You should buy a 2013 guidebook to Sicily, which will give you suggested itineraries and answer your questions. You should consider flying from Naples to Sicily once you have figure out what you want to see in Sicily.

Palermo Hotel: (Principe Di Villa Franca)

We loved Palermo but you might hear differently on this website as a lot of travelers think is may be dangerous. We also loved Naples which is another place you hear negative remarks about. We saw some of the strangest things in Palermo (cars were driving on the sidewalks) but some of the nicest and most helpful people you would ever want to meet.

We rented a car when we left Palermo and visited Marsala, Agrigento Siracusa and Taormina. It was a lot of driving and not very scenic. I think the train is the way to go but I can't advise you on that.

Click on my name above to find my trip report from 2005---good luck !

Palermo was great. See Monreale, an oratorio, puppet show, market, Palazzo Abatellis (art museum), and Palentine Chapel. You can do an outing to Cefalu from Palermo.

A car is best for the smaller towns such as Agrigento with its wonderful temple juxtaposed with modern sculpture.

You might want to take a look at my trip report, skipping over the medical part; click on my name to find it.

In case it helps, of the 6 or so guidebooks I used when planning my trip to Sicily, I found Frommer's and Fodors guidebooks most helpful for selecting destinations. And I found
the Rough Guide most useful for deciding what to do in each location.

It's a wonderful island - enjoy!

i have visited Sicily on various times and always choose to visit only smaller parts each time.

My best preferred place so far was the western part. I stayed in a cottage, in a small village under Erice, in Buseto Palizzolo. It was the ideal location as a starting point to other locations such as Castelamare, Segesta, the medieval town of erice , Saline di trapani and most lovingly Egadi islands. I have so far been 4 times in that area and is always mesmerizing.

Hope it helps
if you want i can tell you the cottage i stayed in as the owners were very helpful indeed.

To add an other footnote......i have been to various markets but the one in Trapani which if not mistaken was on Thursdays was the best so far.

Trains in Italy are operated by Trenitalia. www.trenitalia.com on this site, selecting the appropriate English language has info about timetable and costs for connecting Palermo-Rome and Palermo-Napoli. Palermo is full of history, art and culture, but there are many other cities in Sicily full of history. You can also decide to make a stop in Milazzo to visit one of the largest castles in Europe, go to Lipari in the Aeolian Islands to visit the beautiful archaeological museum, go to Messina regianle to visit the museum of art, with the bell tower 'largest clock in the world, the cathedral .... you have so much to explore! We wait for you in Sicily! best regards

Hi Irina! You choose a grat time to visit Sicily, I love so much this island! I suggest you take a look here http://pti.regione.sicilia.it/portal/page/portal/SIT_PORTALE/SIT_EnglishVersion
If you rest in Palermo I suggest its beautiful churches Santa Cita, La Martorana, San Giuseppe dei Teatini, the Cathedral. And also the suggestive markets Il Capo, Ballarò, Vucciria. For a quick guide to street food read this http://www.solosicily.com/sicily-holidays/food-and-wine/eating-in-sicily.aspx
In Palermo centre you can find a lot of good B&B and hotel
You can also take a short trip in the beautiful surroundings, for example monreale or cefalù

Have a nice trip