Details
Best of Sicily 10 Days | (9 nights/10 days): Small size (limited to maximum 8 people), Semi-Escorted Tour, English speaking only, visit the best of Sicily in one tour.
Highlights
OVERNIGHTS:
Taormina 3 nights + Syracuse 2 nights + Agrigento 1 night + Palermo 3 nights
ITINERARY:
Day 1 Catania/Taormina
Welcome to the warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Sicily! Transfer to your hotel.
Day 2 Taormina/Mt Etna with wine tasting
Today we drive to the highest and active volcano of Europe. During the ascent different kinds of vegetation can be noted. We will reach 2.000 meters where we then take a walk together to visit the "Silvestri" craters and the latest new lava flows and craters from 2001/2003. You have the possibility to go on the top with the cable car and jeep (optional and to be paid extra on the spot). On the way, we visit a local family farm where it is possible to taste local Etna wine, a selection of different types of honey (orange, lemon, eucalyptus, strawberry...), almond pastries, olives, extra virgin olive oil.
Then you will go to the most famous winery "Gambino" in
Linguaglossa. In the winery you will pay 25,00 Euros per person for the wine tasting (including 4 different wine, 2 white and 2 red, cheese, cold cuts, products in oil like olives, aubergine, mushrooms and dried
tomatoes).
Day 3 Taormina/Godfather tour half day
We will reach the charming town of Savoca. Savoca is not a tourist town, it is a simple every day "local" town set on the hillside of the foothills of the S. Peloritiani. This is where Al Pacino and Cast shot the GodFather Film. Following their footsteps and visiting the places that were so often shown throughout the movie will bring back many memories. While in town "a must" is the stop for a Lemon Granita at the famous bar "VITELLI" on the corner of the town, one of Coppola's favorite spots, and seen many times throughout the film. From Savoca we will visit Forza d'Agrò which is without a doubt one of the best examples of a typical village of the Province of Messina which still conserves its medieval street layout and on all sides of the town you have the most incredible views. Here we have tradition, culture, history, art all awaiting you.
Day 4 Taormina/Syracuse
Today we depart for Syracuse. On arrival visit through the Archaeological Park (Entrance Fee: not included). Light lunch at local restaurant. This afternoon you can stroll
through the streets of Ortygia Island, the heart of the city center on your own. Overnight in Syracuse.
Day 5 Syracuse/Modica, Ragusa & Noto
Departure for Modica. Part of the UNESCO Heritage Sites in Sicily. The famous Chocolate of Modica, is absolutely unique and produced from an ancient, original Aztec recipe. Then we continue to Ragusa Ibla highlights the wide array of Baroque architecture in Sicily. In the afternoon, depart to Noto, one of the most beautiful cities in Sicily renowned for the harmony and unity of its Baroque style. Overnight in Syracuse.
Day 6 Syracuse/Agrigento & Piazza Armerina
Today we drive through the interior of Sicily to reach Piazza Armerina. We view the ruins of the Roman Villa of Casale (Entrance Fee: not included). Later we continue to
Agrigento where we visit the finest of all ancient Greek sites—the complete Doric Temples (Entrance Fee: not included). Overnight in Agrigento.
Day 7 Agrigento/Monreale and Palermo
Today we leave Agrigento to Palermo. Our first stop is Monreale to see where the Arab-Norman art and architecture reached the pinnacle of its glory with the Duomo, launched in 1174 by William II. Then onto Palermo to explore the "Teatro Massimo" and the Cathedral of Palermo. Later we continue by seeing Piazza Pretoria and Via Maqueda, whose “four corners” converge Palermo at a quartet of baroque palaces left over from the heyday of Spanish rule dating from 1560. Overnight in Palermo.
Day 8 Palermo/Erice & Segesta
Early departure to tour western Sicily where we reach Erice uptown. This afternoon we continue onto Segesta to visit the unfinished Doric temple (Entrance Fee: not
included), late 5th century BC, built on a hilltop just outside of the ancient city and has a commanding view of the surrounding area. We then return to Palermo.
Day 9 Palermo/Cefalù
This morning depart for Cefalù, a charming coastal town home to a massive Norman Cathedral with outstanding mosaics. You can have lunch and stroll around on your own. Later we return to Palermo.
Day 10 Palermo airport
Time to say goodbye to Sicily. Transfer to Palermo airport (PMO).
What's Included:
English speaking driver/guide, taxes, toll, gas, room and board for the driver.
What's Not Included:
Hotels, Meals, Gratuities & Tips, Entrance fees, Local guide, Wine tasting, Complete excursion to the summit.
This tour is operated only with a Driver-Guide up to 8 people.
The Driver Guide is not a Licensed Tourist Guide.
Licensed Tourist Guide: are the only professionals, with a Regional license, permitted to conduct visits and tours in all sites and museums within a city and he cannot escort you inside the monuments because this is not allowed by Italian Rules.
It is possible to do the tour in reverse starting in Palermo and ending in Catania!