[hyde]

Sicily is different than Italy. Taomina is a cool city built on the side of a Mountain with a cable car down to the beach.
Head inland and you feel like you lost a century or so. AND the real bonus is the volcano, Mt Etna is currently erupting. I would love to see that. When I was there last it had erupted a few years before and there were wide black tracks down the side, with snow on the cap...damn scenic.

And I just got back from Rome and Venice. Loved Venice. If you stay on the Lido ( an island a mile off shore) you get the beach and a short boat trip to the city. I posted a trip report in the lounge. Check out the Westin Excelsior for beach front luxury.

hyde