{"id":3421,"date":"2021-09-06T09:13:18","date_gmt":"2021-09-06T09:13:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wishsicily.com\/blog\/?p=3421"},"modified":"2026-04-01T14:10:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T12:10:11","slug":"whats-sicily-like-in-october","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wishsicily.com\/blog\/whats-sicily-like-in-october\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s Sicily like in October?"},"content":{"rendered":"

5 of the best Sicily villas for an October half-term break<\/h1>\n

The summer sunshine tends to linger just that little bit longer in Sicily compared to the rest of Italy, which means that October is still a very pleasant month to holiday here<\/strong>. Days can still be warm and sunny, with temperatures reaching up as high as 25\u02daC, and the sea temperatures, at around 23\u02daC, tend to be higher than in May.<\/p>\n

The summer crowds, however, have all headed back home which means that you get to see the real Sicily<\/a>. Enjoy the luxury of having beaches almost to yourself and wandering amongst ancient Greek and Roman ruins in splendid isolation.<\/p>\n

One place where you won\u2019t be on your own is at the local festivals that pop up all round the island during October. Most are food themed and offer a brilliant opportunity to taste the flavour-bursting local produce at the same time as really seeing what makes this Mediterranean island tick.\u00a0 Some of the best autumn food festivals in and around Mount Etna include Sagra del Pistacchio in Bronte and the Ottobrata Zafferana, spread across 5 Sundays, with each Sunday dedicated to a specific autumn food, such as honey, apples, mushrooms or chestnuts. Further east, FunghiFest takes place in the third week of October in Castelbuono in the Madonie Mountains, while in the south, Chocomodica celebrates the magnificent grainy dark chocolate which has become synonymous with Modica. In any year, festival dates tend to be announced very last-minute, and particularly so this year, so do keep checking. In the meantime, read on for inspiration on some of the best places to take an October half-term break.<\/p>\n

Acireale<\/h3>\n

Just a hop from Catania airport, and close to the foodie-friendly villages and wineries on the slopes of Mount Etna, Casa dei Sogni<\/a> ticks every box in terms of location. It will also definitely appeal if you\u2019re looking for a touch of luxury. Interiors are seriously swanky, with plenty of high tech design features and masses of space for everyone. Outside, younger members of the family will adore the huge children\u2019s play area (think slide, swing, climbing frame and trampoline), and the games and table tennis will keep everyone entertained.<\/p>\n

\"Casa<\/a>
Casa dei Sogni<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cefal\u00f9<\/h3>\n

A short transfer from Palermo airport takes you into the hills above Cefal\u00f9 and the hideaway Villa Arte Mare Blue.<\/a>\u00a0 From here, you can easily access Castelbuono and other Madonie villages, or head down to the beach at Cefal\u00f9. When you\u2019re ready to explore Palermo\u2019s historic centre, one mention of \u2018sfincione\u2019 (thick Sicilian pizza) and a Street Food tour<\/a> should convince the kids that that sightseeing can be more fun than they ever imagined.<\/p>\n

\"Villa<\/a>
Villa Arte Mare Blue<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Noto<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re just looking for a warm welcome and somewhere quiet to chill for a week, tuck yourself away in Casa del Carrubo<\/a>, a refurbished farmhouse close to the magnificent baroque towns of the Val di Noto. \u00a0Even though the heat of the summer will be long gone by now, you can still enjoy dips in the pool, then plunge into the warm waters of the heated jacuzzi. Whizz down to the beach and local pizzeria on the villa bikes, or introduce the kids to the art of pizza-making using the outdoor wood-fired oven.<\/p>\n