I've been to Taormina and it was wonderful. Very friendly people.

If you or your wife are fond of mysteries, you might want to get in the mood for Siciliy by reading some of the Inspector Montalbano books by Andrea Camilleri. These books have made me want to go back. Gives you a good flavor of Siciliy, as does Anthony Bordain's visit there for the show Parts Unknown. You can find these on YouTube. Not the No Reservations show.