Two Weeks in Sicily – Split Stay or Base in Palermo?

Sicily is quite large and really can not be seen from one base. We were there for 16 nights and stayed in six places. We did not see it all.

So I certainly think you would be better off with more than one base. We stayed 4 nights in Ortigia and enjoyed it very much. People do make day trips from Ortigia to some of the baroque towns like Moderna and Ragusa from Ortigia, although we made a separate stay in Ragusa.

Palermo is a fascinating city and you can see some of western Sicily from it. We went to Cefalu as a day trip.

There are other threads on this topic, most recently "Exploring Sicily at a Relaxed Pace". As much as I love Palermo and its surrounds, with this much time you certainly could spend a few days (or more) in Ortigia. There are a few day trips from there worth making, including Noto. If you decide to stay in Siracusa/Ortigia for a few days, I'd recommend the Neapolis Archeological Park. The better beaches, however, are near Palermo. I liked Catania, too, but I tend towards the gritty cities. Not as much to do there, but a good jumping off point for Etna. It's easy to get to Catania from Siracusa, so you might want to make that a day trip only.

I love Palermo but 15 nights is way too much. Ortigia is fantastic, and splitting between these two cities is an easy choice. However, even at a relaxed pace I feel like a full week in each is a lot. Are you planning longer day trips to places like Agrigento or Villa Romana? Those are two sights that are must see. Also, April is early for beach weather. Spring can be quite cool to downright chilly and rainy. I think I experienced the whole weather gamut when I was there in May.

Another vote for a few nights in Ortigia - which will also be relaxing - Palermo is chaotic and Catania is not a relaxing city. You could use Ortigia as a base or just stay there and relax, it's lovely, and something to see also in Siracusa
https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com/2019/06/siracusa-trip-report-october-2017.html
From Palermo, Monreale by bus, Cefalu by train, Mondello by bus for the beach on a sunny day (not beach time officially but nice for a stroll)....

We spent a week in Ortigia and could have stayed longer, Beautiful city!

Consider a day trip from Ortigia to Noto. Last October, we did this as a day trip & really enjoyed it. Two days later we drove to Ragusa and stayed overnight at Iblarooms hotel which was nice. Good breakfast. Very clean. Nice view from the room. But if you want only 2 bases, I would choose Palermo and Ortigia/Siracusa.

Catania would be a convenient East-coast base, giving you access to Taormina, Siracusa/Ortigia, Etna, and Catania itself.

Catania has markets, museums (I recommend Museo Storico dello Sbarco if you're into WW2), castles (Ursino, Aci Castello), amphitheaters (Roman, Greek), churches with panoramic views of the city (Badia di Sant'Agata, San Giuliano), and lots of food and shopping options.

Ortigia is great (especially if you also visit the archaeological park in Siracusa), and would probably feel more picturesque and relaxing than Catania (which is more city-ish)... but it would be harder for you to access Taormina, which is a must-see.

And the same goes for Taormina; it's awesome (especially if you visit nearby Isola Bella and Castelmola) but then it's harder to get down to Siracusa/Ortigia.

If you stay in the middle (Catania) you can take day trips in both directions. And if you find you love Ortigia (or Taormina), you can take multiple day trips to your favorite spots. It's only an hour in either direction. You wouldn't have the same flexibility if you used Ortigia or Taormina as a base.

Plus, Catania has plenty of stuff to see and do, if you don't mind walking. It's just not uniformly photogenic. Some areas are full of beautiful shops, cafes, markets, and an attractive, vibrant feel... and other areas feel grimy, neglected, and desolate. The key is finding and focusing on the beautiful spots and not getting stressed about the other parts. I'm sure Palermo is the same way, so if you're able to handle Palermo for a week, you will be able to handle (and appreciate) Catania.