We will be going from the Cilento area aroung Lagonegro to Sicilia. Via Michelin says it is a 5+ hour drive. Trenitalia says it's a 10+ hour train ride. Via Michelin sounds about right, but are the Trenitalia number correct? Is there maybe a better start point than Lagonegro or a route I am unaware of?

After reading GAC's post on boats from the mainland to Sicilia I wondered if there was a passenger only hydrofoil that might be an option. From what I could gather from his (or her) post the hydrofoils take you to the other islands (aeolian and such) not directly to Sicilia.

If you needed to get from there to there what would you choose?

Tahnks,
jb

There is car ferry service between Salerno and Messina on Caronte & Tourist Lines:

http://www.carontetourist.it/caronteita/MessinaSalerno.mvd

As well as between Naples and Catania on TTT Lines:

http://www.tttlines.com/

Bear in mind that you would be "backtracking" by going back to either Salerno or Naples: in fact, it's 128 kilometers by car from Lagonegro to Salerno; 200 kilometers to Naples.

By train, the Trenitalia website shows a 10-hour trip to Catania, with required changes in Battipaglia and Sapri. Furthermore, from Lagonegro to Battipaglia is 2 hrs., 15 mins. by connecting bus.

If you were to consider taking the train, the closest station is actually in Sapri, which is only 33.7 kilometers southwest of Lagonegro. Trenitalia does not show any service between these two points. However, there is an ES train from Sapri at 10:27, connecting to the ICP train "Peloritano" to Catania at Lamezia Terme (1 hr. connection time), which gets you into Catania Station at 17:00. If you can drive yourself (or arrange for a taxi) to get to the Sapri train station, this might be the best solution.

www.ferroviedellostato.it

Ah, Sapri would be a much better option. Thank you.

We will have a car in the Cilento area. I am considering the train so as to avoid driving in the Messina area and south to either Toarmina or Catania. While we've driven in Italy before we don't have a lot of experience with narrow, busy roads. If we choose to drive to Catania what can we expect for traffic and driving conditions? Especially once we get to Sicilia.

Thanks,
jb

quote:

If we choose to drive to Catania what can we expect for traffic and driving conditions?

On the autostrada the driving conditions are virtually the same as in Northern Italy, but there is a lot more tailgating and "agressive" driving.

Catania and Naples (in the cities) are the two most hectic places I have ever driven. I haven't been to Messina.

Do you have specific questions?

Bill

The most hectic driving we have done was getting out of Firenze with our rental car. It was hectic because it was unfamiliar, there were lots of cars and the streets go in all directions. What made driving in Catania hectic?

Thanks,
jb

Driving in Catania !! the most complicated driving situation I have experienced in my 42 years in Italy.
My companion has huge experience driving in Italy but was exasperated and couldnt wait to get the rental car into the hotel garage..and leave it there. While it is total confusion for people from out of town, the Catanese seem to do quite well. Cars parked on both sides of the uphill narrow streets, nobody paying attention to stop signs, lights, parking rules. At the same time we noticed several traffic policemen calmly giving directions to other drivers-even in English! I guess its all what you are used to.

I have made this trip many times and the drive is not bad, in fact in someplaces it has very nice views. They are working on the the autostrade and there maybe some areas under contruction

The drive from LagoNero would take approx 5-6 hours depending on construction areas

The rout - take A3 south toward Reggio, exit at Villa San Giovanni, follow the road into town and tuen left at the first intersection, pass the train station and under the tracks, this will take you to the ticket booth for the independent ferry "Tourist or Caronte". These ferries run every 20 minutes and arrive in a part of Messina that easier to get to the Autostrade.

When you get off the ferry in Messina you will follow the raod through the port and arrive at Viale della liberta, turn right at this intersection, this street follows the trolly tracks and turns into Via ammiraglio Luigi Risso. You will come to a plaza, bear right ont Corso Cavor, go approx two streets and turn right on to viale Boccetta. This street will take you directly to the Autostrade A20. Take the Autosrade toward Catania, south. A2 turns in to A18 at the ticket booth, the toll cost will depend on where you get off, maximum should be around 3 Euro.

Depending on where you are going in Catania will determine if the driving in Catania will be easy or hard

If you can give me some idea, maybe I can help

Sorry for my spelling in the last post, I have a new flat keyboad and it is diving me crazy

I did make one mistake in the previous directions, it should read make a left onto Viale della Liberta in Messina vice right

That sounds very encouraging Roger. I used google earth to look at Messina area and Catania and can see how Catania could be hectic in some areas. It looks far more dense than Messina.

We're not certain where our first night in Sicilia will be. After researching we are leaning towards making it a two day trip and stopping somewhere inbetween. Will be less grueling (have done many 5-6 hour car trips and while do able, not our favorite)and it will give us a chance to see another area, if only for a day.

Any suggestions on where to stop?

Thanks,
jb

We drove this recently and it was a breeze. There's a bit of road work being done on the Autostrada that might slow you up a bit in Calabria, but driving through Messina after getting off the ferry wasn't bad at all. Just stay in the left lane getting off the boat to avoid the miscreant double parkers you'll encounter. It's best to try to do the crossing as early in the morning as you can stand.

james

I usually stop in Cosenza, there are allot of hotels in this city

You will still be in the mountains, from here the autostrade goes doen hill and not a road to drive at night. Once back to sea level there are some small hotels in the Falema area and some good truck stop resturants

From here you will travel along the coast and then start up another mountain range with some really good views around Pizzo and then coming down into the Reggio Calabria area with views of the Straits and Sicily. The electrical towers are still standing where the power lines use to cross the straits

As James has mentioned crossing the straits can take time depending on the time of year you are traveling

The indepent ferries run every twenty minutes, but the line in the summer, espically August can be a four hours long, so early is good

The state ferry usually takes longer, because it also carries the train, not the engine but the cabin cars, alnog with trucks and cars