If you want a classic winter getaway with a difference, then this stunning Italian island could be perfect – especially if you love to ski.

Mount Etna is Europe’s tallest and most active volcano, nestled in Sicily. It’s famous for its awe-inspiring size and slopes, but less so for its ski season.

In the highest elevations of the Italian island, temperatures plunge and snow falls come wintertime, making this volcano perfect for the adventurous among us.

The slopes on Etna vary in steepness, but on the whole, they are wide open slopes ideal for intermediate off-piste skiers.

There are ski lifts (a gondola, chairlift and two drag lifts) plus a few pistes on Mount Etna’s northern slopes close to the town of Linguaglossa.

Thanks to the fertile soil produced by the volcano, the region surrounding Etna is one of the most prosperous and densely populated areas of Sicily. The soil is perfect for wine production and agriculture. 

If it’s skiing you’re after, the best time to visit Sicily is between February and March, but this island is gorgeous year round.

During the summer months it can be busy, but the weather is stunning with bright sunshine and dry warm days.

If it’s a quieter holiday you seek, then try the shoulder seasons when it becomes easier to book things like accommodation and dinners, but the weather stays mild.

Sicily offers winter temperatures around 12C to 17C and in the low season, and prices for accommodation can drop by as much as 30 perc ent.

As well as cheaper hotels, you can enjoy Sicily’s incredible churches, museums and galleries in peace while dining is more spontaneous – no need to worry about making table reservations weeks in advance at the most popular restaurants.

There are direct flights to Sicily from the UK daily and they generally take just over three hours, making the island a perfect destination for a winter weekend getaway.