Where to study Italian in Sicily?

I studied somewhere else in Italy (Marche) but I was told the school in Taormina is very good. Google will surely help you.

Thanks Ben, I've already researched the language schools in all three towns. I'm just keen to hear other people's impressions of which towns would be more interesting, relaxing, vibrant, less touristy to live in for a week.

Catania is a 'normal' city...the liveliest,the most local and the least 'touristy'.

Siracusa is a small city.More interesting 'sights' than Catania,very pleasant to walk in..and so,more touristy than Catania.The most relaxing of the three for me.

Taormina is s small town that relies 100% on tourism.Very touristy obviously ;-) Very expensive too....and not a massive amount to do (though there is the beach nearby,if you like that).

On the Aeolians..want to do you want to do there?

All of the islands are quite different,with diverse pros and cons....

plan to take the first week to learn Italian (even if it's just a little bit!)

It will be just a little bit. Probably not enough to justify the expense, or the need to stay in one place for 5 days (and the time you won't be sight-seeing in that place) or to have much impact on your ability to communicate with locals.

You may be able to ask a few more questions in Italian.
You're unlikely to understand the answers. :)
Your time and money are, imho, better spent on other activities.

Thanks for your perspective. :-)

I've wanted to study Italian for years and don't have much time this trip, so that's why I'm squeezing in a week rather than moving to a city for six months of immersion.

I also really like plonking myself in one spot for a few days, to feel a bit more like a local and have a break from being on the move.

I'll be coming from a week in Iceland, with side trips to Berlin and Copenhagen, so it's a mad trip! :-)

I'm also craving a chilled spot - somewhere with a beach nearby, not too hectic - that's beautiful to wander around. So that's probably Syracusa or Taormina. I'm answering my own question here...

It all comes down to preference, but I take your point about the lessons.:-)

I recently spent a week in Siracusa and really enjoyed it. There are probably only 2-3 days worth of attractions, but we were looking to relax, go to the market and generally soak up old Italian atmosphere as it sounds like you are after. It is admittedly pretty touristy in Ortigia, but you can escape this pretty easily by heading over to the mainland.

Thanks Luca,

Probably the usual site seeing... beach walks, swims, mud baths.

I've been told you can get quite close to the crater on Stromboli. Might look into that...

I'm thinking of a 2-3 night stay on the islands.