Europe 2014: Sicily

At Dad's recommendation, I've scheduled a full week in Sicily. I will also arrange a hire car, to give us a fair bit of flexibility.

We'll fly into Catania (only direct flights from Barcelona), and then drive overland for two hours towards Palermo. At this stage, we're looking at accommodation in Solunto, about half an hour short of Palermo.

Sicily has been controlled by everyone from the area - Phoenicians, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Muslim, Norman, Aragon, and more. But for heaven's sake, don't mention the Mafia.

I haven't done any research, other than confirming that the daily maximums will be in the mid twenties, and the sea temperature in the lower twenties.

Again, I expect we'll have a day or two of sitting around/strolling through Palermo, but what else should be put on our must-see list?




EDIT TO ADD DAD'S SUGGESTIONS (verbatim)

Simplest on the overview would be to meet you in Melbourne and talk you through it while you take some notes. Not so much telling you what to see and do as telling you the bits I/ we really enjoyed and a few resources. Lonely Planet is always a good start, but may be a bit daunting for all those places. We have a number of them and, while accommodation and chefs may have changed a bit over the last ten years, the attractions won't have.

For Sicily though, start with Lonely Planet. More and more people are discovering it as a destination and loving it. You  can catch a fast train from Catania to Palermo. Palermo (Norman & Arab) is worth three days minimum, including the Norman cathedral at Monreale - a bus ride up). A day to Cefalu (Il Paradiso) and to Amerana (Roman)is good by public transport, or driving. A day to Trapani (Phonecian) & Erice (Norman and marzipan) in the NE of the country. A couple of days in Syracuse (Archimedes, Greek battles), and some time at Agrigento (Greek). I've run out of the week without Etna and the hill villages.

EDIT TO ADD EMMA'S ACCOM RECOMMENDATION

Villa Paladino Solunto - $1060 for 7 night. Villa Mandarino (2 bedrooms, living downstairs, rooms upstairs).  I found the below write up. It was followed by a great review.
All very welcoming and made with great care for detail, decorated with great taste and equipped with everything you need.

The whole, wrapped in an atmosphere of dream, between history and myth, for its unique characteristics: among the Gulf of Palermo and Cefalù, next to the Archaeological Park of Solunto, offers the possibility of spending weeks or weekends, romantic and rejuvenating for the body and the spirit. 

Prestigious and fascinating, the Villa Paladino Solunto is composed of three bodies. The main building with its imposing tower which can be seen from afar and two bodies containing the suites, elegantly located on the emerging crest of the splendid promontory of Monte Catalfano where the famous ruins of Solunto and ending in the sea with the Archaeological Park Natural submarine of the Formica. The Villa ocean view embraces from Palermo and Mondello to Cefalù and the mountain view covers from the Monte Pellegrino, or from Palermo, extends to the Interior of Sicily mountains: Nebrodi serving as background to emerging rocky hills of the Valley of Santa Flavia and Bagheria and finally, to the East Majestic Madonia (alt. 2000 m) of the Summit.

The Villa built at the beginning of the 20th century was the Institute international high studies of the science of representation of space. Its spacious, spectacular garden, its romantic and antique marble fountain, its solarium and its swimming pool with its appearance of natural lagoon and its waterfall, promise to large and small moments of "relax" in the midst of the natural exuberance and the vast landscape of cultivated fields and unforgettable holiday.

We have already mentioned its proximity to the Archaeological Park of Solunto and the underwater nature reserve of the Formica. But many other points of interest surround the Villa: 200 metres you can visit small fishing villages like Santa Flavia, Porticello Santa Elia and a little masalla, Aspra, all they can taste a delicious cuisine based on fish, prepared wing Sicilian typical way.

In less than an hour you can spend from sea to mountain, participating in excursions in boats fishing in the clear waters surrounding the rock of Formica, waters inhabited by playful dolphins, and if you want to, you can go to the Aeolian Islands and, without losing sight of the sea, climb the mountain, taking an excursion to the great and spectacular park of the Madonie (alt(: 2000 m), the highest Sicilian mountain after Mount Etna, and a haven for rare species of animals and plants protected.

Only 30 minutes by car can reach Palermo and visit its countless and beautiful monuments: the Palatine Chapel, the Cathedral, its numerous churches and their delicious and scented markets. The Spa of mondar it and Monreale home a beautiful and important Cathedral. To the East of the village you can visit the medieval city of Cefalu, with its beach and its arabo-Norman Cathedral, the splendid Castle of Caccamo and many other tourist attractions.
The location of the Villa is thus a strategic location to visit Palermo and surrounding... Up to Palermo are just 30 minutes away and you can go by train to the airport are 45 minutes, Cefalù 30 minutes by motorway... a good site to visit Sicily! 

Its owners are welcoming, gentle, friendly and willing to help at all. MARIDA is a good amfitriona that gives you all the necessary explanations before and during the stay to not miss detail Villa equipped with bedding. It has air conditioning, tv and heating. It has a garden with swimming pool and terrace. The kitchen contains utensils kitchen, fridge..

EDIT TO ADD REPLY FROM HOTEL (Villa Paladino Solunto) ON BOOKING

As owner of Villa Paladino Solunto, I give you my best welcome.

I'm very glad to have you and your wonderful family my welcome guests next October.

October, you know, is a wonderful time to go sightseeing Sicily. The weather is usually very fine. The sky is clear like in summer, but the weather isn't too hot. And it isn’t cold yet. Average temperatures in Sicily is 23°.

Is it your first time in Sicily?

I'm sure you'll be enchanted by sunny Sicily, its nature, its sky and sea, its culture, its food and wine, its colors and its scents, its people ... and you'll like to come back a lot of other times.
Sicily ... is SICILY!!!!!
Santa Flavia is a wonderful place among sea, mountains, nature and art, where you and your children can enjoy and spend unforgettable holidays.
Villa Paladino Solunto is a fascinating and enchanting site, between history and nature. It is a small complex of 5 suites smartly standing on a lush hill, emerging on the ridge of the wonderful promontory of Monte Catalfano, adiacent to the Archaeological Park of Solunto and the Natural Reserve of Monte Catalfano. It is also a strategic point to easily go sightseeing Palermo, Monreale, Cefalù, Caccamo, Agrigento, Mozia, Erice, the Natural Reserve of Zingaro, the National Natural Madonie Park and many other places of great tourist interest. The distance from sea is only mt 800
It is very near to Palermo (Km.10, 30 minutes by car and 20 by train).
You can look at spectacular sunsets on the sea sitting on the benches and deck chairs around the wonderful pool similar to a natural lake in the middle of a large Mediterranean garden. You can also look at the Gulf of Palermo and Monte Pellegrino too ("The most beautiful promontory of the world", said  Goethe, the well known German  poet who came in Sicily in 19th century) while swimming in the pool.
Near the coast, there is the underwater archaeological site of Formica. 200 meters away from the Villa you may visit the touristic village of Santa Flavia and the fishing villages of Porticello and S.Elia, where you can taste delicious Sicilian dishes. It 's possible to go in less than an hour from the sea to the mountain, taking part in sightseeing, excursions in the great Madonie National Park (alt m. 2000. Boat trips with skipper in the clear waters around the Scoglio della Formica (the Rock of the Ant), home of dolphins, up to the Aeolian Islands and fishing can be arranged in summer.

I suggest you to look at our website www.villapaladinosolunto.it to have more information about the Villa and its surroundings. The villa is the meeting's centre of the International Institute for Advanced Studies of Space Representation Sciences. Tourist reception activity here performed is aimed at supporting scientific research.

I must advice you that I haven't POS. So, you'd pay your 7daystay and the extra costs (Final cleaning E. 30 + Air cond.E. 35) in cash on your arrival, please.(E. 730)

I'm at your disposal.

Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Looking forward  to hearing from you.

Best regards. a kiss for your children.

Doct. Marida Musso