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Day 1:
Palermo airport (PMO)/Palermo
Welcome to the
warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Sicily!
Upon
arrival at Palermo airport please proceed through the Passport
Control and collect your luggage
inside the
customs area.
Outside of customs,
you will find the driver waiting holding a sign
with your
full name. Transfer to the hotel.
Tonight Welcome Dinner
at local restaurant (Vegetarian Menù:
available at time of booking)
Day
2: Monreale & Palermo
After breakfast, our local guide will show us where the Arab-Norman
art and architecture reached the pinnacle of its glory with the
Monreale Duomo, launched in 1174 by William II. Scenes from the
Old and New Testaments are depicted in golden mosaics covering the
interior. Then to the Palatine Chapel in Palermo, which was
the crowning architectural achievement of William II’s grandfather,
Roger II. Later
we
will
explore the lively
Capo Market,
a
large open street market that captures the flavor of Palermo's
Saracen Arab past. Capo is a blend of general confusion and a
jumble of vendors' stalls, winding toward the old gate (Porta Carini)
of what used to be the city wall.
We continue by seeing: Piazza Pretoria and
Via Maqueda with its “four corners” converging Palermo at a quartet
of Baroque palaces left over from the heyday of
Spanish rule dating back to 1560.
This afternoon at leisure to explore the town on your own or shops.
(BB)
Day
3: Palermo/Erice/Olive Oil Factory/Marsala
Early departure to tour western Sicily where we will begin in Erice
city center. The Elymians settled the medieval town of Erice,
which was an important religious site associated with the goddess
Venus. Wander through its ancient streets and visit some of the
famous homemade pastry shops—world-famous for marzipan candies and
other delicacies like almond and pistachio pastries. Then to an
olive oil factory & farmhouse to enjoy a light lunch
(Vegetarian
Menù: available at time of booking). In the
afternoon, we travel between Trapani and Marsala on the Salt Way
Road. We will tour the historic saltpan works where the
ancient tradition of harvesting salt from the sea is still
practiced. We then continue on to Marsala and
accommodation at hotel.
(BB L)
Day
4: Marsala/Agrigento/Leonforte
Today we will visit a
local winery’s cellar and taste Sicilian wines. Later
we continue to Agrigento whose
history dates back to 580 BC. An independent
tour leads us through the Valley of the Temples,
a magnificent cluster of Greek ruins overlooking the Mediterranean
Sea.
This afternoon we drive across the vast countryside showcases
Sicily’s great variety of sceneries.
We
soon arrive in Leonforte near Enna. This region boasts a rich
production of wheat, citrus fruits, and olive oil. Tonight, we lodge
at Villa Gussio, an old traditional Sicilian country hotel.
The hotel is a jewel set in the green heart of Sicily, a magic place
where history and nature blend to celebrate a spontaneous hymn to
beauty. Dinner at the hotel
(Vegetarian
Menù: available at time of booking). (BB D)
Day
5: Leonforte/Caltagirone/Ragusa
In the
later morning we will travel for
Caltagirone—a
town important for Sicilian pottery and ceramics. We will walk
through the city center and climb the famous steps decorated with
local and colored ceramics. Time at leisure for shopping in the
Sicilian ceramic shops—.
Time at leisure for shop. This afternoon we will continue to
Ragusa -- famous for the Sicilian Baroque -- On arrival, time for a stroll through
the historical town of Ibla to admire the wide array of
Baroque architecture, including several stunning palaces and
churches.
Tonight dinner at local restaurant
(Vegetarian
Menù: available at time of booking). (BB D)
Day
6: Ragusa & Modica
All day long at
leisure to visit the town and to enjoy a short excursion to Modica
famous for the typical chocolat (BB)
Day
7: Ragusa/Syracuse/Taormina
Today we depart for Syracuse, founded by colonists from
Cornith in 735 B.C. and once the most important competitor to
Athens.
Independent
visit through the Archaeological Park
highlights the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre
and the Paradise Quarry. Later stroll through the streets of
Ortygia Island, the heart of the city center. Lunch at a
local restaurant
(Vegetarian Menù: available
at time of booking). Afterward, we drive along the coast to Taormina,
the world famous resort town of Sicily, known for its views and
atmosphere. (BB L)
Day
8: Taormina/Mount Etna in Jeep Ride/Taormina
Today you will be picked up at your hotel by an off-road
driver/escort and transferred to Etna Volcano. You will enjoy a
lovely Jeep experience through the Etna area: Mount Fontana (view of Bove Valley), the Thieves Cave (grotta dei ladroni), extinct craters
of Sartorius Mounts, and lava flow from the 2002 eruption. Light
lunch at a farmhouse to taste typical Sicilian dishes
(Vegetarian
Menù: available at time of booking).
Off-road
drive along the Linguaglossa-Castiglione and Alcantara Gorges area.
This afternoon return to Taormina hotel.
(BB
L)
Day
9: Taormina
All day long at
leisure to explore the town on your own or shop (BB)
Day
10: Taormina/Catania airport (CTA)
Time to say goodbye to Sicily as we are transferred to Catania
Airport (CTA) for our return flight. (BB)
Meal Legend:
BB
Buffet Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner
What is Included:
What is Included:
ü
One main round trip
Airport Transfers for services done between 8:00AM to 7:00PM
ü
Palermo: Two
nights in superior accommodation
ü
Marsala:
One
night
in superior accommodation
ü
Leonforte: One night in superior accommodation in Villa
ü
Ragusa:
Two
nights in superior accommodation
ü
Taormina: Three nights in superior accommodation, sea view rooms
ü
Daily breakfast buffet
ü
Vehicle/coach with air conditioning
ü
English speaking Tour Director/Driver Guide as per program
ü
Meals as per itinerary with
set group menus
ü
One
visits to Sicilian cellars with Sicilian wine tasting
ü
One light lunch at olive oil factory/farmhouse with tasting of
typical local dishes
ü
One
private jeep ride to Etna volcano
ü
One visit to a local olive oil factory and olive oil tasting
ü
Natural mineral water at included meals
ü
All sightseeing, tasting and excursions as specified in the
itinerary
ü
Admission fees included for all sites and other activities as per
itinerary
ü
Baggage Handling of one piece of luggage at hotel
ü
Hotel & City Taxes
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