Sicily Island Classic Tour | 14 Nights/15 Days
Day 01: Palermo | Upon arrival at Palermo airport please proceed through the Passport Control and collect your luggage inside the customs area. Just outside this area meet your assistant and driver who will transfer you to your Hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Palermo.
Day 02: Palermo and Monreale Private Guided Tour | Enjoy a full buffet breakfast at your hotel. Meeting with the driver and guide at your hotel for a 3-hour guided tour of Palermo. Your guide will show you the highlights of historic Palermo, the capital of ancient Sicily. You will also visit “The Ballarò”, a Palermo Food street market which is a cacophony of sights and sounds. The ambiance is punctuated by colored tarpaulins suspended as “tents” to protect the wares from the elements. After lunch in a characteristic local restaurant, meet back up with your guide to traveling to Monreale, a nearby hilltop town that boasts sweeping views over Palermo. Soak up the views, and then pay a visit to the Cathedral of Monreale. Stand in awe as you gaze at the cathedral’s golden mosaics and work out the biblical scenes that they represent. In the late afternoon travel, back to your Palermo hotel. Overnight in Palermo.
Day 03: Palermo → Erice → Trapani → Marsala | Breakfast at the Hotel. Pick up from the hotel and travel by car and English-speaking driver to your Hotel in Marsala. On route stop in Erice to meet your Private Guide. Erice, a lovely medieval hilltop town, situated nearly 3,000 feet above sea level and surrounded by ancient Elimi and Phoenician walls. In antiquity, Erice was famous for its temple where the Phoenicians worshipped Astarte, the Greeks venerated Aphrodite and the Romans celebrated Venus. Erice’s hilltop twin Castles of Pepoli, give the town a spectacular skyline. You will also visit a 14th-century Gothic Catalan-style Church featuring the famous depiction of the Black Virgin Mary. You will wrap up the day strolling along the town’s charming old stone streets. After lunch in a characteristic local restaurant, you will go down to the coast to follow the Salt Route. You will stop at the saltworks visitor center in Nubia, just below Trapani. In a 300-year old salt house, the Museum of Salt was instituted, illustrating the phases of salt production and equipment utilized for its extraction and collection. A ride on a typical lagoon boat you will circumnavigating San Pantaleo, and Santa Maria Islands. In the late afternoon, you will continue to your Hotel in Marsala. Overnight in Marsala.
Day 04: Marsala Private Guided Tour & Cantine Florio Visit and Wine Tasting | Breakfast at the Hotel. Meet your Driver and Guide at the Hotel lobby. This morning visit Marsala Historic Center, closed by four ancient gates. The first is Porta Garibaldi, where on the left is the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows. and on the right, the fresh fish, fruit, and vegetable market. Continuing along Via Garibaldi and passing the old Spanish quarter, the center of the Town Hall, you are in Piazza Loggia, in the heart of the historic center. In Piazza Della Repubblica there are the Cathedral and the Palazzo VII Aprile. Next, Piazza del Purgatorio, with its Fountain, Baroque Church, and the Convento del Carmin. Back on the main road, Via XI Maggio you find the Complesso Monumentale di San Pietro and the Archaeological Museum. After lunch in a characteristic local restaurant visit Cantine Florio. They are the historical wine cellars where the Marsala Wine was created. You will visit The Cellars and The Coopers, where you can admire some huge vats of the 19th century that are still used for the Marsala’s refinement. Late afternoon return to your Hotel. Overnight in Marsala
Day 05: Marsala → Selinunte → Planeta Winery in Ulmo → Agrigento | Breakfast at the Hotel. Meet your driver at the Hotel lobby and Private transfer to your Hotel in Agrigento. On route stop in Selinunte to meet your Guide for a personalized Tour of The Archaeological Park, where you will find Greek Temples, Ancient Town Walls, and the ruins of residential and commercial buildings. On route to Agrigento enjoy a delightful Lunch/Food and Wine Tour at Planeta Winery in Ulmo, located near the village of Sambuca di Sicilia, on the shores of Lake Arancio. Planeta, a leading winemaker for both Italian and international markets, has a strong presence in Sicily, with 370 hectares of proprietary vineyards and five wineries located in different areas of the region. Here at Ulmo in 1995 Planeta built their first winery, in the most delightful countryside and just a few meters farmhouse dating from 1500 which has always been owned by the Planeta family. In the midafternoon continue to your Hotel. Overnight in Agrigento.
Day 06: Valley of Temples Private Guided Tour | Breakfast at the Hotel. Meet your Guide at the Hotel lobby to enjoy a Private Guided Tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Valley of the Temples, an incredible archeological spot on a hill, dating back to 430 BC. On the eastern edge of the cliff, you find the Temple of Demeter and the Rock Sanctuary of Demeter and Persephone. Further down along the Via Panoramica Dei Templi, you get to the Temple of Juno., the Temple of Concordia, and the Temple of Hephaistos. Then continue the Temple of Hercules and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Continuing towards Villaseta, a path to the right leads to the Temple of Vulcan or Hephaestus. There are the base and two columns left. Returning to the Porta Aurea continue to the (Temple of Asclepius) and San Leone (old Emporion). After the tour, return to your Hotel. Lunch and rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Agrigento.
Day 07: Agrigento → Lunch/Food and Wine Tasting → Ragusa | Breakfast at the Hotel. Meet your Driver and Guide at the Hotel lobby. Private transfer to your hotel in Ragusa. Stop on route for Lunch/Food and Wine Tasting in a Farm/Wine Estate. After lunch, continue to your Hotel in Ragusa. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Ragusa
Day 08: Ragusa Private Guided Tour | Breakfast at the Hotel. Meet your Driver and Guide at the Hotel lobby. Ragusa is a small Baroque town and a Unesco World Heritage Site: one of the most picturesque towns in Sicily. The city is divided into two important areas: Ragusa Superiore, founded after the earthquake in 1693, and Ragusa Inferiore, the original site. The latter is called Ibla nowadays because, at the beginning of the 20th century, some archaeologists discovered the ruins of Hybla. You start Your Private Tour with a stop to see the panoramic view and the church of Santa Maria Delle Scale. Going down toward the old city you find Palazzo Della Cancelleria, and the Church of Madonna dell’ Itria. Arriving in Piazza Della Repubblica you see the church of the Anime Purganti. Going along Via Capitano Bocchieri, you arrive in Piazza Duomo where you will find the Church of San Giorgio,. Its facade is considered the best example of late Baroque Art. Crossing Piazza Duomo you reach Piazza Pola. Here you find the Church of San Giuseppe. Leaving Corso 25 Aprile you reach the Giardino Ibleo, a beautiful park that hosts inside the Gothic style portal door of the original Church of San Giorgio, survived the earthquake in 1693. Transfer back to your Hotel. Lunch and afternoon at Leisure. Overnight in Ragusa
Day 09: Ragusa → Modica & Noto Private Guided Tour – Syracuse | Breakfast at the Hotel. Meet your Driver at the Hotel lobby to be transferred to your Hotel in Syracuse. On route visit Modica and Noto. Nestled in a dramatic gorge of the Val di Noto, Modica, is a World Heritage Site. Its flamboyant baroque architecture delights its visitors as soon as they approach the town from the road. Yet Modica is a sharply divided town, and locals usually identify with the lower or the upper part of the town. Lunch/Food and Wine Tour in a Wine Estate. Continuing to Noto, famous for its masterpieces of Sicilian baroque style. It has many fine churches that are outstanding because of their architecture, decorations, but also because of their strategic locations. Numerous aristocratic palazzi with their delightful baroque facades and twisted iron railings flank the main Corso Vittorio Emanuele and the many adjoining streets. Late afternoon, continue to your Hotel in Syracuse. Overnight in Syracuse.
Day 10: Syracuse Market Visit and Cooking Class with Private Guided Tour | Breakfast at the Hotel. This morning Chef Fiora, a genuine Sicilian lady with deep knowledge about Sicilian cuisine, will meet you in front of Grand Hotel Ortigia for the visit to the fish and vegetable market. Fiora will show you how to choose vegetables and fresh Mediterranean fish. The hands-on cooking class will be followed by lunch with local wine. This afternoon, meet your guide for a 3-hour guided tour. Syracuse encapsulates Sicily’s timeless beauty. Ancient Greek ruins rise out of lush citrus orchards, cafe tables spill onto dazzling baroque piazzas, and medieval lanes lead down to the sparkling blue sea. You will visit the Island of Ortigia, where you will find the Cathedral Square and be surprised by the magnificent bright limestone buildings: the town hall, Palazzo Beneventano, the Bishop’s Palace, and St. Lucy’s Church. You may continue to Aretusa Fountain near the sea and on the way back, you will visit the Jewish Quarter and Archimedes Square, the neoclassical Fountain of Diana. In the late afternoon, you will return to your Hotel. Overnight in Syracuse.
Day 11: Syracuse at Leisure | Breakfast at the Hotel. Day at leisure in Syracuse. Overnight in Syracuse.
Day 12: Syracuse → Mount Etna & Taormina Private Guided Tour → Taormina | Breakfast at the Hotel. Meet your driver and guide at the hotel lobby. This morning visit Mt Etna Volcano, one of the world’s most active volcanoes in Europe. You will reach 2.000 meters (7.000 ft) where you can admire and take a walk on the “Silvestri” Craters. Eruptions of Etna follow a variety of patterns. Most occur at the summit, which can be highly explosive and spectacular but rarely threaten the inhabited areas around the volcano. You will then visit a Wine Estate for a Vist, Wine Tasting, and lunch. Driving down from Mount Etna through wonderful scenery you will visit the Piazza Belvedere (Lookout square) where you will have a breathtaking view of Isolabella and the Messina coastline. We will then take you to the historic center of Taormina. Spectacularly perched on the side of a mountain, Taormina is one of Sicily’s most popular destinations and rich in history, art, culture, and tradition. The town lies in an elevated position of amazing, almost unique beauty, and magnificent views. You will visit the most impressive monument of the city: the Greco-Roman Theatre. It has the finest site of any theatre in the world and one of the most striking monuments of antiquity. We continue our walking tour to the Villa Comunale: the public gardens which are planted with a huge variety of flowering plants and shrubs ranging from the most common to the exotic. Late afternoon return to your Hotel. Overnight in Taormina.
Day 13: Taormina/Giardini Naxox Coast Private Boat Tour | Breakfast at the Hotel. Meet your driver at the hotel lobby. Today you will enjoy a Private Boat Tour of the Taormina/Giardini Naxos Bay. To begin this adventure will sail with our boat in the direction of the Timpa di Acireale. You will explore the famous Riviera of the Cyclops: Capo Mulini, Aci Trezza, and Aci Castello, which are part of the beautiful natural reserve of Isole. You can attend one of the most impressive shows that nature can offer, I Faraglioni. Then you come back to The Bay of Naxos and Capo Taormina, a rock structure that is erected by the sea on which stands the enchanting Taormina. Lunch in a characteristic local restaurant. The most advanced end of the Capo Taormina is characterized by a huge rock: Scoglio Della Croce. Under the head creates a wonderful “natural pool” where we will stop to give you the opportunity to swim in the crystal-clear sea. Continue to the lovely Bay of Isola Bella and The Bay of Mazzarò. Then sail towards the Bay of Siren’s natural creek which offers a unique atmosphere. Late afternoon, return to your Hotel. Overnight in Taormina.
Day 14: Taormina at Leisure | Breakfast at the Hotel. Today spend the day at leisure at your Private Beach Hotel. Overnight in Taormina.
Day 15: Catania Departure | Breakfast at the Hotel. This morning at the appropriate time enjoy a Private Transfer to Catania Airport. Arrivederci! Ciao! Buon Viaggio!