Why It’s All About Sicily’s Hidden Islands Right Now | InStyle.co.uk

Published on InStyle.co.uk, 28th June 2017

Sailing around the Sicilian islands with #TheInStyleYachtWeek here are our highlights of where to visit....

Panarea

The second smallest of the Aeolian Islands, at only 3km by 2km, Panarea is totally charming and perfect for when you need a pitstop. Home to only 280 residents, and with no cars or streetlights, instead come night time, you find your way with torches, making it totally idyllic. No wonder it's a hotspot for celebrities and the chic fashion crowd including Uma Thurman and Giorgio Armani. Here are our must visits...

Stay at... The Hotel Oasi

Hidden in the maze of cobbled streets that only golf buggies and the occasional moped can scoot up and down here you'll find this 10 bedroom boutique hotel. Here, the rooms centre around a turquoise swimming pool that snakes through the white and pink bougainvillea clad garden. Wood washed with Sicilian paint and with carved wooden benches on the patio of each room you'll also find plenty of tapestry cushions scattered around to lounge on. The chilled vibes continue with Sicilian blue and white tiles in the simple artisian chic bathrooms. Breakfast featuring fresh apricots local honey and huge wedges of watermelon set you up for a day of island exploring.

Pick up...  local hand woven rugs, fun fruit-inspired ceramics, think Dolce & Gabbana meets Aeolian simplicty with a dash of seaside kitsch at Paguro and forget buying your sarong and beachbag at Zara in Heathrow terminal five, here you'll find the best beach coverup that people will be asking you for you years to come where it's from. 

Watch the sun go down at... Raya. All whitewashed stone walls and split over two levels, Raya is the perfect cool down spot. Head there at golden hour for a clear view of Vulcano and the islets that surround Panarea to nail those envy inducing selfies.

Eat at... Da Pina AKA the best restaurant on the island. This is where all the celebs come to sit in the lush outdoor terrace under a canopy of sweet peas and pink Bougainvillea that is totally Instagrammable. Think sea blue hued mosaic tiled tables, local earthenware with a heavy Sicilian lemon theme and tiny twinkling tealights. Then there's the food. Start with sharing plates of antipasti, must orders are the shrimp ceviche, octopus and mozarella baked in Sicilian lemon leaves. Then there's the pasta, from ravoili stuffed with local cheeses to spagetthi with freshly caught lobster, this is proper Italian style feasting. Finish with some zesty lemon sorbet and of course, however much you protest your host will insist on toasting with some limoncello.

Enjoy an apertif at... Banacalii. This is the place to go for an aperol spritz under the stars. With no street lights and cars, the view of the sky is perfectly clear. Curl up on one of the squashy sofas and see how many shooting stars you can count. 

Stromboli

Off the coast of Northern Sicily lies Stromboli. Home to an active volcano it has been described since the classical age as the 'Lighthouse of Tirreno.' For those who are super active, and when we say super active we mean Action wo/man style to climb to the bubbling craters at 900 metres. Read more about InStyle's experience of this here.

Eat at... Da Luciano. This place is the only way to re-carb post Stromboli hike. Make everyone in your group order a different flavour of pizza and try them all. From a simple margarita  with fresh buffalo mozzarella to a calzone stuffed with four different local cheeses, the owner will still try persuade you to try their famous Tiramisu.

Drink at... Bar La Trottola. With most visitors either doing day trips to the island or partaking in the epic hike, the bars up until 11pm when the hikers return are pretty chilled. Head here for an ice-cold beer and slightly hilarious Euro covers of the classics. 

Pick up... pretty kaftans and scaves from the local boutiques that you'll find along the winding streets. From £25 they're surprisingly good value for such a tiny and touristy island. 

Lipari

The largest of the Aeolian islands, you'll find Lipari smack bang right in-between Vesuvius and Etna. As a result of its volcanic origin you'll find lots of pumice stone which was until recently it's largest industry.

Swim... as a result of its pumice production background, you'll find large amounts of white pumice dust deposited on the sea bed. Head to Spiaggia Bianca AKA the white beach for the clearest blue water where you can see the chalky sea bed.

Head to... the Tenuta di Castellaro wine estate for a sunset wine tasting. Made with fruit grown in the alberello method - meaning they are free-standing vines and dry-farmed i.e. no irrigation is used, it's seriously impressive. With a high mineral count in the soil thanks to all that pumice make sure to try both the red, Bianco Pomice and white, Nero Ossidiana. 

Eat at... Il Filippino. A family run restaurant that has been open for over a century. Don't let the staff who are dressed in tux uniforms let you think it's super formal, instead you'll find a laid back vibe. Stick to the pasta to up the authentic feel.

Take home... packets of biscotti that taste even better when dunked in a glass of the sweet local wine Malvasia. 

Vulcano

The southernmost of the Aeolian islands, Vulcano is home to several volcanic centres. On arrival you'll spot its visible smoking crater plus the smell of sulphur is hard to ignore.

Eat at... Il Castello. A family run pizza joint, order a stack of options and ice-cold beers to take away, then head to the marina to sit on the jetty to eat while playing yacht millionaire watch.

Try... paddleboarding. The still waters around the isle make it perfect for beginner. A seriously good workout for your core, useful for when you've been indulging in the best Italian carbs all week.

Chill at... Baia Negra. A gorgeous beach club, head there in the afternoon to sip rosé as the sun sets.