To admire the wild land of the Godfather, visit some of the best archaeological sites in Europe and view Europe's largest live volcano.

A one-week package, with half-board hotel accommodation, costs from about £500 in summer. Moderate hotel rooms in Palermo are from around £20. Flights to Palermo cost from £200, though it's sometimes possible to get special discount fares and late deals from as little as £100.

Sicily has a Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry (July and August have highs of 86F/30C) and winters are mild, with an average temperature of about 50F/10C. For those who don't like it too hot, the best time is late spring and early summer.

Sicily is rich in ancient sites. Among the best are the beautiful Valley of the Temples at Agrigento and the Roman mosaics at Piazza Armerina.

Take a cable car part of the way up Mount Etna. You can't climb to the craters anymore because of the volcano's unpredictable nature.

The most popular resorts are Taormina on the east coast and Cefalu in the north. With Mount Etna as a backdrop, Taormina is the prettier of the two, but its steep narrow streets mean it isn't very suitable for holidaymakers with walking difficulties.

Cefalu, a busy little fishing port, has a lovely beach and a skyline dominated by a Norman cathedral.

You're unlikely to see any evidence of the Mafia and won't be caught in any gang war. The Cosa Nostra has little interest in the affairs of foreign tourists. Don't expect to see burly men carrying violin cases and wearing carnations.

Take time to visit at least one of Sicily's two major cities, Palermo and Catania, if only to experience their frenetic atmosphere. The traffic is crazy and the buildings imposing, if in need of renovation.

Palermo is the more attractive and is slowly renovating its many historic sites damaged by World War II bombing.

Many of Sicily's best discos are in very unassuming buildings which look nothing like nightspots. Ask at your hotel about where to go. Sicily is also great for evenings spent al fresco - dining and drinking under the stars.

Make sure your waistband is elasticated. Pasta is believed to have originated in Sicily. Most Italians agree that the island also has the best ice-cream.

A popular Palermitan dish is pasta con le sarde - pasta with sardines, fennel, peppers, capers and pine nuts. Pudding fans should try the cannoli - deep-fried pastries stuffed with ricotta and rolled in bitter chocolate.

The town of Marsala, famous for its sweet wine, is in the north-west of the island.

Take home a couple of bottles of the famous Marsala fortified wine. Also look out for colourful ceramics and embroidered linen and lace in the traditional country style.

There isn't a huge amount specifically aimed at children in Sicily, apart from the usual resort entertainments and the beach. At least you're never far from an ice cream bribe!

Italian State Tourist Board, 1 Princes St, London W1R 8AY. Tel. 020 7408 1254. Brochure line: 09001 600 280 (calls cost 60p per minute).

Sicilians love their pasta so much that in the Middle Ages they were known as 'sicilianu manciamaccaruna' - Sicilian macaroni munchers.

Italian

None required for EU residents.

Scheduled flights via Milan or Rome

Four hours

The island has a good bus service. Coastal train services from Messina to Palermo and Siracusa are efficient. Elsewhere, most rail services are infrequent and slow. Roads are generally good, although driving in Palermo and Catania can be chaotic.

Euro

As a rough guide: litre of petrol 60p; bottle of beer £1.50; moderate restaurant meal £12; roll of camera film £2.50; four-mile taxi ride £7-£8.

Sicily has a Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry, with July and August highs of 30C (86F). Winters are mild, with temperatures between 10C and 20C (50F-68F). For those who don't like it too hot, the best time is late spring and early summer.

One hour ahead of GMT

00 39

220V 50Hz, but some places still use the old 125V system - check with your hotel or landlord.

Shops open at 8am, shut at 1pm for a long lunch, then reopen at 3-4pm till 7-8pm. Banks open 8.30am-1.30pm and 2.45-4.30 Mon-Fri.

You don't need any vaccinations to visit Italy. The UK also has a reciprocal agreement with Italy regarding healthcare. To take advantage of this you will need to get an EHIC form at a UK post office and make sure you understand how to access this health care when away.

A new law states that all foreigners have the same right as Italians to emergency health care. That, plus having your E111 form, means that you have good access to care. Take the E111 form to the local Unita Sanitaria Locale (USL) office and they will give you the information you need. However, many Italian public hospitals are underfunded, so you may prefer to take out travel insurance to cover treatment in a private clinic.

Beware of pickpockets and handbag-snatchers. Car theft is a problem in Palermo.

British Consulate, Viale Cadorna 10, 1-98100 Messina. Tel. (090) 672924. British Consulate, S. Tagliavia and Co, Via Cavour 121, 1-90133 Palermo. Tel. (091) 582533.

Slow service and long queues are the norm in banks and post offices. Be patient - stamping your feet will get you nowhere.

Italy is a qualifying country for the Pet Travel Scheme. However, that does not mean that you can put Fido on the lead and take him on the plane. There are stringent requirements for veterinary checks and documentation to fulfil prior to taking a pet abroad. Check with your vet.

Ten per cent in restaurants if service is not included. Small change in bars. Tipping taxi drivers is not common practice.

Italian State Tourist Board: 1 Princes St, London W1R 8AY. Tel. 020 7408 1254. Brochure line: 09001 600 280 (calls cost 60p per minute).

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