(Candid) Travel FAQs

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While Sicily is a fascinating place to visit, it's no closer to perfection than any other place we know --be it Ukraine, Japan, Ethiopia or the United States. These questions and responses reflect conditions and circumstances that you may (or may not) encounter in Sicily. Observations regarding inter-cultural differences, in particular, are generalities; your own experiences may differ.

Are there visa requirements for visitors to Italy?

There aren't any particular requirements for citizens of EC nations staying for three months or less. Citizens of Japan and most English-speaking nations (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United States) in possession of valid passports can stay in Italy for up to 90 days without a visa. Contact your nearest Italian consulate if you have questions or would like to stay longer.

What about driving license requirements?

Though foreign licenses are usually honored at car rental agencies and by the government, you should obtain an international permit (a supplementary document obtainable from automobile clubs) if your license is not issued by an EC nation. Nobody under 18 years of age may drive a car in Italy, even if he or she holds a valid license in a foreign nation.

What are driving conditions like in Sicily?

In certain cities, such as Palermo and Catania, they can be challenging for those unaccustomed to chaos. Many motorists are careless, and often downright disrespectful of the rights of those with whom they share the streets. Some roads, especially those in and around Palermo, are not suitable to the large volume of traffic they must accommodate during the busiest hours. In Palermo, the worst times are from 8 to 9 weekday mornings, and from 1 to 2 in the afternoons. Saturday evenings between 7 and 9 also have heavy traffic. Catania, Messina and other cities may also be choked by traffic during these hours, though the situation at Palermo is far worse.

Is it easy to use the Palermo and Catania airports?

While you probably won't get lost at either one, it's good to keep a few things in mind. At Palermo's Falcone-Borsellino (Punta Raisi) Airport, your baggage will have to be checked at customs if it hasn't yet been inspected and you're arriving from a non-EC country. A simple matter, but first you have to find your luggage, which will arrive in the international baggage claim area, not the baggage carousel assigned to your domestic connecting flight from Rome or Milan. So if your baggage was "checked through" directly from New York, Toronto or Sydney, and you haven't seen it since then, you will have to claim it in the international area, which is clearly indicated. Catania's Filippo Eredia (Fontanarossa) airport is organized in a similar manner but the terminal itself is smaller than Palermo's.

In the event that your bags aren't found in either claims area, it is possible that they'll arrive with the next flight if you flew with Alitalia from Rome or Milan. If the next scheduled flight arrives only an hour after yours, it's probably worth waiting to see if your bags arrive with it before going on to Palermo or Catania.

Owing largely to their size, Sicily's airports are quite efficient. In addition to those at Palermo and Catania, there is a smaller airport at Trapani with flights to Palermo, Lampedusa and Pantelleria. The airport of Reggio di Calabria (on the other side of the Strait of Messina) has flights for Rome and Milan.

How do I get to the city from the airport?

Unless somebody is meeting you at the airport, you'll have three choices: bus, train (in Palermo), taxi or rental car. The Palermo airport is about a thirty minute drive from the city; the Catania airport is about twenty minutes from Catania. Buses depart about every thirty minutes until around 10:00 PM, and are less frequent after that hour. Departures from Catania airport are less frequent generally, but there's usually a departure every forty-five or sixty minutes during the day. Fares are about €5.00. Trains depart for Palermo from that city's airport once every hour between around 6 AM and midnight, stopping at the Notarbartolo and central train stations in Palermo. The Palermo buses stop in the city at Via Lazio and then Piazza Ruggero Settimo (Politeama Theatre) before proceeding to the central train station; the Catania buses go near the city center, but not necessarily through it, before proceeding to the large piazza near the train station, which itself is not very far from the center of town. For further bus departure information, telephone in Palermo 091-586351, or in Catania 095-536170.

From either airport, fixed fares for taxi travel to the center of town are less than €50.00. Rates vary, with evening fares being slightly higher than the daytime ones.

Car rental agencies are located at both airports. Reservations are suggested, especially during the busy summer months. Most of the airport car rental services have branches in the cities as well. Please note that most available automobiles have manual, rather than automatic, transmissions.

How do I get there by train or ship?

Some trains from Rome and Naples go directly to Sicily, which means you won't have to change trains along the way. If, however, your train's ultimate destination is Reggio Calabria, you'll have to get off at a small locality called Villa San Giovanni (about 15 minutes before Reggio) and take a ferry across the Strait to Messina to the railway station there. The ferry service is on the lower level of the train station; the crossing takes about 30 minutes. (In the event of a ferry strike, you may be able to travel via hydrofoil with one of the operators near the station.) If you're coming by train, you're probably arriving from Rome, Naples or Bari. It takes an hour or more to transport the train onto a ferry at the Strait of Messina, cross the Strait, and unload it in Sicily. A faster (InterCity) train will arrive in Palermo from Messina in about three hours. The stretch from Messina to Catania takes half as long. Within Sicily, we generally recommend trains for travel along the coasts, or for certain inland trips of less than ninety minutes' duration, and then only to major cities or towns located near their respective stations. This means the lines: Palermo to Termini Imerese to Cefalù, Messina to Taormina to Catania to Siracusa, Palermo to Agrigento, and vice versa.

From Palermo, it's easier to reach Trapani or Enna by bus. Enna is also more easily reached by bus from Catania, though there is a train line. These buses are usually blue and depart from points very near the train stations.

By ship, your port of arrival will depend on where you're coming from. Most ships from Naples arrive at Palermo (it's about 11 hours by overnight ferry and 4 hours by hydrofoil), while most ships from Malta arrive at Catania. Though they are hardly tourist sights, Sicily's ports are conveniently located near urban centers.

Once you arrive in larger cities, we suggest that you purchase a detailed city map, available from most newsstands. Various local bus routes depart from the train stations (local buses are orange), but as these are indicated by street, you'll have to know precisely where you want to go if you wish to arrive (at your hotel or anywhere else) without a lot of unnecessary hassle.

What's the best route by car?

Villa San Giovanni, the mainland Calabrian town where you board the ferry for Messsina, is only about six hours from Rome if you take the Autostrada (Route A1 from Rome to Naples, then Route A3 to Villa San Giovanni). The A20 from Messina to Palermo, or the A18 from Messina to Catania, will take you to these cities. Since neither road is yet complete, you may have to follow a few detours, though you aren't likely to lose your way.

What's the best way to travel within Sicily?

That depends on where you're going, what you plan on doing, and how much time you have. You may wish to make use of trains or buses for some trips and a rental car for others.

For local (city) buses, you'll have to purchase a fare ticket which must be stamped in a machine when you board. Newsagents, tobacco vendors, and even some bars, sell these tickets for around €1.00 each, and they're valid for 60-90 minutes from the time they're stamped. Boarding a local bus without a ticket could earn you an immediate $30.00 fine, and some ticket inspectors, especially in Palermo, are not distinguished for their tact or diplomacy. (They get a commission for each fine collected.)

How's the taxi service in town?

It's not bad, though it's never cheap and costs even more after 10 in the evening. The problem for foreigners is that many Sicilian taxi drivers, though congenial, might not be characterized as scrupulously sincere. They may overcharge you if they realize that you don't understand Italian well.

Do you know of any good Italian language courses in Sicily for English speakers?

There's a good site linked from our links page.

If I can't understand most of the menu, how will I know what I'm ordering?

In most restaurants, the staff will be very helpful. Take a look at the culinary terms section of the Food Page, where a number of words and phrases are translated and defined. If you wish, download the page, print it, and take it with you.

What are prices like?

Although our locality pages mention only four star and three star hotels, which cost at least $80.00 per night for a single room, less expensive lodging exists. (Check out the Let's Go series of travel books for useful suggestions.) Meals don't usually cost much in Sicily compared to other regions of Italy; it's possible to order a good seafood meal for $20.00 and a delicious pizza for $9.00. There are some ironies, however. For example, there are pizzerias where beer (either bottled or on tap) costs almost as much as the pizza. Resort areas like Taormina are understandably more expensive than other places. The advantage of larger cities like Palermo and Catania is that they offer a wider range of prices. Gas (petrol) is expensive but public transportation is inexpensive compared to Germany, the US and the UK, although it must be said that Italian train service is not as efficient as what you'll find in those countries.

Is it easy to get ripped off in restaurants and other establishments?

Fortunately, this doesn't happen as often as visitors seem to expect. In restaurants, however, it's sometimes best to order from a written menu, where prices are indicated, instead of ordering from a "verbal" menu that a waiter has described. This isn't always practical because some restaurants (especially better ones) change menus daily and don't bother writing them out. Remember that a nominal "cover" charge is usually included in the price. None of the restaurants mentioned in this site are likely to charge inflated prices, and we've been especially careful to review restaurants in Palermo to ensure that none of those listed engage in misleading pricing practices of any kind. In stores that don't clearly indicate prices of merchandise on display, don't be shy about asking how much an item costs. Simply point to it and ask "Quanto costa?"

What should I wear?

Despite what you may have heard, it does occasionally rain and snow in Sicily, and it's cool on Mount Etna even during the Summer months. Apart from this, keep in mind that it's a good idea to wear comfortable shoes because it's inevitable that you'll be doing a lot of walking. There are a few other points to keep in mind. Italians don't usually wear running or exercise shoes (sneakers) outside the gym; American visitors to Italy are invariably identifiable by the large white sneakers they wear. Women should not wear shorts, or even sleeveless blouses, when they enter Italian churches. (In Italy, men rarely wear short pants.) You may notice that, in general, Italians dress slightly more formally than Americans and North Europeans, though they have some peculiarities of their own which are common enough to represent conformity. (Examples are the unchanging style of young men wearing blue blazers with jeans, young women wearing black miniskirts with black stockings, and older widows wearing black.) Topless bathing is permitted on Italian beaches, but very few Italian girls go topless on beaches near their homes, reserving this habit for their trips abroad; most of the topless sunbathers in Sicily are foreigners.

Will communication be difficult?

If you don't speak Italian, but plan on traveling by yourself or with a small group that won't include an Italian speaker, we suggest learning at least a few Italian words and phrases before you arrive. This will come in handy in more remote parts of Sicily. Even in Palermo and Catania, there aren't many people who speak English, but enough of the folks in airports, hotels and restaurants understand it well enough to make basic transactions go smoothly. Even if you do speak Italian, you might not understand everything the Sicilians are saying to each other, since they may be speaking the local dialect (actually a distinct language), but they all speak Italian. Translations of some common culinary terms will be found on the Food Page.

If my travel agent can't find me an interpreter or guide, can you recommend one?

Best of Sicily doesn't offer general business or travel services, but our email has convinced us that there's a real dearth of competent interpreters and guides. We may be able to recommend an interpreter or guide if you describe your requirements, but availability of these specialists varies greatly. These services are described on a separate page.

How can I make a telephone call to a location outside Italy?

A prepaid or billed telephone card like AT&T, MCI or BT is best. However, you'll still have to make a toll free or local call to make a connection to your service's access number for Italy (see the country list below). From an Italian phone booth, you can do this with a prepaid domestic telephone card (carta telefonica), purchased for less than €6.00 from a tobacco shop, newsagent or (in some cases) bar. Italian residential and hotel telephone rates, based on those of Telecom Italia (the national telecommunications monopoly) are among Europe's highest. We recommend that you avoid using Telecom to make international calls. If possible, make domestic long distance calls (between Italian cities) when rates are lowest. That's between 6:30 PM and 8:00 AM weekdays, after 2:00 PM on Saturdays, or all day Sunday.

Before going to Europe, you may wish to set up a traveler's account with Kallback, whose rates (expressed in US funds) from Italy to Australia are .30 per minute, to Japan .38, to the UK .27, to Canada .29, and to the US just .25.

Here are the toll free numbers in Italy of some major international carriers for calls made "collect" or with a credit card:

How do I transport purchases back home?

Presuming that these are small enough to fit inside your luggage, we suggest, for fragile items like ceramics, that you transport these as carry-on baggage. The red tape involved in a customs exemption claim (for "duty free" items) probably isn't worth the effort in most instances. We do recommend, however, that you bring a meter or two of plastic "bubble wrap" (available at packaging shops like Mailboxes Etc., which also has outlets in Sicily) with you for wrapping fragile items you want to take home. This useful material is lightweight and won't take up much space in your bags, but it's not available from many vendors in Sicily.

What are restaurant, store and museum hours like?

Hours vary greatly from place to place. The most annoying aspect about Sicilian hours, compared to those in Milan and a few other northern cities, is the three-hour afternoon break from 1 till 4, when almost everything is closed except for a few restaurants. Early evening closings are another fact of life here; don't expect to find a supermarket open after 8 PM. Most pharmacies are also closed at night, though a few in each quarter have night schedules to accommodate emergencies. In August, many stores are closed in the afternoons, and some are closed altogether for at least two weeks of August.

In general, principal archaeological sites are open from 9-12 AM and 4-7 PM Monday through Friday, and 9-12 AM Saturday; summer hours may be longer. Museums are open from 9-1 Tuesday through Saturday, and some weekday afternoons. Some are closed Mondays. Many (but not all) churches are open in the morning from 8 till 12, and some are open after 4 PM. Most shops are closed Monday morning and all day Sunday but open 9-1 and again 4-7:30 on other days, including Saturdays. Museums and archeological sites may charge as much as €12.00 for admission. Certain parts of sites belonging to the Catholic Church may also charge an admission, not to enter the church itself but for entrance to a museum or cloister.

Restaurants such as pizzerias are open evenings from around 8 Tuesday through Saturday; many are closed Sunday and Monday. Some restaurants are open for lunch, too, usually from around 12:30 or 1:00. Don't expect to find pizza served at lunchtime, and don't expect to find too many all-night restaurants in Sicily. Speaking of restaurants, some of Palermo's better ones are described at Palermo's Best Restaurants.

During which holidays are these places closed?

Many businesses close for two or three weeks in August, when most Italians go on holiday. It may seem bizarre, but about 70% of the population takes their vacation at the same time, and hardly any work gets done in Italy during that period.

It's worth mentioning holidays, when you'll find most monuments, restaurants and shops closed:

Are train and plane strikes frequent in Italy?

They're not as frequent as many visitors imagine. They usually occur during the Summer or around Christmas and rarely affect all flights or train departures in all regions. Strikes are usually announced during the TV news shows at least 24 hours in advance.

Where can I get more visitor information?

There are information centers in certain locations; in Palermo and Catania, for example, there are information booths at the airports, and in Palermo there are several in the city. At Palermo, Catania and Messina there are also information booths at the main train stations. Staffed by competent tourism specialists, these centers can provide you with up-to-date information on events, attractions and hours in these provinces.

In small towns, you may find a local information office called a "pro loco" which can provide you with news of upcoming local events, nearby sights, and so forth, though it is not likely that the pro loco's staff will speak English.

We suggest the links page for more ideas. Here's a list of provincial and local tourist information offices in the provincial capitals, as well as Taormina and Cefalù:

What's the best travel guide book for somebody planning a visit to Sicily?

The Michelin Green Guide to Sicily, first published in 1998, is one of the better ones we've seen, though the Eyewitness Guide is also very good. These can be ordered through most larger book stores in the English-speaking world (or on our Books About Sicily page). Other excellent guides are described on the Books page.

Which maps are best?

For general road maps, we recommend those published by the Touring Club Italiano. These are available at book stores in larger Sicilian cities like Palermo and Catania. A legend explains symbols in Italian, English, German, Spanish and French.

Where can I find an internet access point to check my email?

Unfortunately, though these exist in Palermo and Catania, they're not easy to find. Most are really nothing more than small photocopy shops or computer service stores located on side streets away from areas frequented by travelers. Better hotels may offer internet access to their guests. Visit our Internet Access page for a (short) list of services.

Where's the best shopping?

In general, we recommend that you purchase souvenirs and craft items, such as ceramics, at shops that specialize in the manufacture of these objects. A souvenir shop or stand that sells everything from porcelain to ceramics to medieval-style marionettes is not likely to have the selection and quality of items available from specialty shops that make the wares they sell. That said, there are some shops at Taormina and Monreale which retail the products of various manufacturers and offer a good choice of items.

The specialty guideline also applies to fashion items. A leather shop, even if it is not large, will offer a better choice and quality of merchandise than a department store that sells various items, though department stores in Italy are not very large. So it's best to buy things like silks (neckties, scarves) and leathers (belts, purses) at specialty shops. In fact, specialty shops are the norm in Italy, whatever you're looking for, and the prices are usually good.

What are country retreats (aziende turistiche) and what are they like? And what about renting a villa?

Visit the Villa page to read about agriturismo and villas.

What do the mineral spring resorts offer?

In contrast to the rustic setting of the typical country retreat, hot mineral springs and mud baths (or, if you prefer, "holistic mud treatment centers") are health resorts that offer a range of therapeutic treatments. These naturally vary according to the resort you choose. Some offer massage therapy and exercise programs (even something called "passive exercise classes"), as well as diet counseling, while others specialize almost exclusively in hot mud therapy. The locations of the resorts themselves vary greatly. The older establishments at Termini Imerese and Sciacca are actually in small but crowded cities, while the one at Castellamare del Golfo is in a charming coastal town, and the one at Sclafani Bagni is in the country. The facilities are usually very good. A stay in one of these resorts may be relaxing, and will certainly cost more than a sojourn in the best hotels in Sicily. It may even yield a few passing health benefits, and may make you feel better, but don't expect miracles. The experts still recommend a consistent diet and fitness program as the best way to maintain good health.

I would like to learn to cook Sicilian food. Are there any cooking schools in Sicily with English-speaking instructors?

The nearest thing is a cooking tour program described on our links page.

Are the cities safe?

As far as violent street crime is concerned, Italy's largest cities are quite safe compared to London, Paris, Moscow, and certainly New York and Los Angeles. Since purse snatchings are commonplace (the creative Italians even use motor scooters to ride by as they snatch handbags), women are advised against carrying large purses, especially in the cities. Though assaults are rare, they do occur, especially in certain parts of Palermo and Catania. An attractive young woman walking around some parts of these cities alone after 10:00 PM could be a tempting lure for an unsavory male. (As we describe below, many younger Sicilian men entertain a rather unenlightened view of women.) The prevalence of violent street crime shouldn't be exaggerated, though its potential presence is worth a bit of prudence.

Organized crime doesn't pose a threat to visitors. Mafia shootings are quite rare; you're far more likely to see one described in the newspaper or on the evening news than to witness one firsthand.

How do I contact my country's consulate in Sicily?

Most countries' consulates general for southern Italy are based in Naples or Rome. However, there are a few vice consulates in Palermo and Catania, and also a number of consular representatives --agents or honorary consuls who can help you out in an emergency but not in bureaucratic matters. In most cases, unfortunately, consular agents and honorary consuls are Italians, rather than citizens of the nations they represent. Don't expect full consular services from the representatives indicated here. Here's a list of addresses:

Any special advice for a woman traveling alone (or with a few other women) in Sicily?

There's no cause for paranoia. Just remember one thing: Even at the beach, in a hotel or in other public places, keep in mind that gestures or actions which might not be considered provocative in Canada, the United States, Australia or Northern Europe could be construed this way in Italy. That's why a Sicilian woman might seem somewhat reserved when she's alone with a man she doesn't know, even in a business situation. We discuss this below. (But it's not only a Sicilian thing; a lot of guys in Milan, Turin and Rome behave the same way.)

What other cultural differences will I encounter?

Many cultural differences are so subtle that you'll hardly notice them during your stay in Sicily. It's probable that the most pronounced difference will be the Sicilians' unorthodox sense of time and priorities, and the long afternoon "closure" from 1 till 4. The pace of life is slow, and schedules seem to have little importance. Though this condition exists throughout Italy, it is more evident in Sicily than anywhere else. Realistically, such inefficiency doesn't usually bother vacationers who, after all, are in Sicily to take a break from daily pressures and have a good time. But you'll observe other things, too.

Drawing the Line: Throughout Sicily, and especially in Palermo, most people seem reluctant to stand on line in an orderly fashion. They often crowd around bank teller windows, ticket booths, food stands and cashiers with little respect for the fact that somebody else arrived there first. (This even happens at McDonalds, usually the epitome of efficient service.)

Common Courtesy: Italians are generally nice people, but Italian society is essentially socialist in its outlook. Certain employees of public services are sometimes careless about the way they treat customers. This is something you may notice in the post office or elsewhere; the bus ticket inspectors are infamous for this. Like many Sicilians, they seem to presume that everybody is dishonest.

Restaurants: In most restaurants you'll be charged a "coperto" (cover charge) equal to one dollar or pound for each person seated. This nominal charge appears to have originated as the fee for the staff to"cover" the table with a table cloth and serve bread. Tipping is separate, of course, but the coperto persists because Italians are notoriously cheap tippers. One of the reasons that many waiters prefer foreign customers, particularly Canadians and Americans, is that these diners are usually more generous.

While we're on the subject of restaurants, don't be surprised by the lack of a bread plate at your place, and don't bother asking for one because the staff may not know what you're talking about. The bread will arrive in a basket or plate from which you should serve yourself; don't worry about getting crumbs on the tablecloth. It's expected.

Air Mail: Certain public services are rather inefficient. The postal service, for example, is terrible, with frequent delays and theft. If you have to send anything much more valuable than a post card or letter to another country, use a courier service. There are MBE (Mail Boxes Etc.) outlets in larger cities that can send a package abroad via UPS or FedEx, and they also handle Western Union money transfers; these are more efficient than bank wire transfers, which in Sicily can take weeks. Consult the local phone book for an MBE store near you. If you do send a post card, you may have to purchase your stamps at a tobacco shop because post office windows, which usually have long lines but no automated stamp meters, sometimes run out of stamps in certain denominations (usually the ones you need).

The Law: Italy has peculiar laws that could affect you as a traveler. These laws are not especially cumbersome but (to Americans in particular) some may seem like invasions of personal privacy. In practice, Italian laws presume that everybody is dishonest (and therefore guilty of something).

For example, if the Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza), a military agency with wide-ranging powers, ask to see your receipt (scontrino) as you exit a restaurant or shop, it is because they want to ensure that the appropriate taxes were charged. Sales tax (value added tax) in Italy is almost 20%, and is included in the purchase price of most goods and services. Not having a receipt doesn't mean you're in any trouble, but it could mean an on-the-spot audit and court summons for the merchant. A bit bizarre, since the uniformed officers issuing the summons are armed with fully automatic sub machine guns.

When you check in to a hotel, the desk clerk will ask to see your passport, which he may hold for a few hours since he is required by law to compile a form that must be presented to the police. (You may provide a photocopy to avoid this inconvenience.) This is actually an ineffective anti-Mafia law, enforced throughout Italy, intended to track criminals' movements. The senators who proposed this law apparently forgot that criminals travel on fake identification documents.

In the event that you visit a library or public archive, you'll be asked to complete a form which requests information such as your profession and place of birth, as though this personal information were somehow relevant to your consultation of books or other items. Surprising they don't ask your weight.

Money: One of the funnier aspects of spending your money in Sicily (until it happens to you) is that many supermarkets and other stores often cannot change a large bank note. (Twenty euros are less than twenty US dollars.) Supermarket cashiers will frequently lose a sale before they'll try to break a larger euro note. Owners of smaller establishments prefer to pocket as many of the immediate profits as they can, as soon as they possibly can, and in their hasty greed fail to consider the needs of their customers. They may even presume that you'll wait for ten or twenty minutes until a customer comes along who has the smaller notes the store needs to change your larger one! Fortunately, the change problem is less severe at restaurants, hotels and other establishments that serve foreigners.

Public Lust: During the passeggiata (afternoon stroll) in larger Southern cities, it's not unusual for undisciplined young men to call out to attractive young women they don't know with remarks like "Bella!" and "Pupa!" Sicilian women are quite accustomed to such behavior, though they usually don't encourage it. In itself, such practices may seem innocuous, but they do reflect the persistent attitudes of some Italian men accustomed to viewing women as potential sexual conquests rather than social equals. Throughout Italy, sexual harrassment is somewhat common in the workplace (or at least moreso than in the US and the UK), and southern men seem to do it more openly than northerners.

You might observe that many Italian women, though well educated, conform to "traditional" roles in society. Some of these things are quite subtle, others less so. Legally, of course, Italian women have the same rights as men. Socially, that's not always the case. In such an old society, old habits disappear slowly.

Other local practices are described in the Customs section.

How much time should I plan to spend in Sicily?

That obviously depends on what you want to see or do while you're here, but here are some general guidelines. Let's say that you're interested in a general "tour" of some major sights and cities (Palermo, Cefalù, Etna, Siracusa, Agrigento, etc.). If you're driving, eight days would be sufficient; if you're traveling by train (and occasionally bus), you might want to add a few more days. Palermo is the only city whose sights usually require more than a day to see (we recommend two). On the other hand, if you want to spend some time at the beaches, or just take more time to visit places at a more leisurely pace, two weeks would be good. Of course, there are those who prefer to spend an entire "season" in Sicily by renting a seaside villa for three or four weeks. A great idea, but remember that Sicily is usually quite hot during July and August, and that some beaches are particularly crowded in August, when most Italians go on holiday en masse.

Foreign students who choose to study in Italy for a semester or two usually attend universities in Rome, Florence or Bologna. Hardly anybody comes from abroad to study in Sicily (at the Univesrity of Palermo, for example), since the universities here aren't particularly distinguished except for highly specialized historical or archeological studies.

Besides Catholic churches, are there other places of worship in Sicily?

There are several Orthodox churches (not to be confused for Byzantine Catholic ones), two Anglican churches (in Palermo and Taormina), several mosques, and a few Pentecostal and Mormon congregations, as well as Waldensian parishes. You'll find these listed in the phone book or the city guide (Tutto Città) as chiese di altri culti. There are no synagogues in Sicily.

When's the best time to visit Sicily?

For general sightseeing, we recommend the periods October through November and March through June. For skiing on Mount Etna, late January and early February are best. If you're a dedicated vacationer who can't get enough sunshine and beaches, we recommend June through September. Remember, however, that July, August and the first two weeks of September are extremely hot, and bear in mind that almost everybody in Italy goes on vacation in August, making for crowded beaches during that month.

Where can I get accurate historical and cultural information on Sicily?

You might start with our Magazine, updated monthly, or our Links or Books pages, but most of the cultural and historical information on the Internet, and even the information found in most magazines, is notoriously inaccurate. We suggest a bookstore or public library. Remember that guide books are not history books; we even found one on Sicily that describes Count Roger de Hauteville as an Englishman! Some of the best histories are published in Italian and available in Sicilian book stores (particularly those in Palermo along Via Maqueda between the Quattro Canti and Cathedral, or Gulliver on Via Roma near Piazza San Domenico).

Here are a few suggestions if you don't read Italian. Denis Mack Smith's two-volume work, A History of Sicily, is excellent, though flawed in certain respects (with outdated geological and anthropological information, and a few uninformed observations about organized crime). The one-volume edition is a condensed version. Steven Runciman's landmark work, The Sicilian Vespers, is a good medieval history of Sicily's influence on European events, while John Julius Norwich's book, The Normans in Sicily, concentrates on this region in particular. Donald Matthew's book, The Norman Kingdom of Sicily, is a good complementary work, though much more analytical, intended for the more dedicated reader. Harold Acton wrote two magnificent books on the Bourbons' reign (1734-1860), and Giuseppe Tomasi Di Lampedusa's book, The Leopard, though fictional, shows a keen insight into Sicilian life around 1860; it's a kind of Sicilian Gone With the Wind. Denis Mack Smith's Italy and Its Monarchy is without doubt the best history of Italy from 1860 to 1946 ever published; it picks up where Acton and Di Lampedusa leave off. Robert Katz's book, The Fall of the House of Savoy, is a detailed complementary work. The Italian Campaign, by John Strawson, is an analytical but interesting account of the Allied campaign in Sicily and throughout Italy; this is military history at its finest. Claire Sterling's book, Octopus, is one of the best investigative works on the Mafia. Edith Hamilton's Mythology is a useful guide for anybody seeking a greater understanding of a topic so important in ancient Sicilian life.

Even the most astute historical authors don't agree with each other on everything, but there are certain books which should be read with a very critical eye because of the number of research errors or social biases which have crept into their pages. Unfortunately, Quatriglio's book, A Thousand Years in Sicily, is one such publication. Local histories of Sicilian cities, brochures on certain historical sights, privately published histories and genealogical publications usually are not very good sources of accurate information for anybody seeking a genuine knowledge of Sicily's complex history. Likewise the publications of many Italian social and cultural organizations, either inside or outside Italy, whose views are too often colored by anecdote and cliché rather than proven historical fact. Mario Puzo's books (The Godfather series, The Sicilian), written primarily for a foreign audience, make some accurate observations about Sicilian life, but also enough inaccurate ones to have made these novels seem comical to Sicilians; it's best not to confuse historical fiction with historical fact. Gay Talese and Gerre Mangione have written lengthy and colorful "family histories" whose historical and sociological "facts" are not always accurate.

Where can I find the best dance clubs and other night life?

Most of the dance clubs (discos) in Sicily's larger cities are located in out-of-the-way places, often in buildings that don't look very exciting from the outside. Many have seasonal schedules. It's easiest to ask the staff at your hotel where to find the ones closest to you.

Where's Sigonella?

Sigonella, often referred to by its American residents as "Sig," is the United States Naval Air Station near Catania. The presence of this military base is a reminder that one thing that hasn't changed in thirty centuries of Sicilian history is this island's strategic importance. Sigonella, the last U.S. military base in Sicily, stands on land leased from the Italian Republic by the United States government for tens of millions of dollars annually, and according to treaty the base must employ a certain number of Italian citizens for its day-to-day operations. After the Italian government (and government-controlled services) and Fiat, the US Government is the largest employer in Sicily. Military bases are not usually indicated on commercial maps, so we've chosen not to indicate Sigonella on our map of Sicily. For further information, visit their web site at www.sicily.navy.mil.

Can you offer any advice for physically challenged (handicapped) visitors or those with special needs?

We have a page dedicated to the topic of Sicilian travel for physically challenged visitors.

Do you have information on events?

Our events page describes events which occur annually around Sicily. You'll have to find more detailed schedules on your own, but we suggest good methods for doing so.