Brucoli Holidays

Sicily’s east coast is home to some of the island’s most-trodden towns and cities. But little-known Brucoli lives life at a much slower pace. A rocky coastline separates it from the Ionian Sea, and creates a natural bay – fishermen and sailors use this chunk of coast to protect their boats from the sea’s tide. Things are generally low-key here, though – a small trickle of restaurants and a couple of bars crop up in the centre of the village.

Two of Sicily’s most popular spots share the stretch of coastline as Brucoli, and you can reach them in less than an hour by car. Siracusa is home to ancient Greek ruins, including a theatre that’s been around for more than 2,000 years. And if you head north along the coast you’ll reach Catania – it’s the island’s second largest city and has a buzzing nightlife scene.

Brucoli’s closest neighbour is the town of Augusta. Once upon a time this place was an attached peninsula, but hundreds of years ago the land was cut to form an island. Two bridges connect it to the mainland, and a 17th-century Spanish gate forms a grand entrance point. You’ve got a postcard-perfect beach here, too – it’s a sandy sweep framed by eucalyptus trees.