green-eyed-girl66

Currently in Ostuni, Puglia. It is becoming so busy here and we are thinking of relocating to Sicily. Coming over on Friday for a week. Where are the most popular ex-pat towns? How different is life compared to Puglia? We speak moderate Italian.
Any advice?
Thanks

pommybird

We have never lived in Italy but we have travelled round Italy extensively.

My experience of Sicily is that it is a very rustic, down to earth and friendly part of Italy relative to the mainland, we based ourselves in Catania and loved it. Not sure about expat life there but we found the locals very warm and welcoming and there was a wide variety of nationalities working in shops, restaurants and local businesses.

Can I pick your brains about Puglia, it is one of the parts of Italy we have never been to. We are thinking of going next May for a week or two and travel around, where would you recommend as a base. We thought initially Bari or Lecce, what are your thoughts and what are the must see places to go if you a week or two to take in the sights?

modicasa

A popular expat towns, but dont want somewhere busy? ........ hmmmmm - anywhere pretty and within easy reach of an airport will be busy. If its on the sea it will be busy in summer. if its an 'art' town it will be busy from April to November. If its off the beaten track and has nothing to recommend it you will find it quiet, but also wont find anyone who speaks English. Expat towns - Siracusa (Ortigia), Taormina, Cefalu, Trapani, and to a lesser extent Cianciana.

pugliese

The two airports are either BARI or BRINDISI.

I would recommend the latter, Lecce is only half an hour to the south and BARI an hour to the north from BRINDISI (visit theold town and promenade and see the columns marking the end of Via Appia)

Sights to see in the south are Lecce old town (Florence of the South), Adriatic coast to OTRANTO, visit the old town and cathedral with its famous mosaic floor depicting the tree of life, the ossario of the Martyrs and the crypt, continue down the coast till Santa Maria di Leuca, visit the Santuario, see the Cascata Monumentale of the acquedotto pugliese and walk along the marina. Come back up the Ionian coast to Gallipoli and visit the old town on the island.

I'd stay in the lovely masserias along the way.