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.

Fresh or dried, the pistachio is one of the most precious ingredients of Sicilian cuisine and is also the symbol of the city of Bronte, in the province of Catania, and its economy, so much so that for its value this fruit has earned 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.

At the foot of Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, and overlooking the east coast of Sicily, is Catania, one of the biggest centres of the Sicilian Baroque.

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 city of Syracuse is located in one of the most beautiful inlets on the Mediterranean. It is a vital and dynamic city, worthy of its great past, and in 2005 was duly recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit to Syracuse is a journey back in time and to discover the wonderful beauty of the natural environment in which the city is immersed. Syracuse has given rise to great figures of the cultural and artistic history of the Mediterranean and still has a very lively intellectual life. Archaeological evidence confirms human presence on the island of Ortigia as early as the 14th century BC, although urban construction dates back to the 8th century BC, with the foundation of the Greek colony of Syracuse. The political and economic growth of the city between the 6th and 4th centuries BC led to an increase in the number of inhabitants and the expansion of the city beyond the primitive walls. Having grown too large to be properly defended, Syracuse suffered enemy incursions from the hinterland and was besieged by the Athenians (416-13 BC). The war against Carthage in 405 BC placed the city in the hands of Dionysius I, who was forced to carry out major fortification works, remove the population from Ortigia and turn the island into a fortress for military purposes. The death of Dionysius around the middle of the 4th century started a long period of transition, which led to the defeat and sacking of the city by the Romans in 212 BC. Christianity had been spreading since the first centuries of the empire and the first buildings of early Christian worship began to appear in the third century. After a long siege, in 878 the city was taken and devastated by the Arabs, who, nevertheless, left a strong mark of their presence on its layout. Having finally the Arabs from the island, the Normans completed the work begun by the Byzantines, with their renovation of the ancient fortifications. The Aragonese government brought Syracuse considerable economic advantages, which left their mark in the construction of the ramparts that surround the island and of many buildings. The dramatic earthquake that struck in 1693 was a decisive event in the city's history, not because it caused irreparable damage but as the impetus for a Baroque-style restructuring, which gave the city an 18th-century appearance in place of its ancient identity. The city layout was then significantly altered by gutting operations during the fascist era, particularly the construction of Via del Littorio, the present-day Corso Matteotti. The economic expansion of the 1950s and ’60s heralded a period of coexistence with large industrial complexes, which was not always easy or lucrative. This sequence of often traumatic events has had a fascinating overlapping effect, in the form of a harmonious integration.

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 city of wine and salt Marsala is a city and it is also a wine. Both are elegant and rich in history. The city 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 has made it world-famous, thanks in part to the intuition of an English merchant who adapted it to British tastes. In the beautiful historic centre, you can visit the vestiges of its past along with the historic cellars that hold high the prestige of its best product, while on the coast salt is produced in spectacular salt pans. Between baroque and nature Those entering from Porta Nuova are greeted by a string of beautiful Renaissance and Baroque palaces, such as the Monastery of San Pietro, which houses the Civic Museum, with an archaeological section and one 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 enter Piazza della Repubblica, Marsala's living room, with the beautiful Palazzo VII Aprile with its Clock Tower and Baroque cathedral, although the façade was not actually completed until 1956, and, next door, 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 and 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: it displays various artefacts narrating 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, found off the coast of Isola Lunga near Punta Scario, the Roman mosaics and an extraordinary collection of amphorae documenting the trade of 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. Marsala's beating heart is its recently renovated central Fish Market, by day the place where the catch from the Stagnone and the Strait of Sicily pours in, by night the centre of the nightlife where people dine and stay late. The Marsala wine that pleased the English Wine has always been produced in Marsala, ever since Phoenician times, but it was towards the end of the 18th century that an English merchant, John Woodhouse, sent some barrels of local wine to England for his customers to taste, but added a dose of aqua-vitae so that the wine would not spoil during navigation. Thus was born the Marsala we know today, a liqueur wine much appreciated by the English who imported it in quantity, making the fortune of the 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 within which there are four islands: the Big Island that forms a barrier to the lagoon, the island of Santa Maria, a strip of land, the Schola, 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 Lilybaetum, and Mothia (Mozia), an island on which stood a Phoenician city from the 8th century BC that ancient sources describe as rich in beautiful palaces, one of the most important trading bases in the ancient Mediterranean. BC that ancient sources describe as rich in beautiful palaces, one of the most important trading bases in the ancient Mediterranean. 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, today's Marsala. The island of Mothia now belongs to the Whitaker Foundation, an English wine producer who bought it and started excavations in the early 20th century, and is open for visits. The Marsala salt pans and 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, sheets of water that take on different colours depending on the season, against which stand out the outlines of windmills surrounded by mounds of white salt. A place that is not only very poetic and photogenic, but also of great historical and environmental interest, structured to make visitors experience salt in the round: here one can take walks along the salt pans, visit mills that are still in operation, have tastings, manually harvest salt with the salt miners, and immerse oneself in tanks that are out of 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 one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, with breathtaking views, thanks to its altitude of over 500 metres. To complete the picture, historical-artistic treasures must be added, including the castle and medieval monuments. If you are planning a stay in this area, bring comfortable shoes and layered clothing with you.

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 to enjoy grandiose views of the Trapani coast to the Egadi archipelago. Set on a cliff 751 metres above sea level, its curious triangular perimeter contains not only valuable medieval monuments and churches, but also a contemporary art centre and a prestigious scientific institution. Erice is a jewel of art and culture with a millennial 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 ancient. They are traced back to the Elymians, a people of probable Greek origin who, according to legend, descended from Trojan exiles. Beyond the foundation myth, Erice was also known to the Romans for a sanctuary built on a steep cliff dedicated to the cult of the Greek Aphrodite and, later, the Roman Venus Ericina, goddess of fertility and love. In the Middle Ages, the Normans built a manor in the same area. Known today by a name that sums up the entire history of the place, the Castle of Venus dominates the fortress and watches over the surrounding area. The fortress is the highest point in Erice, and we recommend you choose it as the initial or final stop on your walk through the town of Erice. If you start from above, enjoy the splendid view of the coast and the delightful Torretta Pepoli. Through the Balio garden, you enter the elegant medieval old town with its carpet-like stone pavement and narrow alleys, because space within the walls has always been scarce. Not to be missed: the church of San Giovanni Battista with its round dome and pointed portal and some statues by the Gaginis, and the Antonino Cordici museum set up in the former convent of San Francesco and divided into several sections, which is fundamental to learn about the history of Erice. Continuing towards Piazza Umberto you will find the Ettore Majorana Centre for Scientific Culture, in the former monastery of San Pietro, which hosts symposia and conferences dedicated to various scientific disciplines every year. Towards Porta Trapani is the elegant Piazza Matrice with the 14th-century cathedral. Characterised on the façade by a rose window and preceded by a crenellated portico with pointed arch openings, it presents itself in all its medieval splendour. The neo-Gothic interior captivates with its elegance and the art treasures preserved there. Note the nine Greek marble crosses on the south wall affixed in 1685 and coming from the temple of Venus Ericina. Beyond the Porta del Carmine along Via dell'Addolorata one arrives at the so-called Spanish Quarter, 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 anthropological exhibitions. From its terrace, the panorama will leave you breathless. Trekking on Mount Erice The amenity of the place is such that you will want to explore the area 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 explore the three rock churches scattered around the mountain. Above Erice, there is also a CAI hut to which one can refer to explore the area and also go to Mount Cofano and San Vito Lo Capo. Genovesi and martorana fruit: discover traditional sweets If walking has made you hungry, there is no shortage of pastry shops in Erice where you can get refreshed. The town has a strong tradition of sweets, the recipes for which are said to have been handed down by the cloistered nuns of Erice, the most typical of which are the genovese, a shortcrust pastry morsel filled with cream and eaten while still warm; mustazzoli, aromatic hard and crispy biscuits; ripostetti, filled with citron conserve and decorated with pastel-coloured icing; bocconcini di mandorla, quaresimali and frutta martorana. The most renowned pastry shops are Maria Grammatico's, which also organises cooking courses, and San Carlo, both in the historic centre. Desserts go well with a glass of sweet Marsala from the vineyards cultivated 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 represent the ideal starting point for a tour dedicated to what is considered the pinnacle of Sicilian 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!