Episode 1

Strictly Come Dancing stars Anton Du Beke and Giovanni Pernice’s Sicilian road trip begins in the port town of Sciacca as they explore the southern coast of the sun-kissed island, from its long-lost ancient cities to its breathtaking coastlines. Giovanni is introducing his good friend Anton to his beloved homeland of Sicily, and the boys need to hit the road.

Their first stop is one of Sicily’s greatest treasures, the Valley of the Temples - the remains of a huge Greek city, featuring some of the best examples of classical Greek architecture anywhere in the world. From there, they hit the beautiful white beaches of Porta Bianca before taking in some more history in Syracuse. Today, Syracuse is just a small provincial city, but over 2,700 years ago, it was one of the largest colonies in the ancient Greek world, and some of the original buildings remain inside the city’s Archaeological Park.

Next, it's off to Marzamemi, a gorgeous seaside village that has been a fishing hub since the 10th century. Giovanni has arranged a day’s fishing, but with a twist. Instead of fish, the boys are going to look for octopus. After a stop in Ortygia to participate in the Feast of the Assumption, the final stop on the first leg of Anton and Giovanni’s tour of Sicily is the island's second city, Catania. This place is very significant to Giovanni, as he moved there aged 14 to further his dance career. The evening is taken up with a visit to Catania’s annual tango festival, where the boys put on a showstopping performance to remember.