In One Week

Use the following itinerary to make the most out of a week in Sicily, but feel free to drop a place or two to save a day to relax on the beach. In 1 week, you can visit Palermo, the historical capital, and make further trips to the medieval hilltop resort of Taormina, with a side trip to the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna. Not only that, you can explore the ancient archaeological gardens at Syracuse and even the Valley of the Temples at Agrigento.

Days 1 & 2: Arrival in Palermo

Take a flight that puts you as early as possible in Palermo, so you can spend most of Day 1 sightseeing. Check into your hotel and enjoy your first Sicilian breakfast before setting out. Visit the Palazzo dei Normanni in 1 1/2 hours, paying special attention to the Cappella Palatina. Either before or after lunch, head for the Galleria Regionale della Sicilia in the Palazzo Abatellis to see one of the greatest collections of art in all of Sicily. Cap the afternoon by taking our walking tour of Old Palermo. Before the sun sets, drive 14.5km (9 miles) north to Monte Pellegrino for a panoramic view of the old city and its bay.

While still based in Palermo, begin Day 2 with a visit to the magnificent Monreale Duomo, or cathedral, 10km (6 miles) southwest of Palermo. Dating from 1174, the cathedral in this hilltop town of Monreale represents the zenith of art and architecture from the Arabo-Norman school. Return to Palermo in time for lunch and try to budget your time to see two final remaining attractions -- Museo Archeologico Regionale, one of the great archaeological museums of Italy, and the eerie Catacomb dei Cappucino, or the Catacombs of the Capuchins, where you'll encounter mummies so well-preserved they look as if they're still alive. On your jaunts that evening, stop by Palermo's loveliest square, Piazza Pretoria, to take in the beauty of its Pretoria Fountain, and visit Quattro Canti, the "Four Corners" of Palermo.

Day 3: The Tyrrhenian Coast to Messina

On the morning of Day 3, leave Palermo heading east for 18km (11 miles) to visit the ruins of Solunto set high on the slopes of Monte Catalfano. For the scenic route, take SS113 east from Palermo toward Porticello, where you follow the signposts into Solunto. Spend 1 1/2 hours exploring what remains of the Carthaginian town of Solus which was founded in the 8th century B.C.

Leave Solunto and cut south toward Bagheria, where you can follow the directions to the expressway (A19/A20) that takes you east toward Cefalù at a point 81km (50 miles) east of Palermo.

This former fishing village is our major stopover for the day along the Tyrrhenian coast. Explore its main street, Corso Ruggero, and try to get in an hour at the beach. After lunch visit the Duomo, or cathedral, to see a stunning array of mosaics.

Set out again along A20 east, which will take you for a scenic ride along the beautiful Tyrrhenian coast into Messina. In all, the trip from Palermo to Messina is 233km (145 miles). This is one of the grand motor trips in Sicily. Check into a hotel in Messina for the night.

The sights of Messina are minor, so you can treat it as a refueling stop to rest up for an early start the following day. Some of the greatest attractions of Sicily, mainly Greek and Roman ruins, lie south of Messina.

Day 4: Taormina & Mount Etna

Leave Messina on the morning of Day 4, following A18 south to Taormina, a distance of 53km (33 miles), where you can check into a hotel for the night. The major sight here is the Teatro Greco, or Greek Amphitheater, which you can see in the morning. After lunch, plan an excursion to Mount Etna, the highest and largest active volcano in Europe, a distance of 23km (14 miles) southwest of Taormina. This is still an active volcano, so check road conditions before setting out. After seeing this majestic but dangerous mountain, head back to Taormina for the night.

Day 5: The Ruins of Syracuse

On the morning of Day 5, head south along expressway highway A18 to Catania, the second largest city of Italy. On this driving tour, there will be no time to explore this massive sprawl. The distance between Taormina and Catania is 58km (36 miles). A18 feeds into E45 as it continues south into Syracuse, a distance between Catania and Syracuse of 62km (39 miles).

In Syracuse check into a hotel for the night and set out to explore this ancient city, beginning with the chief reason to visit, its Parco Archeologico della Neapolis. In one of Italy's greatest archaeological gardens, you can see the highlights, including Teatro Greco, Latomia del Paradiso, and Anfiteatro Romano. After lunch, visit the Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi, one of the greatest of such museums in all of Italy, and head for Ortygia Island as the afternoon wanes. This island figures into Greek mythology. Syracuse is such an important sight, you could even schedule another full day here and not see everything. But to keep with our 1-week drive, plan to move on the next morning.

Day 6: Agrigento & the Valley of the Temples

On the morning of Day 6, leave Syracuse and drive to the ancient city of Agrigento, a distance of 217km (135 miles) west. To reach Agrigento, take SS115, bypassing the city of Gela, until you reach Agrigento in the west. Once in Agrigento, check into a hotel for the night.

Set out to spend 3 or 4 hours exploring the Valle dei Templi, one of the greatest sights left of the ancient world. The most majestic temples are the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Concord, and the Temple of Hercules. We suggest a return visit at night when these temples are lit, one of the most evocative sights of Sicily. If you have the time, two minor sights include the 13th-century church, Abbazia di Santo Spirito, and the Museo Regionale Archeologico.

Day 7: Selinunte & Its Ruins En Route to Palermo

For your final look at Sicily on Day 7, head out in the morning from Agrigento and drive 113km (70 miles) to Selinunte. From Agrigento, take Route 115 southwest to Castelvetrano; then follow the signposted secondary road, Route 115, and spend the rest of the morning exploring the archaeological garden here. This city was once one of the great colonies of Greece, but, alas, its ruins today are not as impressive as those of Agrigento.

After a visit and lunch, it's time to spend a good part of what remains of the afternoon driving back to Palermo where you can hook up with transportation to your next destination. It is a 122km (76-mile) drive northeast from Selinunte to Palermo. After Selinunte get on Route 115 going northwest to the town of Castelvetrano. From here an express highway (A29) carries you northeast into Palermo, where you can check into a hotel for the night.

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• Sicily in One Week

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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				Frommer's Sicily, 4th Edition Author: Darwin Porter Pub Date: May 04, 2009 Price: $18.99				Related Titles: Frommer's 24 Great Walks in Rome, 1st Edition Frommer's 24 Great Walks in Venice, 1st Edition Frommer's Florence and Tuscany Day by Day, 2nd Edition