Sicily holidays...
a melting pot of various civilisations

Since 1997, Holiday Options have offered an extensive range of Sicily holidays to this most beautiful of mediterranean Islands. With this experience of Sicily holidays we have developed a programme that includes boutique, luxury and family hotels. Our Sicily holidays feature the popular resorts of Castelmola, Taormina, Taormina Mare and Cefalu.

All of these Sicily holiday resorts are accessed by a range of Sicily flights that include

London Gatwick to Catania

Manchester to Catania.

Simply use the column on the right hand side of this page to view the resorts as well as detail on all the accommodation we have available. At any stage you can book the Sicily holiday of your dreams by using our search and book box.

Steeped in history, sprinkled with fruit and nut groves and soaked in sunshine, Sicily is the largest and most populous island in the Mediterranean. Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest active volcano is here. There is opulent architecture in the capital, Palermo, and with ancient temples, modern marinas and sumptuous south coast sands, Sicily doesn’t do anything by half.

Kicked off the toe of Italy’s ‘boot’, Sicily holidays are strategically placed between the mainland country and the north African coast, in an ideal spot for a superbly sunny climate.

Diversity is all apparent on this big and beautiful island. Pick any nation from the ancient and medieval worlds and the odds are that its army landed here - Greeks and Romans, Byzantines and Bourbons, Arabs, Angevins and Aragonese. All left their mark on Sicily’s landscape and culture, providing a window on centuries past that will enthrall the history buffs.

Temples and amphitheatres are set amid beautiful hillsides. Picturesque Taormina, perched on its cliff top, places equal focus on its castle, cathedral and cluster of chic shops and cafés. Cefalu is an atmospheric Moorish port. This is the magic of Sicily

– that while its archaeological relics are gloriously preserved, the contemporary life of the island goes on around them, incorporates the past with the present, and creates a place where you delve into history almost by accident.

The island’s variety doesn’t stop at its architecture, for the scenery is just as splendid. Menacing it may be, but Mt. Etna’s past eruptions have delivered fantastically fertile soil for the citrus groves and arable farms, providing the fresh ingredients for a medley of Mediterranean menus.

The island’s economy is firmly based on its home-grown produce and well-stocked fishing grounds. A drive in the country will bring you to citrus orchards, olive and almond groves, and field upon field of wheat, beans and salad vegetables, while a meal at the water’s edge could include the day’s catch of anything from sardines to swordfish. A popular place for today’s Romans to visit in high summer, Sicily has not been spoiled by tourism in great numbers, and there’s plenty of room here to find a hidden cove or tranquil village.

Eat where the local people eat and really experience the atmosphere.

Passionate about Sicily...

"Sicily is not only about history, but it is also a land where very friendly and hospitable people live by following traditions
laid down over centuries.

My restaurant is my passion and it gives me the opportunity to meet different people from many parts of the world and share with them my pleasure in providing quality cuisine.

I have had the pleasure to be the manager of the Ristorante Anfora in the heart of Taormina for 10 years now, and I personally follow the best traditions of Sicilian cuisine in the preparation of enjoyable
meals for my guests.

I define my cuisine as a delicate and balanced and prepared always with “Amore!” And I love to talk to my guests about all aspects of Sicily.

I look forward to welcoming the company of those visitors who will want to experience my typically traditional Sicilian cuisine prepared only with locally sourced produce and fresh fish, always washed down with the excellent wine for which Sicily is so famous. Ti aspetto! Bon Appetito!

Nerino…Manager Ristorante Anfora, Taormina Ristorante Anfora is featured in our ‘Godfather Experience’ and is adjacent
to Hotel Il Piccolo Giardino ."

An Introduction to…
Taormina, Castelmola, Giardini Naxos & Cefalu

Taormina

The fascinating town of Taormina rests on the slopes of Mount Tauro, some 204 metres above sea level and is a magnificent vantage point for panoramic views of Mount Etna, Giardini Naxos and the sea. There is a cable car service between the town and the nearby beach area of Mazzaro.

The town itself is composed of an intriguing network of small streets and alleyways which host a marvellous selection of hotels, pavement cafés, elegant shops, restaurants and bars.

Taormina is one of the most celebrated resorts in the Mediterranean with a distinctly late medieval character. The town centre is home to a large number of buildings and relics of historical interest from the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Perhaps the most important monument, the Greco-Roman amphitheatre is the venue for the International Arts Festival during the summer months of July and August. In the evening one can watch the citizens of Taormina as they stroll along the Corso Umberto.

A luxuriant macchia covers the heights above the town, interspersed with dark cypresses, olive trees, pines, palm trees and cacti. Orange and lemon trees fill the air with their unforgettable Mediterranean scent.

The famous English author, D.H Lawrence fell in love with and lived in Taormina for three years in the 1920’s. His passion for Taormina and its unique qualities are commemorated to this day.

This beautiful town reveals the sophisticated face of Sicily with its stylish boutiques, exquisite restaurants and the spectacular Greco-Roman amphitheatre, all a stone’s throw from the stunning coastline.

Castelmola

Castelmola is a small village with a solitary cobbled road and the vestiges of an ancient castle and is situated 15 minutes drive onwards and upwards from Taormina. There is an interesting selection of bars, which serve a delicious local almond wine called vino alla mandorla, and also some shops. The views from Castelmola are magnificent. A small village in a stunning hilltop location, Castelmola offers wonderful views to the coast and to Mt Etna.

Giardini Naxos

The thriving town of Giardini Naxos with its old fishing harbour is a popular holiday resort developed on the site of the ancient Greek colony of Naxos, an area of great historical interest. The beach is long, sickle-shaped and slopes gently down to the sea. Parasols and sunbeds can be rented and there is a wide range of watersports.

Daytime activities include visits to the museum and many archaeological sites, while nightlife revolves around the bars, nightclubs and excellent restaurants.

Giardini Naxos is a short taxi or bus ride from Taormina, which is just 8km away.
A popular and lively holiday resort offering a mix of ancient culture and café society with a wide sandy beach as a bonus.

Cefalu

Cefalu is a small, enchanting town on the north coast. A fine beach of golden sand is wellcomplemented by a spectacular and intriguing old town with a labyrinth of narrow lanes and picturesque houses. There is a pretty Moorish harbour front with restaurants, pizzerias and bars perched on wooden balconies overlooking the sea. Others are deep in the maze of the town or in the piazza by the beautiful, medieval Duomo.

Cefalu is an artist’s palette of colours centred around a picturesque and historic old town, and is one of the Mediterranean’s best kept secrets.

Pantelleria….
Remote and escapist…..

Pantelleria is an island of wild natural beauty, closer to North Africa than to Sicily, with dramatic coastlines, pristine waters, and an abundance of caves, grottos and thermal springs. The Lago di Venere is a large lake of volcanic origin, set inside the original crater, with thermal springs draining into it. There are also natural saunas found deep within hillside caves.

The highest point on the island is Montagna Grande at 836 metres, from
which, on clear days one can see Africa. Everywhere on the island are steeply terraced vineyards where the local zibibbo grapes are grown for Passito wine, unique to Pantelleria.

It is a beautiful, green, fertile island, watered by underground springs and abundant with trees and flowers, capers and grapevines. There are many walking trails around the island, and excursions by boat around the coastline are also very popular.

There are no beaches - people swim from the black volcanic rocks.
The old traditional houses scattered throughout the island, which were left behind by the Moors who ruled for 400 years, are called dommusi and are built of black lava rock with white domed roofs. The walls are around one metre thick, and the rooms are generally separated by archways. Many of these little houses have been bought and restored and most are used as holiday homes.

They are extremely fashionable and sell for enormous amounts of money.

Pantelleria has become a chic hideaway for celebrities such as fashion designers, film stars and recording artists who escape to relax on this remote and beautiful island and become ‘one of the crowd’. Here, everybody is equal and treated with the same friendliness and courtesy.

The small town of Pantelleria on the north coast offers some restaurants, bars and shops and a central hotel opposite the harbour and marina.
On much of the island there is no mobile phone signal – this is a real ‘get away from it all’ retreat.

Travel Plan

Day 1: Fly to Palermo and transfer to Hotel Centro or similar in Palermo for 1 night
room and breakfast.

Day 2: Transfer back to Palermo airport for the scheduled service flight (50 minutes) to the island of Pantelleria and transfer for 4 nights half board at the Club Levante (see facing page).

Day 6: Return flight to Palermo for 1 night room and breakfast or continue your holiday in Sicily with a stay in Cefalu.

Final day: transfer to Palermo airport for your return flight.

Other durations and combinations are available. Please call our travel consultants for an individual quotation. This holiday is not available between 25th July and 20th August. There is a minimum stay in Cefalu of 7 nights