Pretty European beach town compared to Rio de Janeiro with huge green mountain and soft sands

A TOWN just a few hours from the UK has a beach that rivals one in Brazil.

Found in the northwest of Sicily is San Vito Lo Capo.

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With a huge stretch of yellow sand beach, one of the main features is it's huge green mountain overlooking the beach.

This has lead to comparisons of the beach in Rio de Janeiro, where the famous Sugarloaf Mountain towers over it.

However, with flights to Brazil being much longer (and more expensive) than Italy, Brits are better to head to the Sicilian beach town instead.

Often named one of the best beaches in Italy, there is lots to do even if you stay on the 1.8mile stretch of sand.

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Tourists have raved about the €10 massages that can be found, while two sunbeds cost just €15 for the day.

If you fancy a visit without the crowds, then it is best to visit outside of the summer months, and opt for September instead.

It's not just Brazil it has been compared to as well.

Another tourist said: "The colour of the sea was like being at Maldives Island, just better in my opinion, not so hot and because there was also so much more to see."

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One agreed: "The best sea i have ever seen."

A third wrote: "If there's heaven on Earth, it is a good chance that it's right here on this beach!"

Tourists might have also noticed if featured in the Indian Jones 5 movie, featuring Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Despite this, others also said the shops and restaurants were not to be missed, which were "

According to Italian local Laura Itskowitz, the resort is much more laidback than other parts of Italy too.

They told Travel + Leisure: "Don’t expect to find luxury resorts here, but rather simple beachfront hotels that sometimes have their own beach club.

"What you’ll find instead is fantastic food, including regional recipes like pesto alla trapanese (a Sicilian pesto made with tomatoes, almonds, garlic, and basil) and couscous with seafood."

Make sure to visit in September for the annual Cous Cous fest too.

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Other attractions include the main church, Santuario di San Vito, as well as the Riserva Naturale Dello Zingaro, a coastal nature reserve loved by hikers.

A popular hotel many stay in is Hotel Capo San Vito, a 4* beach overlooking the beach, although there are other affordable hotels and B&Bs for as little as £60 a night.

Brits can fly to Palermo from the UK, with flights taking less than three hours.

The cheapest airline is Ryanair, who have £27.99 flights from Edinburgh and London Stansted.

EasyJet also has flights to Palermo from London Gatwick, along with British Airways from London Heathrow.

San Vito Lo Capo is then just over an hour by car.

In the mean time, here is another place in Europe that has been compared to the Maldives.

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And we've found a European water park that has been compared to the Caribbean.

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