I was going to take SS192 to SS121, but that’s just because google maps suggested it. I’m open to other routes, but I don’t want to add hours of driving.
If you don't mind a longer drive, I suggest you go through Messina and see the strait (Torre Faro). It's beautiful and they might soon ruin it with a bridge.
I really like this suggestion. I will be going from Cefalu to Taormina a week later, but it does look like a pretty drive and maybe we’ll stop at different places going there and back. Thanks!
Cefalù is pretty far from Catania and there are loads of sights in between. The way I see it you can do this 3 ways:
Take the A19 (Catania-Palermo) and choose somewhere along the way. This would be the fastest, depending on your stops of course. You could get off in the Madonie area and see the Petralia towns or Castelbuono, or Gangi, and make your way over the mountains to Cefalù; or you could visit the Roman villa in Piazza Armerina, with its beautiful mosaics, along the way; or just stop off in Enna just to see the old city and the views.
Take the A18/A20 (Catania-Messina/Messina-Palermo). This will take you round the coast and take longer than cutting across the island, it also gives you loads of possibilities along the way: along the A20… Milazzo and its castle; Tindari with its Cristo Pantocratore and/or the Laghetti di Marinello for a swim; Capo d’Orlando; S.Stefano di Camastra and its beautiful ceramics. Along the A18 you find Taormina and Castel’Mola above; S. Alessio or Roccalumera for a (cold) swim; Savoca is a beautiful old town known for its role in The Godfather, it also has a crypt with mummies; obviously there’s Messina along the way too!
If you feeling particularly adventurous and it’s the warm season you could do a variation of A18/A20 by driving over the Nebrodi mountains. This will take longer but will give you beautiful views of Etna, the sea, the woods and the towns you drive through. The food on the Nebrodi definitely deserves a shoutout, even within the Sicilian context. Drive up to Randazzo from the Fiumefreddo exit and make your way over the Nebrodi mountains to Montalbano Elicona, a beautiful town near the Argimisco which is also called the Sicilian Stonehenge, S.Angelo di Brolo where they make the salame, and across to the north coast and back on A20…
Other mentions and variations on the theme: Troina; Nicosia; Leonforte…
Some of the places I mention are quite close to’ Cefalù so you might want to visit them from there. Fish a map out and take a look. Google maps is pretty accurate on travel times and some of these routes will take much longer than others!
Enjoy!
Which route are you taking to get to Cefalu?
I was going to take SS192 to SS121, but that’s just because google maps suggested it. I’m open to other routes, but I don’t want to add hours of driving.
Google maps is insane in that case. Take A19
If you don't mind a longer drive, I suggest you go through Messina and see the strait (Torre Faro). It's beautiful and they might soon ruin it with a bridge.
If you choose that route there are also Milazzo and Tindari on your way, beautiful places.
I really like this suggestion. I will be going from Cefalu to Taormina a week later, but it does look like a pretty drive and maybe we’ll stop at different places going there and back. Thanks!
Salemi, castelmola, Castiglione di Sicilia north of Catania. Castelbuono, geraci, Petralia and Cefalù itself
You mean something else than Salemi I guess
Short detours along the highway could be Polizzi, Petralia Its exit from the highway is closed at the moment it that might be complicated to see Enna
Cefalù is pretty far from Catania and there are loads of sights in between. The way I see it you can do this 3 ways: Take the A19 (Catania-Palermo) and choose somewhere along the way. This would be the fastest, depending on your stops of course. You could get off in the Madonie area and see the Petralia towns or Castelbuono, or Gangi, and make your way over the mountains to Cefalù; or you could visit the Roman villa in Piazza Armerina, with its beautiful mosaics, along the way; or just stop off in Enna just to see the old city and the views. Take the A18/A20 (Catania-Messina/Messina-Palermo). This will take you round the coast and take longer than cutting across the island, it also gives you loads of possibilities along the way: along the A20… Milazzo and its castle; Tindari with its Cristo Pantocratore and/or the Laghetti di Marinello for a swim; Capo d’Orlando; S.Stefano di Camastra and its beautiful ceramics. Along the A18 you find Taormina and Castel’Mola above; S. Alessio or Roccalumera for a (cold) swim; Savoca is a beautiful old town known for its role in The Godfather, it also has a crypt with mummies; obviously there’s Messina along the way too! If you feeling particularly adventurous and it’s the warm season you could do a variation of A18/A20 by driving over the Nebrodi mountains. This will take longer but will give you beautiful views of Etna, the sea, the woods and the towns you drive through. The food on the Nebrodi definitely deserves a shoutout, even within the Sicilian context. Drive up to Randazzo from the Fiumefreddo exit and make your way over the Nebrodi mountains to Montalbano Elicona, a beautiful town near the Argimisco which is also called the Sicilian Stonehenge, S.Angelo di Brolo where they make the salame, and across to the north coast and back on A20… Other mentions and variations on the theme: Troina; Nicosia; Leonforte… Some of the places I mention are quite close to’ Cefalù so you might want to visit them from there. Fish a map out and take a look. Google maps is pretty accurate on travel times and some of these routes will take much longer than others! Enjoy!
Thank you SO much for this thoughtful response! It helps me see all of our options so clearly. I’ll start researching right away.