Seductively beautiful and perfectly placed in the heart of the Mediterranean, Sicily has been luring passersby since the time of legends. The land of the Cyclops has been praised by poets from Homer to Virgil and prized by the many ancient cultures – Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Elymians, Romans and Greeks – whose bones lie buried here.

A delectable layer-cake of culinary influences, Sicily's ancient cuisine continues to rely on a few key island-grown ingredients: shellfish and citrus, tuna and swordfish, pistachios, almonds and ricotta. Talk to the septuagenarian chef at a Catania restaurant and she'll confide that she still uses her grandmother's recipe for pasta alla Norma. but Sicily's timeless recipes – from the simplest cannolo to the most exquisite fish couscous – live on.

Sicily's varied landscape makes a dramatic first impression. Fly into Catania and the smoking hulk of Etna greets you. This juxtaposition of sea, volcano and mountain scenery makes a stunning backdrop for outdoor activities. Hikers can wind along precipitous coastlines, climb erupting volcanoes and traipse through flowery mountain meadows; birders benefit from the plethora of species on the Africa-Europe migration route; and divers and swimmers enjoy some of the Mediterranean's most pristine waters.

As if its classical heritage weren't formidable enough, Sicily is bursting at the seams with later artistic and architectural gems. Circle around to southeast Sicily and you'll find a stunning array of baroque architectural masterpieces. Meanwhile, throughout the island you'll remains of Arab and Norman castles. This embarrassment of cultural riches remains one of the island's most distinctive attractions.