Friendship Travel

Sicily

Sicily’s location in the heart of the Med means it has been fought over for millennia, so you will find Greek ruins and Byzantine churches and taste Italian gelato and north African kebabs! The landscape is as varied as its history, with towering mountains, huge forests and – pretty important when you’re on holiday – beautiful beaches and hidden coves.

And if you take only one day trip during your stay, it must be to Mount Etna, Europe’s greatest natural wonder and only active volcano!

4* Le Calette Hotel

We’re very pleased to have found 4* Le Calette Hotel, on the edge of the ancient town of Cefalu, mid-way along the northern coast. Long-established, but benefitting from recent improvements that these pictures don’t do justice, Le Calette is popular with locals, a great testimony in itself, and it enjoys a spectacular location on a rocky headland overlooking the sea.

Small and friendly 4* Le Calette Hotel is tucked into the east side of La Rocca, the rocky headland that dominates Cefalu, the medieval centre of which is about 20 minutes’ walk away (2kms) around the headland – or a short journey on the hotel’s free daytime shuttle bus.

The grounds include lawns around the pool, and a private beach with a gorgeous decked pontoon over the rocks beside the sea, where you’ll also find sun-beds and chairs.

There’s a variety of rooms: we’ve based prices on standard ground floor rooms with garden or pool view, but sea-facing and sea-view rooms are available at a supplement. The hotel’s styling is a mix of traditional Italian and contemporary boutique. We include continental breakfast at the hotel each morning and dinner with your Host on four nights during the week. Fresh fish features on many menus, as well as local specialities from Caponata (aubergine salad) to Cannoli – a sweet ricotta pudding.

There’s a large, sandy public beach in Cefalu itself, where you can also explore medieval streets winding up to a ruined fortress and Greek temple, as well as a host of small shops, cafes and eateries. Regrettably, the varying levels at Le Calette and steep streets of Cefalu make this the wrong choice for anyone with mobility issues.