1. Palermo: Sicily's capital attacks your senses in all directions: There's beautiful architecture to admire, delicious food to savor, the sound of traffic everywhere, and people constantly bumping into you. (Yes, you do need to watch out for pickpockets!) Don't miss the Convento dei Cappuccini and its gruesome collection of 8,000 mummified remains and the Piazza Pretoria (known locally as the plaza of shame because of its lascivious fountain.) Also, be sure to try the local specialty: realistic fruit-shaped marzipan known as frutta martorana so named after the nuns at the Martonero monastery who first shaped the marzipan into fruits to impress a visiting archbishop.

2. Monreale: The Cathedral and the cloisters are a must-see. The glittering mosaics contain pure gold!

3. Erice: My favorite hilltop village. It's a haunting and serene respite from the busier tourist sites.

4. Trapani salt flats and Motya: One of our most memorable meals was at the modest trattoria at the ferry terminal to Motya, where we ate seafood while surrounded by beautiful mounds of pure white salt. After lunch we hired a boat and explored the Phoenician/Carthaginian ruins in tiny Motya.

5. Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples: It's easy to believe that one is in Greece and not in Italy when in the Valley of the Temples. It is truly impressive, especially at night.

7. Piazza Armerina: The Villa Romana del Casale has a rich mosaic collection and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

8. Taormina: The most famous Sicilian resort; experience la dolce vita among the rich and famous in this sophisticated town with a view of smoking mount Etna. TIP: Everything is more expensive in Taormina. Try the Hotel Victoria for reasonable rates and personal service.