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My fmaily and I are planning a trip to Sicily in March. We were considering renting a house or villa (farmhouse?) and making it our central location for touring the island.
Is that wise? Is Sicily small and accessible enough to have one spot act as a central hub?

Also, does anyone know of a resource where I can find a villa, farmhouse or some other accommodation other than a hotel in Sicily?

Oh...and any other advice would be greatly appreciated. (If that's not a general cry for help, I don't know what is.)

Thanks!
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Chris

Try this site - -click un "undiscovered Italy" and choose Sicily.

http://www.parkervillas.com/

beth

Check out http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/
They will have rental suggestions.

Also, I did 10 days in Sicily, and I think it is too spread out to do a rental.

Of all my trips, one 10 days in Sicily was cleary my favorite for a number of reasons:

-- the island has been conquored 11 times, so you have Greek, Roman, Norman, Moor, and and a bunch of other cultures intwinds. This shows up in the food, buildings, art etc.

-- People are the warmest I have ever met.

-- Tons to do, awesome greek ruins, beachs, island resorts (Liapri is like an mideval, Italian Hawaii, Palomero, cave paintins, pretty towns, and great food.



-- Do not miss

--Aeolion islands (Lipari, Stromboli -- a gentle, volcano that is still exploding and you can hike it -- Volcano -- mud baths, yeah!) and the other islands.

-- Siracusa, amazing ruins, cool church.

-- Agriento best preserved Greek temples in the world

-- Piazza Armerina, best preserved Roman mosaics

-- Palermo, nice town

-- Monreale, beautiful church.

-- Cave paintings on the Egadi islands

-- Erice, a really nice Norman town, you will think you're in France.

I stayed in a number of charming, special hotels and would be glad to share them. Also the rough guide to Sicily is the best travel guide I have ever used.

Holly

Beth - Would love to hear your hotel picks!

E

Beth,

Thank you so much for your suggestions and guidance. You've made me get excited all over again. I've copied your suggestions to my family in an email, so they can help make the decision about the rental.

Thanks again!
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beth

Here are the three hotels I would highly, highly recommend!!

This is my all time favorite hotel! When I was here, I decided to to go here on my hooneymoon since it is so romantic
http://www.italyby.com/villaducale/pages/profile.htm

This is a grand old hotel in Syracusa. Very nice with a great location on the old island. Good price for such a nice place.
http://www.grandhotelsr.it/

Go to this hotel for the view. It looks out on the a 3000 year old grrek temple that is lit up at night. You need to reserve well in adavance to get a room with a view. This area has 12 Greek Temples and it's a national park and this is the hotel within the park. The other parts of the hotel are just OK, but that view is amazing.

http://www.jpmoser.com/villa%20athena.html (This is a booking service, but I would work with the hotel directly)

Have fun!