Agriturismo Santa Margherita

On a vertiginous headland, Tindari (half an hour’s drive) is renowned for its archaeological park, including splendid floor mosaics and the ruins of a fourth-century BC Greek theatre that hosts music performances in the summer. The Basilica Santuario Maria del Tindari houses a much-venerated statue of a Black Madonna. Just past Tindari, the Riserva Naturale Orientata Laghetti di Marinello (half an hour) comprises a series of ever-changing tidal lakes inhabited by pink flamingoes and white storks. After exploring the lakes, walk to the end of the Punta Marinello sandbank for a swim and a from-the-ground view of the imposing Tindari basilica up on the hill. Milazzo (45 minutes) is the place to go if you want to catch a ferry to the Aeolian Islands, but this town also has a gorgeous west-facing beach and a forbidding hilltop citadel. Drive all the way to the top of the narrow peninsula for the Capo Milazzo protected marine area, with clear waters for scuba diving.