Flights to Catania

The centre

Introduction

Oven-hot by day, cool and scented with jasmine by night, the lava-stone streets all lead to the dramatically baroque Piazza Duomo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It boasts a lovely cathedral dedicated to St Agatha, the patron saint of the city, with the bustling fish market nearby.

Hotels

A comfortable little hotel based in a smart art nouveau townhouse, the Hotel Novecento (37 Via Ventimiglia, tel. 095 310488, hotel novecentocatania.it, rooms from €110) is close to the opera house in the part of town where everybody gathers on summer nights for the café-concerts. The Blue Suite has a cute attic bedroom over its own lounge.

Pubs

When the sun rises, enjoy coffee and fresh croissants – or better still, ice cream in a brioche – with the night owls of Catania at the Etoile D’Or (7 Via Dusmet), an old-fashioned café near the fish market.

Shops

As summer sales kick in, grab fashionable beachwear and accessories from the big stores along the main street Via Etnea, such as Coin (112) or La Rinascente (155).

Taormina

Introduction

Let the evening breeze refresh you in this enchanting hilltop town, just a short bus or train-ride away from Catania, and rub shoulders with the stars strolling along Corso Umberto – they’ll be performing at the Greek Theatre later that evening. In the morning you’ll find them sunbathing on the beach at the foot of the mountain, a corner of paradise.

Hotels

On the lovely beach of Isola Bella, just a short cable-car ride away from the town centre, La Plage Resort (107/A Via Nazionale, tel. 094 262 6095, laplageresort.com, rooms from €250) has comfortable little bungalows under the pines and a deluxe suite with its own sitting room, garden and whirlpool. The hotel’s restaurant, Fusion, offers Sicilian dishes with an added twist of Jamaican, Mexican and Japanese.

Cultural

From its dizzy mountaintop position, the ancient Greek Theatre (Via del Teatro) commands a stunning panorama over the Straits of Messina and Mount Etna – a perfect setting for the Taormina Festival evening performances. July’s programme will feature Skunk Anansie, the London Royal Covent Garden Ballet and many others – check taormina-arte.com.

Night Clubs

The coolest hot spot in town for all night hip-jiggling is Septimo (50 Via San Pancrazio), which also serves up tasty food and enjoys incredible views.

Shops

The sales will be in full swing in the boutiques along Taormina’s main street, so pick up a handbag at Furla (43 Corso Umberto) – the marvellous quality and classic designs will never be out of fashion.

Savoca

Introduction

Within easy reach of Catania, and with only 200 inhabitants, you’ll immediately recognise this hilltop city as the film location of Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather. The mobsters may have never found peace, but you will in this idyllic spot.

Hotels

Some of the old houses in the most picturesque part of Savoca have been transformed into an absurdly beautiful small hotel, the Borgo San Rocco Resort (Via San Rocco, tel. 094 276 1234, borgosanrocco.com, rooms from €140), with ancient stone façades, relaxing colour schemes, a restaurant, pool and antique furniture in the parquet-floored rooms. Book the Vincenzo Bellini Suite for extra luxuries, including a whirlpool bathtub.

Cultural

The Church of Santa Lucia (Via San Nicola) in this little town with a big view is where Michael Corleone marries Apollonia in the film.

Pubs

The Bar Vitelli (7 Piazza Fossia) is a must-visit for its exquisite lemon sorbet, which reputedly kept Coppola and Pacino going during the hot summer days.