Sicily recommendations please

[Allfurcoatandnoknickers]

We fly to Catania in a few weeks for a week and are staying midway between Syracuse and Catania.
We’re a group of six- kids in 20’s and respective partners. We’ve hired a car and looking at recommendations of places to visit as well as Syracuse which is no 1 on our list!

Nowhere near where you're staying (and I'm not sure if I would be willing to risk the Sicilian roads for this long a drive) but I have to put my two pennies worth in for the archeological park near Agrigento.

It's called Valley of the Temples and has some fantastic Greek temples. I have to say though, when we went it was 35+ degrees even at 9am and it required a two or three mile walk with no shade. We had set off to be there by opening time and it still felt more like the Valley of Death than the valley of the temples. That plus a long car ride and it might not be worth it.

Edited for grammar.

Go to beautiful baroque towns of Noto (visit Caffe Sicilia for best almond granita and other goodies- featured on Netflix so a little touristy but still amazing) and Modica (famous for its chocolate shops, made in the Mexican style at low temperatures, they let you do loads of tasting).

If you are visiting Syracuse make sure you go to Ortigia. It’s very beautiful with lots of places to eat and drink, a good market and boat trips out to the sea caves. The Archeological park in Syracuse is excellent too.

Thanks all- Ortigia and Noto already recommended so that’s confirmed it! All sounds great- can’t wait!

Mount Etna is an absolute must-do, as is the Greek Ampitheatre at Taormina. Castelmola has great views aswell. The beaches below Taormina - Mazzaro and Isola Bella - are beautiful aswell and worth a visit.