We're working furiously to revise our big fall 20th anniversary trip to Italy. Unfortunately, the more research we do, the more we find that we'd love to see!

Right now we're trying to determine whether a 5-day trip to Sicily at the beginning or end of our trip would make sense. Most probably, we'd fly into Catania and plan to stay on the East coast (Taormina and Siracusa?) with a day trip to Agrigento. We'll be renting a car. I've read some of the Sicily trip reports, and am still on the fence.

The rest of the time we'll be in Venice/ the Veneto, ReggioEmilia, and Florence/Tuscany. It's a tough call whether we should stay on the mainland and extend our stays in these areas or hop a cheap flight Catania - Verona (or vice versa, if it's the end of the trip).

We'll be traveling at the end of October and beginning of November. Is it reasonable to assume that the weather in Sicily may be a little warmer?

Save Sicily for when you have more time, perhaps combining it with a stay in Naples and its surrounding area.

Thanks for your input, Michael.

There's part of me that thinks you're absolutely right, and part of me that thinks it would be cool to combine the two segments of the trip. And part of me that is only thinking about the trip report from one of our local restaurant owners about the fantastic food and hospitality he enjoyed at an agriturismo-type hotel in Sicily...................

I'd probably go and split my time between Ortygia/Siracusa and one of the Baroque towns more inland, either Ragusa Ibla or Modica. Sicily is quite different than the other places I've been in Italy. I think you'd have a decent chance at warmer weather, too.

Oh, I forgot to ask how long your trip is. That would affect my choice. If you have enough time, tack on Sicily. If you're going to be dashing all over Italy in two weeks, I wouldn't do it.

I got a lot of great Sicily info on the tripadvidor Sicily board before my trip. Here too, of course, but do check out TA.

The total trip is going to be about 16 nights.

I would take the 5 days and add it to the other locations rather than rush through Sicily and only see a small part of it. I spent 12 days there last year and it wasn't enough time.

Sicily may be warmer than the north but I went at the end of May and the second week was rainy and cold - not what I had anticipated. Don't visit Sicily just because you think the weather may be better for you - weather never cooperates!

Thanks for all of your advice. Sometimes you know what the right answer it, but it helps to hear validating views :~).