Secret Sicily

Ragusa Ibla clings dramatically to the edge of a gorge, its narrow streets and the Cathedral of San Giorgio providing a sense of the town’s aristocratic past. The Greek ruins at Akrai and a family-run winery offer some variety before Syracuse’s traditional market and a boat trip round Ortigia take centre stage. Among the tour’s quieter moments are the afternoon free times in Marina di Ragusa, where you can browse shops or simply watch fishing boats come and go.

The final days include walks through Noto’s Baroque main street, then on to Marzamemi, a tuna fishing village with a seafront piazza where the group dines together. It’s a straightforward itinerary, the sort that a well-travelled companion would recommend for catching the character of a distinct Sicilian corner without too much fuss.

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