I was in Mexico. The same streets lined with even houses in a semi-Mexican style.

The structure of the city is typical: the main street Via Savoi with bars, shops, souvenir shops and a church. Secondary streets depart from it. In the evening, music plays in the establishments, performances are arranged.

There are free parking lots in the city, but there are a lot of cars, so you will have to search long and hard. We parked in a paid parking near the beach ( 1€ at one o'clock).

San Vito lo Capo beach, Sicily

The city beach is also somewhat reminiscent of the Mexican Caribbean beaches: white sand, turquoise water. The only and main difference is the huge number of people.

The length of the coastline in San Vito is 3 km, there are cafes near the sea, there is a toilet, you can rent sunbeds and umbrellas ( 10€ in a day).

We were in Sicily in June - this month is considered the low season. It is difficult to imagine what kind of pandemonium is happening on the beaches of the island in July-August.

San Vito lo Capo is popular with Italians for families with children, there are also enough young people. I have never seen so many peanuts in any coastal city in Italy as there. It is understandable. Gentle descent into the water, shallow depth, sand - everything is conducive to family recreation.

Hotels and apartments in San Vito lo Capo

It is better to book accommodation in advance, especially if the travel dates fall during the high season. Average prices for hotels and apartments fluctuate in the area 40-100€ per night. To book accommodation in Sicily, we used the following sites:

• Apartments in San Vito lo Capo from owners (from 29€ per day)

• Hotels in San Vito lo Capo (265 hotels from 40€ per night)

Excursions in Sicily

Lo Jingaro National Park

To the southeast of San Vito there is the Zingaro National Park, ital. Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro (entrance 5 € ). You can buy an excursion or go along the mountain serpentines, having previously rented a car. The park has special wooden paths along the sea. You can take a walk, and then swim in one of the coves.

From San Vito to the Zingaro Nature Reserve can be reached by rented scooter ( 35€ ), rented car (from 50€ ) or by bus englishautoservizi.it

Monte Cofano Nature Reserve

The road to San Vito lo Capo from Castellammare is beautiful. The views are wonderful: fields, rocks, villages, cacti. On the road leading along the coast from Trapani to San Vito, you pass the Monte Cofano nature reserve. There are several lookouts along the way. You can stop, take a photo, or you can drive up to the sea and swim on one of the wild beaches of the north-west of Sicily.

My reviews and impressions

Reading reviews of San Vito lo Capo on numerous forums, I understand that I don’t understand something. I have seen too many beaches in my life, I have become too spoiled, because San Vito is really cool, and all the good things that are written about him are true!

Turquoise, white, with rocks - everything, as in the best pictures of the Bounty Islands. Well, just think, a piece of poop was swimming near the shore. There are children there - this must be understood and accepted.

You know, I sincerely would like to be the kind of dude who wanted to spit on other people's poop. This one would definitely go into the water, swim back and forth all day and sneeze at the squeals of people, the fact that someone stepped on his phone, at the squeaking children. But I'm not that kind of dude.

While traveling in Italy by car, I was in a state of search for peace and quiet, so the beaches of Sicily did not roll in any way. Even San Vito lo Capo left indifferent.

Initially, it was planned to travel around the island, walk through national parks and volcanoes, but I only needed a clear sea and at least 3 square meters of free sand, where I could lay out a towel and silently read a book.

That is why we reduced our stay in Sicily from 15 days to 4 nights and happily returned to the mainland in where a semblance of a personal paradise had been found before.

The city was built in the XIII century as an outpost. The real village began to form in the 18th century, around the ancient sanctuary of the great martyr Sav Vito, the patron saint of the city. Initially, it was a fortress of the Saracens, who changed the way of the city and gave it the name of the saint. However, the city kept the appearance of a fortress in order to protect the pilgrims who asked for hospitality from him. Arab roots are reflected in the architecture of the city, which is expressed in the simple construction of houses with blue shutters, ceramic decorations. At the entrance to the town there is a small chapel of Santa Crescenza, in Arabic elegant style, which was designed to protect the sanctuary and people from pirate raids.

Otherwise, the city does not stand out with anything remarkable in terms of architectural structures. The exceptions are the Maritime Museum, located in the center, near the sanctuary, located on the main street, next to the Savoia cafe, near which all entertainment events take place. The museum presents objects that testify to ancient fishing activities. This is also confirmed by Tonnara del Secco(tonnara), which was in operation until the '900s, where Mediterranean tuna was harvested and processed. Now there are ruins. You can get there by bike, the walk will take about 5 minutes, there are signs at the exit from San Vito. Worthy of attention and local lighthouse(il faro), which can be reached on foot or by bicycle, following the direction of the port. Some local streets are distinguished by their magnificence.

But nature gives a lot of magnificent places worthy of visiting. From here you can take a walk to the nature reserves (in the summer they depart from the port), and Scopello (Scopello), in the lagoon of which you can admire the fish without any equipment, visit the grottoes (Grotta dei cavalli / horse grotto), as well as climb and leave your greetings on the top of the mountain. It should be noted that with San Vito Lo Capo more people go for beach and entertainment holidays.

The main artery of the city is via Savoia. In the summer season, nightlife is in full swing here, and if you are planning a quiet relaxing holiday, it is better to settle away from the center. The music is loud enough to be heard in the neighboring streets. There are plenty of hotels, villas, in the town. And since this is a very touristy place, the prices here are somewhat inflated. Accommodation must be booked in advance during high season. Accommodation options can be viewed.

The main shops, bars, restaurants, tourist offices, pharmacies are concentrated on Savoia Street, as well as on the streets adjacent to it. The medical center is located a little further, there are signs with a red cross to it. There, in which case, they will provide first aid, even without medical insurance. A fair takes place twice a week (at the end of Piersanti Mattarella Street): on Tuesdays, food is usually brought - fresh vegetables, fruits, local cheeses in small quantities, fish; and on Fridays, in addition to food, you can buy simple clothes, ceramics and other trinkets. There are bike rentals near the beach. With a long lease term, you can win well in price.

San Vito Lo Capo is a very popular resort not only among the Italians themselves, but also among the Germans, the British, the French, a lot of Russians and immigrants from the CIS countries. The city lives with an eternal summer holiday. Waking up from hibernation in April, and until October, life is in full swing here. The peak comes in August, when on the beach, despite its length (3 km), there is nowhere for an apple to fall.

In September, there is a couscous festival, and in October, a holiday, something like farewell to summer, where a huge fire is made. After that, there are fewer and fewer tourists, and the city is literally dying. Many bars and hotels are closed and their owners go on trips. Only old people remain in the city, and the attendants of those points that function all year round. But this has its advantages, the beaches are deserted and there are no very intrusive emigrant merchants, and the sea is still warm, and with good weather, which lingers here until November, you can swim.

In addition, for lovers of active sports, there is simply expanse in any season. You can go trekking, rock climbing, horseback riding in ABC del Cavallo. The equestrian school is located at the beginning of the town. Various outdoor holidays and competitions are often arranged. Information can be viewed.

As for local cuisine, here, however, as in any town located on the coast, fish dishes prevail. Among the must-try things to try in San Vito Lo Capo is Caldo-Freddo, an ice cream (you choose) with rum-soaked biscuits, whipped cream and topped with hot chocolate. Truly amazing taste. Be sure to try the local cannoli, but not the ones sold in bars, but in the pasticheria. There are several of them, but the most delicious cannoli is made at Capriccio, located on Pier Santi Mattarella, 106.

Starting to consider the northern coast of Sicily, first of all, we note that it is quite convenient to get here. Firstly, it is here that the Sicilian capital of Palermo is located, where many airlines fly (see the corresponding section for air tickets), and ferries from Naples, Civitavecchia and other cities also arrive (read more about how to get to Palermo). Secondly, another airport is located near Trapani (Ryanair flies to this airport). Thirdly, the north of Sicily has a railway connection with mainland Italy - you can get here by direct train, for example, from Milan or Rome. In a word, there are many possibilities. Is it any wonder that the local beaches are wildly popular?

Places like San Vito lo Capo, Mondello and Cefalu on hearing. These are perhaps the most famous and popular resorts on the northern coast of Sicily. The tourist infrastructure is excellently developed here. But they do not suffer from a lack of attention either. At the height of the summer season (July-August, especially on weekends), local beaches are extremely crowded. However, if this bothers you, there is a way out. Firstly, the swimming season in Sicily does not end in September (and even in October you can often still swim), when the number of tourists is not so large. Secondly, if the budget allows, you can find a hotel with a private beach. Thirdly, almost always and everywhere you can find more or less secluded corners, a little away from the crowd.

Let's take a closer look at the listed places, and also consider other, not so obvious options. For further convenience, we will take Palermo as the main reference point. First, consider the beaches located, and then the beaches from the Sicilian capital.

Let's start with Mondello(Mondello). In fact, this is part of Palermo, and therefore it will be convenient to stay in Mondello if you want to combine a beach holiday with sightseeing in Palermo: you can get to the city center by bus in about half an hour, or by taxi even faster. The beach in Mondello is sandy with a fairly gentle entrance to the sea. It is in demand both among tourists and locals - in summer it is always crowded, noisy and fun, there are many young people and families with children. Accordingly, there are many accommodation options. Basically, these are small guest houses like B & B il Girasole (almost in the very center of resort life) or apartments (in particular, Case D "a Mare Mondello - a little further from the center). However, there are other options.

If you're looking for a little more privacy, check out the Mondello Palace Hotel. The hotel, of course, is not without flaws and also not the cheapest, but its undoubted advantage is the presence of its own beach equipped with everything you need. Another interesting option is Splendid Hotel La Torre, located on a rocky coast away from the noise and crowds of tourists. There is a separate descent to the sea, the water is clear and clean, and immediately deep. In addition, from here it is convenient to go for walks along Cape Gallo, which is famous for the beauty of its nature (in the same place, by the way, you can find "wild" and not crowded rocky beaches).

In short, Mondello is quite suitable for lovers of soft sand and warm, shallow seas, as well as for those who prefer secluded rocky beaches and are not averse to snorkeling. Here you can relax noisily and cheerfully, or vice versa - quietly and calmly, away from prying eyes.

San Vito lo Capo(San Vito Lo Capo)- a place no less popular than Mondello, despite the fact that getting to it by public transport is not very convenient. By bus, about two and a half hours from Palermo - see www.russoautoservizi.it, or about an hour and a half from Trapani - see www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it, section Linee e orari. In other words, if you focus on this resort, then a rented car will not be superfluous at all. Alternatively, you can order a transfer directly from the airport (see, for example,). And if in the future you are going to devote all your time to a beach holiday, walks around the neighborhood (at least the National Natural Park of Zingaro, Riserva Naturale Orientata dello Zingaro is nearby - see www.riseravazingaro.it) and do not plan sightseeing trips, say, to Segesta or somewhere else, you won't need a car.

San Vito lo Capo is one of the most picturesque corners of Sicily. And the beach here is excellent: soft white sand, clear turquoise sea - the Caribbean is downright, not Europe. But be prepared for the fact that there will always be crowds of people around. In June and September, the beach of San Vito is a little more spacious, but in July-August it is literally not overcrowded, especially on the public areas of the beach. By the way, there are enough of them for almost everyone, but if you need at least some personal space, then it makes sense to focus on paid beaches. At the same time, as such, there are no beach hotels in San Vito lo Capo. One of the few exceptions is the Hotel Capo San Vito, which has direct access to the sea and its own equipped beach. True, in most cases you will have to pay separately for the right to use the beach infrastructure. However, if you do not take into account the costs, then this is perhaps one of the best accommodation options in San Vito. You can, of course, find more budget options - see, in particular, the apartment complexes Residence Le Palme (a little more expensive) and Residence Marinella (cheaper), as well as numerous small hotels like Hotel Baia Di Venere. In any case, you need to book a hotel or apartment in San Vito ahead of time.

If you will be traveling by car, San Vito is worth considering as an alternative Scopello(Scopello) and its immediate surroundings. This is a more calm and quiet place (although it cannot be called completely deserted either). There are several good beaches nearby (mostly small pebbles and stones) and the Zingaro nature reserve is still close (by the way, there are also numerous coves with picturesque beaches on its territory). The accommodation facilities in this area are dominated by apartments and houses for rent as a whole. Good options include Case Della Baia, Torre di Scopello and Residenza Cala Azzurra. Separately, we note Le Case dello Zingaro - a small complex consisting of several houses and apartments, about halfway between San Vito lo Capo and Scopello, surrounded by idyllic beauties, away from the hustle and bustle.

Castellammare del Golfo(Castellammare del Golfo) is also a worthy alternative, and not only for auto travelers. It is quite convenient to get here by public transport. From Palermo it is better to go by bus: the journey is within an hour and a half (see www.russoautoservizi.it). From Trapani it takes a little longer: about 1 hour 40 minutes by bus (see www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it) or about two hours by train (see www.trenitalia.com, the railway station is located far from the city center, but next to the beach). In addition, being based in Castellammare, it is quite convenient to travel around the area (see the above sites + www.tarantolabus.it). By bus, you can go to Scopello, and San Vito lo Capo, and Segesta, and Trapani (complete with Erice), and Palermo, etc.

The contrast with Mondello and San Vito lo Capo is striking. Of course, tourists come to Castellammare, but in much smaller quantities. Accordingly, the tourist infrastructure is less developed here. However, this is perhaps for the best. Castellammare del Golfo is, in a sense, a much more lively and untrodden place.

The beach here is not bad: sandy, rather wide and long, and therefore noticeably more spacious than in the same Mondello and San Vito, although perhaps not so clean and picturesque. However, when choosing a place to stay, you need to take into account that this very beach is located away from the historical center of Castellammare: about 20 minutes walk to the east, towards the town Balestrate(Balestrate), up to which, in fact, it stretches (the farther from Castellammare, the better the beach).

Thus, if you focus on the possibilities of public transport, it will be more convenient to stay somewhere between the center of Castellammare and the beach. Good options in the area are Punta Nord Est and B&B A Mare. It is not far from here to the center and to the beach - in both cases, about 10 minutes on foot. In addition, very close (just a couple of minutes), you can find a small pebble beach. Another interesting option, a little closer to the center and the port, Marina di Petrolo Hotel & Spa. Of course, there are also apartments nearby.

If you will be by car, it makes sense to take a closer look at the area between Castellammare and Balestrate. Pay attention, for example, to the resort village Alcamo Marina(Alcamo Marina) and, in particular, the four-star hotel La Battigia (by the way, its location is incorrect on the booking.com map, the hotel is located on the first line, i.e. right on the beach). Here you can also find apartments or a house on the seashore for quite reasonable money: see, as an option, Dune Home.

Finally, in this part of the northern coast of Sicily, it is worth considering such towns as Isola delle Femmine(Isola delle Femmine), flowing smoothly into capaci(Capaci), and Terrasini(Terrasini). Since they are all located near Palermo Airport (Aeroporto di Palermo Falcone e Borsellino), it will be convenient to stay here for one or two nights before departure (especially in case of an early departure).

You must have already noticed that so far we have been talking exclusively about the beaches located west of Palermo up to San Vito lo Capo. Further west, from San Vito to Marsala, there are also beaches. However, in our opinion, they are not of great interest. As an exception, it is worth noting a pretty village Cornino(cornino), which is at the foot of Mount Cofano (Monte Cofano), and a scattering of small beaches, like a beach Santa Margherita(Spiaggia di Santa Margherita - here it is on Google Maps), on the stretch of coast between Cornino and San Vito lo Capo (it's better to go here by car). Otherwise, everything is quite prosaic, although if you wish, you can find other beaches, and even beach hotels like Resort I Mulini in Trapani(Trapani).

Since we are talking about Trapani, let’s clarify that the local beaches are located a little further from the city center (15–20 minutes on foot) and stretch along the Dante Alighieri promenade (Lungomare Dante Alighieri) just up to the aforementioned Resort I Mulini hotel. Another place worth paying attention to if you are interested in beaches in the immediate vicinity of Trapani is Lido di Marausa(Lido di Marausa), from where you can get to Trapani Airport (Aeroporto Vincenzo Florio Trapani-Birgi).

In addition, it is worth mentioning the island of Favignana, but this is a completely different topic that deserves separate consideration.

The most famous resort in this part of the coast is Cefalu. Let's talk about him first.

Cefalu(Cefalù)- a very colorful place with a long sandy beach, literally adjoining the walls of the Old City. It is convenient to get here both by car and public transport. The fastest way to get from Palermo is by train, which takes about 50 minutes (hereinafter, see www.trenitalia.com). In addition, trains arriving in Sicily from the mainland stop in Cefalu: for example, the night trains Intercitynotte 1955 and Intercitynotte 1959 from Rome, or Intercitynotte 1963 from Milan. In general, in terms of transport accessibility, this is one of the best places for a beach holiday in Sicily.

At the same time, the city itself also deserves considerable attention: there is something to see and the views of the surroundings are excellent - in a word, walking around Cefalu is interesting (although not easy, given the significant elevation changes and summer heat).

As for the main city beach, it is also generally quite good (the sand is soft, the entrance to the sea is convenient, quite gentle, but not far from the depth), but it is expectedly crowded. As usual, there are especially many people on the free sections of the beach, of which, generally speaking, there are many, but there are more than enough people who want to sit on their own towel. However, if you live directly in Cefalu, then finding a free place will not be difficult - just come to the beach a little earlier than everyone else (many come here closer to noon from the same Palermo). However, if the budget allows, it is still better to focus on hotels with their own beach. One of the best options from this point of view is the four-star hotel Cefalù Sea Palace. It is located in a rather quiet place, a little away from the center, but at the same time within walking distance from the Old Town. The three-star Villa Gaia Hotel is a cheaper option in the same area.

I must say that in Cefalu you can find at least one more good beach - Caldura (Spiaggia Caldura). Unlike the central beach of Cefalu, it is pebbly, and therefore the water here is the cleanest even at the very shore. And the place itself is beautiful. But the entrance to the water is not very comfortable (special shoes will be useful), and it is far from the center of Cefalu - about 20-30 minutes on foot. In other words, it is advisable to focus on this beach if you plan to travel around Sicily by car, and / or if you need a quiet, secluded place and you like to walk a lot. Fortunately, there are good accommodation options nearby: see, for example, the Blue Bay apart-hotel or the Kalura hotel (each, by the way, has its own small beach).

Thus, you can easily settle in Milazzo for a week or two, supplementing your beach holiday with walks around the city and trips to the Aeolian Islands. Speaking of islands! After all, there are also beaches, as well as thermal springs and therapeutic mud, and in general a lot of interesting things. Therefore, it makes sense to consider the option based on one of them. In this regard, two islands are of the greatest interest: Lipari and Salina. However, this is a topic for a separate discussion.

Returning to Milazzo, we note that the most convenient way to get here is by car. There is also a railway station in Milazzo, but it is located about three kilometers from the city center, i.e. to get to the port or the beaches, you will have to take a taxi or change to the city bus (Linea 4 and Linea 5, see www.comune.milazzo.me.it). It is also worth mentioning that there are buses connecting Milazzo with Catania Airport (see www.giuntabus.com).

And now let's say a few words about not so famous, but no less interesting places. These include towns such as Capo d'Orlando, Brolo, Gioiosa Marea and some others, located exactly between Cefalu and Milazzo (from Palermo - one and a half to two hours by train, or about an hour and a half from Messina). It would seem that all these places are nothing special. However, they are perfect for a relaxing beach holiday - there are few tourists here (compared to Cefalu, not to mention Mondello and San Vito lo Capo), and intrusive beach vendors do not bother. In addition, each of these places has its own railway station, which greatly facilitates the life of "horseless" tourists.

There are also worthy accommodation options.

AT Capo d'Orlando(Capo d'Orlando) you should pay attention to the hotel Il Mulino and apart-hotels Residence Sant "Andrea and Vuelle Residence Apartments. You can choose more budget options. The beach here is quite spacious, clean, mostly pebbly, although sand is found in some places (for example, next to the lighthouse , the landmark is the Nuovo Hotel Faro), there are many free sites, but there is also the opportunity to rent a sun lounger with an umbrella.There are also traditional beach hotels with their own beach equipment (as an option, Capo Nettuno Hotel Residence), but they are all located away from the center Capo d'Orlando and, as a rule, make a "tired" impression.

AT Brolo(Brolo) you can take a closer look at the Il Gattopardo hotel or choose from among the apartments for rent: see, in particular, the Brolium apartments. The beach here is sandy, quite clean and well-groomed. The town itself is small. This is not even a town, but rather a village, but, as is often the case in Italy, a village with history: in Brolo there is a medieval castle, and intricate narrow streets are available - in general, everything is as it should be. However, to say that time has stopped here would be an exaggeration. Nearby, for example, quite a modern shopping center La Filanda (10-15 minutes walk).

Gioiosa-Marea(Gioiosa Marea) also a good place, with a cozy pebble beach and clear sea. You can stay here, for example, in apartments Terrazza Sul Mare, from where you can walk to the beach, or in a pretty guest house Bed & Breakfast 5 Di Spade, a little further away. Nearby, on Cape Calava (Capo Calava), you can also find a couple of decent beach hotels with animation, swimming pools, sports fields, etc. etc. – see in particular Baia Calava Hotel e Residence and TH Capo Calava Village.

There are beach resorts to the east of Milazzo: in particular, Venetico Marina(Venetic Marina), Rhodia(Rodia) and San Saba(San Saba). All these places are non-tourist, where the local population rests. But, of course, the way here is not booked for tourists either: see, for example, apart-hotels La Baia Di Ulisse (Venetico Marina), Rodia Residence (Rodia) and Oasi Azzurra Hotel Village (San Saba) - good options for a relaxing holiday away from the main tourist routes. The best part is that the local beaches are not crowded even at the height of the summer season. It is better to go to this area by car (although there is a railway nearby). True, it is far from Palermo - about 200 km. Catania is closer - about 110 km. And Messina (and the ferry to the mainland) is 20 km away.

If you are attracted to non-tourist places, but at the same time you are guided by Palermo, planning to settle somewhere nearby for a vacation, then there are options for this case. Perhaps the most obvious of these Campofelice di Roccella(Campofelice di Roccella)- 50 km east of Palermo (you can get here by train in 30-40 minutes).