Having visited the Aeolian islands (they’re just off the north-eastern tip of Sicily) I can attest that this is one of the most extraordinary corners of the country. We’re talking active volcanoes and fumaroles, black sands, hot mud baths (a bit like Iceland I imagine, though I think the food’s probably better. This is Italy’s volcanic belt (Etna, Vesuvius, Vulcano et al) and the news that Stromboli is active again draws eyes back to the little island. Two new fissures have opened up, pouring lava into the sea. If you do visit Sicily try to detour to the islands – they’re something else.