Palermo City Break 3 Days - starts on FRIDAY

PALERMO CITY BREAK

Experience the vibrant culture of Palermo on a thrilling 3-day group tour!

A three-day trip from Palermo, incorporating day trips to the medieval uptown village of Erice, the Temple is Segesta, the wow visit to the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, and the Roman Villa in Piazza Armerina, is an ambitious but feasible with careful planning as TourofSicily is able to provide.

Begins on Friday from Palermo
Only land services
Provided with: minimum of 2 clients
Limited to maximum: 18 people

HIGHLIGHTS:
Palermo: The Sicilian capital and open air markets
Erice: Medieval village famous for the Venus Castle and mazipan
Agrigento: Valley of the Temples
Piazza Armerina: Mosaic Floor at the Roman Villa
Segesta: Doric Temple

MEETING POINT
Meeting Point will be set in Palermo center 15 minutes before estimated departing time. The exact location will be provided at time of booking.

ADMISSION FEE
The price of this tour does not include the Admission Fees.

We also strictly recommend to give a look at the below pages:

See Palermo: what to see and what to do!
The capital of the Sicily island; an island which is not only the largest in the Mediterranean but which has played one of the most important roles in both the region’s history and current affairs. . READ MORE>

Welcome to Palermo City Break!
Palermo can trace its origins back almost 3000 years, to the times of the seafaring Phoenicians who built the first city here. For the history lover, it’s a very impressive place to explore; the surrounding areas are full of historic gems and artifacts just waiting to be uncovered. Explore the vibrant streets of Palermo where history, culture, and cuisine intertwine beautifully. the breathtaking Palatine Chapel to the sun-kissed shores Mondello beach, every corner of this Sicilian gem invites you to discover its charm. READ MORE>

Category
City Breaks, Palermo City Breaks
Location
Agrigento, Erice, Palermo, Piazza Armerina, Segesta
Grade
Easy
Days
3
Nights
2
Duration
3 Days
Category
Multi Days
Tour Type
Small group
Departure
Every Friday
Hotel
Not Included

Day 1

Friday: Palermo Street Food

Our Team Disposal: from h 11AM and up to 3 hours

Highlights
-experience the markets with a local food expert
-sample selected street foods at authentic food spots
-learn about locals’ daily habits and meet the people of the streets

Description
The itinerary takes travelers around the intricate alleys of Capo and Vucciria districts. The food markets are the locations where the magic happens! During the morning street food tour participants will taste several samples such as the panelle (chickpea fritters) and the sfincione (tomato focaccia) but also some challenging specialties, such as the one and only pani ca’ meusa (veal lung and spleen sandwich). Guides will unveil the secrets of the local cuisine, giving recipes, sharing historical info and curiosities. Travelers will visit family-run businesses and learn about their story and secret recipes. During the experience, guides also discuss other topics such as history, daily habits and controversial issues. Travelers also have the chance to step in the oldest bar downtown where to have a cheerful toast with the locals and samples some Sicilian cheese. This tasty experience ends with a seasonal dessert (cannoli or other cake in winter time, ice cream in summertime). We only offer our guests what’s seasonal and traditional. Our guiding style is very relaxed and laid-back, but also well trained and professional. Not only food!

*Water is normally not included. In order to save plastic we strongly recommend travelers to bring their own water bottle.

INCLUSIONS:
-Street food samples (substitutes a full meal)
-Seasonal dessert: gelato, or cannoli or other seasonal cakes
-3 alcoholic drinks: 2 beer + 1 wine or other*
-Licensed guide service
-Booking fees
-VAT

Day 2

Saturday: Palermo > Erice and Segesta > Palermo

The tour will start from one of the meeting points located in Palermo.

Then 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 through the Saltpans to see the historic salt flats works, where the ancient tradition of harvesting salt from the sea is still practiced.

Then 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 we return to Palermo.

THE ITINERARY COULD BE OPERATED IN DIFFERENT ORDER

Day 3

Sunday: Palermo > Piazza Armerina and Agrigento > Palermo

The tour will start from one of the meeting points located in Palermo.

The driver will pick you up and will start driving in direction of Piazza Armerina (approximately 2 hours and half from Palermo). Upon arrival, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the visit of the amazing Roman Villa of Casale, that belongs to the Unesco Heritage.

Built on the 4th century AD, the Villa was later forgotten and only in the 20th century excavations revealed the whole building. It is the supreme example of a luxury Roman villa (about 3500 square meters of floor mosaics) and was probably the residence of a member of the upper class of the Roman Empire. The mosaics discovered here are celebrated among scholars of antiquity. The visit inside the Roman Villa will be done independently: approximately 1 hour or 1 hour and half, depending the number of visitors inside the Villa. Every room has information boards. Admission fee not included:

Then we will drive approximately 2 hours before reaching the Valley of the Temples of Agrigento.

The walking tour of the Valley of the Temples will be done with a licensed Guide. Admission fee not included. This archaeological site belongs to the Unesco World Heritage since 1997. The visit of the Valley of the Temples covers the Temple of Hera, the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Hercules and the Temple of Zeus. Agrigento, according to legend, was founded by Daedalus and his son Icarus after they had fled from Crete “by air”. Historically, however, its origins date back to 582 B.C. when it was founded by Rhodian-cretan colonist from the neighbouring Gela who named their city Akragas after the nearby river of that name. It rapidly increased in size, importance and military strength under Phalarides, the first tyrant, and later under Theron, who extended his sway over northern Sicily as far as Himera. Agrigento was a city of artists and illustrious personages, amongst whom the philosopher Empedocles. Pindar defines it as “the most beautiful of mortal cities” and, in fact, in the Vth century B.C., those famous temples, whose beauty we still admire today, were built.

Later we will drive back to Palermo.

Included

English speaking Tour Director/Driver (as per program)
One light lunch in a local winery-farmhouse with tasting of local dishes, wine and olive oil tastings
Pick-up at meeting point
Tastings of street food
Transportation by taxi to Monreale and return
VAT
Vehicle/coach with air conditioning - no toilet
Visit as per itinerary (independent without booking of guide)

Not Included