Hi Everyone,
Thank you all so much for your help planning this trip! Just to recap...my father, sister, brother-in-law and I surprised my mom for a big birthday with a family trip to Sicily. She has been doing a lot of family ancestry research so she is more than excited to go, especially with all of us!
Here is our (basically) finalized itinerary!!! If there is anything you see that we should change or add, I'd appreciate your help. I know it's a very full itinerary, but we like to keep busy!
Thanks again, your advice is truly appreciated!
:0) Joanna
July 8- JFK to Palermo
July 9- Arrive in Palermo (3:10pm) bus to hotel. Palermo sightseeing
July 10- bus to Monreale in am, Palermo in pm.
July 11- bus back to the airport to pick up rental car. Visit Erice (1 hr) and Segesta (35 mins) on the way to Selinunte (1hr)
July 12- drive to Montevago for research (40 mins). drive to Agrigento (2hrs)
July 13- Agrigento-valley of the temples. Drive to Porto Empedocle for research (15 mins) then Agrigento pm.
July 14- Agrigento (research). drive to Piazza Armerina (1h 40m) on the way to Syracuse (2h).
July 15- Syracuse and Ortigia and side trip to Noto (45 mins)
July 16- stop in Castelmola (1h 30m) on way to Torre Faro (1h 10m)- Mortelle beach?
July 17- hydrofoil from Milazzo (1h) to Lipari
July 18- Messina (research) and sightseeing
July 19- Taormina(1h)
July 20- Catania(50m) 11:10flight to JFK

Hold on to your wallets on the bus ride to/from Monreale! Enjoy your trip.

I read about the double decker Palermo tours that can include a trip to Monreale as well, but I think for 24 hrs its 20 euros per person. Do you think it's worth it to not be worried about the pick pocket thing?

If you read and heed the good cautions on this and other Fora, you should be OK - you are not solo travelers.

This sounds like such a fabulous trip - what a lucky woman your mother is. I cannot add a single idea - and I look forward to a Trip Report when you return ?

~MarnieWDC

The bus is fine if you are alert. It was a highlight for us since we had never seen pickpocketing in action, despite many trips to questionable destinations. You can also just take a taxi to Monreale which should be cheaper than 100E for the five of you on the tour.

I saw this post the other day and meant to chime in. Sounds like a terrific trip!!

When we visited the Villa del Casale in Piazza Armerina, we had an outdated GPS and drove around in circles for a while before finding the road to the site (the only time that happened). Even so, we got there early before the crowds. I can't remember if there's closer parking, but we parked in a marked lot on the left as you drive in and then walked a quarter mile or so by a number of souvenir stands before reaching the site, which was a benefit in the long run once it got more crowded. Afterwards, we enjoyed an early lunch at the restaurant located just when you take the turn off the main road and down the lane towards the site - we were surprised how nice it was, considering the potential for it to be a tourist trap. (Google tells me the name of the restaurant is Trattoria La Ruota Di Pioni Fiorella; on the map you can even see the short bit of road into the parking lot and the distance from there to the museum-site.)

We combined Piazza Armerina with a stop in Caltagirone. Since we'd eaten early, most of the town was closed for lunch when we got there - but its famed steps were still spectacular, and there were just enough ceramics shops open to satisfy a craving to take some home for ourselves. We parked on the edge of town; the walk in was easy, if steep! Our entire time in the town was less than 2 hours.

I am devoted to the Aeolian Islands but you won't get much out of them by doing an overnight in Lipari, especially in July, which will be crowded that time of year. And if the weather's bad the hydrofoils won't run, leaving you stranded. Do you have a place to stay lined up? Might be difficult in July. As much as I love the islands, I would give them a pass instead of doing a fly-by like you have planned. Or can you drop Torre Faro (don't know anything about that place) and add another night to Lipari?

Castelmola is virtually walking distance from Taormina. Maybe you should go to Lipari after Ortigia/Siracusa, then head back to Messina if it's a must (not particularly attractive) and then on to Taormina for 2 nights, visiting Castelmola during the day from there.

Congrats to you on the wonderful birthday present. Your mom will love it!

Sounds like a great trip!

Just a few minor comments:

> July 15- Syracuse and Ortigia and side trip to Noto (45 mins)

This day sounds very full to me - even in the context of a schedule that is a busy one. As I recall, I spent closer to 3 days for Siracusa/Ortygia and Noto. If you haven't already done so, you might want to think through your priorities in advance.

> July 16- stop in Castelmola (1h 30m) on way to Torre Faro (1h 10m)- Mortelle beach?

As aprillilacs notes, Castelmola sits above Taormina and it might make most sense to combine it with that.

Enjoy!