Page 265 - The Rough Guide of Sicily

Jonica 090 771 400, insicilia.com. Departing Autosilo Cavallotti (for Forza
d’Agrò, Itala, Santa Teresa di Riva and Savoca.

SAIS Autolinee 090 771 914, saisautolinee.it. Departing from Piazza della
Repubblica 6 for Palermo, Catania and Catania airport, also regular connections to
Umbria, Tuscany, Bologna and Milan.

SAIS Trasporti 091 617 1141, saistrasporti.it. Departing from Piazza della

Repubblica for Catania, Naples and Rome.

TAI/Magistro 090 675 184, autolineetai.it. Departing from Via Santa Maria
Alemanna, near the train station for Capo d’Orlando, Patti and Tindari.

BY FERRY

Arrivals and tickets Ferries from Villa San Giovanni dock at the Stazione Marittima,

apart from Caronte ferries which pull in further up, adjacent to Via della Libertà
(10min walk north along the harbour). All tickets across the Straits are on sale at the
respective terminals; for Villa San Giovanni, contact Caronte ( 800 627 414,
carontetourist.it) or the train ferry Bluvia, which also takes foot passengers ( 090
678 6478, rfi.it).

Destinations Salerno (1–2 daily; 8hr); Villa San Giovanni (Bluvia 1–2 hourly,
Caronte every 20min or every 40–60min at night; 20–30min).

CROSSING THE STRAITS FROM THE MAINLAND

Crossing the Straits of Messina is arguably the most evocative entry into Sicily.

The main embarkation point is Villa San Giovanni, but you can also travel by
hydrofoil from Reggio di Calabria, 12km further south towards the tip of Italy’s
boot.

Caronte also operates a ferry service direct to Messina from Salerno, 77km south
of Naples, leaving once or twice daily all year and taking eight hours; fares are €20

for foot passengers, more for an armchair or berth, and €43 for a car.

TRAVELLING FROM VILLA SAN GIOVANNI

From Villa San Giovanni there are two ferry services, the state-railway-run Bluvia
( 090 678 6478, rfi.it) and the private firm Caronte ( 800 627 414,
carontetourist.it), and one hydrofoil (aliscafo) service, Metromare ( 0923 873
813, metromaredellostretto.it).

Drivers should follow signs from the Villa San Giovanni autostrada exit, a
straightforward run with ferry ticket offices clearly marked. The most frequent