| Sicily's beaches are renowned as some of Italy's best, | | | | Straight, that connects the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west |
| with transparent blue-green waters, long sandy | | | | with the Ionian Sea in the east. Attractions include the |
| beaches and nearby picturesque villages. While | | | | National Museum of Messina, the rebuilt Norman |
| everyone has his own opinion about which beach | | | | Cathedral, and the Gothic Church of Santa Maria |
| should make the top five, here are five of the most | | | | Alemanna. |
| popular and possibly the best Sicily has to offer, and | | | | Spiaggia Sabbie Nere |
| certainly worth a visit on your holiday. | | | | This out-of-the-way, black-sands beach, on the island |
| Mondello Lido | | | | of Vulcano, is the finest of its kind in the Aeolian Islands, |
| Near the small fishing village of Mondello on the | | | | which surround Sicily. The island is best reached on a |
| Mediterranean Sea, is Mondello Lido, just nine | | | | boat excursion, and activities here include a 3-hour hike |
| kilometres from Sicily's vibrant capital Palermo. Its wide, | | | | to the top of the Gran Cratere, which last erupted in |
| white sandy beach runs for 2 kilometres from Monte | | | | 1890. The views from the top are stunning. |
| Pellegrino to Monte Gallo. Mondello's bars, | | | | Lido Mazzarò |
| cafés, nightclubs and hotels line the shore. In the | | | | Near the busy resort town of Taormina, and reached |
| evenings, join the locals in the seaside restaurants | | | | by a 15-minute cable-car ride down the hill, is the |
| featuring fresh seafood -delicious mussels, clams, and | | | | popular Lido Mazzarò. Bars and restaurants line |
| octopus - and afterwards take a stroll along the | | | | this sandy beach, which has long been a haunt of the |
| waterfront. | | | | rich and famous. All types of water sports and beach |
| Be sure to spend some time in Palermo to visit the | | | | activities are on hand. |
| graceful pallazzos, especially the Palazzo dei Normanni, | | | | Be sure to visit the sea caves of Grotta Azzurra, and |
| with its Baroque architecture. You will enjoy the busy | | | | Isola Bella, the small island reached by a narrow strip |
| street life and the colourful markets around Piazza | | | | of sand. Once a medieval town, Taormina's quaint |
| San Domenico, Here you can check out the elegant | | | | streets and laneways are packed with boutiques, art |
| shops, and dine in some of Sicily's best restaurants. | | | | and craft shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. |
| You might also like to visit the creepy catacombs, then | | | | Giardini-Naxos |
| hire a car for a trip to the splendid Monreale Cathedral | | | | Also down the hill from Taormina, Giardini-Naxos is a |
| and the popular little seaside town of Cefalù. | | | | sophisticated beach resort, with its delightful old town, |
| Mortelle | | | | lively seafront promenade, and bustling Cape Schiso |
| Popular with locals looking to escape the summer heat, | | | | harbour area. The fine, sandy beaches, which front |
| Lido di Mortelle, on the northeast tip of the island, 12km | | | | excellent waters for swimming, are within an easy |
| north of Messina, has several excellent beaches. Lido | | | | walk, and there is a good selection of water sports |
| dei Tirreno is perfect for children, but there are many | | | | available. There are many bars, and the restaurants |
| smaller beaches where you'll find some peace and | | | | offer delicious seafood. Take the walk to Alcantara |
| quiet. | | | | Gorge, just a few kilometres inland, for some dramatic |
| Messina, the third largest city in Sicily with a population | | | | scenery. |
| of 250,000, fronts the shallow and narrow Messina | | | | |