I will be at my aunt's home in Calabria the 1st week in July. For 2-3 nights I would like to jump over to Sicily, we will have a rental car. I spent 10 nights in Sicily in 2003 and stayed in Palermo, Sciacca, Siracusa and Taormina. I will have a significant other with me who has only seen Rome. I love gorgeous beaches. My thoughts are either Cefalu or Lipari, or if we want less of a beach mini-vacation Modica or Ragusa- any thoughts? Hotel ideas?

I realize that Lipari is another island and we would have to take a ferry from Milazzo....

I didn't much care for Cefalu and left early, so if those are your 2 choices I'd say Lipari. Personally, though, given only 2-3 nights, I'd go back to Taormina - I've spent some time there on each of my 3 trips to Sicily and will do so again.

topping

Uh oh, Cefalu or Lipari, Cefalu or Lipari - I'm thinking. Both are beautiful. ok with 2 or 3 nights I would pick Lipari because there is so much more to do and you could hop over to the wonderful little island of Vulcano (10 min hydrofoil).

What about Modica? The only thing about that is that beaches would be a drive away.... I have always been curious about that corner of Sicily.

we just stayed at casa talia in modica. loved the b&b but modica was not our favorite baroque town -- Noto and Scicli were. also went to Duomo in ragusa for dinner. you get quite a bit of wine if you order a wine flight, and we shared ONE. you could stay in ragusa also at locanda serfina or there is a brand new 4 star whose name escapes me. baroque towns were very interested and liked them better than siracusa.

beaches at cefalu, imo I would not call beautiful. but the water was very clear and many restaurants along the avenue next to the beach -- typical beach town with moutainous backdrop. we enjoyed a day trip up into the mountains from there and then hopped on the A19 and arrived in Palermo late.
bonnie