Day 109 - Driving Across Sicily: Giardini Naxos to Campofelice di Roccella

Day 109 was a big travel day as we packed up and moved from Giardini Naxos across to the north coast of Sicily. Our new place is near the small town of Campofelice di Roccella, just west of Cefalù.

We didn’t set an alarm or wake up ridiculously early. Checkout was at 10am and we were confident that if everyone pitched in, we could get ourselves organised in time. Kia and I woke up around 6:30 as the days are getting noticeably longer now, which makes it easier to start the day earlier.

The kids were already packing their bags when we got up, which was a huge help. Normally we’d have to step in and sort through everything, but they handled most of it themselves.

Maddie even cooked breakfast for everyone which was a great way to start the morning. We had coffees, I checked my work emails, and one slightly interesting message popped up that needed a reply. Nothing major though. A quick response and work was done for the day.

Because we were travelling, the kids skipped their usual schoolwork. Instead we told them their “lesson” would be a car-ride quiz about everything they had learned during our visit to Mount Etna.

After breakfast we had a mountain of dishes to get through from dinner and breakfast, then it was straight into packing everything together. It’s amazing how far and wide your belongings spread in just a week.

Around 9:30 the kids and I went to retrieve the car. When we got back from Mount Etna the afternoon before, it had been a busy Sunday and we couldn’t find a park nearby, so the car was a fair walk away. It took a few trips up and down the stairs but eventually we had everything loaded.

We were still unsure about how the toll roads work in Sicily, so we decided to avoid them altogether and take the inland route across the island. It also gave us the chance to see a different side of Sicily.

The drive took us around the north side of Mount Etna. The day before we had travelled around the southern side to reach the chairlift on the volcano, so this felt like completing a loop around the mountain.

The road wound through dozens of small towns and villages, zigzagging its way through the hills before eventually connecting with a larger highway that cuts across the north-central part of Sicily.

It turned out to be a beautiful drive.

The highway ran through wide valleys with mountains on either side, weaving through tunnel after tunnel. It’s clearly a major freight route because there were trucks everywhere.

One thing we noticed along that road was constant short lane closures. You’d merge into one lane for a stretch, open back up again, then suddenly another section would narrow down. It happened repeatedly the whole way along.

From what we could tell, it seems like ongoing maintenance work on the A19 corridor, which connects Palermo with the eastern side of the island. Much of that infrastructure dates back several decades and sections are constantly being repaired or reinforced, especially after earthquake damage over the years.

The drive ended up taking about three and a half hours by the time we wound through towns and mountain roads.

When we arrived at our accommodation near Campofelice di Roccella we were pleasantly surprised by how much space there was.

The property is made up of several small apartment blocks. Each building has four units: two one-bedroom places upstairs and two larger two-bedroom apartments downstairs. Every unit has its own fenced grass yard, with a car park outside and plenty of outdoor space.

We’re the only guests in our building at the moment, so it feels like we’ve got the whole place to ourselves.

There’s a big outdoor sitting area, a barbecue, deck chairs on the grass and plenty of room for the kids to move around. After spending time in smaller apartments earlier in the trip, having space again feels like a luxury.

The beach is only about a five minute walk away, so not long after arriving we wandered down to check it out.

It’s a rocky beach but perfect for skimming stones and climbing around. The kids spent ages throwing rocks into the water and exploring along the shoreline.

Later in the afternoon we drove into the nearby town of Lascari, which sits just to the east. It’s a really cool little Sicilian town with narrow streets and that classic slightly chaotic Mediterranean vibe.

We found a small pizza shop for dinner and then wandered the streets for a bit before heading back to the accommodation.

After a travel day and a long drive across the island, it didn’t take long for everyone to crash out.

Early night, new coastline, and another corner of Sicily to explore tomorrow.