Sicily's Secret Islands

"The greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places" Ronald Dahl

Located in the middle of the Mediterranean, Sicily has more than 1000 kilometres of stunning coastline and is surrounded by three seas, the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the south and the Ionian Sea to the east.

Sicily also holds a big secret, she has fifteen stunning offshore islands rising out of the sea that look like hidden gems, each one with their own amazing character.

But Sssssh, you cannot tell anyone, this is just between me and you.

Most of these islands can be visited in a day BUT they can also make an incredible destination for a unique holiday off the beaten track far away from the hubbub of normal life, or they are perfect for island hopping.

British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is a great fan of Sicily's islands and he has filmed on location in the Aeolian Islands and the Aegadian Islands.

So lets take a look at and explore the Islands of Sicily ...

The Aeolian Islands

The Aeolian Islands (Isole Eolie) are the volcanic archipelago in the north situated in the Tyrrhenian Sea. They are named after the Ancient Greek god of wind Aeolus and the islands certainly have a Greek Island feel to them, with whitewashed houses and bright blue doors and shutters.

The port of Milazzo is the gateway to these stunning islands.

Volcanic activity lent to each of these seven islands its own land and seascape. Evidence of 6000 years of history, a live volcano, black lava beaches and the islands food and wines flavoured by the Aeolian sun make them well worth a visit. Each island has a mixture of history with a small town atmosphere.

There are two volcanoes Stromboli and Vulcano meaning that volcanic activity has left most of the islands with very fertile soil and thermal waters.

The Aeolian Islands were listed by UNESCO in 2000 as a World Heritage Site for providing "an outstanding record of ongoing volcanic phenomena".

Malvasia sweet dessert wine is the famed product of the islands. The white grapes are cultivated, harvested late and left to shrivel on cane mats before fermentation.

Lipari is the largest of the archipelago and it is also the name of Lipari's main town. Besides Lipari Town there are also four main villages. The island is rich in pumice making it bright white and with thanks to pumice dust on the seabed the waters surrounding the island reflect gorgeous colours ranging from turquoise to bright emerald. It is a beautiful and charming island bustling with visitors with lots of things to see and do.

Vulcano is a small volcanic island and is located at the southernmost end of the seven. It contains several volcanic calderas. Although it is a spent volcano, Vulcano still has constant sulphur emissions seeping out of the main crater and all over the island the vapour rises out of the craggy ground which turns the earth yellow and red and forms mud baths (fanghi) and creates hot bubbles in the sea. Visiting the hot springs and mud baths is the number one attraction on Vulcano. The mud is a constant 28 degrees Celsius all year round. Slathering yourself with mud and then soaking it off in the sea is both fun and relaxing.

Salina is the second largest island and is divided between three towns Santa Marina on the eastern coast, Malfa to the north and Leni to the south west. The beach at Pollara has black volcanic sand and a dark blue sea which is perfect for snorkelling with sea urchins and octopuses. Here there is a natural stone bridge that swoops down from the cliffs and rests in the water like elephant legs. On Salina you can discover the islands famous green gold capers. These precious little capers burst with an intense flavour created by the Aeolian sun and the sea breezes.

Panarea is the smallest of the archipelago and the most exclusive. Chic Panarea is known for its coves, clear waters, rocky islets and nightlife. In recent years, the island has become known internationally for its celebrity and VIP visitors. Want to know where the all rich and famous are during the summer months? Well they are probably anchored off the coast of Panarea in their multimillion pound yachts. Cars on the island are a no no and instead expect to travel in golf buggies. Panarea is both pretty and pretty expensive, but a wonderful and luxurious location.

Stromboli volcano has been active for more than two millennia spewing sparks and red hot lava rocks into the air which are best seen at night. The volcano has erupted many times and its constant activity is visible from the surrounding sea giving rise to the island's nickname "Lighthouse of the Mediterranean". Stromboli stands 3,038 ft above sea level. There are three active craters at the peak and a significant geological feature of the volcano is the Sciara del Fuoco (stream of fire). The island set the scene for the movie 'Stromboli' starring Ingrid Bergman which was directed by Roberto Rossellini. The film is perhaps best remembered for their love affair that began during production. The fashion designers Dolce and Gabbana also have a holiday home here.

Alicudi and Filicudi are tiny islands at the westernmost point and are the least developed islands of the archipelago and are not to be missed. Many visitors and locals call these the prettiest of the Aeolian Islands for their natural beauty, sparse population, lack of cars, whitewashed houses and stunning sunsets.

Aeolian Islands

Lipari

Vulcano

Salina

Panarea

Stromboli

Filicudi and Alicudi

The Aegadian Islands

The Aegadian Islands (Isole Egadi) also known as 'the islands of the goats' are a group of lush islands in the Mediterranean Sea off the northwest coast not far from the cities of Trapani and Marsala.

The magic of these islands is their beaches and transparent waters which are a dream come true.

Levanzo, Favignana and Marettimo are about 20 minutes from Trapani by hydrofoil and are great for relaxing on a summers day as there is pretty much nothing here except for the cerulean sea and pristine beaches.

The islands are most famous for the mattanza, the ancient Arabic tuna fishing rituals and you will see old tonnaro (tuna factories) dotted around the islands.

Low key is the way to describe the islands and they are never packed, but do not let this put you off. They are the perfect place to hire a bike and cycle round or for hiking along with beautiful wild horses and donkeys.

These islands are favoured by the Sicilians for summer holidays.

Favignana is butterfly shaped and is also known as La Farfalla (the big butterfly of the sea) and beach time is the order of the day here. It is an island that allows you to breath in the Mediterranean fresh air and forget all your worries. There are amazing diving and snorkelling opportunities and you can get up close and personal with colourful and unusual marine life. Favignana Town has a cluster of great restaurants, bars and shops and a must do is to visit the fish market to pick your favourite for your evening meal. Favignana is dotted with tufa quarries and you can visit the caves and explore the handiwork of old quarrymen. At the "Grotta Perciata" the daylight that shines through illuminates the water inside so that it appears to glow.

Levanzo is the smallest of the islands and has only around 450 inhabitants who are concentrated around a tiny port which has a quaint town centre. Levanzo is famous for the "Grotto del Genovese" with Neolithic cave paintings and Palaeolithic graffiti. It is great for swimming and sunbathing. In the waters of Cala Minnola on the eastern side of the island there is one of the most important Sicilian underwater archaeological sites in which a Roman cargo ship loaded with wine amphoras lies at a depth of 27 meters. Fans of the television series Inspector Montalbano might recognise Levanzo from the episode "A Sense of Touch" when he visits, with his girlfriend Livia and a dog called Orlando, to enjoy a few days off.

Marettimo is the furthest from mainland Sicily and is known for its extraordinary clear waters. The name Marettimo comes from the words mare (sea) and timo (thyme) due to the profusion of thyme on the island that fragrances the air. The island is car-less, almost hotel-less and has a small collection of bars and restaurants. There is a Norman castle that is worth a hike up to for stunning views. Marettimo has a perfect laidback island feel.

Aegadian Islands

Favignana

Levanzo

Marettimo

The Pelagie Islands

The Pelagie islands (Isole Pelagie meaning open sea) are the three small islands of Lampedusa, Linosa and Lampione and they are romantically isolated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea between Malta and Tunisia, south of Sicily.

Geographically part of the archipelago, Lampedusa and Lampione, belong to the African continent but politically and administratively the islands fall within the province of Agrigento on mainland Sicily. .

Of particular ecological concern on the islands is the protection of the Loggerhead sea turtle which is endangered throughout the Mediterranean as a result of its nesting sites being over taken by tourism. The beaches of Pozzolana di Ponente on Linosa and Isola dei Conigli on Lampedusa are two of the last remaining sites where the turtles regularly lay their eggs.

There are many places to see, ways to wander and things to experience on the Pelagie Isalnds.

Lampione is uninhabited with the only building being a lighthouse. According to legend the island was a rock which had fallen from the hands of Polyphemus, the Cyclops that was thought to live underneath Mount Etna. Today the island belongs to the Reserve of the Pelagian Islands and the flora and fauna is protected. Within this protected area visitors who love nature and scuba diving will find this island of great interest. Some say that Lampione is primarily a destination for privileged divers.

Lampedusa is the largest of the three islands and has responded well to a tourism boom with modern buildings but it is still great for swimming, diving and watching sea turtles, dolphins and whales who migrate there in March. A ferry service links the island to Porto Empedocle near Agrigento and there are also year round flights to and from Palermo and Catania. In 2013 Spaggia dei Conigli (Rabbit Beach), located in the southern part of the island was voted the world's best beach by TripAdvisor and is frequented by sun worshippers. The best way to see the island is on a boat trip to appreciate the beauty of Lampedusa's beaches, coves and tiny harbours. An underwater excursion is also rather fabulous where you can see fascinating parrot fish amongst many other wonderful species of marine life.

Linosa is a tranquil island known for its fertile volcanic soil and crystal clear waters and has a current population of around 200 residents. There are three extinct volcanos on the island and beaches with black volcanic sand and then, in comparison, bright white sand can be found at Cala dei Fili. Linosa is known as a paradise for divers as the sea surrounding the island quickly falls to great depths just a small distance from the coast where they reach a depth of over 300 meters.

Pelagie Islands

Lampione

Lampedusa

Linosa

Pantelleria

This tiny exclusive volcanic island is actually closer to Africa than Italy and is as well known for its VIP visitors as it is its natural beauty and culinary gifts. It is known as the "Black Pearl of the Mediterranean". The island is located in the Straits of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, 100km southwest of Sicily and 60km east of the Tunisian coast. On a clear day Tunisia is visible from the island.

Pantelleria is Italy's top secret island. Shy celebrities go here on holiday such as Giorgio Armani and Luca Zingarelli (Inspector Montalbano) who both have villas here.

The architecture reflects Arabic influences and the island is dotted with dammusi which are low, white washed, domed houses.

Pantelleria is famous for its caper production and the thick and sweet moscato passito dessert wine which is made from the Zibbibo grape which grows well on the island.

This amazing destination is the top of a volcanic cone emerging over 2000 metres from the bottom of the sea. The volcanic rocks have a glass like compound making the island shine like a crown jewel.

Volcanic thermal springs and lakes are to be found throughout the island. There are no sandy beaches but there are breath taking bays for bathing and diving off rocks.

You will find bars and some of the best restaurants in Sicily. The Specchio di Venere (Mirror of Venus) is a heart shaped lake in a volcanic crater which contains mineral rich mud which you can slather on and rinse off in the sea which will leave your skin feeling like velvet. There is even a natural hot sauna located in a grotto.

The island was recently put into the spotlight when it was used as the filming location for the movie "The Bigger Splash" starring Tilda Swinton, Matthias Schoenaerts, Ralph Fiennes and Dakota Fanning.

Ustica

Ustica is a small island situated 52 kms north of Capo Gallo. Roughy 1,300 people live there and there is a regular ferry service from Palermo. During the Fascist years in Italy and until the 1950's, Ustica was used as an island prison.

The island is particularly known for scuba diving with a number of diving schools established on the island. Recreational divers are attracted by its marine reserve and its deep dives which is an important feature of the islands volcanic geology.

A great way to explore the island is on a donkey trek to enjoy the village like atmosphere.

The island retains charm and history with a gorgeous rocky landscape which can be enjoyed on donkey back.

Yet another beautiful Island of Sicily.