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Holiday information on Sicily, Italy

"With an abundance of glorious beaches, quaint medieval towns, pretty gardens and citrus orchards and the awe-inspiring presence of the Mediterranean's greatest natural wonder - Mount Etna - you cannot help but succumb to Sicily's ample charms."

Beautiful Sicily is an island where the mountains meet the sea. With an abundance of glorious beaches, quaint medieval towns, pretty gardens and citrus orchards and the awe-inspiring presence of the Mediterranean's greatest natural wonder, Mount Etna, you cannot help but succumb to Sicily's ample charms. Centuries of foreign invasions have left the Mediterranean's largest island with a distinctive identity all of its own. As you step onto Sicily's shores, the vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere is unlike any other. Enjoy sun and culture on the island said to be on the edge of Europe.

Sicily's coastline combines pretty grottos and rocky alcoves, punctuated with the occasional wide arch of fine golden sand. Though many of the beaches tend to be made up of smooth sun-warmed pebbles, around the resorts you'll find sandy shorelines as well. The two kilometre beach of Mondello near Palermo is one of the best, and on the Tyrrhenian coastline, there's Cefalu curving beach. In the nocks and crannies around Taormina there lies the much photographed Mazzaro and the wide sandy shores of Letojanni and Giadini.

From the Byzantine street market and clothes stalls in the busy streets of Palermo to the simpler souvenir shops in the quieter Letojanni, Sicily covers all bases. For an array of fresh fruits and Sicilian snacks, visit one of the twice monthly markets most towns and villages hold.

Throughout Sicily, life ebbs off to a laid back and low key pace as the sun sets, with nocturnal entertainment revolving around restaurants and lounging in pavement cafés and bars, enjoying a coffee or a drink. Palermo's hectic daylight life quietens down as night falls, and people head to nearby Mondello for the lively bars along the seafront. Taormina and the surrounding resorts have a smattering of bars and the occasional disco, but for a pleasant evening, head to a beach bar and listen to the waves rolling in as you relax with the locals over a drink.

Romans, Greeks, Spanish, Arabs, French - the list of civilisations Sicily has been home to is impressively diverse, and each one has left behind a little of itself. Whether it's in the amazing architecture, in the distinctive Sicilian dialect or added ingredients to the cuisine, Sicily has absorbed something from all its visitors and created a culture that is proudly different to the rest of Italy. Palermo is the island's capital, although you could probably guess that from the moment you walk out in its warren of medieval streets. Energised and fast-paced, this town teems with life. The east coast pulls in most of Sicily's visitors, thanks to its impressive shoreline, sights and sandy beaches. Taormina is the coast's centre, a chic and popular resort town that has lost little to tourism, with its intimate piazzas and stunning backdrop, Mount Etna. Most of the beach resorts are within reach of here. On the southern most point of the island sits Syrausa, once one of the most important of the Hellenistic cities and worth a visit. Volcanic islands are dotted around the northern shores of Sicily and are notable for their raw beauty.

Sicilian cuisine is as unique as the island itself, bringing together European, Oriental and North African ingredients in a spicy combination. In typical Mediterranean style, there's a bias towards fish and seafood, though here they are cooked with an African twist, making them spicier than you would find on the Italian mainland. Cous cous and rice are widely used, and street stalls sell all kinds of African snacks and delicacies. Sample some of the local cheeses; pecorino, caciocauallo and the sheep's milk ricotta that also makes its way in several Sicilian sweet dishes. Cannnoli uses ricotta wrapped in pastry, then dipped in chocolate, or if that doesn't appeal, try cassata, the famous fruity ice cream dessert. Sicilian wines are distinctly richer than the Italian mainland's, and are generally good quality everyday wines. Corvo is exported all across Italy, a sure sign of it's quality and Marsala is popular Sicilian wine.