Discover sicily Tour

Day 1  Welcome to Sicily! Check into our hotel located in the historic center of Palermo, the capital of this Mediterranean island. You can rest after the flight or freshen up and start exploring a city which dates back 3,000 years. We’ll meet in the early evening for a brief orientation and then enjoy a welcome dinner together at a local restaurant. Sleep in Palermo 3 nights.

Day 2  Monreale and Palermo Today we’ll go on a guided street tour of Palermo’s colorful outdoor markets and see some of the best examples of Arab-Norman mosaics in the world. A ride up to the hilltop town of Monreale to visit it’s 12th century cathedral rewards us with sweeping views. Afterward there will be free time to explore the intricate streets Palermo.

Day 3  Cefalù This morning we take off for the charming seaside town of Cefalù. Once a fishing village, its narrow medieval streets are perfect for wandering in your free time. We’ll see another splendid mosaic display in its Norman cathedral and enjoy lunch here before returning to Palermo in the evening.

Day 4  Segesta and Marsala As we depart Palermo, we’ll wind through the lovely Sicilian countryside in our private coach to a beautiful and isolated Greek temple surrounded by scenic views. We will meander about Segesta, taking in the history and beauty of this spot . Then it’s a short drive to the the coastal town of Marsala. Sleep in Marsala 2 nights.

Day 5  Erice and Trapani  This morning we’ll start the day with a visit to the medieval mountain-top town of Erice, an atmospheric village with a provocative history relating to sanctuaries dedicated to the cult of Venus. Afterwards we’ll head down to Trapani and the coastal salt pans where sea salt has been harvested for thousands of years. A lunch of regional specialties at an old salt mill will literally give you a flavor of this prized condiment.

Day 6  Winery Visit and Agrigento Sicilian wine is having a moment, and Marsala wines are enjoying a renewed popularity. Today we will stop at one of Marsala’s oldest producers and have a taste. Afterwards we’ll drive along the southern part of the island and reach our destination of Agrigento and take in a guided tour of  the majestic Valley of the Temples, the finest Greek temple complex anywhere- including Greece. Sleep in Agrigento 1 night.

Day 7  Roman Villa Casale We’ll take off for the inland town of Piazza Armerina, where the ruins of an extensive  private Roman villa remain, consisting of 63 rooms of vivid floor mosaics which have been recently restored. Then we head south to Modica, a wonderful Baroque hill town, and check into our centrally located hotel. Sleep in Modica 2 nights.

Day  8  Modica and Noto Today we’ll explore this beautiful and often overlooked corner of Sicily. In Modica, we’ll get a tour of a chocolate shop which makes wonderful Aztec style chocolate brought to Sicily by way of early Spanish explorers. In the afternoon we’ll visit elegant Noto, with fine examples of late Sicilian Baroque architecture, as the setting sun gives the limestone facades a warm, honey colored glow. Upon our return we’ll get a hands-on lesson in making an authentic Sicilian dish.

Day 9  Syracuse and Taormina Continuing East, we will arrive at the ancient city of Syracuse, which once rivaled Athens. A guided visit of the archeological area includes a Greek theater carved out of the hillside that dates back to the 5th century BC. Then we’ll stroll through the picturesque island of Ortygia before heading out to the resort town of Taormina within view of Mt. Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Sleep in Taormina 2 nights.

Day 10  Taormina This morning we’ll begin with a walk through Taormina, an elegant town perched on a cliff with welcoming piazzas and a dramatically positioned Greek theater with Mt. Etna as its backdrop. Spend the rest of the day as you like. Tonight, we’ll celebrate a marvelous trip with a farewell group dinner.

Day  11  A La Prossima  After breakfast, we’ll say arrivederci and head for Catania’s airport, which is 60 minutes away by taxi or bus– and our flight home.