So, I need some help figuring out where to spend time in Sicily. I'm always looking for new places to go, and am already thinking of where I want to go on my (undoubtable) return trip to Sicily after this one.

First, a little background. The trip is for me and one friend, both of us are 22 and just graduating (3 more months!) from Uni. It will be my 5th trip to Italy (but I've never been to Sicily) and the first time to Italy for my friend. We're both artists, and I love ruins, so of course we want to include some of that. At the same time, we dont like to spend all of our time in museums - we'd much rather take a quick trip through, and then spend our time wondering side streets, or sitting at a cafe with a glass of wine just absorbing our surroundings. And of course we want to get some relaxation on the beach in.

We'd like to stay in the bigger cities for the younger nightlife, but be able to take day trips away from the tourist traps. (I lived in Macerata - Le Marche - for 5 months, and absolutely loved exploring all the small neighboring towns.)

Only about a week of our trip will be spent in Sicily (We'll be traveling for 5-6 weeks total). We're not looking to do it all, but rather get a taste of the region. We'll be arriving in Palermo by train, stay for a couple of days, and then pick up a rented car which we'll have for the remainder of the week.

So, questions:
1) Selinunte or Agrigento for Greek temples? I'm leaning towards Selinunte...
2) Siracusa or Catania for our second "base" city? - whichever we dont stay in, we'll visit for a day trip.
3) favorite "unknown" cities to wonder through? Or
4) favorite country driving routes to find our own hidden jewels?
5) favorite beach spots along the east/south east coast?

I know I'm being kinda vague here, but I'm really just looking for your personal opinions on places you have been, that you think we may enjoy. guidebooks are only good for so much.

Thanks!
Lori

Lori, you are asking many questions. I think you could get good advice about many of them from the various Sicily trip reports on ST. That would give you a basis to begin asking more specific questions. I just linked up information and pictures about our trip to Sicily on our website SICILY You may be able to get more definitive ideas about such things as Selinunte or Agrigento, etc from both the pictures and the narrtive. One thing I will say though is that Syracuse would be a better base than Catania.I think you will like Sicily.

Sicily: Cefalù for the beach - also a beautiuful, cultural and artistic town. There is also a Greek town nearby it is called Imera. You will find a museum temple and ruins there.
then Palermo of course and then catch a bus for Monreale. Then Agrigento and then Siracusa and Catania. That is a goud way to tour the island.
then there are some small island around Sicily that are really nice. Panteleria is very beautiful. Isole Eolie - a group of Volacanic island that are also very beautiful.

Jane,
I suppose I could be more specific with my questions, although I feel I will be repeating myself. I have already looked through many of the trip reports, and have a pretty good idea where to go.

I had been leaning more towards Syracuse, but I'm wondering if it will have enough of a night life?

Antonio,
Would you suggest going to Agrigento over Selinunte?

What I am wondering, is of the people who have been to both Agrigento and Selinunte, which would be preferred, if you were only going to one?

About the unknown towns, I really enjoy going places that normally wouldn't be gone to. It's easy enough to just get in the car and drive, and see what I find. I'm just wondering if there are any charming towns out there that would be recomended for this purpose, or good back roads to drive through the country on?

Thanks
Lori

Between Selinunte & Agrigento, I would choose Selinunte. I say this because even though I was there in the off-season, it was much less- touristed than Agrigento. We pretty much had the place to ourselves except for some cute stray dogs, and there was a beach nearby that looked quite nice.

There's also a restaurant that is often recommended in the town Porto Paolo??, you may have ran by some posts on this already.

I liked Cefalu, but thought it would be much better in the off season. It was packed to the hilt in August. And the beach was super crowded.

I liked the beach below Taormina. Not as many people there. More like small coves.

We went to a really fun disco in gardini naxos below Taormina. And there were quite a number of good bars in Taormina. Not so in Cefalu, if you are looking for a beach/bar combo kind of town.

If it were me, I'd take Siracusa over Catania. Catania's bigger, but I think Siracusa is much more interesting. I can't speak for the nightlife there, but I would imagine that it's got to have some.

I agree with Kelly about Taormina beach and nightlife-but haven't been to Cefalu so can't comment.

If you go south of Catania/Siracusa there are some nice small towns (Noto, Fontane Bianchi, Avola, Avola Antiqua) that can be reached on a daytrip. Just about all have some sites to see and/or beaches.