General Description
Day 1 Monday: Palermo
Arrival in Palermo. Group transfer (with other participants) to the hotel. Meet with participants at the hotel. Free dinner. Overnight stay.
Day 2 Tuesday: Palermo – Monreale – Palermo
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, departure for Monreale and visit the Benedictine Cloister and the Cathedral. Under the evocative pretext of a dream-vision in which he discovered a treasure hidden by his father, the Norman King William II led to the construction of one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Europe. Afterwards, we will return to Palermo for a short panoramic tour by bus. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we will take a walk through the historic center of the Sicilian capital. Today, we will have a little surprise for you. We will visit its main monuments, such as the Palatine Chapel, Palermo Cathedral, the famous Piazza Pretoria, a huge fountain entirely carved in white Carrara marble with mythological allegories, and the Quattro Canti or Piazza Vigliena, in honor of the viceroy under whose rule the four Baroque palaces were completed at the intersection of Via Vittorio Emmanuele and Via Maqueda. We will pass by the Norman Church of the Martorana, also known as Santa Maria del'Ammiraglio, which was built in 1143 by Giorgio d'Antiochia, admiral of Roger II. We will then enter the Church of Santa Caterina. Dinner at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 Wednesday: Palermo – Erice – Trapani Salt Pans – Agrigento
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Erice, a medieval town located 750 meters above sea level. It combines many Sicilian features, such as Norman urban planning, the Moorish layout of homes around a courtyard, and a wide range of sweets. We'll enjoy a tasting of the famous almond-based sweets from Erice. Continue to the western part of Sicily for a panoramic tour of Trapani and its salt pans. We'll visit the sea salt production area, surrounded by the mills that make up the famous Trapani salt. Lunch en route. After lunch, depart for Agrigento: "The most beautiful city of mortals," where ten Doric temples can still be admired in the valley. Dinner. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 Thursday: Agrigento – Piazza Armerina – Ragusa
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for a visit to the Valley of the Temples with a local guide. Continue to Piazza Armerina. Lunch en route. Visit with a local guide to the splendid Villa Romana del Casale, a luxurious residence located in the heart of Sicily. It is an important example of Roman architecture, where you can admire the precious mosaics depicting the customs and traditions of that time. Continue to Ragusa. Panoramic tour of Ragusa Ibla, the historic city center. Dinner. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 5 Friday: Ragusa – Noto – Syracuse – Catania
Breakfast at the hotel and morning departure to Noto, the capital of Sicilian Baroque, where you can admire the Cathedral, completely renovated after several years of restoration, and stroll through its streets full of architectural treasures. Continue to Syracuse: the largest ancient city, founded in 734-733 BC and known as Syraka. We will enjoy a unique experience before lunch. If conditions permit, we will take a mini-cruise to admire the beauties of Syracuse's old town aboard a boat. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Syracuse, which stretches along the sea, next to the island of Ortigia, which is connected to the mainland by a bridge and offers visitors the remains of its glorious past: the Temple of Minerva, transformed into a Christian Cathedral, the legendary Fontana di Arethusa, the Temple of Apollo, the Greek Theater, and the Roman Amphitheater located near the Latomie, the Orecchio di Dionysio. Continue to Catania. Dinner at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 Saturday: Catania–Etna–Taormina–Catania
Breakfast at the hotel and, weather permitting, departure for Mount Etna: the highest and still active volcano in Europe (3,345 meters). The bus will take you to the Sapienza Refuge at an altitude of 1,800 meters. Visit the extinct craters, the so-called "Crateri Silvestri." The variety of flora is splendid, as are the lunar landscapes that can be seen along the way. For centuries, the volcano has created a place where nature, culture, and history have come together to create a unique landscape. We will head for lunch at a farmhouse at the foot of Mount Etna where, in addition to enjoying a typical and authentic meal, we will also taste the Etna wine produced locally. Continue to Taormina, located at the top of the picturesque rock of Mount Tauro (204 m altitude). Free time for shopping, exploring the romantic streets of the city, or visiting the famous Greek Theater, from which you can enjoy magnificent views of both Etna and the Ionian Sea. Return to Catania, where we will take a panoramic walking tour. This city, the most important on the eastern coast, is primarily characterized by its buildings made of volcanic rock. Dinner is free. Accommodation at the hotel.
Day 7 Sunday: Catania – Messina – Cefalù – Palermo
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Messina for a panoramic tour of the city, including views over the Strait that separates Sicily from the mainland. We will also visit the city's Cathedral with its famous bell tower. The bell tower of Messina Cathedral houses the largest and most complex mechanical and astronomical clock in the world. We will continue to Cefalù for lunch at a local restaurant. Cefalù is a charming seaside town that presents visitors with a wonderful artistic display of light and color. Don't forget to visit the magnificent Norman Cathedral, built in 1131, and the Medieval Lavatoio. This afternoon, we will have a small surprise for you. Free time to stroll through the narrow streets filled with jewelry stores and elegant shops that retain all their medieval charm. Transfer to your hotel in Palermo. Free dinner. Accommodation.
Day 8, Monday: Palermo
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from the Palermo hotel to the Palermo airport or Palermo port or train station (GROUP TRANSFER).
End of our services.
For organizational reasons, the itinerary may be modified or reversed without prior notice. In any case, the provider guarantees all visits and excursions mentioned in the itinerary.
Dinners and/or lunches during the tour may be served at the hotel or at a local restaurant, at the provider's discretion
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