SICILY

Day 1: Palermo
Arrival to Palermo airport and private transfer to the hotel 4* in Palermo, dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Palermo – Monreale
Breakfast, meeting with our local guide in the hall of the hotel, departure by private bus to visit Palermo city centre. Visit to: the lovely squares of Piazza Pretoria, Quattro Canti and Piazza Bellini. In Piazza Pretoria, also known as the square of Shame, is situated next to the city’s municipal building in which we were able to capture views of the fountain of Pretoria from the third floor’s governmental building. During our walking tour, we have learned of the exotic mixture of Moorish, Norman and Spanish Baroque styles that give Palermo its extraordinary, unique character. Lunch and transfer to Monreale to visit the Dom, majestic example of the Arab-Norman art in Sicily, visit of the Benedictine Cloister and the Belvedere to see a wonderful panorama of Palermo. Come back to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Selinunte – Agrigento
Breakfast, meeting with our local guide in the hall of the hotel, departure by private bus for Selinunte, visit of its Archaeological Park, one of the most important Greek site on the south coast of Sicily. This park, of rare beauty and evocative force, is divided into three areas: the Acropolis, the Temples of the eastern hill and the Sanctuary of Demetra Malophoros. Lunch and departure for Agrigento and tour of the archaeological park with the Temple of Hera (Juno) built at the very top of the hill. Magnificent views of the landscape, coastline and the Mediterranean Sea. Then walk for about one mile downhill and stop along the main path to admire the city fortifications and Byzantine arcosolia, the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Herakles, the Temple of Zeus and the Sanctuary of Chtonian Deities (Temple of Castor and Pollux). You will discover the secrets behind their construction, gain insight into the civilization that produced them and get to know the personages that made ancient Akragas “the most beautiful of mortal cities”. Accomodation in an hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 4: Piazza Armerina – Catania
Breakfast, meeting with our escort in the hall of the hotel, departure by private bus for Piazza Armerina for guided visit of the Roman Villa del Casale the most impressing building of Roman age in Sicily. It’s a sumptuous villa of the late empire period, incredibly well preserved. The villa has more than 40 rooms and is 3500 square meters wide. Inside is an impressive sequence of ancient columns, remains of frescoes, statues and, above all, mosaics. Thanks to a sofisticated platform system it’s possible, for visitors, to see every part of the villa: the termae, the peristyle, the basilica and the private rooms. Lunch and transfer to Catania for hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5: Catania – Etna
Breakfast, meeting our local guide in the hall of the hotel, departure by private bus for Catania which was declared UNESCO world heritage site in 2002. Visit of the historic: the cathedral, Piazza Duomo, Via Etnea, the medieval castle “Castello Ursino” and many other spots of the town characterised by the lava. Lunch and transfer to the Month Etna to discover the highest active Vulcano in Europe, through nature and flavours, ancient craters and lava flows, lunar landscapes and lush forests, houses surrounded by lava and breathtaking views. To explore a volcanic caves accompanied constantly by our guides that will tell you about the mysterious volcanic phenomena and finally a free tasting of typical products of Etna. Come back tothe hotel for dinner and night.

Day 6: Siracusa – Noto
Breakfast, meeting with the guide in hotel and departure for a visit of Syracuse: the “Archeological Park of Neapolis” and its Greek Theater, the Ortigia peninsula where you can admire the Cathedral of “Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception” erected on the ancient Greek temple of Athena. The visit includes a stop at the “Fonte Aretusa”, a fresh water spring with a fountain close to the sea. Lunch in a typical restaurant and transfer to Noto, baroque town declared UNESCO world heritage site. We will admire beautiful baroque buildings like the cathedral and the church Saint Domenico. Come back to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 7: Taormina – Cefalù
Breakfast, meeting with our guide in the hall of the hotel and departure by private bus for Taormina, an historically rich town founded by the Siculi around 1300 b.C. and later affected by the Romans and the Greeks. You will visit the ancient Roman-Greek amphitheatre, the cathedral, the small theatre Odeon, the “Corvaia Palace” and take a walk in Corso Umberto. Lunch in a typical restaurant. In the afternoon departure for Palermo with a stop in Cefalù located on the slopes of the Madonie Natural Park. Visit of the town so attractive because of its medieval architecture: narrow streets paved with cobblestones lead to various Norman palaces and churches. Hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 8: Aeolian Islands – Lipari and Vulcano
Breakfast, meeting with our guide in the hall of the hotel and transfer to the port of Cefalù, departure by boat, arriving at Lipari and Free time to visit the Island. Continue at sailing to arrive at Vulcano, lunch and free time to visit the Island with the possibility of having a mud bath, or to bathe in the thermal SPA. The boat leaves From Vulcano and visits are made to the Rock Stacks, the “Horse’s Cave” and “Venus’ swimming pool”. Return to the port of Cefalù and transfer to your Hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 9: Cefalù – Palermo
Breakfast and departure by private bus for Palermo airport.