If this place is convenient, take a look at Pensione Tranchina in Scopello.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...ani_Sicil.html

sundriedtopepo wrote
<I'm not sure what is this secure parking in Piazza Armerina.>

I'm not so sure either, but on the advice of two posters on TA, I planned to do this through a small hotel in PA that accommodated another visitor with a day room and parking for a low price.

I didn't elaborate because I haven't contacted them yet, but if I do, and if they agree, I will certainly share the information.

Thank you all for your input. It helps so much.

About Palermo: I'm counting on the first day being a wash. I have no idea how much time we'll need to visit Monreale and I also want to see Santa Rosalia and the Cappella Palatina. I ought to add that I'm mad for churches.

Would 3 nights be enough to see the highlights of Palermo?

http://www.palermocatacombs.com/

Check out this church en route to Montreale!

In one day we got up and out early and saw the churches with the Serpotta stuccoes (think I followed a walking tour in the Green Guide), Cappella Palatina, Quattro Canti, Martorana, Fontana Pretoria, the Cathedral, and then took a bus to Monreale for the afternoon. My friend's luggage was lost, so in the evening we powered through and shopped for her. Had chocolate and went out to dinner.

This was aggressive.

Just watch opening closing times in Palermo, well all of Sicily really. But especially if you're trying to see a lot in one day in Palermo.

Leely2, I admire your power sightseeing.

I'll admit that one of my traveling companions (my aunt) was too tired to go out to dinner and went to bed instead.

Crammed so much in that day that the next was relatively relaxed. But I had a really long list of things I wanted to see and missed a lot. I'll have to return. Too bad flights to Sicily from the States are such a PITA. As you are learning!

I just now thought to ask: Are stairs an issue for you? One of the things I loved about L’Approdo delle Sirene was its roof-top deck, and IIRC, one must climb stairs to get there. I hadn’t thought about it before….

As I said above, I think your plan for Palermo makes a LOT of sense, particularly given your interests. Many people say that I am a “power sightseer” and it still took me the better part of 2 days to see the sites that Leely2 mentions. And as mentioned above, in the unlikely event that you run out of things of interest to you in Palermo, you could easily go to Cefalu. The cathedral in Cefalu was recently added to the same UNESCO World Heritage Site inscription that covers the stunning cathedral in Monreale, so you could go and tell us whether you think it worthy. ;-)

kja: here's the text of the email reply I received from L'Approdo delle Sirene:

<We are in the 1st floor but there is a elevator, and we have a 2nd floor ,with a small stairs, and there three rooms and the roof for the breakfast.>

I think I assumed it wouldn't be more than one flight up to the second floor. Elevator to the first floor then a flight to the second, right? Is that how you remember it?

I wouldn't like walking up two flights to get to my room. One flight up to the roof for breakfast is fine.

Yes, that's consistent with my memory, with the caveat that an Italian "1st" floor is what I call a "2nd" floor -- so one can take an elevator up 2 stories to the area just outside the B&B's entrance / reception area. Rooms with views are on that floor; I went up 'the small stairs" for a less costly room with sky lights, but no view. And as I recall, I went back down and then up the other side for the breakfast buffet and roof deck. So I think your understanding and their description are correct.

Whew! I was worried that I had steered your wrong....