Taking a pre-dinner stroll once on Levanzo (left), one of the Egadi Islands, I noticed the locals gathered round the jetty, fishing rods in hand. Soon they began to reel in dozens of squid which landed, one after another, with a plop and a splutter of ink on the quay. One of the men was the chef in my hotel and it was evident the menu was being decided there and then! Indeed, about 1 hour later the kitchen doors opened and out came a plate of stuffed calamari Sicilian style!

Find out how to cook calamari ripieni Sicilian style >>

Sicily... what do you think of when you hear that name? Hot summer sun and sandy beaches maybe, or Mount Etna, or perhaps just sitting in the shade of a sea-front cafe... Many people still perceive Sicily as a "coastal resort" and tend not to venture too far from the sea. In the opinion of The Thinking Traveller, those people are missing out on so much. Sicily's interior is full of historic villages, castles, dramatic landscapes and an unspoilt genuineness that will make you yearn for a simpler way of life...

Read more about Sicily's fascinating interior >>