We are planning something like 9-10 nights in Sicily next fall. Understanding we won't be able to see everything...we are also traveling with child, in our case a 5 year old, so we want to limit hotel changes. We are thinking of:
Flying into Catania.
3 nights in Ortegia (food tour/city center with a day trip the next day)
Rental car + lunch in Aci Trezza
3 nights at a winery above Taormina (winery visit + tasting, cooking class, possible pistacchio festival in Bronte, day trip to Taormina)
3 nights in Cefalu (beach day, possibly boat tour to Aeonians)
And then flying out of Palermo to Milan for a few night in Lake Como for a change of pace.
We are well travelled. The 5 year old has been to Europe twice, including a 2 week roadie thru Portugal. I have a tendency to run my family ragged on these trips. We are looking for something a little more laid back. Less churches, ruins, and museums. More culture + food...possibly even some relaxation time (but not a lot :)).
Palermo looks like something my wife and I might enjoy by ourselves, but the term "gritty" keeps coming up.
Thoughts from anyone on this idea?