Santa Flavia - and Giovanni’s beautiful apartment - is ideal for those looking for a quiet holiday off the tourist path. We were hoping to spend a few days relaxing in a local town and this did not disappoint. Giovanni gave us great recommendations for restaurants right down the road (the pizzeria and seafood restaurant right at the small wharf were wonderful and filled with locals). He also recommended Trattorio Don Ciccio in Bagheria - one of our favorite meals of our trip, traditional Sicilian in a beautiful, cozy restaurant and a nice neighborhood where nearby we also bought amazing produce at a local stand.
The apartment itself has a stunning view of the wharf and local swimming spot, and with all the windows open we spent many hours relaxing with a nice ocean breeze. You can walk in two minutes to a volcanic rock area for swimming (bring water shoes) or in ten minutes to the local beach - busy mid days with locals but quiet in the morning, with several cafes for croissants and coffee. Also walking distance are a supermarket (up the hill and to the left) and a fantastic bakery (up the hill and to the right). This all made for a beautiful, relaxing three-day stay and a lovely local Sicilian experience. For those looking for more tourist experience in Palermo this might be a bit too remote - although easily reachable via day trip (one hour each way).