Destination Fly4free: Sicily

“To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything”, wrote Goethe. Warm weather, astonishing beaches, ancient ruins and great food – that is what you will find in the largest of the Italian islands.

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Western Sicily

In Agrigento you should visit the Valley of the Temples, the largest archaeological site in the world (1,300 hectares). Tempio della Concordia is one of the best-preserved Greek temples on Earth. If you like nature, go to Riserva dello Zingaro, that stretches along about 7 km of unspoilt coastline of the Gulf of Castellammare, with little bays and steep cliffs. Head to the beautiful coast of Cefalù and visit the cathedral, boasting elaborate Byzantine mosaics – Sicily's oldest and best preserved.

Make your stay unforgettable with a sailing trip to Favignana Island. The island is famous for its calcarenite rock formations. Head to the spectacular beach of Cala Rossa, surrounded by rock cliffs and abandoned quarries. The shoreline is not very comfortable, but the seabed is sandy with clear turquoise water. You should also visit the former tuna processing factory from the beginning of the 19th century. It has now been turned into a very interesting museum.

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How to get there:
Take a look at the flight deals to Sicily:

• 7-night stay in top-rated aparthotel in Sicily + flights from the UK for just £126 >>
• 7-night stay in top-rated B&B in Sicily + flights from Dusseldorf Weeze for €176 >>
• 4 in 1: Verona, Sardinia, Sicily and Rome from Nuremberg for only €81 >>
• JUNE: 5-night stay in top-rated apartment in Sicily + flights from Berlin for €159 >>
• JUNE: 7-night All Inclusive stay in 4* beach hotel on Sicily + flights from Amsterdam for €299 >>
• 6-night stay in a top-rated B&B on splendid Sicily + flights from Brussels for €164 >>
• Spring fares: Romania to Sicily from only €24 >>
• Summer flights from Boston to Sicily from $397 >>

Where to stay:
In eastern Sicily, we encourage you to stay at B&B San Leonardo from just €18 per night in a double room with breakfast included, free cancellation and excellent reviews. Situated in Mascali, this property is 12 minutes walk from the beach. It is located 13 km from Taormina. B&B San Leonardo features water sports facilities and a ski school. The rooms include a flat-screen TV. Some units feature a seating area for your convenience. Certain units have views of the mountain or garden. For your comfort, you will find bathrobes, slippers and free toiletries. Superior rooms include a spa bath or a hot tub. The bed and breakfast features free WiFi throughout the property. An Italian breakfast is offered daily. There is a 24-hour front desk at the property. This bed and breakfast has a ski pass sales point and free use of bicycles is available. Ski equipment hire is available at this bed and breakfast and the area is popular for skiing. The bed and breakfast also offers bike hire.

In western Sicily we recommend you to book 4* Palazzo dei Corsari Apartment in Trapani from just €30 per night in a Superior Room. This well-reviewed property, just a few steps from Trapani’s historic centre and the sea, offers elegant, self-catering accommodation. Its panoramic terrace is furnished with loungers and parasols, and offers full sea views. The design apartments at guest house Dei Corsari are air-conditioned, and feature an equipped kitchen, a TV, and a balcony which overlooks the sea or the city’s streets. The guest house is a 4-minute walk from a bus stop providing links to Trapani Airport, and 1 km from the main train station. Trapani Harbour is a 5-minute walk away. Ferries leave for the Aegadian Islands.

What to do:
If you love nature and physical activity, grab your trek boots and visit one of the hiking trails. If you’re lucky enough to get some snow, you can go skiing on the active volcano. Sicily might not seem like much of a place for winter sports but there are two ski centres at Mount Etna. Rifiugio Sapienza – Nicolosi, located on the south side of the crater at elevation of 1910 m, has 4 lifts to service 14 groomed trails. Piano Provenzana – Linguaglossa, on the north, offers one piste. Day ski pass costs around €15 – €25.

Black-sand beaches, a legacy of volcanic activity, are on the tiny Aeolian Islands, to the north of Sicily. On Lipari, the largest of the islands, you’ll find beaches of grey pumice stone. On the mainland, the cleanest white sand is to be found around Ragusa, to the south. San Vito Lo Capo is a popular seaside resort with a sandy beach, located in the far north-western corner of Sicily.

If you like scuba diving and snorkelling visit Lampedusa Island. Swim in the transparent waters of the Rabbit Beach (Spiaggia dei Conigli), nominated as the top beach in the world. The variety of marine life, dolphins passing by regularly and numerous shipwrecks make for fascinating diving. Getting to Lampedusa and Linosa involves either an overnight ferry crossing from Agrigento and Porto Empedocle or flights from Palermo and Catania. For beautiful bays, rocky outcrops and fabulously clear water you can also head to the Favignana Island.

If you like enotourism, you can enjoy a unique wine tourism experience in around the city of Alcamo, in the north. In the west, you can taste Marsala, a fortified wine. The wine-growers on Mount Etna make award-winning red wine. You can visit the vineyards and taste organic wines or even learn to cook Sicilian dishes! The Madonie region is well known for its rich gastronomic tradition and local products like sausages, salami, cheese and olives.

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SICILY from ZeroDx on Vimeo.