Is it safe to go to Sicily?
That's a very good question rooted in concerns about street crime, organized crime and the occasional terrorist.

As far as violent street crime is concerned, Sicily's largest cities are quite safe compared to London, Paris, Moscow, and certainly New York and Los Angeles. Since purse snatchings are fairly commonplace (even from motor scooter riders who 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. A young woman walking around some parts of these cities alone after 10:00 PM could be a tempting lure for an unsavory male. The prevalence of violent street crime shouldn't be exaggerated, but its potential presence is worth a bit of prudence.

Organized crime, with its commercial and political effects, is not a consideration for visitors.

Italy is an EU and NATO member nation with close ties to the United Kingdom, the United States and other nations, but it has traditionally been rather isolated from most of the wars and terrorism in the Middle East and North Africa. Even the effects of several Balkan wars and certain Libyan activities have had relatively little effect on Italy considering this nation's proximity to such trouble spots. Given the world's changing realities, any nation is a potential terrorist target, but airport security in Italy is quite high compared to what you'll encounter in most nations.

Street protests occur in Italian cities occasionally, and may block traffic for an hour or so, but these are essentially localized affairs. The non-violent protesters in cities like Palermo and Catania usually plan their impromptu "revolutions" to break for lunch or dinner. Mamma's pasta is far more important to them than the inconvenience of an entire day spent promoting seething social change, and these events rarely disturb business activity. The last popular revolution in Sicily was the War of the Vespers in the thirteenth century, and we don't predict another one any time soon.

In planning your trip, check out your country's guidelines for travel abroad, and consult any travel advisories issued by your foreign ministry (or, for Americans, the U.S. State Department). Most have websites. In our changing world, prudence and a low profile are good policy for any traveler. Enjoy your trip.