Americans are just beginningto discover what savvy European travelers have known for years--that Sicily isone of the great vacation spots in Europe. I had such a great time, Irecommended it to my ex-wife. Mafia Schmafia--about the most dangerous thingyou'll find in Sicily is a full carafe of strong red wine.
Sicily is small enough thatyou can conquer it by car in a week. Happiness is driving through a world ofvineyards and citrus groves, ancient Greek towns and temples.
I'd recommend flying fromRome to Palermo, Sicily's major port and capital, and picking up a car at theairport. Whole neighborhoods remain bombed out from World War II, yet Palermoboasts some the greatest sights and museums in Sicily. After a day or two, headeast to Segesta, one of the best-preserved ancient temples in Italy, continueon to the enchanting medieval hill town of Erice, and bed down in one of thefriendly, family-run inns on the steep, cobbled streets.
Head south to the jumble ofclassical ruins at Selinunte, and continue to Agrigente, one of the mostmemorable and evocative sights of the ancient world. Head west to Siracusa(Syracuse) and spend at least one night, with a half-day trip south to Noto ifyou have time. Frommer's Italy gives Siracusa three stars, its highestrating. I can understand why; it's one of my favorite towns in the world. Ofall the Greek cities of antiquity that flourished on the coast of Sicily,Siracusa was the most important, a formidable competitor of Athens. End yourtrip with a short drive north to Taormina, a sybaritic escape hugging the edgeof a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea. One of Italy's most dramatic spots, itseems to have no reason to exist than for the thousands of visitors who flockhere to shop, dine, bar-hop, hang out on the beaches far below and make daytrips to the black volcanic slopes of Etna. You can fly back to Rome fromCatania, or better, yet, book a private compartment on an overnight train fromTaormina, and wake up in downtown Rome, refreshed and ready to start again.Have fun!