Hello. I’m very hopeful that I can purchase a property in scicily in the next couple of years. I’ve managed to visit twice last year. I visited Syracuse,ortiga,Ragusa,Modica,siculi and the marina de Ragusa. I’m visiting Naxos, tarmonia and letojanni soon. I’m looking for access to the beach and a bit of culture. Am I on the right side of the island or should I try others areas.

The east and west are very different - the east side has excellent beaches, more Greek, more culture and infrastructure and more hills than the west, which has a more Arabic feel. I love Marsala and Mazzara but I am happy I put down roots in the East. Between Marzamemi and Letojanni the sea is warmer than it is on the south or north coast. We dont get the westerly winds but do suffer from the scirocco more possibly. Personally Naxos, Taormina nd Letojanni are too trippy/touristy for me, but its horses for courses, and it depends when you want to be here.

Thank you so much for the insight. It helps tremendously receiving this information from someone from the area. I’ve liked the places I’ve visited so far, especially ortiga. What about the rest of Syracuse? Would that offer me the community,culture,history and access to the water that I’m looking for? I would like to visit Cefalù and palmero this year too. But the size of palmero does put me off a little,, should it?? Thanks again 🤝

I haven't been recently but have friends who visited a few months ago and what put them off was the amount of litter everywhere. I know it's always been bad, but personally I couldn't deal with it. Already bad enough where I am but another level there. They showed me some pictures on phone but even on street view it can be seen now. This is outside Syracuse

A Sicilian has trained his dog to dump the trash.

Plain horror and the lack of civilisation, but I guess the weather in Sicily does help - at least it's much better than Luton or Bradford!

Maybe, although better is relative. Sicily holds the record of hottest temperature ever recorded in continental Europe. Nice in winter and spring, but Imagine those smells when it nearly hits 50C🥵.

https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/wm...erature-record

Amazing what people come up with.
You'd think it was some comedy movie.

Plain horror? A little excessive, unless you want to live in a corner of disneyland and not have to deal with the real world. Smells - frankly Venice is worse, and what smells is organic waste which has a very 'civilised' collection system and makes municipal compost.
From my point of view Ortigia has been ruined, its all day trippers and shops which sell fridge magnets -its like Taormina. I wouldnt live in the rest of Siracusa either as the traffic is pretty terrible and its all 1970's onwards apart from little enclaves.
Obviosuly it depends what you are looking for - and if you want to live in town or a little way out. The countryside around Noto is very popular, as is Ragusa, Scicli (nearer the sea) or places like Canicattini Bagni (30mins from the sea). Places actually on the sea are few and far between - they are frazioni of inland towns, and many are very very quiet in the winter.

Hi. The information people are offering up is very helpful. I’m grateful. I’m learning a lot more from these questions and answers, it’s increasing my knowledge. I’m fortunate that I can go anywhere I want. And what I’m picking up is I should visit for longer,and have a good look around. Noto has increased my attention and I’d like to visit. I’m a uk resident,working in Europe,and I’d like purchase a 2 bedroom property, in a welcoming and friendly community. In an area of beauty, culture with not a far distance from the sea. Thanks again. Dean😊

What jobs do people do in Sicily? The people on this thread for example, what do you do to make a living in the sticks (sicily)?