Sicily

Landing in an environmentally friendly marina is every sea lover's dream. There are two facilities in Sicily that not only offer the necessary services, from electricity to refuelling, but also operate in an environmentally sustainable manner: Capo d'Orlando Marina and Marina del Nettuno, in Messina. Both Blue Flag 2022, they boast the best waters on the entire Messina coast.

A tasty delicacy enveloped in a light, bright green hue, the Bronte Pistachio is good on its own, or when used in recipes savory and sweet. Whether fresh or dried, it is perhaps the most precious ingredient in Sicilian cuisine, and symbolizes its town of origins, Bronte, in the Province of Catania. Indeed, the pistachio is so important to Bronte’s economy that it has long been graced with the nickname "green gold."

Maupassant wrote that “Sicily is the land of oranges, of flowering soil whose air, in spring, is all perfume”. Prove him right while strolling through the mythical land that everyone wanted to conquer for its beauty and wealth. One of the treasures to be discovered are Sicilian blood oranges. They are cultivated exclusively on the Catania Plain and in parts of Enna and Siracusa and were awarded the PGI mark by the European Union. An inimitable taste combined with very special nutritional properties: these fruits are full of goodness!

Modica is a charming town located at the confluence of two rivers in the province of Ragusa, famous for its artistic treasures, but also for an ancient tradition of confectionery. Although it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List together with the Val di Noto in 2002 because of its important baroque architectural historical centre, Modica is known around the world for its chocolate.

Why choose if you can have them all? There are so many beautiful beaches in Sicily, you could spend the whole trip just exploring the coastline. Between limpid, shimmering coloured waters, postcard views and natural wonders, the Sicilian sea offers emotions. This is where to start filling the mind with indelible memories.

This is the Ferrovia Circumetnea, an ancient railway line that dates back to the end of the 19th century. It travels along the slopes of Mount Etna, a Unesco World Heritage Site, to discover Europe's highest active volcano from an unusual viewpoint.

A short walk through the streets of the old town is enough to appreciate why UNESCO decided to protect its architecture by declaring it a World Heritage Site: Catania is an impressive open-air setting. We don't wish to give away any spoilers, but be prepared to shop in popular markets you thought no longer existed, to dive into crystal-clear waters lapping at beaches of sand and black volcanic stone, and savour dishes of a culinary tradition that will make you abandon any intention of dieting.

A city of Phoenician origins, then ruled by the Romans, the Arabs, the Normans and the Swabians, it displays evidence of its glorious past everywhere you look. Arab and Norman styles blend with Baroque and Art Nouveau in a mix of rare beauty, to be admired with both surprise and wonder. Among the largest in Europe, this coastal metropolis captivates with its colours, scents and flavours that overpower the senses and animate the streets. Decadent and sumptuous, ancient and contemporary, authentic yet bewitching: watch out, Palermo will get into your heart and soul and never leave.

The charm of Magna Graecia, between sea and history Located on the south-eastern coast of Sicily, Syracuse has a history stretching back thousands of years. It was the island’s capital for centuries, until it was conquered by the Arabs in 878 AD. Its historical centre, corresponding to the island of Ortigia, is rich in Baroque buildings, most of which were damaged and rebuilt following the violent earthquake of 1693. Ortigia is considered to be an open-air museum: it houses the Cathedral, the Maniace Castle from the Swabian-Norman period, the Temple of Apollo and the Temple of Athena, and Piazza Archimede with its fountain of the same name. From here, it is a 30-minute walk to the Neapolis Archaeological Park. In the Greek Theatre, dating back to the 5th century BC, it is still possible to watch wonderful performances. Particularly fascinating is the Orecchio di Dioniso (Ear of Dionysus), a stone cave so called because of its shape, famous for its special acoustic effect. Moving south, stop in Noto, Italy's Baroque capital, and Marzamemi, a characteristic fishing village famous for its “tonnara” (tuna fishery) and light-coloured stone houses. Among the most beautiful beaches, besides Cala Rossa, Arenella and Fontane Bianche, we recommend Calamosche, located within the Vendicari Natural Oasis. A stop at Portopalo and its Spiaggia dei due mari (Beach of the Two Seas), overlooking the uninhabited island of Capopassero, is a must.

A natural terrace on the sea bursting with charm and history, Taormina is every tourist's daydream. A stone's throw from the strait that separates Sicily from the Italian peninsula, on a natural terrace overlooking the Ionian Sea, lies the beautiful Taormina, deriving its name from the ancient Tauromenion; an ideal place where lovers of history, art and beauty can indulge their passion.

Marsala, the town of wine and salt Marsala is the name of a town, and also a wine. Both are elegant and rich in history. The town is enclosed within the ramparts of the 16th century, when it experienced its own Renaissance that enriched it with palaces, churches and monasteries. Wine is the product that made it world-famous, thanks partly to the vision of an English merchant who adapted it to British tastes. In the beautiful old town you can visit the vestiges of its past, as well as the historic wine cellars that uphold the prestige of its finest product, while on the coast salt is produced in the spectacular salt pans. Amid Baroque and nature Those who approach from Porta Nuova are greeted by a string of beautiful Renaissance and Baroque buildings, such as the Monastery of San Pietro, which houses the Civic Museum, with an archaeological section and an area dedicated to the Risorgimento. Garibaldi and the Thousand landed at Marsala to accomplish the feat of the Unification of Italy. A little further on you come to Piazza della Repubblica, Marsala's gathering place, with the beautiful Palazzo VII Aprile with its clock tower and Baroque cathedral - although the façade was not actually completed until 1956. Next door is the Tapestry Museum, where eight Flemish tapestries, a gift from a Spanish king, are on display. A few steps away is the Convento del Carmine, now the Museum of Contemporary Painting, with works by various Italian artists including Cassinari, Maccari, Marchegiani, Pomodoro, Sassu, Sironi, as well as temporary exhibitions. To immerse yourself in Marsala's more ancient past, visit the Baglio Anselmi Archaeological Museum, in the building of a former winery on the seafront. Several artefacts are on display, recounting the foundation of the city (then called Lilybaeum) by exiles from the Phoenician colony on the island of Mothia. Don't miss the wreck of a Punic ship that was probably shipwrecked during the battle of the Egadi Islands in the First Punic War; it is located off the Isola Lunga near Punta Scario. There are also Roman mosaics and an extraordinary collection of amphorae documenting trade in antiquity. The museum visit is completed in the Archaeological Park with the Roman Insula, the site of a large Roman villa from the 3rd century AD with baths, cisterns and the remains of an early Christian necropolis. The bustling hub of Marsala is its central Fish Market, which has recently been renovated. By day, it is the place where the catch from the Stagnone and the Strait of Sicily comes in, and by night, it is the centre of nightlife where you can dine and stay up late. The Marsala wine that pleased the English Wine has always been produced in Marsala, since Phoenician times, but it was towards the end of the 18th century that an English merchant, John Woodhouse, sent a few barrels of local wine to England to be tasted by his customers, adding, however, a dose of brandy so that the wine would not spoil during the voyage. This is how the Marsala we know today was born, a liqueur wine much appreciated by the English who imported it in great quantities from then on, making the fortune of local producers: Florio, Rallo, Donnafugata, Pellegrino, whose historic cellars are still located in the centre of Marsala. The Stagnone Reserve and Mozia The Stagnone Reserve is a lagoon to the north of Marsala, two-thousand hectares of shallow and very salty waters with four islands: the Big Island, which acts as a barrier to the lagoon, the island of Santa Maria, a strip of land, the Schola (meaning “school”), because in Roman times it housed a school of rhetoric, where Cicero is said to have taught when he was quaestor of the city of Lilybaetano, and Mothia (Mozia), an island on which a Phoenician city stood from the 8th century BC, which ancient sources describe as rich in beautiful palaces, one of the most important trading bases in the Mediterranean antiquity. Conquered by Dionysius of Syracuse, Mothia was destroyed in 397 B.C. and never rebuilt, so its ruins are “intact”, with no overlays - a true paradise for archaeologists. The survivors in fact founded Lilybaeum, present-day Marsala. The island of Mozia now belongs to the Whitaker Foundation, an English wine producer which bought it and started excavations in the early 20th century, and it is open for visits. The salt pans of Marsala and the windmills On the coast to the north of the city, overlooking the Stagnone, are the Salt Pans of the Marsala Ettore and Infersa Lagoon, one of the most spectacular places on the west coast of Sicily, with stretches of water that take on different colours depending on the season, against which you can see the outlines of windmills surrounded by mounds of white salt. It is a place that is not only very poetic and picturesque, but also of great historical and environmental interest, structured to give visitors the all-round salt experience: here one can take walks along the salt pans, visit mills that are still in operation, enjoy tastings, manually harvest salt with the salt workers and dive into pools that are not in production, but still fed by the hydraulic circuit, where one can float in salt solutions with different concentrations and lie on the salt crust.

Avola is a town that enchants for the nature that surrounds it, for the ancient history that has left traces in its architecture, for its flavours, but above all for its sea. Wild orchids still bloom here and the air smells of thyme, heather and rosemary. The heart of the village welcomes you with its grace and elegance and, between one walk and another, you cannot fail to enjoy a glass of the very famous wine that takes its name from the town: Nero d'Avola, a great red wine known throughout the world. And then there is the sea, the teeming life of the port, the ancient fishing village with its fresh fish shops and the old Tonnara: located in the small port of Marina d'Avola, it remains as a testimony to this ancient fishery, which for centuries represented the heart of the town's economy and table.

It is no coincidence that it is considered among the most beautiful villages in Italy, with breathtaking views, thanks to its altitude of over 500 metres. To complete the picture, several artistic, historical and urban treasures not least the castle and medieval monuments. If you plan a stay in this area, bring comfortable shoes and layered clothing.

Alongside seven other cities of the Val di Noto (Militello Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo Acreide, Ragusa and Scicli), Caltagirone is part of the late Baroque cities that have been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2002. In addition to enjoying splendid buildings of Sicilian Baroque style, you will be enchanted by the famous ceramics of Caltagirone. Not only can you admire but you can also learn how to make some yourself, by participating in a workshop in one of the town's shops.

Founded in 396 B.C. by Dionysius of Syracuse as a colony of Syracusan mercenaries during the war against Carthage, the ancient city of Tindari owes its name to Tindarus, king of Sparta. From that point in time, Tindari’s history is a succession of tales, myths and legends that left indelible marks in the popular imagination. As a naval base before the arrival of the Carthaginians - followed by the Romans, conquest by the Byzantines and destruction by the Arabs - Tindari is noted as the place of an epic naval battle (the Battle of Tindari) and for the words dedicated to it by Cicero in his In Verrem. Above it all, it is known for the presence of a Black Madonna, still worshipped today in a Santuary occupying an acropolis.

Lipari the sweet, the most placid of the Aeolian Islands At 37 square kilometres, Lipari is the largest of the Aeolian Islands, a World Heritage Site for anyone who has passed through here and, since 2000, for UNESCO as well. The administrative and economic centre of the entire Sicilian archipelago, it is the least “volcanic” of its 7 islands, as evidenced by the weak hydrothermal and fumarole activity in its western part. Take note, however, it is the one that best harmonises the wild Aeolian charm with the convenience of connections and services. The evening nightlife and the flow authenticity of the quarters The urban area stretches between the bars and restaurants overlooking the beautiful Piazza di Sant'Onofrio, also known as Marina Corta, and Via Francesco Crispi, known as Marina Lunga: in between, from May to October, the local nightlife and movida is focused in the evenings. The rest of the island is well-connected to the centre by a network of paved roads, but if you really want to get into its flow of scents, sounds and sights and savour some of that placid sweetness alluded to by its Greek name, Meligunis, we recommend that you go around Lipari by bike or walk around the island, loitering among the dry stone walls of its districts: Canneto, Acquacalda, Quattropani. Like on a film set As well as beach life, if you are planning to delve into the culture and history of Lipari, the advice is to visit sights and monuments by sunset, when the air is cooler and the streets come alive. A must-see is the Chiostro de normanni, part of the first Benedictine monastery built in Sicily at the behest of King Roger II, so well preserved and evocative that you will feel as if you are on the set of a costume film. Equally scenic is the imposing structure of the castle, a veritable acropolis, which stands on a promontory inhabited since the Neolithic period. The city walls ideally enclose the historic centre: in the fortified citadel, an archaeologist's paradise, every nook and cranny in which you stand tells a page of history: it will be like retracing the long list of dominations that have taken place here, leaving an indelible imprint. To explore further, venture through the fifty rooms of the Regional Archaeological Museum, one of the most prestigious in the Mediterranean. Bartholomew's thumb On the other hand, if you are a fan of relics, make a stop inside the Castle at the Cathedral, dedicated to St Bartholomew, the patron saint of the entire archipelago: the church still houses the saint's “sacred thumb”, the only fragment that mysteriously escaped the 833 abduction of the apostle's body by the Beneventois. Now the finger “rests” in a silver reliquary in the shape of a blessing arm, displayed during festivities in honour of the saint. Belvedere hunting For collectors of views, we recommend feasting your eyes on Lipari's most scenic spots, starting from the Acropolis promontory. Worth a souvenir photo, and perhaps even a romantic selfie between sky and sea, the horizon contemplated from Belvedere Quattrocchi, against the backdrop of the Pietra Lunga and Pietra Menalda stacks. Instead, the view from the church of Madonna della Catena in the hamlet of Quattropani, a small, white-plastered Doric-style sanctuary overhanging the sea, is reminiscent of the Cyclades. Finally, the so-called “Semaforo”, the geophysical observatory housed inside a disused Royal Navy traffic light, is worth a hike, from which you will feel as if you are touching both the stacks and the island of Vulcano with your finger. In the mood for trekking... or rather scekking On the other hand, if you pursue the wild soul of the island, one of the most interesting trekking trails is the rather demanding one that leads from the kaolin quarries to the San Calogero thermal baths, along the sulphur fumaroles, a geo-mineral park, up to the 19th-century thermal baths converted into a museum, built on one of the oldest known thermal springs: next to its pools, dating from the Hellenistic period, is a funeral monument of Mycenaean origin. But the most typical experience you can have along these paths is that of scekking, or trekking on the back of a donkey, scecco in Sicilian, proposed by the environmental guides of Lipari: an original way of redeveloping the island's former tenants for tourism, now promoted as guides for slow itineraries, divided into appetising stages where local products can be tasted. Beaches: to each his own stone White and sandy or volcanic and rocky: the coasts and beaches of Lipari satisfy the needs of every bather. You just have to decide which stone to lie on. The entire north-eastern coastline is covered with the dazzling white sand from the pumice and obsidian quarries that descend to the sea: from White Beach, reached by a steep flight of majolica steps, to White Beach, the most fashionable and exclusive establishment, which can only be reached by sea. If you prefer empty and secluded shores, head to the beaches at Pietraliscia or Porticello, or to the Secca della Forbice, in the Cappero area, much loved by the locals.

Erice, city of the goddess Venus One of Sicily's most enchanting locations, Erice is like an eagle's nest from which you can enjoy magnificent views over vast areas of the island as far as the Egadi archipelago and the Tunisian coast. Perched on a cliff 750 metres above sea level, its curious triangular perimeter preserves not only monuments and mediaeval churches of great worth, but also a contemporary art centre and a prestigious scientific institution. Erice is a jewel of art and culture with a thousand-year history, that deserves to be visited at least once in a lifetime. A treasure chest of artistic and archaeological treasures The origins of Erice are very ancient and can be traced back to the Elymian people; it was founded by the union of the local population with Trojan exiles. Beyond the myth of its foundation, Erice was also known to the Romans due to a sanctuary built on a steep cliff, dedicated to the worship of the Greek goddess Aphrodite and the Roman goddess of fertility and love, Venus Ericina, where sacred prostitution was practised. To erase that pagan symbol, a thousand years later, the Norman princes of Altavilla had a manor built, which is still called the Castle of Venus: inside, you can visit an exhibition of archaeological finds from the Archaic to the Norman age. From the castle, through the Balio garden, one enters the elegant mediaeval old town with its carpet-like stone pavement and narrow alleyways, because space within the walls has always been scarce. Here, you must see the church of San Giovanni Battista with its round dome and Norman Gothic portal, the Antonino Cordici museum in the former convent of San Francesco where, among the finds from the Erice necropolis, a head of Aphrodite from the 4th century BC is on display; and the museum of contemporary art La Salerniana in the former convent of San Carlo. Continuing towards Piazza Umberto you will find the Centro per la Cultura Scientifica Majorana (Majorana Centre for Scientific Culture) in the former monastery of San Pietro, which hosts symposia and conferences on various scientific disciplines every year. Towards Porta Trapani is the elegant Piazza Matrice with the 14th-century Cathedral of Erice, with a Gothic pronaos and portal and, inside, majestic naves with pointed arches. The nine Greek marble crosses on the south wall were hung in 1685 and also come from the temple of Venus, whose cult is believed to have been still practised at that time. Beyond the Porta del Carmine along Via dell'Addolorata you come to the so-called Quartiere Spagnolo, which is not a real quarter but a building, that was supposed to house Spanish troops but remained unfinished. Today it is home to permanent exhibitions on Erice and the territory. The view from its terrace will leave you breathless. Trekking on Mount Erice The amenity of the place is such that you will yearn to explore the territory of Mount Erice. To do so, there are the Agro Ericino trails, various trekking routes that start mostly from the arrival of the funicular railway from Trapani to cross the state forest, or to discover the three rock churches scattered around the mountain. Above Erice, there is also a CAI (Club Alpino Italiano - Italian Alpine Club) hut, to explore the area and also go to Mount Cofano and San Vito Lo Capo. Genovesi and martorana fruit: discovering traditional sweets If you have worked up an appetite on your walk, there is no shortage of patisseries in Erice. The town has a strong tradition of sweets whose recipes are said to have been handed down by the nuns of the cloistered monasteries of Erice. The most typical are the genovese, a shortcrust pastry morsel filled with cream that is eaten while still warm; mustazzoli, aromatic biscuits made of hard, crunchy pastry; ripostetti, filled with citron conserve and decorated with pastel-coloured icing; almond morsels, quaresimali and martorana fruit. The most renowned pastry shops are those of Maria Grammatico, which also organise cooking classes, and San Carlo, both in the old city centre. The desserts are well matched with a glass of sweet Marsala from the vineyards grown just below Mount Erice.

It is one of the most-frequented destinations of sun-worshippers, scuba-divers and nature lovers, and it is the last trace of Italian terrain before the African coast. Lampedusa, glorious, sun-bleached island south of Sicily, helps to create the Pelagian Archipelago (“islands of the high sea” in Greek etymology), along with neighboring island Linosa and the Scoglio (a tiny boulder of an island) known as Lampione. A borderland straddling two worlds, Lampedusa contains within it the environmental characteristics of two continents: it is, after all, only 70 miles from Tunisia, and 109 miles from Sicily.

To fully experience its beauty, go for a boat trip or some relaxation on its beaches, free or equipped: admire the panorama of the coast. If you want to enjoy good food, you will be spoilt for choice among restaurants and cafes.

Visiting Etna Park in the middle of summer? Sunset is the best time to visit the volcano; it is less crowded, and the sun is not mercilessly beating down on the lava, with no sign of shade. The golden evening light creates magical views over the edge of the Valle del Bove. There are many ways to enjoy sunset in the Etna National Park, with trails you can explore independently or on a guided excursion, by foot or off-road vehicle. You can even climb the volcano by cable car.

In 2013 by the Traveller’s Choice competition on TripAdvisor. After a decade at the top of the charts, it remains in first place within Europe and among the 10 best in the world. There are several reasons why this small bay enclosing an islet is a true paradise on earth.

White sand, crystal-clear water, the colours of the sky blending into the sea: they look like the Caribbean and yet these are the white beaches of Italy. Especially in the South, the Bel Paese is full of shores with an exotic atmosphere bathed by an iridescent sea that are no less impressive than the Caribbean islands. So, here's where to find the Caribbean in Italy and stretch out on fine white sand.

The beautiful coast of the Province of Trapani is spaced in between enchanting bays and beaches that greet the transparent sea. At turns resounding with tones of green and deep blue, the waters run towards the spectacular panorama of the Egadi Islands. This setting, a dream-come-true, is perfect for every type of vacation, and most of all, it is absolutely magnificent every day of the year. Besides its astounding littoral makeup, the Coast is littered with charming little towns that you should know – Alcamo, Campobello Di Mazara, Castellammare del Golfo, Castelvetrano, Custonaci, Erice, Marsala, Mazara Del Vallo, Petrosino, San Vito lo Capo and Trapani – abuzz with life, sun, the sounds and smells and of the sea, and history and monuments.

If we were to define Southern Italy in a painting, it would be rich in colours, food and nature. This is how we imagine it to be and how it actually is for the people who live there: the scents of Sicily, the flavours of Puglia, the wild nature of Sardinia and so forth are a dream lived from afar as well as a unique reality lived by local people. Discover magnificent gardens, parks and botanical sites.

The road, winding through the Mediterranean maquis and on scenic undulations along the northern coast of the island – known as Settentrionale Sicula – is the perfect route for riders tackling this stage of the Giro di Sicilia. In all, there are 199 kilometres with no major difficulties, to the delight of the sprinters who will cover the course in one go. But for those who are just bike enthusiasts, the route we are talking about here is an invitation to slow down the pace, to enjoy the lush nature and important historical traces. Watch out, however, not to be too distracted by the view: you are on a Statale road (No. 113), so keep your eyes on the road and, if you are with others, proceed in single file.

The answer lies in the impressive vertical walls and cliffs guarding caves that plunge into the transparent sea; in the Mediterranean landscape with its mild climate where outdoor sports can be practiced all year round; and in the numerous itineraries between creeks and cliffs where the panorama shifts in ever-changing views.

From a height of 3,357 metres, ‘a muntagna’, as the locals call Etna, watches the riders on the fourth stage of the Giro di Sicilia Eolo 2022. Meanwhile, they are panting as they climb the 140 kilometres of a gruelling course that increases in difficulty from Ragalna to Piano Provenzana on the northern side of Etna. But the volcano, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2013, with its slopes dotted with artistic villages, vineyards and pistachio groves, is worth all this and more. The piece of advice for you amateurs, therefore, is not to be frightened by the route raced by the pro riders. In this article, you will find it divided into three sectors, suitable for everyone, plus we give you some tips on how to alternate your bike experience with moments of leisure. Here we go.

The second stage of the Giro di Sicilia Eolo 2022 has a romantic and bucolic feel to it. But do not be fooled by the wide roads and sun-kissed countryside. The 152 kilometres risk putting a strain on the legs of those not yet sufficiently fit. This is the fault, or merit, of an undulating course that gives you no respite. So, the advice for you amateurs is to ‘break up’ the route and choose the stretch that suits you best, planning stops at the points of greatest interest. These are numerous, as we tell you in what follows here.

It doesn’t take much to admire the splendours that lie under the Italian waves. In Italy’s minor islands, home to some of the country’s best places to snorkel, in addition to crystal-clear waters and underwater natural spectacles, there’s another great advantage: in the event of bad weather and rough seas, you can swim safely on the island’s other side.

The 2024 Paris Olympics will welcome Kiteboarding as an official discipline - and this further increases curiosity and a desire to give it a try in the many "spots" around Italy's coasts and lakes. By “spot” we mean a place near a body of water where the winds offer the best conditions for being pulled by a kite with a board under your feet. Original surfing over the years developed into windsurfing (pushed by the wind in waters without high waves) and then into the kite version. Literally taking flight. At first glance, it might seem to be the most complex of all variants, yet the approach to kitesurfing is immediate, as evidenced by growing numbers of practitioners. A sense of balance is only one of the necessary components then it's rather like... playing with a kite. The wind inflates the kite to lift you up from the water while you manipulate the control ropes in your hands. Things get going with glides and small jumps but you will soon be able to touch the sky with your fingers.

A good 171 kilometres, with 2,530 metres of total elevation gain – this is the identikit of the third stage of the Giro di Sicilia 2023 Credite Agricole, a route that from the fine sandstone of the southern coast plunges into an inland that smells of almonds and olives. But there is much more to find out along this route, especially for lovers of history and art. Here, then, are the main attractions for those who want to retrace the exploits of the pro riders and at the same time also enjoy the beauty of the surroundings.

Caltagirone, Militello in Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo Acreide, Ragusa and Scicli are the ideal starting point for a tour dedicated to the pinnacle of European Baroque.

With its historic centre capable of taking us back in time through medieval alleys and Renaissance and Baroque palaces, it is world famous for its imposing Villa Romana del Casale, a supreme example of a late-imperial Roman luxury villa listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

How can you blame him? Syracuse is one of the pearls of Sicily, capable of captivating tourists and visitors all year round with its Mediterranean climate, crystal-clear sea, unique food and wine specialities and colours that make every shot a postcard to show off. A crossroads of civilisations since ancient Greece and home of Archimedes, Syracuse proudly displays the footprints left by the centuries that testify to its greatness and importance in history. The city was in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005, with two different sites: the rock necropolis of Pantalica and the historic centre, both bearing witness to the development of ancient civilisations and their progress.

Concentrated in the south of Italy, they are a visible sign of the tireless activity of the Earth, which has created these unique and extremely distinctive places in terms of shape and colour, and where the mouths of volcanoes are often still active. Their incessant bubbling, which sometimes turns into spectacular eruptions, makes these corners of the Mediterranean truly perfect for a special holiday, also in the pursuit of wellness. Indeed, thermal springs and volcanic muds are a special feature of these islands, particularly in the Aeolian Islands and on Pantelleria: here you can combine the relaxation of the sea, the freedom of boat trips, gourmet culinary experiences and relaxing or detoxifying wellness courses. In short, if you want to regenerate, these are the detox body treatments to try this summer, and beyond, in the spas and resorts of Sicily's volcanic islands.

One of the largest archaeological sites in the world, the Valley of the Temples lies on the rocky ridge bordering the plateau to the south on which ancient Akragas once stood: declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the largest and most marvellous testimonies of the ancient world to be found on Italian soil along with the sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Haven't visited it yet? Now it’s time to make up for it!