We’ll always have summer
Best for wild swimming
Sicily, Italy
FROM the powder-soft sand of Sicily’s beaches, you can take easy dips in the warm waters of the Mediterranean, but for the ultimate exhilarating summer swim, you should try what the Italians call acqua dolce (literally, sweet water). Wild swimming in this southerly Italian island is, indeed, sweet. For a sense of complete seclusion, head to the freshwater pools at Cavagrande del Cassibile Nature Reserve (above). Also known as the Laghetti d’Avola, these natural bathing spots are set in a dramatic limestone canyon with 984ft walls, formed by the River Cassibile. Be prepared to walk for more than an hour through a hillside of plane trees, willows and ferns down to the emerald-green pools, with a slightly longer climb back. Luckily, there is a bar at the top to quench your thirst —or you could head to the nearby seaside town of Avola to sit in the shade of palm-lined piazza for a glass of Nero d’Avola, the hearty red wine that is made in the region.
Live there
Set in the Avola countryside, close to the beautiful town)
