Hotel in Ponente, Vulcano hotel accommodation, near Sicily

Hotel Conti, Vulcano

A few minutes from the port of Vulcano with its sulphurous waters, the Hotel Conti faces the dark sands of the lovely bay of Ponente. Set within a garden, the hotel has 67 rooms, all with private entrances, bathroom, TV, hairdryer, air conditioning and a safe. The lounge, the restaurant bar and pizzeria (open from the end of June to mid-September) all have sea views, as do the sun deck and the extensive terraces. There is a public beach.

Vulcano itself is something very special. This little volcanic island is one of the Aeolian group, which lies some 25km north of the island of Sicily (the largest in the Mediterranean) off the toe of Italy. Floating in the Tyrrhenian Sea's azure waters, the isle is just 21 square kilometres in area, rising to 499 metres above sea level. It has a number of volcanic centres (or fumaroles), including one of the four active above-water volcanoes in Italy.

The island is rich in myth. The Greeks decided that Aeolus, the wind god, lived here, hence the name. The Romans called the island Vulcano, giving 'volcano' to the language, and they used the island to harvest wood, alum and of course sulphur. Today, the volcanic island is a haven for those seeking thermal cures - with hot springs and natural mud being recommended for a host of muscular and rheumatic conditions. Check for the opening and availability of the various establishments.

Even if you aren't going to bathe, the volcanic activity makes this a remarkable destination. Vulcanello has a stretch of fine black sand, scattered with curiously shaped rocks - non wonder it is called the Valle dei Mostri (Valley of the Monsters).

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Double room from €74