Car & Van Hire - Cinisi

Cinisi balances the old world and the new with dizzying complexity. Gilded architecture and crumbling ruins create a counter-intuitive world of opposites. This is the home of all things Baroque, so a trip down the main street is in order. The road ends with a Baroque city hall that has its own bakery. This is the perfect time to try cannolo—a centuries-old recipe that's celebrated as the region's finest pastry.

The town is also famous for its annual Carnivale parade, which falls in February and lasts four days. Throngs of papier-Mache floats and masks parade down the main street until Shrove Tuesday, when the funeral of U Nannu is held. If that doesn't sate your craving for historic attractions, stop by the House of Memories. This house museum tells the story of Peppino Impastato, who was murdered by the mafia in the seventies. His bereaved mother created the museum to display Peppino's possessions when he was fighting for justice.

Cinisi is an important component of the Origins of the Mafia tour, which introduces travellers to Sicily's gangster history. You'll experience both real-life and film-based events on a day-long trip to Corleone's village. You'll visit the site of the Bandit Salvatore Giuliano massacre before heading to Palermo's historical centre. This is a bucket list item for all Godfather fans.

It might be small, but the town has its own mountain. Monte Pecoraro connects a number of reserve trails. You can take an easy stroll along the Zingaro coastal trail if you're feeling unambitious. If you're looking to burn energy, we suggest the cycling and running trail to Pizzo di Mezzo. This is a 24-kilometre walk with dazzling ocean views, so you might want to pack a backpack for an overnight excursion. Pizzo di Mezzo is a scenic mountain on the outskirts of Siino. It's home to the Mastro Siino cave complex, which is perfect for hikers who enjoy a challenge.

Finally, as Cinisi is bordered by the famous Magaggiari Beach, families can explore the ocean's depths in scuba gear. If you prefer a sedate pace, rent an umbrella or enjoy peaceful moments at the nearby bathhouse. Adventurous tourists can rent a boat or take a luxurious sunset dinner cruise. Some boat tours will carry you all the way to the castle town of Castelbuono. Here, you can learn about the area's Arab-Norman routes and explore the lavish Cappella Palatina. The royal chapel is wrought from Byzantine columns and golden mosaics.

There are several bus routes and transit lines heading towards Cinisi, but the town itself has very few intercity buses. Your best bet is a car or van hire in Cinisi. The town is easy to navigate and has a highway running straight through the centre. The E90 will carry you along the southern border of town and, ultimately, past a massive section of coastline all the way to Alcamo.

The area generally experiences moderate traffic with congestion near the city centre along the SS113. You might run into further congestion at the SS113 offramp onto Paolo Borsellino. Palermo is notorious for its traffic jams, so plan your arrival time between 10:00 and 12:00 or 14:00 and 15:00.

Residents don't stick strictly to their lanes and tend to treat traffic signs as optional. Locals rarely use their indicators, particularly on busy roundabouts where vehicles are liable to pull out in front of you. Tailgating is common, so keep your rear-view mirror in operation at all times. It's best to drive defensively and maintain a generous following distance. Stay alert and scan the road at all times, particularly if you're driving a car with manual transmission.

Cinisi is a limited traffic zone between 09:30 and 13:00 each day and after 16:00 each evening. It's a small town that's easily traversed on foot from the many parking lots outside the ZTL borders. Keep an eye open for the red circle signage, which indicates the ZTL clock. It's best to check your map before heading down a one-way street since this can lead you into a restricted zone with no option to turn around. Police fine enthusiastically. There are also ZTL cameras, so it's best not to take chances. If you see other vehicles crossing into a restricted zone, don't assume you can enter as well. Those cars may have a pass.

You'll find commercial parking lots on the outskirts of town as well as along the coastline at Parcheggio. BHS Nach Hause offers convenient street parking near the town centre. Street parking is colour-coded. Blue lines indicate paid parking, while yellow lines indicate residents' and handicapped parking.

Petrol stations don't always accept foreign credit cards, so keep cash on hand just in case. You should also keep an international ID and your foreign driver's license in your vehicle. If you're from a non-EU country, you'll need an international driver's license. Police will request all these documents at roadblocks.