Italy Two Centre Holidays - Sicily

A stronghold of the Greek empire with a wealth of ancient sites to match, Sicily is unlike any other part of Italy, and proud of it. Italy’s largest island is no stranger to visitors; Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Normans have all invaded, leaving an architectural jumble of vast classical temples, Moorish palaces, gothic cathedrals and a collision of cultures in their wake. The island’s epic scenery provided the perfect backdrop for Homer’s Odyssey, with rugged coastal plains, rolling wheat fields, endless beaches and Mount Etna, billowing smoke and towering gloriously at its core. Be brave and take the bus 2,000m up Etna’s rocky mountainside, or marvel at the finest wonders of the ancient world; the Roman Villa Casale with its immaculately preserved mosaics, the Valley of the Temples and the Hellenistic theatre at Syracuse, carved dramatically into the mountainside. Sicily’s warm climate nourishes the bursts of bougainvillea and lush fruit orchards growing amidst the classical ruins and resorts, ranging from the pretty fishing village Cefalu to fashionable beach retreat Taormina. Sicilian cuisine is inspired by its lush surroundings and rich heritage; you will find yourself tucking into a lavish five-course feast of fish, vegetables, and olive oil with an Arabian twist.