Sicily is not only the largest Mediterranean island but also a place of historical significance. The island has a varied list of cultural events and festivals throughout the year, here are some you should check out:

• Almond Blossom Festival (February–March) - This annual festival takes place in the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. This festival includes parades, traditional Sicilian marionettes, concerts, and cultural exhibitions.

• Easter week (March–April) - Sicily celebrates Easter in a traditional way with many religious processions, shows and traditional costumes.

• Flower Festival (May) - The city of Noto is transformed with a gorgeous carpet of flowers across roads and courtyards. There’s a different theme each year.

• Inycon Wine Festival, Menfi (June) - Calling all wine lovers, this summer event is an opportunity to taste the local Sicilian wines and authentic cuisine.

• Taormina Film Festival, Taormina (June–July) - The symbol of summer, Ferragosto is celebrated all over Italy, including Sicily. They celebrate with fireworks, rowing races and many feasts. Each province has their own traditions.

• Ferragosto (August) - Sozopol plays host to a whole season of events celebrating contemporary art in all its forms.

• Couscous Festival, San Vito Lo Capo (September) - This is one of the most important festivals in Sicily. A time to taste delicious food, watch cooking competitions, take part in workshops and watch concerts.

• Feast of San Martino (November) - This celebratory festival is a good opportunity to taste local dishes, wines, and sweets across Sicily.

• Christmas festivities (December) - The Christmas season is an exciting time in Sicily with each province celebrating in their traditional way. The many towns and villages have live nativity plays with the local people dressing up in costumes.

Sicily’s nightlife offers something for everyone, whether you’re looking to dance until dawn or enjoy a cocktail on the beach, and these are the hotspots to check out:

• Bocum, Palermo - Palermo’s first ever multi-level cocktail bar, it’s known as one of the best, serving up a selection of the finest cocktails and a vibe you won’t find anywhere else.

• Al Kenisa, Enna - Housed in a former chapel, this unique cafe comes alive at night with live music. The perfect place for a glass of wine and a more chilled evening.

• Anche gli Angeli, Noto - This cool, quirky, and LGBTQ+-friendly bar is everything you need to feel like a local on a night out, with its range of wines and live DJ sets.

• La Giara, Taormina - The number one entertainment spot in Sicily, it's more than just a restaurant. Offering a rooftop terrace, overlooking Mount Etna, La Giara features artists and DJs from all over the world.

Italian food is made from the heart with dishes that’ll leave your mouth watering. And Sicilian cuisine offers Italian’s best taste with a blend of other flavours. These dishes you need to try:

• Arancini - This iconic Sicilian dish consists of a ball of deep-fried creamy risotto rice.

• Caponata - Fried aubergine stew with tomatoes, onions and celery, and flavoured with capers, pine nuts, raisins, and olives.

• Pasta alla Norma - Sicily’s most famous pasta dish consists of a fresh sauce of local tomatoes, aubergine, garlic, basil, and ricotta salata.

• Pasta con le sarde - This heavenly fish dish includes fresh sardines, anchovies, wild fennel, and a sauce made of raisins, saffron, and pine nuts.

• Cannoli - Deep fried pastry tubes filled with creamy ricotta.

Looking for the best places to eat in Sicily? Here are the top restaurants:

• Osteria dei Vespri, Palermo - This flawless restaurant serves up a selection of traditional Sicilian dishes, with a menu that changes throughout the seasons. It also has its own alfresco dining area.

• Al Fogher, Piazza Armerina - A favourite with locals and tourists, this little gem serves up an array of refined, seasonal Sicilian dishes.

• Al Duomo, Taormina - Serving up a selection of gourmet Sicilian dishes, this restaurant offers great food and views of the cathedral.

• Caffe Sicilia, Noto - The cafe to experience cannoli made the Sicilian way.