4 Best Sights in Eraclea Minoa, Torre Salsa, and Sant'Angelo Muxara, Sicily

After the active volcanoes of Mount Etna and Stromboli, the tilted white "staircase" of the Scala dei Turchi cliff is the most stunning geological site in Sicily. Formed by eroded strata of pure white marl, with a silken, gold, sandy beach below, the cliff was allegedly named after the so-called Turkish (actually Saracen) pirates who plagued the Sicilian coast in the 16th century. The Scala and its beach are extraordinarily popular, so try to visit in the low season. If you don't want the hassle of going to the beach on a busy day, you can also catch some beautiful views from several lookout points along the road. Another option is to see the rock formations from the sea, with several tour operators offering boat rides. The best access is from the signposted paid car park just south of the cliff (follow the sign to Majata Beach/Ingresso Scala dei Turchi). 

This good, sandy beach lies between the nature reserves of Foce del Platani and Torre Salsa and is easily reached by car. It comes with a handful of lidos where you can eat and drink well and rent sun loungers in season. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming; walking.

The curvy, rustic roads to Spiaggia di Piana Grande lead to an off-the-beaten-path beach. It's not the typical Sicilian crowded summer beach; it has a humble chiosco (beach kiosks) serving fresh fried fish, a rocky coastline, and pristine blue waters. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming, walking.

This beach of sandy red-gold dunes offers lots of fascinating sea plants and flowers growing straight out of the sand. There are no facilities, so bring provisions and sun protection. Also note that the beach is at the Foce del Belice Natural Reserve, so you will have to walk a quarter of a mile to get there. It's lovely for beach walks and bird-watching (look out for kingfishers, egrets, and herons) as well as swimming. Amenities: none. Best for: swimming; walking.