17 November 2023 , 11:57
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An Italian town with stunning beaches is perfect for banishing the yuletide blues thanks to its warm winter weather.
Southern Italy can provide those currently curled up beneath a woollen blanket or stuffed into three fleeces in the UK a respite from the dreariness of November. While it isn't going to provide you with guaranteed 30C heat and wall-to-wall sunshine, the region is still warm right now, and offers a different perspective on Italy's summertime beauty.
Cefalù on Sicily's northern coast is one of the peninsula's most eye-catching destinations with an average maximum daily temperature in November of 20C, the Express reported. With a mild temperature and around five hours of full sun per day, Cefalù can be the perfect holiday destination for a November getaway.
The average minimum temperature can reach lows of 12-14C so a jumper will still be required by visitors looking to explore Sicily’s northern coast.
Spiaggia di Cefalù is the town’s most popular beach and, while it is typically packed with tourists in summer, a November holiday will see travellers able to explore the golden sands and azure waters in a much less crowded setting.
Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts
The weather hangs around 20C in November (Getty Images)While Cefalù's stunning beaches draw tourists from around the world in summer, they aren’t the only reason to visit the little Italian town. The town’s Sicilian Romanesque Cathedral - which construction workers first started on in 1131 - is well preserved, as are the city’s other architectural masterpieces.
Red-tile roofs give Cefalù a medieval feel that is echoed through its winding alleyways and streets. It has thousands of years of history and harks all the way back to ancient Greece, the town's name being derived from the ancient Greek word for cape.
For travellers looking for a November holiday to enjoy a mild climate, Cefalù certainly offers sun and a respite from wintery weather in the UK. The better known and generally busier town of Palermo is an hour's drive and train away away. The easiest way to get to Cefalù is by flying into Palermo airport and then catching a cab or heading to the station. Ryanair and Swiss Air run flights from a number of UK airport to the destination, for around £150 return in December.
A cheaper, likely less touristy alternative to Scilly is the town of Ischia, a serene and idyllic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west of the country, just across from Naples about two thirds of the way down the boot. It is one of the most densely populated islands in Italy, with around 1,300 people living there in each square km. In the summer months those numbers are swelled by tourists keen to explore its beauty. Although the number of people on Ischia give it a certain hustle and bustle, it has a totally different feel to other tourist hotspots.
The majority of people who head there are Italian, with few on the international tourist trail making it that far. For those in Italy its reputation was cemented by a starring role in Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels, which shone a charming light on its narrow streets and rocky landscapes.
Others come for the water. Ischia is part of the Phlegraean Fields, a massive volcanic system that has produced a number of the most important features on the island. Churning seismic forces deep beneath the crust bubble up to the surface to create thermal springs that have been attracting the holistically minded bather for millennia.
The easiest way to get there is via Naples, which can be reached in under three hours from Manchester Airport for less than £60 return during the winter. Then you can take a ferry from Calata Porta di Massa port, which leave regularly and the journey takes around an hour and a half. If you're looking for a faster option, you can take a hydrofoil from Molo Beverello.