The downside of relatively early planning can be too much time to (re)think... I am now wondering whether I could reduce one town on the west coast in order to actually stay 2 nights in Cefalu... It would likely mean foregoing Selinunte, visiting Segesta either en route from Agrigento or from Erice.

Am also interested in any suggestions about the best winery to visit in the Marsala area - we love wine but are not connaisseurs, but would enjoy visiting a rustic or historic winery, in a gorgeous setting :-)

Thanks again to all of the Sicily-phobes who have been so helpful and generous with your advice

Selinunte was my favorite of the Greek ruins--I would not miss it. The marsala wine locations I could miss.

I was not that enchanted by Cefalu, and definitely regret not seeing Selinute.

BTW, I think you mean Sicily-phile.

Christie,
I also really enjoyed the Selinute site. It's a very large site with views of the sea. You can actually walk in the temples and on the acropolis site nearer the ocean, you are walking on the original city streets. Some of the city walls are intact too. I spent a lot of time there. I visited in mid-April and it was uncrowded although the parking lot was quite full, again it's a big site.

I didn't visit the Marsala area since I don't care for that type of wine at all so can't say what the area is like.

Menfi at La Planeta Foresteria Estate, one of the locations of La Planeta wineries. Rooms are very comfortable with high end linens, etc. Staff outstanding. They do a group dinner, hors d' ouvres, plus 3 courses with optional wine paring. Our dinner began at 8pm and didn't finish until midnight! Everyone was having such a good time, laughing and sharing travel stories. Interesting group from all over Europe and the US. Obviously, I would highly recommend La Planeta. They also do wine tastings at their winery nearby, a wine tasting lunch is another option. I really wished I had time for it because it gets great reviews.

This might fit your beautiful setting / wine tasting requirement.

OK - this has been great for a course correction, back to the original plan to include Selinunte... and will visit Cefalu as a day trip from Palermo... and yes, Thursdaysd, sicily-phile is a better expression

As another Sicily-phile, I think you will enjoy both Selinunte and Segesta.

I may in fact have only one last question... all accommodation is booked with the exception of Agrigento... we will stay 2 nights and am wondering if there are suggestions for the best location. Would like at B&B I think. Not sure if it is suggested to stay in or out of town?

If you can get one of the places that offers a view of the night-lit temples, do it! The place where I stayed has since closed, but I think you have a few options....

OK... B&B booked in Agrigento (with a night time view of the temples...Terrazze di Monteluza). A question now about Monreale - is it better to take the trip up in the morning, or mid afternoon??

What's the Fodor discussion forum protocol... since the itinerary frame is now nailed down, is it better to start separate threads about more granular issues for each of the places we intend to visit??