Sicilly & Rome

Can't help with the Colosseum question, but there is a hotel in Agrigento that is in the archeological zone, it's the B&B Villa San Marco. If you book a room with them, you'll be contacted by a tour guide (no obligation to use them). The museum is good in Agrigento, but the site is extensive. In Palermo, if you are interested in history, see the castle (with the Cappella Palatina) and take a sidetrip to Monreale, a little town a few kilometres away (I took a bus). Beautiful mosaics in both these places. In Taormina, the Greek Theatre is a must-see. You can also get to Mount Etna from Taormina.

you should really go to Erice in sicily. i've been there it's a beautiful little city on the top of a mountain and there are outstanding views from up there! there's a beautiful old caste you can visit. it's definetly worth it. another place i really liked in sicily is Cefalù, right on the sea.
i'm sorry i don't know anything about the tour. but i've found this: http://www.time.com/time/travel/article/0,31542,2069256,00.html in rome, i would prepare a bike tour if i were you and rent a bike near stazione termini. i did that and turned out to be a beautiful day!!! best way to see rome probably. it's something different... i can help setting down the tour as i remember from mine.

i'm with Zoe about Monreale. definetly worth the bus ride!

Ditto on Monreale. Palermo: There's La Zisa which is pretty interesting, Cappucian Crypt, St John of the Hermits which is right around the corner from Palazzo Reale (be sure to go into the San Guisseppe bell tower behind St Johns for some awesome town views), Villa Gulia is beautiful and is a nice break from the rush of town. La Cuba is interesting but small and may not be worth it unless you are in that area. You need to ask at the La Cuba office if you want to see the Carthaginian cemetary (skip La Cubala). Then the teatros. I think for Massimo you need to get tickets in advance. And of course the Cattadrale and Quatro Canti. Check out Chiesa San Cataldo too if you get a chance. Not very big but interesting.

Thanks to everyone. Great info. Found out that the lower portion of the Colosseum has been closed due to flooding problems.

Agrigento: Be sure to see the 3 temples; they're in magnificent shape up on a hill. You look down on the Mediterranean. Taormina is quite picturesque, atop a cliff on the east coast of the island. I second the suggestion to visit the amphitheter. Taormina is not far from Mt Etna. If you fly into Catania, you're really close. Note well: Etna is active and wind carries its ash all over. I was caught in driving rain with wind and still have a pair of pants whose zippers don't work because volcanic ash has clogged their teeth! And that trip to Sicily was ten years ago.

We spent 10 days in Taormina a year ago and had a fantastic time. Best trip of our lives! With only two days there, make sure you see the Greek Ruins (up in town) and take the funicula ride down to the sea! Even if it's too cold for swimming, it's a lovely ride. Walk all the way through the entire town, and admire the lovely Churches, and you will probably get caught up in a wedding procession or two, since Taormina is the wedding capital of the Island! We hired a guide he gave me permission to pass on his email: a.greco79@yahoo.com His name is Angel Greco, and a life-long resident of Taormina. A very nice and well informed informal guide. I would recommend he take you to Mt. Etna (bring a jacket, the temp drops @30 degrees up there) and time permitting, a trip to the Vineyard for a wine-tasting. Sooooooo beautiful. I think you can fit these into one day. Our other day trip with him was to a honey farm, the town where Godfather I's Sicily scenes were shot, and he kindly
took us to his cousins' family estate/farm. Also an Agriturismo now. To call that place a farm, is shortchanging it. With only two days, that's about all you can do there. Sicily is really much bigger than people think, and you could spent weeks and not see all of it!

I almost forgot The Trocadero restaurant just before the main Arch going into Taormina is a fun place! The food is good, especially the clams! Also we ate several times in a restaurant called, I believe, "MaMa's " that advertises "forno al legna" which means Wood Oven! The wood makes all the
difference in the world, and the pizza was outstanding. The other dishes were also excellent! We were supposed to stay for 7 days and stretched it out to 10. Have Fun, and if you use Angelo, give him a hug from his American Mama! ;-)

Thanks Donna, we'll look Angelo up and try to fit as much in as we can. Been to Sicily before but spent most of the time in an area called Caltanisetta where my grand parents came from. This time we want to see many of the other areas and layout a more extended trip next year.