Sicily Holiday: An Offer You Can't Refuse

With so many unique and unforgettable destinations packed into Italy – think of Rome, Venice, Florence and Tuscany – most British holiday makers can be forgiven for overlooking Sicily.

Indeed, for many of us, the name of the Mediterranean's biggest island almost immediately conjures up one image: the cosa nostra, or mafia, particularly as immortalised in Francis Ford Coppola's classic "Godfather" movies.

But while Sicily's position in the dark heart of Italian history and politics cannot be denied – it was only in 1992 that two high profile anti-mafia and anti-corruption magistrates, Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, were murdered on the island, triggering massive upheavals in the country's government – it nevertheless boasts towns and countryside of amazing beauty, sandy beaches and tranquil islands, one of the world's most active volcanoes, and some of the richest history in the Mediterranean.

Visitors can arrive on Sicily via major airports at the capital, Palermo, in the north west, or Catania, on the east coast – although many flights from the UK require a change at Rome or Milan.

To date, there is no land access – the Italian authorities have been promising a bridge across the Straits of Messina for many years, with building work on what would be the world's longest suspension bridge officially due to begin this year. Trains do run from the Italian mainland to Sicily, but they are loaded onto ferries for the crossing.

Sicily is the warmest part of Italy, experiencing early springs and maintaining a temperature of around 24 degrees Celsius until late October. July is usually the hottest month.

The island is home to four different mountain ranges, each with its own distinct character, ranging from the "Sicilian Alps", which are essentially a continuation of the Calabrian Apennines of the mainland, to the mountains of the south and west, which more resemble the Atlas region of north Africa – itself just 140 kilometres (87 miles) away.

Most imposing of Sicily's mountains is, of course, Mount Etna. A vast outcrop of igneous rock, 3,320 metres high, and visible from space in satellite photographs, the climb to the top of the volcano takes several hours by bus, through towns and villages, each bearing the scars of previous eruptions in the form of demolished houses and solid, black basalt formations – formerly the lava that streams with alarming regularity from Etna's craters.

Sicily is also surrounded by tiny islands and archipelagos of extraordinary beauty, most famously, the Aeolian islands, Stromboli and Lipari – many of which are very popular with visitors.

Historically, Sicily has been ruled by Arabs, Greeks, Spaniards, Normans and Lombards, and its culture reflects this unique mix. From the baroque splendour of Palermo, to the ancient Hellenic monuments of Agrigento, Segesta and Selinunte, Sicily has cultural treasures from all of its ages.

All of these are brought together in the coastal resort of Taormina. Standing in the shadow of Etna, overlooking the Ionian sea, Taormina is a jewel in Sicily's already-heavy crown. From a busy marina and beach, the town climbs steep, rocky cliffs, studded with beautiful villas embedded into the stone. The town combines Roman and Greek ruins with peaceful medieval streets, filled with designer boutiques and traditional crafts, and all bedecked in flowers throughout the summer months.

Certainly, Taormina is not an undiscovered gem: it is a hugely popular resort, particularly with the Italians themselves. But there seems always to be enough space for everyone.

So, visit Sicily and accept its hospitality. You would not want to insult it by refusing.