ZTL driving zones Sicily (and elsewhere I guess)

The tourist infrastructure (including websites) for all of southern Italy in general is quite undercapitalized and underwhelming, so this is hardly a surprise (try finding the official Italian Pompeii website, for example....it doesn't even pop up at the top of a Google search). Even major tourist attractions have some really poorly designed, unhelpful websites. I've looked at town websites that supposedly have English translations but in reality revert right back to Italian. It's not limited to ZLT zones. I would pay attention to signs when you're driving and to ask your accommodations any specific parking questions before you get there. Hopefully that will be some decent info.

This whole ZTL nonsense just looks like a cynical way to soak
tourists.

Every country has its own driving rules. The ZLT violations are by camera so they don't differentiate between tourists and non-tourists - only violators, including those who don't bother to learn what the rules are ahead of time. Your response sounds merely like frustration, not a legitimate argument. ZLTs are in place to protect local residents, pedestrians, and city centers from pollution and traffic...nothing wrong with that.

Edmond, a simple search"ZTLs Sicily
Brought up sites for Saracusa, Palermo and Catania. All sites had maps and what access was in each city. Like this one.

http://urbanaccessregulations.eu/countries-mainmenu-147/italy-mainmenu-81/sicilia-region/catania-ar

Have you contacted the hotels that you plan to stay in and asked for assistance? I am not sure if your reference to Hotel and AirBnb is to specific properties or to general websites. Many of the towns with ZTLs have a parking lot on the edge of town where you can park and then walk into the center without risking the ZTL. If you are going to Marsala, go to http://www.comune.marsala.tp.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/18698 and scroll down to where it says ZTL Zona a Traffico Limitato for information on its ZTL and here is the link for Palermo: http://urbanaccessregulations.eu/countries-mainmenu-147/italy-mainmenu-81/sicilia-region/palermo. You pretty much have to go to the website for each place that you plan to visit to get the information. Good luck. It seems like you want a regional solution but that is not really available. You will need to do research based on your itinerary. Agnes is absolutely correct that ZTLs issue tickets based on who drives through and do not differentiate between tourists and locals. The only advantage that locals have is that they may be able to get permits and they know where the zones are and you will have the same knowledge after you visit the websites.

I guess there should be also somebody interested in US tourists desperate for one way streets and no parking zones. And a site per region listing all of them.
Of course if you google "Pompei sito ufficiale" the first result is pompeii's official site.

ZTL fears are overblown. They are all well signaled. Just look for the round white and red sign below, which throughout Europe means no motor vehicles allowed.
https://goo.gl/images/Vj1dCH

If they are enforced by camera the camera apparatus overhead is very conspicuous as you can see below. You can't miss it.
https://goo.gl/images/TWbyqr

Those who enter the ZTL by mistake are simply not paying attention to the road signs. The cameras cannot distinguish between cars driven by Italusns and cars driven by Americans so it is not true they are there to soak foreign tourists. Maybe they are there to soak everybody.
By the way both photos linked above are in Palermo.

What you should be careful of is speed cameras. Those are everywhere, often hidden, and are triggered if you go just 5km/h above the speed limit. If you can use the Waze app as your navigator. Waze warns you of all fixed speed cameras.

My only experience in Europe has been as a pedestrian and as a consumer of public transportation. A lot of issues facing drivers are, naturally, invisible to me. However, I can tell you that my #1 take-away from Palermo was that No Sane Person Would Want To Drive There. (Google "photo Palermo traffic" to see what I mean.) Being a pedestrian was more than challenging enough. So that's the first area to research.

Sicily is wonderful.

I am really amazed that the majority of CREDIBLE websites do not even discuss, or even seem interested or knowledgeable of all the ZTL tourist issues

As mentioned, ZTL's are not a "tourist issue" they apply to all. Also, those same websites probably do not discuss Stop signs, Speed limits, Parking, or other mundane, obvious requirements of drivers.

Edmund, here’s a link to a website where you can research ZTL’s. This the best one I have found. It says there’s an app as well but so far no one seems to have found it.

Why do these zones exist? They are not there to soak tourists. They are there to protect sensitive historic centers from excessive traffic and destruction of old sits due to pollution from cars. These cities have small narrow streets and buildings that are hundreds of years old as well as many pedestrian only zones. And the residents in them have to tolerate the galloping hoards and unwashed masses that invade their lives. Rather than condemn them, embrace them for making it a pleasure to be able to see the Centro Historico. And they also affect other locals who don’t live within the zones. They, too, receive tickets.

If you are careful, you won’t lose any money.

When I traveled to Europe in the 1970s and 1980s, it was common to come upon a magnificent square full of vehicles. It often seemed that every bit of space not full of moving vehicles was crammed with parked vehicles. The ZTLs have greatly improved the experience of visiting historic centers.

All previous posters have given terrific advice and links regarding ZTLs. I am adding my two cents based on many years of trips to Sicily. First and foremost, do not drive in Palermo or Catania. Parking is non-existant, traffic is heavy and chaotic and because of the age of these cities, the streets are not laid out in an orderly fashion. Sircusa has ZTL maps that are easily Googled and driving through Siracusa to Ortygia is not a problem. We have driven all over Sicily for over 18 years and have always been aware of any ZTL signs - their existence is not a mystery nor is it a scam. We have never received a ZTL fine. Sicily is eminently drivable. Maps and a GPS are your friend.