Gaggi holidays are top of their class when it comes to switch-off settings. A couple of nearby towns turn up the tempo.

Peaceful breaks and city escapes

Holidays to Gaggi can be just about as different as a half-and-half pizza. On one side you’ve got a place that’s perfect for powering off and catching up on some well-earned R&R. And, on the other hand you’re so close to some of Sicily’s star sights, that big days out are a must. It’s plotted in the north-east region of Messina, which puts coastal towns like Taormina, and Giardini Naxos into easy driving distance.

Call in at Catania

Catania’s the island’s second largest city, and it’s landed in a spot right at the foot of the super-sized Mount Etna. Day trips here are a breeze, with a door-to-door car journey time that’s well under an hour. Be sure to pack your swimmers, as its main stretch of beach is fronted by a stretch of medal-gold sand. Things are just as good looking inland, Duomo Square marks the city’s central spot. It’s where you’ll find Catania’s Baroque-style cathedral – this thing has got stop-and-stare written all over it.

Set your sights on Syracuse

Head further south and you’ll hit Syracuse, around a 90-minute trip from Gaggi. It’s crowned as the island’s historical hub, with a timeline that goes back for more than 2,700 years. Its UNESCO-approved ruins house some of the best-kept collections from age-old Greek and Roman times. The leading lady is the Greek theatre, which is one of the largest in the world. Its remains are more intact than the equally impressive Roman Theatre here, which was built around 800 years later.

At a Glance

  • Clamber up one of the world’s most active volcanoes
  • Ogle at Roman ruins in Syracuse
  • Flake out on the golden sands of Catania’s coastline