Sicily is a large island forming the extreme southern part of Italy. It sits just a few kilometres to the west of the coast of Calabrian, essentially kicked into the Mediterranean Sea by Italy's 'toe'.

Almost a country within a country, it would be easy to dedicate an entire book to Sicily and hardly scratch the surface. This guide is just by way of a very
brief introduction.

Many people come to Sicily for the beaches, Cefalu being a prime example of a typical Sicilian beach resort. Beaches tend to be sandy in the south and craggy in the north. However, there is so much more to see here that the beach could simply be an add-on to a holiday exploring Sicily's wonders.

Having been invaded and occupied many times, Sicily is rich in archaeological sites, temples and tombs, particularly Greek. Agrigento or the 'Valley of the Temples' is a prime location. Segesta also has a preserved temple. The mountaintop resort of Taormina also has a Greek amphitheatre and a fabulous view of Mount Etna. Moving forward in history, baroque Palermo also has a Norman Palace, a superb cathedral and several castles. Syracuse is beautifully historic and Trapani has an old port, palaces and cathedral.

The landscape is a mixture of mountains - the highest are the Appennines in the north - hills and plains, the agricultural areas resplendent with orange trees, lemon trees, nut trees, vineyards and fields of wheat.

Then there are the volcanoes - the dramatic and highly volatile Mount Etna, and romantic Stromboli. Mount Etna can be visited from Catania.

And of course there's the food - legendary for its cuisine, Sicily cooks up local ingredients, seafood, pasta and ice-cream like nowhere else in Italy, let alone the world.

If you are looking for somewhere to stay in Sicily, then you will find plenty of accommodation which is locally owned and pleasantly simple, offering you the opportunity to experience a more genuine and more local Sicily. However, you don't have to compromise on luxury - there are big villas and apartments to rent, particularly on the coast, and some of them have unbelievable views. Inland you will find rural cottages and farmhouses and occasionally you can find rentals in converted historic buildings and mansions. One word of warning - Sicily gets very busy in the summer months, so particularly if you have a large group, make sure you book early.