Before You Go — Sicily 2026

— VILLA LIFE / EVERYDAY

Swimsuits — bring two each. Pool every day.
Pool sandals + walking sandals — separate pairs.
Linen + cotton — light layers. Long sleeves for sun, not warmth.
One nice dinner outfit — Cortile Spirito Santo + Otto Geleng both warrant it.
Sun hat — wide brim, packable. Required at Neapolis.
Sunglasses — polarized if you have them.
Sunscreen SPF 50+ — cheaper to bring than buy in Italy.
Reusable water bottle — fill up at the villa each morning.

— ETNA-COLD-DAY (Wed)

Light jacket — required at the cable car top (~2,500m). Cold even in June.
Closed-toe shoes — volcanic gravel. Sandals are a bad idea up top.
Bandana / buff — for dust if anyone does the jeep tour to the active craters.

— BAROQUE-WALKING DAYS

Comfortable walking shoes — Ortigia and Ragusa Ibla are cobblestones.
Day bag — small, crossbody. Pickpocket-aware.
Cardigan or shawl — for women in churches if shoulders are bare.

— DOCS & ELECTRONICS

Passports — valid 6 months past return. Photo backup in cloud.
Driver's license + IDP — both registered drivers. International Driving Permit recommended for Sicily by Car.
Iberia confirmation K10VH — printed copy plus app.
Car rental confirmation #716176178 — printed.
Villa Giusy address + host phone — written, in case the phone dies.
Travel insurance — review coverage carefully; medical especially.
EU plug adapters (Type F/L) — bring 4+. Italy uses both Type L (3 round) and Type F.
International phone plan or eSIM — Google Maps offline downloaded for Sicily.

— MEDS & HEALTH

Everyone's medications — extra week's supply on top of trip length, in carry-on. Original bottles.
Travel pharmacy kit — pain relievers, antihistamines, anti-diarrheal, blister bandages, electrolyte tabs.
Motion sickness — for the optional boat tour.

— BEACH / OPTIONAL

Quick-dry towel — for Marzamemi beach club.
Mask + snorkel (optional) — for the optional boat day from Ortigia.

SECTION02

Italian, one phrase at a time.

Buongiorno · Buonasera Good morning (until ~3 PM) · Good evening bwon-JOR-no · bwon-a-SAY-ra
Per favore · Grazie · Prego Please · Thank you · You're welcome / go ahead per fa-VOH-ray · GRAH-tsee-ay · PRAY-go
Un tavolo per sette, per favore A table for seven, please oon TA-vo-lo per SET-tay
Il conto, per favore The check, please eel KON-toh
Vorrei… I'd like… vor-RAY
Acqua naturale / frizzante Still / sparkling water (always specify, always paid) AH-kwa na-tu-RA-lay / friz-ZAN-tay
Un caffè An espresso (just "caffè" — never "expresso") oon kaf-FAY
Posso pagare con carta? Can I pay by card? POS-so pa-GA-ray kon KAR-ta
Solo contanti Cash only — what they'll say back, often SO-lo kon-TAN-tee
Mi scusi · Permesso Excuse me (to ask) · Excuse me (to pass) mee SKOO-zee · per-MES-so
Dov'è il bagno? Where's the bathroom? do-VAY eel BAN-yo
Buonissimo! It's delicious — the only acceptable response after caponata bwon-EES-see-mo
Arrivederci · Ciao Goodbye (formal) · Hi/bye (casual) a-ree-vay-DAIR-chee · CHOW

— STARTER CASH

Bring €500–1,000 in cash

Many small trattorias, the Mercato di Ortigia stalls, the chocolate-shop tasting flights, the parking attendants in Ragusa, and most aperitivo cafés in small towns are cash-preferred or cash-only. Get a mix of €5, €10, €20, €50.

— ATM

Use bank ATMs ("Bancomat")

Skip Euronet and other independent ATMs in tourist areas — they charge the worst rates. Italian bank ATMs (UniCredit, Intesa Sanpaolo, BPER) are everywhere and fair. Use a debit card with no foreign-transaction fees.

— CARDS

Visa/Mastercard widely accepted

Restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, the cable car at Etna, the Greek Theaters. Amex less so. Always have €100+ in cash as backup — card terminals "are broken" with surprising frequency, especially after lunch service.

— TIPPING

Less than US — but rounded up

Service is usually included ("coperto" or "servizio"). Round up the bill by €1–5 at casual spots. At nicer restaurants, leave 5–10% if service was excellent. Cash tips reach the server; card tips often don't.

— COPERTO

The €2–4 bread/cover charge

Per person. Listed on every menu. Not a scam — it's the table fee. Tip on top if service was great, but don't double-tip thinking coperto is the tip.

— MARKET

Cash for the Mercato

Vendors at Mercato di Ortigia and La Pescheria in Catania take cash only. €50–100 each in small bills if anyone wants to buy almond paste, ricotta, cured meats, or fish to bring back to the villa.

— MORNING

Start by 9 AM, hide by 1

Neapolis (Mon), Noto (Tue), Ragusa (Fri), Catania (Sat) — all morning anchors. By 1 PM the stones are radiating heat. Lunch indoors. Siesta if possible. Re-emerge at 5.

— WATER

Refill obsessively

A bottle each, refilled at the villa, refilled at every café. Sicily's tap water is safe everywhere. If anyone prefers bottled, supermarkets sell 6L jugs for < €1.

— PACE

Slow is the plan

Generous rest stops. Plan a sit-down with shade every 30–40 min when walking. Skip the long cathedral stair-climbs (Chiesa di Santa Chiara in Noto, Superiore-to-Ibla descent in Ragusa). Nothing on this trip rewards rushing.

— SHADE

Some sites have none

Parco Archeologico della Neapolis is mostly exposed. The Greek Theater of Taormina too. Hats and water are non-negotiable. Mornings only.

— ETNA

Cold up there, hot below

Cable car summit is ~2,500m and 30–40°F cooler than sea level. Pack jackets in the van even though it's 90° at pickup.

— GELATO

Strategic gelato is hydration

It is. We don't make the rules. Granita at Bam Bar in Taormina is the legendary one; granita with brioche is the proper Sicilian breakfast.

Sicily in June, for seven of us.

Packing — by category.