Message: After a week in Tuscany my husband and I are driving to Sicily. We will spend a couple days in Positano and Ravello and then drive to Sicily for a week. We have decided on the following, but would like advice as it is our first time in Sicily and I wasn't sure of the best locations to stay to maximize the limited amount of time we have.<BR>We are planning:<BR>2 nights Taormina<BR>2 nights Siracusa<BR>2 nights Agrigento<BR>1 night Palermo ( take the ferry to Naples the next night)<BR>1 Night Rome, then home<BR>How does this sound? We love to see all the ruins/ etc. but aren't huge big city people- especially since it's the end of the trip so that's why I thought 1 night in Palermo was sufficient- but am open to suggestions. We will probably get rid of car once we hit Palermo as I don't want to hassle with traffic. Thank you for all of your suggestions for the first half of our trip (Tuscany) and I look forward to reading more regarding Sicily!<BR>Ciao<BR><BR><BR><BR>

The itinerary is good, although you are shortchanging Palermo, which really deserves more time. In one day, be sure to visit the Cathedral of Monreale, the Cathedral of Palermo, the Cappella Palatina/Palazzo dei Normanni, the Church of the Martorana and, time permitting, the Archeological Museum. Since you have a car, you should at least consider passing by the Roman Villa of Casale near Piazza Armerina, and the Greek temple at Segesta.

Thanks GAC, in your opinion, if I were to add another day to Palermo, what would you cut out? And in terms of the car, should I keep it for any of Palermo? Also- If we want to see the Greek Temples, do we do that once we get to Palermo, or on the way from Agrigento? And Villa of Casale- would you do a trip out of Siracusa or on the way to Agrigento... I am still unsure of road times and need to do a little more research. Thanks for your help!<BR>

It's always so easy to add and so difficult to cut! Much depends on your personal interests and also on your estimated arrival time in each destination. For example, if you arrive in Siracusa in the early evening, you may indeed want to stay two nights. However, if you arrived there in the early morning, you could perhaps cut one night. Ditto for Agrigento. Also, there is little of specific cultural interest in Taormina apart from the Greek Theatre. However, Taormina is such a fabulous place for r/r, you might be hard pressed to cut there. I think you need one full day in Siracusa to visit the Archeological Area and Museum on the mainland, and the lovely island of Ortigya. In the Church of Santa Lucia, you can see the precise place where the Saint lost her life. You also need one full day in Agrigento to see the Temples and the Archeological Museum. You should also spend one night there in order to see the temples illuminated (and admire them at sunrise and sunset as well). Read my posting on the Hotel Villa Athena/Agrigento in this to see the Roma Villa and its mosaics on the way from Siracusa to Agrigento. You might also pass through Caltagirone on the way there. Segesta can be easily visited going from Agrigento to Palermo (Selinunte is also along the itinerary). You will definitely not want to keep the car in Palermo. You can see the city on foot and take the city bus up the hill to Monreale (leaving from Piazza Indipendenza from the back side of the Palazzo dei Normanni). You will need at least one full day in Palermo proper, and a couple of hours to visit Monreale. Are you interested in seeing the macabre (and quite unique) Cappuccini<BR>burial remains (exposed skeletons) in Palermo?

GAC- yes, we were planning on seeing the burial remains based on what I've read on this site. I am starting to think maybe we should split the Island in half and not try to see as much- and I also started thinking Lipari for a couple of days would be great and then overnight ferry onto naples from there. Is that possible? And if so, what would you suggest cutting out, IYO.<BR>We usually come to Italy every couple of years so I know I will be back.