CUSTOMIZED INDEPENDENT SELF-GUIDED HOLIDAYS
We offer a comprehensive set of services that allow you to discover Sicily in an independent, safe and comfortable way.
We offer a comprehensive set of services that allow you to discover Sicily in an independent, safe and comfortable way.
The first step: getting to know you. Let us know your preferences: your ideal types of accommodations, any sites and cities that you would like to visit, your budget, the length of time that you have, and the pace at which you would like to travel and explore.
Our Roadbooks are produced individually with each client and itinerary in mind.
They include not only a daily itinerary, but also practical advice, helpful tips and suggested stops that we think you will enjoy.
Tour of Sicily has written and produced its own guidebook, which will be included in your tour documents.
While other guide books will provide you with too many options, ours was written by our team, and the included information was selected based on our insiders’ knowledge of Sicily.
After having outlined your tour program, we will make all the necessary reservations: the charming hotels, the cosiest rooms, the exciting activities and all transportation arrangements.
In addition, we will be here for you to ensure that things go as planned.
1. Activities Available all year round
2. Fabulous Archaeology
Sicily has sometimes been described as an open-air museum because of its numerous archaeological treasures with several locations designated as UNESCO Word Heritage sites. In Siracusa, a powerful city when it was a Greek colony, there are many important ruins like the Temple of Apollo (6th century BC) and the Neapolis Archaeological Park. In Taormina there’s the splendid Greek Theatre dating from the third century BC with magnificent views of the coastline which sent Goethe into a swoon. Sicily’s largest classical-era arena, dating from Roman times, is in Catania. Constructed with brick, marble and lava stone, the amphitheater had a rock-concert-level capacity for 15000 spectators. The Valley of Temples in Agrigento and the Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Amerina about an hour-and-a-half drive from Agrigento, are also must stops. The villa in Casale is a spacious Roman-era dwelling with an extensive collection of 4th century AD mosaics. Its Sala delle Dieci Ragazze shows young athletic women practicing various sports like discus throwing, even weight lifting, wearing what looks like modern-day bikinis.
3. Amazing Wines
Sicily has 23 Denominazioni di Origine (DOC), and one DOCG and can be divided broadly into four geographical regions. Here are the three major regions to know.
Sicilia DOC is a broad, island-wide appellation. It launched in 2011 by a consortium of wine producers who promoted the Sicilia IGT to a DOC. The dozens of wineries participating in the appellation agreed to work in tandem to promote Sicily’s native grapes like Grillo, Nero d’Avola, Frappato and Catarratto as well as the lesser known Inzolia, Grecanico and Perricone.
Etna DOC – More than any other swath of Sicily, Mount Etna’s wines have earned lavish attention over the last few years. The region’s climate is quite different from elsewhere. The mountain’s unique wines earned DOC recognition in 1968.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG – Compared to Etna, Sicily’s southeast corner offers lower elevation and higher temperatures. That makes it prime red wine country and the source of Sicily’s only DOCG, Cerasuolo di Vittoria.
Marsala DOC – Originally, the fortified wine Marsala was created for the English market by John Woodhouse of Liverpool, together with his companions Ingham and Whitaker in 1773. They were looking for a replacement for the English’s beloved sherry
4. The Best Cuisine
Sicily’s cuisine with Arab, Greek and Spanish influences.
Invaders came and conquered but brought with them foodstuffs and cooking styles that richly enhanced the local diet.
Ancient Greeks introduced figs, olive trees, artichokes and sheep’s milk cheeses.
Arab settlers added citrus fruits, along with almonds and eggplants, and sweet-sour flavorings known as agrodolce (also favored by ancient Romans) in dishes like pasta with sardines or anchovies, raisins and pine nuts.
The Spaniards contributed the all-important tomato and chocolate.
If you order a Sicilian cassata, it’s like eating your way through history—Arabs, Normans, and Spaniards all influenced the development of this tasty treat made of sponge cake, ricotta, fruit and liqueur.