Sicily for a week

These links will get you started:Rick's thoughts on Sicilymore of sameHowever, note that Rick does not cover Sicily in detail, in his books--so for a guidebook you'll want to look at other guidebooks.You can find more discussions of Sicily on this site by searching on Sicily in the search box, upper right.

Do you have your flights booked? Will you be flying to Palermo, Catania or Trapani?

Giovanna,
We will probably be driving to Sicily from Artena or Anagni, southeast of Rome and then driving back there. We have family there we will be visiting during our stay in Italy.

It’s usually better to fly from Rome to Sicily, since it really saves time and domestic flights are cheap. With only a week to spend in Sicily, it would be a shame to spend two entire days driving. If you do drive, stay in eastern Sicily.

A rental around Taormina or Siracusa would allow for some great day trips to Mount Etna, Catania, Piazza Armerina and Ragusa.
http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/taormina/
http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/syracuse/

Another thing to consider is taking night car ferry from Naples 8pm to Palermo 6:30 am. You don't lose a day traveling. It is early and there isn't much traffic in Palermo so it is easy driving. It costs a little more than hotel room but you also are not paying for gas from Naples to Palermo same time returning. I got 2 rates for 2 people and car E160 to 235 euro(for an example).

www.tirrenia.it/index_en.asp

I would stay away from renting apt downtown Catania (too much traffic) You need to determine which side east or west has more appeal to you if you just want to make day trips. Personally I would go for a split of east/ west and maybe go for agriturismo some are split up into apartments. Hard to give advise without knowing what you prefer to visit and places you prefer to stay(town vs city vs countryside). Driving in Sicily can be challenging. I wouldn't want to drive in and out of Palermo for a week. I lived in Sicily by Catania and I have so many driving stories. Another time. I prefer east side but I am biased and visited more places there. I like Taormina or Giardini Naxos(would be easier for day trips) and Siracusa.

Except that deep cuts in the night ferry are expected in 2009. Even seasonal service in the summer will have cuts. Travel by ferry will not be very reliable, especially in October. TTT Lines also runs ferries from Naples to Catania and there are ferries from Rome Civitavecchia to Palermo as well.

Driving is no more challenging in Sicily than the rest of Italy. Driving is aggressive throughout Italy. Never drive in the larger cities.

I did not know about ferry cuts.It is surprising they are cutting back on ferries to Sicily. Thank you for replying. Are they also cutting back ferries from Messina to Villa San Giovanni?

I did try putting in 0ct 16 2009 earlier on tirrenia web site and came up with rates but if they are cutting ferry schedule I would check later in year to see if really running if you want to take ferry from Naples to Palermo.

Yes, keep checking for updates. The situation is quite volatile.

The Messina-Villa San Giovanni ferries seem fine for now. Lines through the Aeolians and the Naples overnight ferry appear to be affected the most.

If you read Italian, here’s a news article.
http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2008/11/24/la-tirrenia-abbandona-le-eolie.html

Giovanna, Thanks so much for article. I used to live on Mt Etna years ago. Many of my friends visited Aeolian Islands but I did not. I have forgotten much of my Italian from non usage but I know how to use translator. Thanks again.

For archaeological sites and so on- Siracusa has a great museum, Agrigento is a must-see, although a bit of a drive (FUN drive, however), Giardini-Naxos has a nice museum (with some artifacts found by a colleague I know) and some interesting ruins, another great place to visit with museum and ruins is Tindiri (Tindiris), although it would be about a 3 hour drive from Catania. Not too far from Piazza Armerina- Morgantina near Aidone! Amazing place, and beautiful area.

I think Agrigento is best, followed by Morgantina, Piazza Armerina, the Siracusa museum, Giardini Naxos, and then Tindiri.

Also, on the mainland (and worth the trip)- the museum at Reggio de Calabria. (We took a train to Messina, a ferry to Reggio de Calabria, and then walked to the museum.)

Bob, you forgot Segesta.

There are so many more archaeological sites. Just a few, Solunto, Eraclea Minoa, Halaesa, Akrai, Pantalica, Lipari (museum also)…

Hmmm... If it works out, I'll have to see that site sometime.

It's rather far from where we were... but it would make for a nice overnight trip.