A slice of Sicilian heaven

HISTORY Catania and Mount Etna

- By MILO BOYD

Over the past year, I've managed to tick off 10 countries and 26 destinations from my travel list. A number that's a tad more than ideal if you're not keen on the constant hustle and bustle, and the never-ending cycle of packing and unpacking toiletries.

Among these destinations are some that still leave me in awe. The alien-like landscape of Deception Island in Antarctica - a whale graveyard - is undoubtedly the highlight.

Likewise, the sight of condors soaring above as I trekked up one of the Andes mountains following a gaucho's trail is something I won't forget anytime soon.

Closer to home, this was the year I finally set foot on Lindisfarne in Northumberland. This tidal island, which recently featured in Danny Boyle's zombie film, 28 Years Later, is magical.

My visit last summer was particularly memorable with the sun shining, beetles scurrying in the grass, and seals singing across the bay.

However, it's not any of these places that I'm eager to revisit next year, fingers crossed. That honour goes to Catania.

I had a fleeting, 12-hour visit to this Sicilian city in August and now, I'm resolved to go back.