I believe you can get from Valetta to Pozallo or Licata in the south of Sicily quite easily. I believe there is also a Valetta - Catania option. http://uk.geocities.com/my_ferries/malta.html or http://www.virtuferries.com/

You can then get to Cagliari from either Palermo or Trapani. http://uk.geocities.com/my_ferries/sicily.html

Having spent a week on Malta some years ago, and two weeks in Sicily earlier this year, I would say I far prefer the latter. I will definitely return to Sicily as I feel there is so much I still wish to do (Visit the Aeolian islands, climb Etna, Visi modica and Ragusa).

I stayed for a week in Siracusa (possibly too long) and a week in Cefalu'. For me, the highlights were Selinunte - which I greatly preferred to Agrigento, Segeste, the mosaics at Piazza Armerina and Monreale. I wrote a trip report on the two weeks in Sicily - it is more a personal diary/trip momento than a serious tour guide for travelers, but if interested it is on : http://www.microbes.plus.com/sicily2005.htm

Tim, Hampshire, UK