Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Traffic
Sicilian traffic can be a daunting prospect, particularly in Palermo where the only rule seems to be survival of the fast-
est. However, outside the main urban areas, the situation calms down and the main concern becomes the potholes on the
roads and the iffy signposting. As a general rule, traffic is at its quietest between 2pm and 4pm and at lunchtime on
Sunday, when few people are out and about.
Drivers are not keen to stop for pedestrians, even at pedestrian crossings. Sicilians simply step off the pavement and
walk through the swerving traffic. In the major cities, roads that appear to be for one-way traffic often have special lanes
for buses travelling in the opposite direction, so always look both ways before stepping out.
Shopping
Shopping at Sicily's great markets is an experience to remember. Palermo's Mercato del Capo and Catania's La Pescher-
ia fish market are more than just places to shop, they're extraordinary sights in themselves. These are Sicily's two best-
known markets but every town worth its salt has at least one.
Sicily's food and wine provide rich shopping opportunities, with any number of local delicacies to choose from. The
Aeolian Islands, along with Syracuse, Taormina and Cefalù, have a good number of gourmet delis.
Souvenir hunters are also spoiled for choice. Sicily has a rich tradition of ceramics, with production centred on Calta-
girone, Santo Stefano di Camastra and Sciacca. Handmade jewellery is another local tradition, particularly on the west
coast in Trapani and Cefalù. Old- fashioned lace and embroidery can be found in Palermo and Taormina, or rural towns
like Erice and Caltanissetta.
For the ultimate memento you could always purchase one of Sicily's paladin puppets or a miniature model of the tra-
ditional Sicilian cart, the originals of which are now collectors' items.
Telephone
Phone services are provided by a host of companies, including Telecom Italia ( www.telecomitalia.it ) , Italy's biggest
telecommunications company.
Italian mobile phones operate on the GSM 900/1800 network, which is compatible with the rest of Europe and Aus-
tralia but not with North American GSM 1900 or the Japanese system (although some GSM 1900/900 phones do work
in Italy). If you have a GSM phone that you can unlock (check with your service provider), it can cost as little as €10 to
activate a pre-pagato (pre-paid) SIM card. TIM ( www.tim.it ) , Wind ( www.wind.it ) and Vodafone ( www.vodafone.it )
all offer SIM cards and all have retail outlets in Sicily. You'll need your passport to open an account. To recharge your
card, simply pop into the nearest outlet or buy a ricarica (charge card) from a tobacconist.
Mobile call rates range from €0.09 to €0.30 per minute for domestic calls.
Useful Numbers & Codes
Italian area codes all begin with '0' and consist of up to four digits. The area code is followed by a telephone number of
anything from four to eight digits. Area codes are an integral part of all telephone numbers in Italy, even if you are call-
ing within a single zone. For example, any number you ring in Palermo will start with 091, even if it's next door. When
making domestic and international calls you must always dial the full number including the initial zero. Mobile-phone
numbers begin with a three-digit prefix such as 333, 347, 390.
 
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