In sunny Palermo (1 night), we spend a leisurely afternoon exploring colorful piazzas and the spectacular Duomo of Monreale. Traveling into the heart of Sicily, we stop near Regaleali. A friend invites us into his kitchen for a special treat—a taste of the renowned local wines and a cooking instruction. Later in the day, we drive to the Valley of the Temples near Agrigento (2 nights). We'll walk among Greek temples that date from 400 BC and are scattered amid lovely hills with wildflowers, herds of sheep and the sea in the distance.

By ferry we move on to Lipari, largest of he Aeolian Islands. We'll have time for walks through olive plantations and vineyards, plus some cafe-hopping and shopping.

Clinging to the cliffs over the Ionian Sea, Taormina (3 nights) welcomes us back to Sicily with Mt. Etna's snow-capped cone as a backdrop. We'll explore the town and its Greek theater, then head into the lower foothills of the volcano to reach a breathtaking landscape of lava dunes before a memorable picnic of local specialties. After a final leisurely morning in Taormina, we part company in Catania.