Review of Bed and Breakfast Scala Dei Turchi in Realmonte, Sicily

Bed and Breakfast Scala dei Turchi is a nice yet inexpensive bed and breakfast in the small, friendly town of Realmonte, Sicily. It's named for the Scala dei Turchi cliffs on the sea nearby.

Bed and Breakfast Scala dei Turchi is very near the main piazza in the center of Realmonte on Sicily's southwest coast, one kilometer from the sea. Below Realmonte is a beautiful, uncrowded sandy beach. Nearby is the Scala dei Turchi, picturesque white steps made of soft clay that lead up the cliff from the beach (shown in the photo). Realmonte is 15km from Agrigento and its Greek Temples in the Valley of the Temples. (see Sicily map on Europe Travel for Agrigento location)

Bed and Breakfast Scala dei Turchi is a great place to relax. You'll get away from the tourist crowds and experience Sicilian small town life. The beaches are some of the best in Sicily yet are not crowded. Angela and Simone, the owners, are passionate about their part of Sicily and Sicilian traditions. They'll help you figure out where to go and what to do in the area. Bed and Breakfast Scala dei Turchi is an especially convenient place to stay if you're driving.

Breakfast is served when you want it. It usually includes a sandwich and warm pastries fresh from the pasticceria (definition of pasticceria). One day we asked about a type of pastry we saw at the Bar/pasticceria Manhattan and the next day Angela bought that kind of pastry for our breakfast.

The top site near Realmonte is Agrigento. Below the town of Agrigento lies the Valley of the Temples Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you'll find remains of Greek temples. The town of Agrigento is also worth a visit. Find out more in our Agrigento Travel Guide.

Outside Agrigento is the workshop of famous Sicilian cart maker Raffaele La Scala, now maintained by his son Marcello. Making traditional Sicilian carts is a dying art form and this is a rare opportunity to see some spectacular examples. Simone or Angela, owners of Scala dei Turchi, may be able to arrange a visit for you to see the beautiful, intricately detailed carts. Find out more with our Pictures of Sicilian Carts.

Siculiana, a hill town to the northwest, has a castle and interesting church with Hebrew inscriptions and a black Christ. A little farther up the coast is Eraclea Minoa, remnants of an ancient Greek city in a picturesque position perched above a white sandy beach. There's a small museum, walking paths, a theater carved into the sandstone, remains of a residential area, and few tourists.

From the nearby port of Porto Empedolce, between Agrigento and Realmonte, you can take a ferry to the islands of Linosa (3 hours) or Lampedusa (4 hours). There are some good restaurants in Porto Empedolce.

Right near Realmonte are beautiful sand beaches, the Scala dei Turchi cliffs, beautiful countryside, and a small Roman villa archaeological site.

The best way to get to Bed and Breakfast Scala dei Turchi is by car. It's also possible to reach Realmonte by public transportation. The closest train station is in Agrigento and from there you can take a bus to Realmonte.

In Realmonte, there are several bars. Besides good pastries, it's possible to get ice cream, sandwiches, slices of pizza, and other snacks or light meals. There's a restaurant/pizzeria with good pizza and a limited restaurant menu. Near Realmonte are several good seafood restaurants but you'll need a car to get to them.

The four rooms can hold up to four people each so it's a good place for families or groups. All the rooms have modern, private bathrooms with individual water heaters. They also have heating and air conditioning.

Bed and Breakfast Scala dei Turchi, classified 2 stars
via Grande, 171 Realmonte Agrigento
Current rates are 25 euro per person (spring, 2008)
Email: info@bb-realmonte.it

_{As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodations for the purpose of review. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. See our ethics policy.}