Salerno hums with the bustle of southern Italy, then opens the way to Pompeii, Paestum and the Amalfi Coast, with its winding roads and steep cliffs.

Pastel townhouses cluster on the waterside in Lipari, where volcanic slopes tumble down to ivory beaches and the crystalline waters surrounding the Aeolian Islands just beyond.

Noontime bells chime daily in Messina, a time-honoured toll that echoes along the coast towards Taormina and the tumbling slopes of Mount Etna.

Terraces meet sea and sky in Taormina, with Mount Etna horizons, ancient ruins and Sicilian flavours that linger on the palate.

Baroque piazzas and time-stopped courtyards dot Ortygia in Siracuse's ancient heart; a UNESCO-listed isle infused with Sicilian spirit.

Baroque piazzas and time-stopped courtyards dot Ortygia in Siracuse's ancient heart; a UNESCO-listed isle infused with Sicilian spirit.

Time slows in little Gozo, where ageless villages dot the land and hilltop citadels overlook quiet coves awash in shades of blue.

Little boats drift below the ochre walls of Valletta, a UNESCO-listed masterpiece of spires and staircases where Renaissance art meets Baroque beauty.

Little boats drift below the ochre walls of Valletta, a UNESCO-listed masterpiece of spires and staircases where Renaissance art meets Baroque beauty.