Has anyone here done a tour of Sicily and if so what were the highlights and where are the ferry point to cross from Italy. <BR> <BR>I'll be in Italy at the end of the year and recent threads have made me consider adding a few days to see Sicily. <BR> <BR>

I'm not big on traveling on ferries which you can do from Naples, but I think it is easier to drive or take the train and cross at Villa San Giovanni. It is only about a 10 or 15 minute crossing there and very easy. If you go by train, you can stay right on the train cars which they put on the boat, cross, then go off again. <BR>I loved Taormina--which I think surpassed Positano or Portofino. It doesn't have as many expensive resort hotels as Positano, but instead has wonderful small, charming hotels and a busy town square and shopping area. The views from there are magnificent and Etna often puts on a show at night. Agrigento with its valled of the temples rivals anything we saw in extensive travel in Turkey or Greece. The town isn't much, but the line of temples and ruins is pretty special. We loved busy and gritty Palermo and stayed for three nights. Side trips to Erice and Trapani were interesting. Originally thought we'd spend a night or two in Erice, which is a spectacular little medieval village on a mountain top, but were glad we didn't. It was great to see in the day, but it must be absolutely desolate at night -- not for us. We enjoyed Siracusa (Syracuse), but if you have a short time, I'd stick with the three I mentioned above.

My husband, myself and two daughters were in Sicily for just 6 days last May and it was definitely the highlight of our Italy trip. You can cross over the straits at Reggio Calabria where you drive your car onto a ferry and off when you get to Messina. I would agree with Patrick about Taormina, I would choose it over Positano any day. Also, try driving up past Taormina to a town called Castelmola. The views are simply incredible. We also stayed in a little town situated on a hilltop across from Mt. Etna called Enna. It was very quiet, but found a great restaurant and the hotel (I think it was the only one in town) was very quaint. We then proceeded to Palermo and stayed at the Jolly hotel. Not a good choice for hotel, but acquired a strange attraction for Palermo. Yes, it is dirty, traffic-congested and not too very architecturally pleasing, but the food is fantastic! Look for the wine-filling station. It actually has pumps resembling those at a gas station which pump either red or white wine. Also, don't miss the Vucciria (outdoor market) and the Catacombe di Cappuccini, where the dead are literally hanging on the walls. I know we missed alot of other great cities and towns, but we plan on returning soon to continue our Sicilian adventure.

Hello, when we are asked to give information by our guests about tours around the Island, we always say that the best stops are:1st lot(Taormina,Etna, Siracusa)on the way <BR>Piazza Armerina. 2nd lot(Sciacca terme, Agrigento, Selinonte, Segesta, Erice.3rd lot (Palermo, Monreale, Cefalù). <BR>Best ferry is from Naples to Palerme. <BR>We are a French Italian couple, we run in SICILY a SCIACCA TERME our self catering <BR>accommodation,(fully equipped, 1 or 2 bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom, lounge, and patio or garden) <BR>situated in an old farm house recently restored and converted, 1 mile from town <BR>center, 3 miles from the beaches,and in the middle of the ancient Greek temples itinerary <BR>We speak English and french. Please visit our site: <BR> http://verdetecnica.tripod.com

I have made a folder of notes on Sicily which I will send if you send me an e-mail.