If one felt that the British Isles have rich history, it hardly compare to the invasions of Sicily over the last 4000 years.

The Greeks came in the 8th Century BC to bring culture to the island The Romans conquered with tyranny in 480 BC the Turks arrived in 827 AD and the Normans threw them off the island in 1100. They remained for almost 200 years, building a magnificent cathedral at Cefalu. Later in 1282, the crown of Aragon in Spain rose to power and the island remained a Spanish property until the Napoleon Dynasty took back the island in 1810. Then there is the infamous Mafia but tourists will never see any sign of their presence.

Typically, all this history has left its mark on the island with a vast array archaeological sites, museums, art, and architecture amidst all of the splendid scenery both on the coast and in the mountains Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean (26,000 square km) and it would take many weeks to explore its full potential. You will have to be content with exploring just one or two areas.

The sights to see are simply impossible to list in this basic description. They range from the Capuchin catacombs in Palermo where the dead embalmed corpses of wealthy citizens hang from the walls to the magnificence of the Greek Doric temples of Concord still intact at Agrigento. From the Greek theatres almost side by side with the Roman amphitheatre designed for gladiator fighting to the Ear of Dionysius - a Greek prison. And all are within a few square miles at Syracuse.

In short, Sicily is a holiday destination with a difference.

Getting to Sicily: Charter flights to Catania are from Heathrow, Gatwick and (to be confirmed) Manchester scheduled flights are all via Milan, Rome or Amsterdam with Alitalia or KLM.