$4,950
Sicily is famous for its Greek and Roman ruins, fascinating history, exotic food and delicious wines. It is so diverse that it feels much like a small continent. Your Sicilian journey will include a visit to Siracusa (the most important colony of ancient Greece), the ancient Villa del Casale in Piazza Armerina with its staggering mosaics, the well-preserved Greek ruins at Agrigento and the amazing Norman Cathedral of Monreale. You will be introduced to interesting local personalities, enjoy regional specialties and will be sure to leave Sicily with a very good idea about what it means to be Sicilian.
*Please click on each day to view daily itinerary.
Fly from the US to Catania, Sicily
Upon arrival in Catania, a private driver will pick you up at the airport and drive your hotel near to Taormina. Rest up in your beautiful room before meeting your guide and other travellers for a welcome talk and seafood specialties dinner. Sleep near Taormina
This morning you will explore beautiful Taormina, which is considered one the foremost pearls of the Mediterranean Sea. You will start your day with a stroll along its most famous promenade to one of Sicily’s finest “pasticcerias”. In the afternoon you will take in a lovely city tour that will include the city’s exquisite Greek theatre. You will have some time after to shop or just enjoy the great atmosphere of this small city. Sleep in Taormina
Today you will enjoy a great wine tasting at a vineyard on the hillside of Mt. Etna, and visit the small village of Savoca, where many scenes of the movie the Godfather were shot. You will also visit the small and very charming villages of Forza d'Agro' where you will enjoy beautiful views and sip delicious local wines. Sleep in Taormina
Today you will explore Siracusa, the ancient Greek colony that outshined its master during the decline of the Greek empire. First, we will wander through the unforgettable Piazza del Duomo to behold the Fountain of Arethusa. The legends shared by our classically educated guide will bring our walking tour to life. You will have time to shop and enjoy the magic of this special city before heading to Noto for the evening. Sleep in Noto
Today you will tour the “Val di’ Noto,” a valley so beautiful and unique that it was declared a World Heritage site in 2002. You will first visit Modica and a local production of the famous chocolate. You will then stop in the countryside to visit a working farm where you will taste fresh ricotta cheese and see how it is produced. Your lunch will be a feast of locally made products and delicacies, including some of the most incredible hand-made Sicilian Cannoli you will ever have. Later, you can wander the baroque jewel of Noto, an amazing little city built at the end of the 17th century after an earthquake destroyed it entirely. Sleep in Noto.
You will start your day with a lovely drive across scenic agrarian landscapes to the Piazza Armerina and the Imperial Roman Villa of Casale. This ancient Roman hunting lodge and beauty spa was well known among the Who’s Who of the 4th century. You will have plenty of time to view the original mosaics that decorate the lodge’s former exercise rooms and baths. After a delicious lunch in Piazza Armerina, we will make our way to Agrigento. Sleep at a resort near Agrigento.
Visit the Ancient Valley of the Temples, one of the richest archaeological areas of the world. Here our guide will lead you among the remains of approximately 20 ancient temples including the Temple of Concord, Castor, Pollux and Hercule. In the afternoon you will visit the amazing Scala dei Turchi – one of the most breath-taking spots of the Sicilian coastline. Sleep outside Agrigento.
We will start the day with a visit to charming Sciacca, very famous for its artistic and traditional ceramics. We will then visit Selinunte, one of Europe's largest archaeological parks, where you will be blown away by the ancient Greek ruins over the blue Mediterranean Sea. After a fun lunch overlooking the sea, we will visit an olive oil production in the Castelventrano region. In the evening, you will then reach the outskirts of Marsala and will check in at your resort. Sleep outside Marsala.
Today you will start your visits with the exploration of the local salt pans, and weather permitting a scenic boat ride overlooking Mozia Island. You will then enjoy the charming centre of Marsala and will take in the local museum, which displays the remains of two incredible ships from the antiquity: one Roman, and one Phoenician. In the afternoon you will also visit one of the best producers of the local sweet and smooth Marsala wine. Sleep near Marsala.
This morning you will drive to Erice, a delightful medieval village nestled on a 2,200-foot cliff. Walking through Erice’s narrow streets you can make your way to a traditional pastry shop where you can sample some of the world’s most amazing almond pastries. But don't forget to try the Cannoli and the shop's famed Cassata! These delicious treats will augment the breathtaking views over the Egadi Islands below. After your group lunch you will head to the small hill town of Monreale. Here you will see the mosaics of the Norman Cathedral which are among the most extraordinary in Italy. This amazing monument is a dazzling mixture of Arab, Byzantine and Norman artistic styles all framed by traditional Romanesque architecture. Nowhere else on the planet can you find such a perfect blend of the Christian and Muslim artistic worlds of the 12th century. You will then drive to Palermo, where you will check into your hotel for a two-night stay. Sleep in Palermo.
You will spend the morning visiting beautiful Palermo, the many narrow streets and alleys, and the market stalls packed with all sorts of merchandise. You will have the afternoon on your own to discover more of this very special city. Tonight, you will enjoy a special dinner and an exclusive tour of an incredible palace of a local nobleperson. Sleep in Palermo.
This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home.
Trip Details:
3 nights in Taormina
2 nights outside Noto
2 nights outside Agrigento
2 nights outside Marsala
2 nights in Palermo
Total 11 nights – 12 days
Price:
$4,950 per person (double occupancy)
Single supplement: $950 USD
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