2012 | Sicilian Trilogy Tour | 8 days
West to East Side: Saturday from Palermo

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Sicilian Trilogy Tour ~ West to East Side
7 nights/8 days
Palermo (3 nights) Syracuse (2 nights) Taormina (2 nights)
Language: English Only
Small Size: Limited to Maximum 16 People



Day 1 (Saturday) Palermo
Welcome to the warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Sicily! Upon arrival at Palermo airport (PMO) please proceed through the Passport Control and collect your luggage inside the customs area. Then independent transfer to your hotel. Tonight we meet our staff at hotel for a short briefing. Then together we gather for dinner at a local restaurant. (D)

Day 2 (Sunday) Monreale, Palermo & Cefalů
Breakfast at hotel. 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. It represents scenes from the Old and New Testaments all in golden mosaics. Then onto Palermo to explore the lively Capo Market, a large open air 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. 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. This afternoon depart for Cefalů, a charming coastal town home to a massive Norman Cathedral with outstanding mosaics. Here we visit the city center and stroll down main street to reach the Cathedral. Later we return to Palermo (BB)

Day 3 (Monday) Palermo/Erice, Salt Flats, Olive Oil, Segesta & Winery/Palermo
Early departure to tour western Sicily where we reach Erice uptown. 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. Later we travel to Trapani on the Salt Way Road.  We tour the historic salt flats works, where the ancient tradition of harvesting salt from the sea is still practiced. Then, to an olive oil factory-farmhouse to enjoy a lunch. This afternoon we continue onto Segesta, one of the major cities of the ancient indigenous Elymian people, to visit the unfinished Doric temple (Admission 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.  Then to a local winery to taste Sicilian wine. We then return to Palermo. (BB L)

Day 4 (Tuesday) Palermo/Agrigento/Syracuse
Following breakfast, we drive through the interior of Sicily to reach Agrigento where we visit the finest of all ancient Greek sites—the complete Doric Temples (Admission Fee: not included). Light lunch will be served in a local trattoria. Later we continue to Syracuse, founded by colonists from Cornith in 735 B.C. and once the most important competitor to Athens.  The balance of the day is at leisure. (BB L)

Day 5 (Wednesday) Syracuse & Marzamemi
Following breakfast stroll through the streets of Ortygia Island, the heart of the city center. Then we visit through the Archaeological Park (Admission Fee: not included) highlights the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre and the Paradise Quarry. Later, a short drive takes us to the small village of Marzamemi, a small village, off the beaten track, in the southern most tip of Sicily. The village grew around its Tonneria (cannery) and is part of a "Sicilian Tonnara and Fisherman Village" Route. Today light lunch in a local trattoria. This afternoon we return to Syracuse. The balance of the day is at leisure. (BB L)

Day 6 (Thursday) Modica & Ragusa
Today departure for Modica.  The city is situated in the Iblean mountains and, along with Ragusa, it is part of the UNESCO Heritage Sites in Sicily.  The main economy of the area revolves around dairy cheese & agricultural products like olives, carobs, legumes, and grains.  The famous Chocolate of Modica, is absolutely unique and produced from an ancient, original Aztec recipe.  Upon arrival we taste the chocolate.  Then we continue onto Ragusa. Upon arrival we walk through the historical town of Ragusa Ibla highlights the wide array of Baroque architecture in Sicily, including several stunning palaces and churches.  Snack in a local bar to taste the famous "scacce" a focaccia-like stuffed breads famous in this province. This afternoon we continue to Taormina, the world famous resort town of Sicily. (BB S)

Day 7 (Friday) Taormina
Today at leisure or Optional Excursion. (BB)

Day 8 (Saturday) Taormina/Catania
Time to say goodbye to Sicily.  Independent transfer to Catania airport (CTA). (BB)


Meal Legend: BB Buffet Breakfast L Light Lunch  S Snack D Dinner
 

FEATURED PROPERTIES USED:
Palermo: Hotel Plaza Opera, first class
Syracuse: Hotel Royal Maniace, first class

Taormina: Hotel Villa Diodoro, first class

Hotel may be substituted with similar categories
 

DEPARTURE from Palermo (PMO)
7 nights / 8 days
Departure from Palermo | Saturday  Guaranteed (with a minimum of 2 clients)
Small size group: Limited to 16 people
Style of Accommodation: 4 star superior

Meals:
-7 breakfasts;
-one dinner at local restaurant;
-one lunch at olive oil factory-farmhouse;
-two light lunches in local trattorie;

-one wine tasting at winery;
-one snack in a local bar.

Travel for less with Friends&Family
Inquiry Us
 

12 Guaranteed Departure Dates:

March: 24 | April:  14, 28
May: 5 | June: 16, 30
July 21 | September: 8, 29
October: 13, 27 
 

Prices below are land-only and do not include airfare and airport transfers:
Eur 1.649,00 in triple occupancy
Eur 1.699,00 in double/twin occupancy

Eur 1.990,00 in single occupancy

Surcharge, per person:
Round Trip airport transfers: Eur 70,00

HOW TO BOOK:
A deposit eur 250,00 per person is required to save the space.
You can pay this amount using the credit card through our secure payment system.

As soon as we receive the deposit we send you the confirmation by H24.

ADMISSION FEE:
The price of this tour does not include the Admission Fees, which are usually around Euros 8,00/10,00 per person payable directly on the spot. If you are over 65 or under 18 years old and you have EU or Commonwealth Passport,  the admission fees are free of charge for you showing your document (or copy of your document) on the spot.