SICILIAN HIGHLIGHTS:  8 Day Tour

Discover the hidden treasures of Sicily! On this eight-day tour, you will experience all of the beauty, history, and charm of Sicily.

Itinerary At a Glance

• DAY 1: Catania
• DAY 2: Etna-Taormina
• DAY 3: Aidone-Piazza Armerina
• DAY 4: Palermo-Monreale-Gibellina
• DAY 5: Segesta-Erice-Mothia-Marsala
• DAY 6: Selinunte-Agrigento-Modica
• DAY 7: Noto-Siracusa
• DAY 8:  Catania

Day 1:  CATANIA

Private transfers from Catania Airport to Catania Hotel. Meeting with our guide; dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 2:  ETNA-TAORMINA

After breakfast, departure to Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. We will reach the Crateri Silvestri, small volcanic cones now inactive, surrounded by ancient lava flows. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon we will visit Taormina, a charming town offering a lovely panorama of the Ionic Sea and Etna, famous for its fascinating Greek theatre, the ancient Cathedral, and Palazzo Corvaja. You can take a nice walk among the typical small streets for shopping (coral jewels, precious laces, ceramics, sweets, and much more). Back to hotel in Catania for dinner and overnight.

Day 3:  AIDONE-PIAZZA ARMERINA

After breakfast in hotel we will leave to visit the Archaeological Museum in Aidone to see the statue of the “Goddess of Morgantina” carved in the 5th century BC. Transfer to Piazza Armerina where you will have free time for lunch and where you will admire the splendid polychrome mosaics of the famous Villa Romana del Casale, representing mythological and historical episodes and scenes of hunting and entertainment. We will proceed to Palermo for overnight. Dinner at the hotel or in a restaurant nearby.

Day 4:  PALERMO-MONREALE-GIBELLINA

After breakfast in hotel, the whole morning will be spent visiting the capital of Sicily, one of the richest towns in the island for its history and art. We will visit the Cathedral, the Palazzo del Normanni with its precious Palatine Chapel, the fountain in Pretoria Square, adorned with sculptures. We will go on to Monreale to visit its huge Norman Cathedral, proclaimed the Eighth Wonder of the World, and its splendid cloister. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon, transfer to Salemi passing through Gibellina where you will see the “Ghost Town” of Poggioreale, destroyed by an earthquake in 1968. Still today, its ruins testify how life was before that terrible disaster. We will also visit the “Cretto di Burri” (Burri’s Crevice), one of the widest works of contemporary art, whose giant slabs just follow the paths of the town’s streets and alleys; this huge monument of death is what remains today of the old city. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Salemi. After dinner it will be possible to make a night excursion to Erice, suggestive medieval town, located in a charming position, offering a striking panorama of the Egadi Islands.

Day 5:  SEGESTA-ERICE-MOTHIA-MARSALA

Breakfast in hotel and departure to Marsala, where we will visit a cellar and taste the strong, sweet wine, famous all-over the world. We will go on to visit the small island of Mothia, situated at the center of a large lagoon in Marsala, known today as “Stagnone.” Thanks to its particularly favorable location, in the past it was one of the most prosperous Punic colonies in the Mediterranean. Free time for lunch and continuation to Segesta to see its famous Doric Temple, unusually well preserved. Back to Salemi, in time to visit this nice town, proclaimed the first Capital of Italy in 1860; the visit will start with the Museum (of Sacred Art, of Risorgimento, of the Mafia) and will end in Piazza Alicia, proclaimed the sixth most beautiful square in Europe: there lies the Norman Castle, erected in 12th century and also the ruins of the Mother Church, destroyed in 1615 by an earthquake and restored in 1968 by a Portuguese architect, appearing today as a magnificent theatre in the open air. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Salemi.

Day 6:  SELINUNTE-AGRIGENTO-MODICA

Breakfast in hotel and departure to Selinunte where, surrounded by a splendid landscape near the African Sea, we will walk among the ruins of the ancient Greek city, which today represents the largest archaeological site in the Mediterranean. We will proceed to Agrigento. Free time for lunch and visit of the Valley of the Temples where, among hundreds of almond trees, are the ruins of the ancient Akragas rise. It was defined by Pyndar “the most beautiful city of mortals.” You will see the “Temple of Hera,” the “Temple of Concordia,” and the “Temple of Heracles.” Transfer to Modica, where we will visit the Church of San Giorgio and taste the delicious chocolate, typical of this city. Dinner and overnight in hotel in Modica. After dinner you may make a night excursion to Ragusa Ibla, entirely rebuilt in baroque style after the earthquake of 1693.

Day 7:  NOTO-SIRACUSA

After breakfast in hotel we will visit Noto, the capital of Sicilian baroque, passing through the countries of Ragusa region. Noto, famous for its fine buildings of the early eighteenth century, is considered one of the main masterpieces in the Sicilian baroque style and the town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002. Departure to Siracusa, the most beautiful and greatest Greek colony in Sicily. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon the visit will start with the Archaeological Park of Neapolis, with its Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Latomie of Paradise and the Dyonisios “Ear” and it will continue with the visit of Ortigia, a small island which is the historical center of Siracusa. In Ortigia you will admire the beautiful Cathedral and the famous Arethusa’s Fountain. Trasfer to Catania for dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 8:  CATANIA

After breakfast transfer to Catania airport .

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS:

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The tour includes

• Round trip ransfers from Catania Airport
• Transportation by deluxe motor coach
• Multilingual tour guide and escort
• Half board with dinners in the hotel
• Meals as per itinerary
• Local guides where necessary
• Chocolate Tasting in Modica (on 6th day)
• Visit of cellar in Marsala and wine tasting (on 5th day)
• VAT and taxes

The tour does not include:

• Tips and extras in general
• All lunches and beverages
• Entrance fees for monuments
• Everything that is not mentioned in the paragraph “The Tour Includes:”
• Extra luggage may incur an additional fee