Locals will proudly tell you that “Sicily's not an island, it's a continent!” As the Mediterranean's largest island, Sicily is a destination you could spend weeks exploring. With more than its fair share of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, national parks, local dishes, and protected-geographic-origin foods, Sicily is Italy in miniature. The often snow-capped Etna Mountain is visible from much of the island, but if you're in Palermo in the northwest you couldn't feel further away. Each city has its own compelling story and fiercely proud locals.

The ancient Greeks colonized Sicily in the 7th and 8th centuries BC. All over the island you will find traces from this period. The theaters at Taormina and Siracusa and the temples of Agrigento are just the most famous. Sicily's strategic position on the Mediterranean means it has been conquered and invaded by numerous civilizations over the centuries, with the Normans and the Spanish having significant influence through the ages. Although you can combine Sicily with some time on the Italian mainland, it is most common to fly rather than take a ferry, and in any case this magical isle warrants some extended exploration, with a minimum of seven nights suggested to explore eastern Sicily alone.