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Relax On Cefalu Beach

Cefalu’s sweeping crescent is overlooked by a storybook town and the soaring peak of the Rocca, a towering bluff that was once the locals’ refuge from marauding pirates. Suffice to say, it’s one of Sicily’s most scenic beaches. Plus, behind it, you’ll find a string of cafés and restaurants.

Further Reading

  • Overview
  • Travel Advice
  • Overlooking the town of Cefalu, the Madonie Mountains are a vision of burnished grass, circling golden eagles, and tiny towns clinging to the hillside. One such town is Sperlinga, which is crowned by a Medieval castle that’s carved into the rock. Then there’s Karsa. It’s little more than a cluster of houses, but people come from miles around for the traditional Sicilian cuisine.

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    Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Mount Vesuvius, Etna is one of Italy’s most notorious volcanoes. And, unlike its dormant neighbour, this one is alive and kicking. In fact, back in 2005, it blew its top in a riot of orange fireworks. Try taking an all-terrain tour to the top from Taormina. Not only are the views out of this world, but – with its craters and cones – the landscape is, too.

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    If you’re into the arts, visit Sicily in June, July or August, when the streets of Taormina are filled with local musicians, dancers and entertainers. The highlight of the season is the annual Taormina film festival in June, which attracts big-shot directors and composers from Tinseltown.

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    A good two hours in the car from Cefalu will get you to what was once one of the most prosperous outposts of Ancient Greece. Selinunte was destroyed by jealous rivals, who razed the city’s temples and set light to what was left. Fast-forward to today, and columns lie like fallen soldiers alongside foundations still scarred with burn marks. There’s only one building still standing, which takes pride of place on the hilltop.

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    Take the 15-minute cable car ride from Taormina down to the coast, and you’ll reach Mazzaro Beach. This stretch of shoreline unravels in a ribbon of sand and pebbles, and is lapped by glass-clear waters.

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    When it comes to getting to grips with Sicily’s underwater world, Taormina is one of the best places to head. This town is perched high on a hill overlooking the sea, and it’s even got its own cable car to take you down for a swim. The rocky coves here are teeming with fish, but the must-see is Blue Grotto, which is home to an 18-metre-deep shrimp cave.

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    Walking through Sicily’s capital is like leafing through a history book. San Giovanni degli Eremiti is one of the must-sees. With its Moorish arches and mosque-like domed roof, this church is a reminder of Sicily’s Arab days. Then there’s Palermo Cathedral. To get an idea of what it looks like, imagine the dome of St Paul’s and Big Ben’s clock tower put together and combined with Gothic, Arab, Norman and Baroque flourishes. Cefalu is the closest holiday resort to Palermo – it’s just under an hour’s drive away.

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    Sicily’s Aeolian Islands are slowly creeping into the spotlight, and for good reason. With its whitewashed villages and olive groves, the rocky islet of Salina is the epitome of rustic Italia. Then there’s Stromboli, which fashion designers, Dolce and Gabbana, call home. Finally, you’ve got Vulcano, where the big draws are the mineral-rich mud baths. Ferries to all three islands run from Milazzo harbour – around 40 minutes’ drive from Taormina.

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    This stretch of shingle on Sicily’s east coast has been attracting sun-seekers since the Greeks first arrived here back in 750 BC. There are lots of watersports on offer, including pedaloes and canoes. And the seafront promenade, Via Tysandros, is lined with hotels, bars and pizzerias.

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    Perched on a mountain top above Trapani, Erice looks as good as it did the day it was born. The alleyways are cobbled, the parkland is dense, and the castles have turrets that soar skywards. Sit in the main square, and you’ll be transported back to the days of knights and jesters. The journey to the village takes around four hours from Taormina, but the views are is worth the effort – you’ll snake along the coast, passing the Trapani salt flats en route.

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    A half-hour drive south of Giardini Naxos is Acireale, and the carnival here is one to catch if you can – it's supposedly the best in Sicily. You'll see a raft of papier maché floats and colourful costumes dance past your eyes. It normally starts on the Saturday before Lent and ends on Shrove Tuesday with a fireworks display. To be in the heart of the action, you’ll want to head for Piazza Duomo.

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    Make the two-and-a-half-hour drive from Giardini Naxos, and you can step back to a time of togas and chariots. The Valley of the Temples, in Agrigento, dates back to 581 BC, and it's made up of towering doric columns and Acropolis-worthy temples. Top sights include the well-preserved Temple of Concord, and the remaining line of pillars that was once the Temple of Heracles.

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    Fairytale towers, tinkling fountains and flower-wrapped terraces – no, we’re not describing Cinderella’s castle, although you wouldn’t be far off the mark. This Norman-built cathedral, about an hour from Cefalu, dates back to the days of William the Conqueror, and it’s considered to be the most beautiful in the world. Its crowning glory is a huge image of Christ that sweeps across the domed apse.

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    If there was an award for the prettiest spot in Sicily, Taormina would win hands down. In fact, it could be a contender for the best-looking town in Italy. For starters, it’s set on top of Mount Tauro, overlooking two sweeping bays. What’s more, it was founded in 358 BC, so it houses some of Sicily’s best preserved landmarks, like the spectacular Greco-Roman amphitheatre.

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    If you want to get a feel for Sicily’s capital, this tour is great. Not only will you get the inside scoop from a guide, you’ll also get chance to explore under your own steam. Thanks to its turbulent history, Palermo is like an open-air museum, brimming with architecture which hints at its time under Phoenician, Greek, Roman and Arabic rule. After a panoramic bus tour of the city and a guided walk around the historic Ballaro market, you’ll have a couple of hours of free time. Grab a plate of spaghetti from one of the restaurants or stop for an espresso in a piazza-side café.

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    This sweep of pale sand is about a 15-minute drive from Cefalu, which makes it one of the more secluded sunbathing options. As such, it’s a great spot for undisturbed days on the beach. You’ll have plenty of room to unroll your towel, and paddle in the see-through waves.

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    Follow Taormina’s mountain roads downhill for about 15 minutes, and you’ll stumble upon this golden sweep of sand. It's one of the island's best under-the-radar sunbathing spots. There aren’t any facilities to speak of, though, so it’s worth bringing a picnic basket with you.

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