We took the train from Rome to Palermo and it was an amazing journey through the south of Italy and across the north coast of Sicily. Highlights included crossing the Messina Straits at 6am after being shunted whilst still on the train onto a ferry and passing by whole neighbourhoods of backyards in the villages of northern Sicily, getting a snapshot of semi-rural life.

On a train from anywhere in mainland Italy!

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Beautiful old town that's perfect for mooching around and seeing the sights. Grab a limoncello or three at one of a strip of waterside bars as the sun sets and go for a stroll amongst the locals. Clear your head the next day by exploring the ancient ampitheatre at the edge of town (catch a bus from the central station).

South-east Sicily. Rent a car for max flexibility when touring the island.

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Brilliantly captures late 90s grab-it-all post-Soviet Russia. The first film follows Danila (the wonderful Sergei Bodrov Jr, who tragically died in a landslide in the Caucausus in 2002) as he leaves the family home for St Petersburg to join his older brother, who's become involved with the mafia.

In the second film, he moves to Moscow and takes a detour to the US to get revenge for the murder of a friend. Great soundtrack on both films. The second part is my favourite.

www.amazon.co.uk for versions with English subtitles (search for Brother, not Brat)

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