Advice for 26 Nights in Sicily, April-May

Here is good site with info about all of Sicily.
Hotel, sites, hours of operation...... http://www.bestofsicily.com/

My husband and I spent 17 days in Sicily in May, 2011. We rented a car in Catania and dropped it in Palermo. Here are some thoughts: We stayed near Catania our first 3 nights and took a day trip to Taormina - that seemed like a good amount of time. Our favorite city was Ortygia. We liked Ragusa so I'd suggest staying there and you can visit Noto as a day trip from there or on the way. We skipped Noto because of time and logistics. Your daytrips from Trapani are perfect - you could add an extra day and go to Mozia - we took a picnic and enjoyed an afternoon there. We didin't go to Campobello or Mazara del Vallo but spent one night in Sciacca and enjoyed it! Wish we'd had time to include a trip to the Aeolians Islands - you might consider that! Vagabonda on the Tripadvisor Sicily forum was very helpful. If you haven't already, you might post there to fine-tune your itinerary. I think that you've got a good working itinerary! You're lucky to have so many days in Sicily!

Thanks for your suggestions. Frances, will check out the website more closely; it looks like it has a lot of info. Sharon, we have also posted on TA; awaiting responses. Thanks for your trip suggestions. It looks like we're on the right track. We can add one night to Trapani since we can visit two of the towns as day visits only; an island visit might fit. Would you suggest visiting Ortygia from Siracusa or staying there instead; 2 or 3 nights? Would 2 nights be enough for Ragusa? If we just day trip to Taormina (we're not high end, resort travellers) would 2 nights in Catania and 2 in Cefalu be enough or should we add a night to one. I know these are detailed questions but since you've been in that area you might have better ideas than we do.
We really appreciate your comments and suggestions. As I've posted several times - planning is one third of the fun. The trip is the second third, and reliving the trip through pictures and memories is the balance. Hope we're all having fun!

Hi Carol! I'd sleep in Ortygia - you can easily walk (or take public transportation) to to Siracusa. Ortygia has some great restaurants and is more interesting than Siracusa! I'd stay 3 nights. Two nights is probably enough for Ragusa. Two nights in Catania should be enough - we stayed near Catania and Acrieale at B & B Palazzo Giovanni - we spent three nights there and day tripped to Taormina. It was at the very start of our trip so the extra night helped us get oriented to the time change. We had a great view of Mr. Etna from the hotel! It's near a small town Stazzo. Depending on your available time 2 - 3 night would be good. We did not get to Cefalu but many say that it was a highlight! "Google" Mozia to make sure it's something that you'd be interested in - we loved it! You have a fun trip to look forward to!

I would add that we took a daytrip to Scopello but if you have an extra night or two, I'd consider staying there! It's a beautiful small town. Friends who stayed there liked Pensione Tranchina.

Thanks again for your suggestions! Will take them all into consideration.

My suggestion is that you spare half a day to visit Modica between your trip from Ragusa to Noto. It is a very insteresting city with steep streets and stone houses. It is a place famous for its chocolate and there are some specialty chocolate stores from small factories there. I'd, however, make a slight alteration on your routing. After Agrigento, I'd head straight for Ragusa (make sure you book accommodation in the old town, not on the rebuilt center that looks a run-down place), visit the city, stay the night. Do some more sightseeing next morning if that is the case, drive (just 11 km) and visit Modica, drive to Capo Pasero and visit the ancient forton the island (a 5-min ferry trip from the coast) and then head to Noto. Stay the night in some Baroque-restored hotel. Next day you can visit the valley as it pleases, maybe visit some winery and/or some ruins, then go to Siracusa, Catania, Taormina as planned. The day you leave Taormina, visit the Etna (and not as a day-trip from Catania), not missing some eery looking small towns whose buildigns are mostly blackened by constant precipitaion of fine volcanic ash. Then, drive through the south side of the volcano, and then take the highway there to Enna. From Enna you can visit Pizza Armerina as a day-trip (most people skip the city alogether, but I do not recommend it, don't visit only the Villa Imperiale, actually do it as a day-trip, without worries - try to arrive early on the Villa to beat the crowds and go straight to the indoor rooms like the "bikini room", then walk back to the more open and less crowded sites. Then, head to city and have lunch there, before an afternoon stroll through its ancient medieval quarters. From Enna you can hit Cefalú and Palermo.

Thank you, Andre, for your suggestions. We'll check into Modica and Capo Passero and think about changing our route. Twenty-six days sounds like a long time but it seems our itinerary is expanding! We may have to add a day. Thanks again!