Sicily in June is jam-packed with colourful events and warm sunshine and low prices make the island a great destination for an early summer break. Villa specialist Wish Sicily features a large collection of apartments and villas for two to four with flexible arrival dates and, in some cases, three night minimum stays.
Beachfront on a budget: Stay in a seafront cottage at Fontane Bianche on the outskirts of Syracuse, home to Italy’s leading Greek Theatre Festival (15 May-28 June) at the ancient theatre. The Case Maraldo cottages each have a private sea-view terrace and steps down to a communal garden and beyond that, the water’s edge. The sandy beaches of Fontane Bianche are just 200m away.
A week in June starts at just £609 (sleeps 4).
Greek drama: Smaller than its rival in Syracuse, the Greek Teatro dei Due Mari in Tindari presents a programme of drama and music throughout the summer months. Other highlights of the area include Roman houses and the iconic Sanctuary of the Black Madonna.
Casetta Gibbia is one of several beautifully converted cottages for two on Le Case di Tindari estate, set amidst olive and oak trees and with an 18m infinity pool that overlooks the Sanctuary. A week in June starts at £788 (sleeps 2).
Lights and action: Stay in the heart of the action in the chic town of Taormina whose streets throng in June with the fashionable visitors to the Taormina Film Festival (13-20 June 2015). De Luna is a one-bedroom apartment with a balcony that overlooks the town’s famous Corso Umberto, a ten-minute walk from the cable car down to Taormina’s best beaches.
A week in June starts at £677 (sleeps 4).
Local is best and never more so than at one of Sicily’s village festivals. The Festa del Capero in Fiore celebrates the humble caper on the Aeolian island of Salina. Held in the village square at Pollara, the event involves plenty of dancing and drinking alongside stalls serving classic caper-based dishes such as spaghetti with capers and caper-infused cheeses.
Ulivo di Pollara is a two-bedroom villa with typically rustic interiors, exposed wood beams and filled with traditional Aeolian ceramics. Spacious terraces overlook the coast and a short path leads to the bay of Pollara. A week in June starts at £1146 (sleeps 6).