Sicily

The largest island in the Mediterranean by area, it is separated from the continent by the Strait of Messina.

The island has been a crossroads between civilisations for millennia. It is a paradise for history buffs, rich in Greek temples and Roman sites dating back to Antiquity, as well as in Byzantine style buildings. The names of Syracuse and Taormina alone awaken the desire to visit the island. Its gastronomy gives pride of place to citrus fruits, fish and oriental flavours. Situated at a stone's throw from the African continent, it enjoys sunshine almost year-round, a warm climate and a volcanic terrain (with Mount Etna as the largest active volcano in Europe) that is well suited to agriculture.