The Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans and a handful of other Mediterranean civilisations took claim of Sicily before the Mafia emerged on this glorious island, although its significant wane has inched Sicily into the Italian holiday limelight. This is hardly surprising given its colourful history evident in the melting pot of strongholds, monuments, churches and chapels left behind by its ancient occupants.
At the top of most tourists' agendas is the cliff-top town of Taormina, the pearl of the Ionian Sea', with capital Palermo of simultaneous ugliness and cultural beauty not far off. Other highlights to see on a holiday in Italy dot the island, from 'stone garden' cities and the Greek city ruins at Catania to of course imposing Etna in the east, which needs no help in stealing the landscape's limelight.