A bridge to the past in Sicily

Next up: the winding streets of Ortigia. This UNESCO World Heritage site contains remarkable Renaissance and Baroque buildings and is home to an interesting tradition: the Opera dei Pupi, or opera of puppets. During the tour, meet an artisan of handmade marionettes. Discover another Sicilian tradition, cart-making, on a city tour of Ragusa Ibla; carts were used as a means of transportation in Sicily until the second half of the 20th century.

On to the Valley of the Temples next, one of the largest archaeological sites in the world and a five-minute drive from the city of Agrigento. Delve into the history and secrets of a town founded in 582BC and described by Greek poet Pindar as “the most beautiful of those inhabited by mortals” during a guided tour at dusk. The valley itself, which stretches for more than two kilometres, is home to statues, tombs and Doric temples. Villa Athena is a luxurious 18th-century residence which overlooks the site, imbued with the same ancient spirit – this is the only five-star hotel in the Valley of the Temples (boasting an exclusive direct entrance).

Spend the next three nights fully committed to R&R in ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA, where location is everything; it’s found on a hill overlooking the sea, alongside the spectacular Torre Salsa Nature Reserve – a WWF-protected stretch of unspoilt sandy beaches and exquisite bays. ADLER also boasts a spa with an infinity Thalasso pool, a Med Centre, where guests can access tailored health programmes, and gourmet experiences that go to the heart of Sicilian cuisine.

Ease yourself out of the Sicilian way of life slowly, with three final days in Palermo. On a walking tour of this UNESCO World Heritage site, devour local specialties like arancini, cannolo siciliano and granita; learn more about striking sights like the Palatina Chapel and the Piazza Pretoria. Villa Igiea, a Rocco Forte Hotel is your home in Palermo – after a refurbishment stamped Rocco Forte’s signature opulence on the Art Nouveau interiors of this 19th century palazzo, it has become the place to stay in the Sicilian capital. Both a health retreat and a high-end hotel, guests of Villa Igiea never feel far from its gilded past.