Before I went to Sicily I, too, had heard admonishments that "grown men" don't wear shorts. So I was somewhat surprised when the homeowner of the apartment where we stayed wore shorts every day. Then I realized that most Sicilian men were wearing shorts, and for the most part, dressed in a manner virtually indistinguishable from most Americans. Perhaps it was because it was one of the hottest July's on record with daily temperatures between 95 and 105. Or maybe those admonishments are a little out of date. Dress comfortably. Don't worry about being identified as a tourist (your rental car, maps, guidebooks and camera will probably give you away even before you open your mouth.) Have a great trip.

Rbrazil, where was that, exactly? I was very surprised a few years ago that youngish (~30) men didn't even own a pair of shorts, and one of them borrowed a some hikes in the Aeolian islands. On hikes shorts were really the ideal dress for any age, but in towns it would have been extremely odd (unless people wre obviously just returning from a hike and about to change their clothes). These young men were from Messina and from a town along the northern coast west of Messina.

We were primarily in Selinunte and the southwest part of Sicily. I brought long pants and wore them fairly often, but I was also happy I brought some shorts.This "no-shorts" debate has been carried on many times on this forum and Slowtrav as well. I don't think that there is any consensus. Some of the Italian posters on Slowtrav remarked that younger men n Italy frequently wear shorts in hot weather.

In Italy, yes, but it seems that Sicily may still be different. I was really surprsied by those young men who owned no shorts at all and were totally unprepared to dress for hiking. I still think that in cities where most people on the street are going about their normal business and in smaller towns that are not heavily touristy, shorts on grownup would be cause for amusement. In the smaller towns, often there just aren't many young adults, because they move away to find work. I think it is very different in Taormina, and in various places catering to tourists from northern Europe, or in sites that are not places where people live but archeological sites that vacationers and students visit.

I meant, in some other parts of Italy, yes.

cmt -- I guess some Italians are more comfortable with the Mafia label than we are. I was not "painting with a broad brush", we heard the comment everywhere. And I don't think they were aiming for humor. It could be that their comments fall under the "if you're ___ (fill in the blank, ex. Irish) you are allowed to tell _____(Irish) jokes".
((c))

Italy is very regional. There are still a lot of prejudices held by the people of one region against those in other regions, and Sicilians in particular are still the target of a lot of pretty bigoted comments. So, unless it was Sicilians stupidly making those comments about themselves, I do not think it falls within the category of <<"if you're ___ (fill in the blank, ex. Irish) you are allowed to tell _____(Irish) jokes".>> It was a little more like the kind of demeaning jokes that a New Yorker might tell a foreign visitor who's planning to visit the American prairie or the Smokey Mts., i.e. jokes about slow-witted small-town midwesterners or southerners who who marry their own sisters, or a lot worse. I don't think that would be characterized as a harmless little joke Americans are making about themselves. In the case of the anti-Sicilian prejudices, there is far longer history behind it.

If the original poster is still around, here's a link to another forum where some people may be able to give advice re renting a villa or house for a week or so: http://slowtalk.com/eve/ubb.x/a/frm/f/862600685

Isabel, just saw this now--a few days late. Thanks for the nice words about my site--it's good to know that people find it useful. As far as time in Sicily, we were there 17 days and could easily have stayed 4 more to make it 3 weeks. There is a lot to do and see there. Even in 3 weeks you won't have "done it all." It would take several trips. But--it is one experience. If you are wanting different experiences, then you might want to break it up. So--it all depends on your travel style. Enjoy what ever you decide.

Wondering what happened to Paloma. I hope this thread didn't turn her off Sicily.