An invisible umbilical cord may connect the isle with the mainland but island holidays, especially in Italy, have an undeniable siren charm. The following are the beaches in Italy that you should be heading to :

Ischia

The volcanic island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples is lapped by the deep-blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The island has everything from tiny time-warped fishing villages to luxury resorts for the cognoscenti. Explore the Castello Aragonese, a castle perched on a rocky islet connected to Ischia by a bridge. Watch the sun set in a pyrotechnic blaze of colour as you wiggle your toes in the sand at a beachside restaurant, all the while sipping some fine wine.

Capri

Capri is the embodiment of sheer chic, an island that has been immortalised in song, verse and on celluloid. Located in the Bay of Naples, this isle is not just for the chi chi set, but also for the happy vacationer out to have a good time. Browse the town of Capri where the villas of the rich and famous languish behind high creeper-draped walls, and narrow streets are lined with swish boutiques and cafes. Anacapri is for those who are looking for full-stop solitude, walking and hiking trails. The famed Blue Grotto is nearby, indulge in the zen of doing nothing on Capri’s glamorous beaches before heading back to Naples and its unending street parties.

Sicily

The largest island in the Mediterranean has beaches, mountains, national parks, languorous villages and charming towns like Taormina where time is a stranger. Palermo has an intriguing dash of Arabic charm, while historic Syracuse and elegant Catania can all make for a captivating vacation. Go island hopping to the Aeolian isles, visit some of the fine Greek temples, go beach combing, surfing, canoeing and river rafting. And towering above everything is Mount Etna, the highest volcano in Europe, with a choice of hikes in the summer and skiing in the winter.

Elba

Elba is the largest and most popular vacation hangout in the Tuscan archipelago in the Mediterranean. Here Napoleon indulged in a little R&R in 1814 during his exile, making the most of the powdery sandy swathes lapped by frilled surf and encircled by verdant mountains. Unlike the modern tourist Napoleon did not have the options to go mountain biking, climbing and windsurfing.

Sardinia

With its 2,000-km long coastline, and a rugged hinterland, Sardinia is an eyeful. It is replete with coves, white sand beaches, medieval towns and the engaging Costa Smeralda where the seaside town of Porto Cervo in the north provides heaving nightlife. Porto Rotondo’s piazza is popular among locals and tourists alike.

DID YOU KNOW
HOT & COLD

Sicilians like to start their day with an unusual pick-me-up ice cream—a rich creamy sorbet-type dessert called granita is dipped into a hot-from-the-oven brioche. Granita comes in many flavours (coffee, almonds, toasted almonds and lemon) and the Sicilian version is quite different from what you may get on the mainland.