I'm posting this in a separate post for some feedback on the following 2 itineraries. It has been advised that 2 nights might be tight for the locations after Aeolian islands so we're open to switching things around and cutting out a location but would love advise from anyone who has spent time seeing these locations.
Our interests are seeing beautiful old Sicily, views, vistas, amazing food, some beach time, towns with a lot of charm, upscale accommodations. While we will appreciate the architecture etc, We don't want to spend time visiting churches, museums etc.
thank you
Arr Catania
2 nights Taormina
2 nights Aeolian (Panarea or Salina)
2 nights Palermo
2 nights Menfi/Castelvatrano area as base (La Forsteria Planeta or Villa Sicilia Baglio) - explore vineyards, Sciaccia, Trapani, Erice
Dept Palermo

OR
Arr Catania
2 nights Taormina
2 nights Aeolian
2 nights Palermo
2 nights Syracuse as base - explore Modica, Ragusa, etc..not sure of lodging yet
Dept Catania

Thanks for any advice!

I'm not sure what you hope to learn beyond the wealth of comments offered on your other thread:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...for-sicily.cfm

Personally, I would not do either of these itineraries. Too much time in transit for WAY too little time in the places that I found so very special in Sicily. YMMV.

number 2

Given the way you descript your lack of interest in churches and museums, I suggest you modify your #1 itinerary to drop Palermo entirely, add a day to the Aeolian islands and your explorations near Menfi

However, whichever plan you choose, you need a Plan B if the weather makes a sea crossing to the islands impossible. You might want to do a version of this itinerary if the Aeolian islands are inaccessible but the interior is dry

http://www.visitsicily.info/en/the-sicilian-hinterland/

Or go to Palermo if weather all over the island makes rural driving/sightseeing unrewarding or unwise. However, you might find it easier to stay in one of the fancy hotels with parking in Mondello and take the 5 minute tram into the city rather than drive in Palermo.

Unless you are going in peak travel season you will not experience difficulty booking nice alternate accommodations last minute to fill 3 days should it prove impossible to visit the Aeolian islands. Travel with internet accessibility.

Just as an aside, if you want an experience of Italy that is mainly centered on beautiful old cities, views, vistas, amazing food, some beach time, towns with a lot of charm, upscale accommodations -- rather than spending time visiting churches and museusm, there are MUCH easier places to go in Italy to enjoy that experience. Finding a "beautiful old Sicily" for wandering and strolling is not a snap. Quite a lot of Sicily has been afflicted by bad construction, deterioration, overcrowded tenement housing, poverty, neglect, abandonment. There are large parts of Palermo that were never rebuilt after WW2, skeletons left to rot. For most people, the reward of making the effort to go to Sicily (if they are not going to laze at a beach resort) is cultural sightseeing of spectacular church interiors and spending time at archeological preserves. Sicilian food is of course excellent, and can be a reason in itself for going, but don't forget to pace yourself, since servings are abundant. Contemporary Sicilian culture is fascinating, and I don't want to discourage you from encountering it. But the trip you described you like most is not readily on display in Sicily like it is on much of the mainland for an 8 day trip

Following on that thought: Have you considered Malta? You could combine it with Taormina but otherwise have a really easy trip with a car, getting a lot of beach, small town & countryside views + interesting sea-based cuisine. Long beach season. Do a google search for "underrated Malta" and see what you think.

Thanks so much for this great feedback.
French armoire, I agree with you about great places on the mainland to achieve our goals but have been to most of Italy and have always wanted to experience Sicily, it has always intrigued me.. I used to manage an Italian food magazine so food is a big draw for me and I'm so looking forward to authentic Sicilian cuisine!
I do want to see Palermo while we're there, (especially the open air food market and cuisine) and I really like you're idea of staying in Modello instead of right in the city.
One vote was for Menfi after Palermo and the other was for Syracuse...any other votes as a tie breaker?
Massimop, we did look at Malta when first planning the trip but I think we're going to focus on Sicily this time around but would love to go there someday!

Please visit Monreale when you are in Palermo. Even if you are not religious, the church is not to be missed. Palatino (sp?) in Palermo is pretty astounding also.

Since you are driving, you could almost need only 2 bases: Palermo and Syracuse.

DH and I took a city bus from Palermo to Modella and loved the place.

There are 3 open air food markets in Palermo, and I think the Capo market is the lest altered by commercialization for tourism. If a Sicilian open air market is important to you than you might want to stay in Catania & visit Taormina as a quick day trip from there.

Although Sicily looks compact on a map, the local driving culture can make hours of driving quite tiring. If you do not have a specific target in the Menfi area or the Siracusa area that is a personal "must see" for you, opting for the least amount of driving is something worth considering when it comes to choosing where to stayy & explore.

Plan A seems the better one to me, though I would spend 4 nights in Palermo and use it as a base rather than spread myself around too much.

Plan B has you travelling all the way from Palermo to Syracuse just to spend one day there and there abouts - it will take you all of a day to get there.

Leave Syracuse and Ragusa etc for another trip.

One way to see the market in Catania would be to spend your first night in Catania, see the market the next morning, then head out to visit Taormina en route to MIlazzo. Eat dinner & sleep in an agriturismo that puts you in a good position to catch the ferry in Milazzo the next day.

http://www.agriturismofontanelle.com/inglese/index.php

http://www.valledegliagrumi.it/