The largest and arguably the most splendid island in the Mediterranean, Sicily is not only a place to stay put, simply soak up the sun and do nothing. Nor do you have to be a real “culture vulture”, ravenous for fact, history and art. At whatever level you choose, going at any pace, its magic will seep into your bones, be absorbed into your very being. Every Greek temple will become your own personal discovery; every Baroque church will seem to beckon you especially; every beach and bar will tempt you to stop a while and relax; every new day will unfold before you, experiences which can be relished and remembered long after. All this, whilst you can sample a cuisine which mixes Africa and Europe - fresh fruit, vegetables and fish in abundance, and wines which are rich and full-bodied. Brace yourselves for a complete experience!

Sicily is an island of amazing contrasts, taking selectivity to an art form, where downright gruesome sometimes stands side by side with the absolutely stunning. The demands of 20th century economic survival and lax attitude to debris have left their scars on the landscape. Maybe this is a good thing. The Sicilian way of leaving things where they drop and not “tidying things up” is possibly a blessing in disguise - where would all the temples, archaeological treasures and Baroque architecture be, if they had been tidied away and “modernised” over the years?

Nowhere is Sicily's exciting past more evident than in its capital city, Palermo. Originally Phoenician, then a Carthaginian colony, built on a natural harbour and beneath the towering Monte Pellegrino, its setting is as dramatic as its chequered history. Wherever you go, around every corner, behind every decaying façade, there are wonderful things to discover - Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Norman, Mediaeval, Baroque, Art Nouveau - in a maze of time and style. Palermo hints at the mystery of its way of life, with an atmosphere, which excites and feels exotic.

In Siracusa, Sicily's Greek, Roman and Baroque rub shoulders to jostle for your attention. Ortygia, the small island, which is connected to the main part of Siracusa by a bridge, still feels as if it is a miniature version of history, with almost 3,000 years of the past crammed into its narrow streets and piazzas.

Sicily’s south-east corner is a hidden secret. A landscape of rolling hills, dry stone walls and beautiful sea, here you will find magnificent Baroque towns, such as Noto, Ragusa, Modica and Scicli. Mount Etna, Europe’s largest volcano, towers to over 3,000m. It dominates the east of the island and provides a stunning backdrop for Taormina. Hundreds of feet above the sparkling blue sea, with its very own Greco-Roman theatre and mediaeval town centre, this famous resort definitely has all the ingredients for a perfect holiday. A truly cosmopolitan mix - fascinating, sophisticated and fashionable, Taormina is a place to sit and absorb the atmosphere, a good excuse to dress up, have a typical Italian passeggiata and do some classy shopping.

The beauty of the very heart of Sicily should not be underestimated. Nature paints her colours with subtle hues. Greens change to golds, which change to deep browns and cinnamon reds. Textures change with seasons and roll before you in a vast tapestry of light and shade. Towns, like Piazza Armerina, Enna, Castelbuono and Caltagirone, cling to hillsides and capture the very essence of this intriguing island. Many, many others, far too numerous to mention, will fascinate and enthral.

So, Sicily will stir your emotions, make even the most cold hearted feel romantic, move you to tears, make you smile - that one part of Italy should wield such power is quite breathtaking.