Springtime in Sicily

It’s at this time of year, as drab, wet days seem to drag on forever, that thoughts might turn to sunnier climes. A spring break in Sicily - supposedly the inspiration for the ancient Greek sun god Helius’ island in The Odyssey - was the perfect choice for our writer Laura Coffey.
Basing herself at Cefalù, an ancient fishing village almost exactly halfway along the island’s north coast, Coffey was seduced by the region’s slow pace and old-school glamour.
Wandering the maze of streets she discovered cathedrals with Byzantine golden mosaics, a 9th-century hilltop temple and a sweeping golden sand beach, just minutes from town. Fuelled by swordfish rolls and “dangerously addictive” cannoli pastries, Coffey’s explorations were sensibly punctuated by lazy roof-top breakfasts and long siestas.
As tour guide Barbara De Gaetani said: “Many other places are gorgeous but not as seductive. You can feel life flowing here, and it’s no accident that many film-makers have used the town as a location.”
You can read about other writers’ favourite places for an early sun break on the website this week too - from pretty Centuri in Corsica to the peaceful Greek island of Tinos in May. Here’s to sunshine!