Lipari a secret gem north of Sicily

Off the Beaten Path: Europe's Unknown Island Destinations

You've heard of Sicily and Capri, Santorini and Ibiza. The only problem is, so has everybody else. If you're looking for that perfect getaway far from throngs of other tourists, there are thousands of European islands hiding in plain view, just waiting to be explored. From the pristine white beaches of the Mediterranean to the glaciers of the Arctic, here are 10 island gems that are off the beaten path.

An hour or so northwest of Sicily are the stunningly beautiful Aeolian Islands. Lipari, the largest of the chain, is generally the most crowded -- primarily with summer tourists who flock to its gorgeous beaches -- but is also the most interesting, historically.

Perched high on a cliff-top above the harbor is an ancient citadel, built in the 1500s, which still dominates the main town. If you're looking for a respite from the sand and sun, check out Diana District Archaeological Park, with its Greek and Roman ruins. Lipari can also serve as a perfect jumping-off point to explore the smaller, less crowded islands in the archipelago where you will find, among other things, active volcanoes, castles, thermal resorts and volcanic-black beaches.

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as Sicily is the key to everything” - Goethe

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New From Perillo Tours: Deluxe Escorted 9-Day Sicily Tour

With its rustic beauty and Old World charm, Sicily is a rare jewel, and Perillo Tours has a brand new nine-day escorted tour to this Mediterranean gem. The value-packed journey will unfold 25 centuries of treasures left by the Greeks, the Romans, the Arabs, the Normans, the Bourbons and other invaders. Two of the most enlightened capitals of the West, Greek Siracusa and Arab-Norman Palermo will be featured, as well as medieval Taormina with its stunning beaches back-dropped by Mount Etna’s smoking volcano.

A top Mediterranean power 2,700 years ago, Siracusa is a World Heritage Site with a Greek theater, several temples, Roman amphitheater and the tomb of the Greek mathematician Archimedes. Nearly every great European empire once ruled Palermo, and left their traces in its palaces, churches and crypts.

Deluxe hotels on the tour include three nights in Palermo at the Grand Hotel Waqner and two nights in Taormina at the Grand Timeo. A hearty buffet breakfast gets every day off right, and evenings are filled with sumptuous, wine-fueled meals. Accompanied by Perillo’s engaging and knowledgeable tour directors throughout, guests will enjoy day trips to Sicily’s fascinating sites

Highlights include a bouquet-filled visit to Marsala and one of its wine cellars, where guests will taste the fortified wine that was first introduced in 1796. Also on the itinerary is the ancient Greek city of Selinus, an acropolis of majestic temples overlooking the sea. On the road to Taormina, the tour will stop at the aristocratic fourth century Villa Romana del Casales in Piazza Armerina, famed for its intricate mosaics. A morning trip from Taormina will reveal another World Heritage Site, Noto, built entirely in the Baroque period.

Each departure is limited to 40 guests traveling in deluxe motor coaches with extra legroom. Tour price covers airport transfers in Italy, hearty daily buffet breakfast, five dinners and one lunch including wine and beer, Marsala wine tasting, baggage handling, hotel service charges and taxes, professional tour directors and local guides. In addition to sightseeing, plenty of free time is available for independent explorations, shopping and relaxing. The Deluxe Sicily Tour is offered at $2,690 per person double occupancy for three departures in January, with the top price of $3,290 offered on the two April departures.

For more information and to book this or any other Perillo Tours package, see a travel agent, or visit www.PerilloTours.com or call toll free at 1-800-431-1515

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“To have seen Italy without Sicily - is not to have seen Italy at all,
as Sicily is the key to everything” - Goethe

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Diana Curmei, Miss Italia nel Mondo 2009

There is also a piece of Sicily in Miss Italia nel Mondo 2009, because maybe not everyone knows that this year's crowned Miss Italy of the World is in fact the daughter of a woman originally from Sicily. The family comes from Campofelice 'd Roccella, near Palermo.

Diana, 19 years old lives in Moldova, she was selected among 50 finalists from 43 countries. This is the 19th event promoting beautiful Italians living abroad. Miss Italia nel Mondo(Miss Italy of the World) is an annual sister event to Miss Italy. The RAIUNO show was held at Palazzo del Turismo in Jesolo not far from Venice.

Diana had to struggle hard to gain the desired crown, including ballet, fashion shows, talk shows and a quiz-game. The young woman also explained, that she had problems in April, at the Moldovan-Romanian border, when the Moldovan authorities stopped her and accused her of collaborating with an anti-communist NGO.

Besides the Crown, Diana Curmei won an annual contract with a fashion house and another contract with a car company. She also got a mini-contract with Italian television RAI. An Italian insurance company has insured her body for one million euro.

To learn more about Sicily visit Sicily Tourist Guide

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The taste of Sicily is only a click away - Get the best Sicilian gourmet food delivered directly to your doorstep from www.Sicilian-Marketplace.com - The TOP 100 most sold Sicilian food products online. Our Sicily marketplace is powered by the worlds biggest online shopping site - best customer satisfaction guaranteed!

Interested in the best Italian sparkling wine? - taste like Champagne, but for a fraction of the price! Pinot Prosecco

Why not try some world class fishing and see Sicily from the sea, book a spectacular Sicilian fishing trip with SicilyFishing.com

“To have seen Italy without Sicily - is not to have seen Italy at all,
as Sicily is the key to everything” - Goethe

Sicily, The World's Next Great Retirement Destination(TM) of LivingInSicily.com -a forum for those who love Sicily and those who seek information about living in Sicily or moving to Sicily.

Finnair-Meridiana code-share agreement opens connections to Sicily

Finnair and the Italian airline Meridiana will start cooperating within the framework of a reciprocal code-share agreement on flights between Helsinki and Italy as of June 22. The new agreement means that Finnair can offer its passengers connections to Cagliari and Olbia in Sardinia, Palermo in Sicily, and Florence, to which Meridiana flies from the Finnair destinations of Amsterdam, Rome Fiumicino, and Paris Charles de Gaulle. Palermo is the capital city of Sicily. The growing interest in Sicily with its many magnificent beaches, high quality tourism services and golf courses is the reason for Finnairs new code-share program.

"Italy is a very popular travel destination, both for Finnair's Finnish customers, Russians and for passengers using our Asian route network. The code-share agreement means that we can now offer a wider range of convenient connections to Italy," says Vice President Hannu Sundberg, who is responsible for Finnair's code-share agreements.

Further information: www.finnair.com and www.meridiana.com

To learn more about Sicily visit Sicily Tourist Guide

To get updates about the Best of Sicily follow us at www.twitter.com/SicilyToday

The taste of Sicily is only a click away - Get the best Sicilian gourmet food delivered directly to your doorstep from www.Sicilian-Marketplace.com - The TOP 100 most sold Sicilian food products online. Our Sicily marketplace is powered by the worlds biggest online shopping site - best customer satisfaction guaranteed!

Interested in the best Italian sparkling wine? - taste like Champagne, but for a fraction of the price! Pinot Prosecco

Why not try some world class fishing and see Sicily from the sea, book a spectacular Sicilian fishing trip with SicilyFishing.com

“To have seen Italy without Sicily - is not to have seen Italy at all,
as Sicily is the key to everything” - Goethe

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Divers found a priceless Byzantine drinking cup in the waters off Sicily

Divers from a special police branch A.K.A. "Italian art cops" have found a priceless Byzantine drinking cup in the waters off southern Sicily.
The police say the 'patera', a cup used for ritual offerings, was part of a large cargo of precious objects from an ancient ship whose treasures are spread across the seabed.
The patera was said to be decorated with a dove and ''of inestimable value''.
Divers have found ''numerous'' other objects from the Roman, Byzantine and Hellenistic periods, police said.
But they believe the finds are only ''a small part'' of the ship's cargo.
They have not yet found the ship, which they think was either Greek, Roman or Byzantine.
Divers are scouring the Sicilian Channel in the hope of finding the vessel and the rest of its cargo.
The finds were made off Gela, about halfway between Agrigento and Ragusa.

You can go diving and spearfishing in Sicily with SicilyFishing.com
To learn more about Sicily visit Sicily Tourist Guide

To get updates about the Best of Sicily follow us at www.twitter.com/SicilyToday

The taste of Sicily is only a click away - Get the best Sicilian gourmet food delivered directly to your doorstep from www.Sicilian-Marketplace.com - The TOP 100 most sold Sicilian food products online. Our Sicily marketplace is powered by the worlds biggest online shopping site - best customer satisfaction guaranteed!

Interested in the best Italian sparkling wine? - taste like Champagne, but for a fraction of the price! Pinot Prosecco

Why not try some world class fishing and see Sicily from the sea, book a spectacular Sicilian fishing trip with SicilyFishing.com

“To have seen Italy without Sicily - is not to have seen Italy at all,
as Sicily is the key to everything” - Goethe

Sicily, The World's Next Great Retirement Destination(TM) of LivingInSicily.com -a forum for those who love Sicily and those who seek information about living in Sicily or moving to Sicily.