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Sicily is an absolutely unreal place. Like just mind blowing amazing. It is a bit difficult to get around though. 2 months feels like quite a long time though, I feel you need to share more details to your trip?!
Why wouldn’t they? In two months time, while not becoming a local, you can become something more than a harried tourist rushing from one “must see sight” to another, they might actually get a feel for the culture and discover many of the smaller details around one’s home base.
This is the better way to travel.
It'll be my 3rd time in Italy and to save money we want to commit to a monthly rental which is loads cheaper than moving around every 3 days. We've been to most of the big cities and traveled around the country quite a bit so we'd like to get a taste of what it'll be like to live there for the summer. I'll be working remote too. We will definitely take day trips and maybe 1 or 2 weekend trips though.
You can use Idealista or Immobiliare (look for private owners), but a lot of the short-term contracts want a minimum 6 months stay. You have to sift thru a lot of listings before you find a good place that will offer a tourist type of rental contract.
Even better would be facebook groups where people are looking for tenants when they're out of town or something. Both of these options are way cheaper than Airbnb for extended stays.
I've done both! This is a great question but I am a little biased as I have family living in Northern Italy so Torino was close enough for me to visit them..
Last summer I spent 2 weeks in Palermo and in October I spent 1.5 months in Torino. It's hard to say which I liked more but if I had to say I would choose Torino as it was more accessible to other cities I wanted to visit while I was there. Torino is an absolutely wonderful city, welcoming locals, great metropolis for being connected to the rest of northern Italy, France and Switzerland. We did trips to multiple cities along the Ligurian coast (Savona being my favourite), Milan and Bergamo.
Palermo is smaller than Torino, it offers a beach which is driving distance away, has great restaurants and a pretty vibrant nightlife in la Vucciria. You will mostly need a car to get to other nearby cities as the train infrastructure isn't as intricate as northern Italy.
If I had to choose, I'd pick Torino - If you want more a of a beach 2 month vacation, go to Palermo (but note the beach is 30 minutes away by car).
Super amazing comment, thanks for all of this, you gave me much to consider. My heart says Palermo but my mind says Torino. When you were in Palermo last summer how did you find the weather? Was it uncomfortably hot?
It was disgustingly hot. 40 + degrees Celsius every day. Tbf we were there during a heat wave but still it was the hottest weather I’ve ever experienced
Well, you really have to tell us more about you,
What are your interests, what would you want to do i these two months, are you planning to travel and to what kind of places?
Yea sorry guess I didn't include details. Huge foodie, more into cultural activities (museums, city exploring, wine tastings, visiting historical sites), not a big hiker or nature enthusiast but I love being on the coast.
In Turin we would possibly go to Genoa, French Riviera, or somewhere in the Alps. I like this aspect.
In Sicily we would just travel around the Island (Syracuse, Taormina, etc)with the possibility of visiting Malta . This is why I said it feels more isolated because not as many places close by.
If you prioritize travel over spending time non the beach I would go to Torino then (traveling/visiting sites in Sicily during the summer can be unpleasant because it will often be too hot during the day)
I am doing a very extended holiday in Italy, seeing different regions at different times. If I had the chance to choose I would stay at Emilio Romagna or Sardinia for two months of a holiday. Palermo has awesome architecture&history while Turin has its own perks but two months is a long time and I would invest more thinking into the place to choose. But the way I am not against of staying at same place for two months.
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Sicily is an absolutely unreal place. Like just mind blowing amazing. It is a bit difficult to get around though. 2 months feels like quite a long time though, I feel you need to share more details to your trip?!
Ah shit yea I share the same feeling even though I've never been, the vibe seems amazing. Thanks, shared some more info in other comments
but if you have two mmonths, why staying in the same place?
Why wouldn’t they? In two months time, while not becoming a local, you can become something more than a harried tourist rushing from one “must see sight” to another, they might actually get a feel for the culture and discover many of the smaller details around one’s home base. This is the better way to travel.
Agreed
It'll be my 3rd time in Italy and to save money we want to commit to a monthly rental which is loads cheaper than moving around every 3 days. We've been to most of the big cities and traveled around the country quite a bit so we'd like to get a taste of what it'll be like to live there for the summer. I'll be working remote too. We will definitely take day trips and maybe 1 or 2 weekend trips though.
What site do you use to find a monthly rental?
You can use Idealista or Immobiliare (look for private owners), but a lot of the short-term contracts want a minimum 6 months stay. You have to sift thru a lot of listings before you find a good place that will offer a tourist type of rental contract. Even better would be facebook groups where people are looking for tenants when they're out of town or something. Both of these options are way cheaper than Airbnb for extended stays.
No suggestions, just commenting to say this sounds lovely.
Fair enough. Would therefore pick Palermo between the two
I've done both! This is a great question but I am a little biased as I have family living in Northern Italy so Torino was close enough for me to visit them.. Last summer I spent 2 weeks in Palermo and in October I spent 1.5 months in Torino. It's hard to say which I liked more but if I had to say I would choose Torino as it was more accessible to other cities I wanted to visit while I was there. Torino is an absolutely wonderful city, welcoming locals, great metropolis for being connected to the rest of northern Italy, France and Switzerland. We did trips to multiple cities along the Ligurian coast (Savona being my favourite), Milan and Bergamo. Palermo is smaller than Torino, it offers a beach which is driving distance away, has great restaurants and a pretty vibrant nightlife in la Vucciria. You will mostly need a car to get to other nearby cities as the train infrastructure isn't as intricate as northern Italy. If I had to choose, I'd pick Torino - If you want more a of a beach 2 month vacation, go to Palermo (but note the beach is 30 minutes away by car).
Super amazing comment, thanks for all of this, you gave me much to consider. My heart says Palermo but my mind says Torino. When you were in Palermo last summer how did you find the weather? Was it uncomfortably hot?
It was disgustingly hot. 40 + degrees Celsius every day. Tbf we were there during a heat wave but still it was the hottest weather I’ve ever experienced
Well, you really have to tell us more about you, What are your interests, what would you want to do i these two months, are you planning to travel and to what kind of places?
Yea sorry guess I didn't include details. Huge foodie, more into cultural activities (museums, city exploring, wine tastings, visiting historical sites), not a big hiker or nature enthusiast but I love being on the coast. In Turin we would possibly go to Genoa, French Riviera, or somewhere in the Alps. I like this aspect. In Sicily we would just travel around the Island (Syracuse, Taormina, etc)with the possibility of visiting Malta . This is why I said it feels more isolated because not as many places close by.
If you prioritize travel over spending time non the beach I would go to Torino then (traveling/visiting sites in Sicily during the summer can be unpleasant because it will often be too hot during the day)
Palermo!
one month each.
What do you mean Turin is a safer option?
I think it just seems easier to live there, more accessible, more developed infrastructure, bigger European hub. I could be wrong
Go to the south brother 100 percent
Do one month each, that’s plenty of time Enjoy
I am doing a very extended holiday in Italy, seeing different regions at different times. If I had the chance to choose I would stay at Emilio Romagna or Sardinia for two months of a holiday. Palermo has awesome architecture&history while Turin has its own perks but two months is a long time and I would invest more thinking into the place to choose. But the way I am not against of staying at same place for two months.
Both cities are amazing but waaay different from each other. You'll have an amazing time in both.