The island of Sicily

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, surprises with its coastline, mountains and volcanoes.

This time we visited the East coast of the island, taking Taormina as our base camp, where Belmond has its magnificent Villa Sant'Andrea on the beach and Grand Hotel Timeo in the city.

Taormina is undoubtedly one of the greatest Sicilian jewels. Located at a height of two hundred meters, it is a wonderful natural terrace, founded in the 403 B.C and with a long and convulsive history.

Visiting the Greco-Roman theater with Etna as a backdrop is a must, as is strolling through its streets and enjoying its delicious local specialties in an osteria or trattoria.

One of the highlights of our getaway to Sicily was the ascent to Mount Etna, which at 3,342 meters is the largest active volcano in Europe. The gradual ascent in 4x4 allows us to observe the drastic changes of landscapes, from the initial lush vegetation to the lava desert in the highest areas, as well as the temperature.

After visiting some of its hidden caves and going on a spectacular trekking, could be something better than to enjoy a tasting in one of the wineries that make unique wines from vineyards grown in these unique lands?

Returning to Sicily is a pending issue, as its many attractions make a new visit mandatory!