New Tour of Sicily from Palermo 10 Days

New Tour of Sicily from Palermo 10 Days

Discover the beauties of Sicily in a fully escorted 10 days / 9 nights tour from Palermo to Palermo, through several Unesco Heritage Sites, picturesque towns, panoramic views and masterpieces of Art.  The tours has been enriched with several wine and food experiences, tasting of local specialties and several meals included.  Including tour to Segesta and Erice 

All the accommodation are  in centrally located  4* Hotels. 

This is a Group Tour carry out in English, Italian and Spanish. Some departure is in English Only 

The group size is variable. All departures are guaranteed without a minimum number of participants. 

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Itinerary

Day 1 - Palermo

Individual arrival to the hotel in the charming city of Palermo .Meeting with our driver and private transfer to the Hotel In the evening you will meet our tour-leader and your travel companions for a short briefing. Dinner on your own and overnight in hotel.

Day 2 - Palermo, Monreale

After breakfast in hotel, the morning will be spent visiting Monreale, its huge Norman Cathedral, proclaimed the Eighth Wonder of the World, and its splendid Cloister in Arab-Norman style: admirable masterpiece of art, sculpture, and semi-precious stones marquetry! Later you will discover the stunning Palermo, one of the richest towns in the island for its history and art.

Visit of the wonderful eclectic Cathedral, the astonishing Martorana Church and the amazing Cappella Palatina, admirable example from an historical and an artistic point of view, and a prove of how different cultures, religions and way of thinking apparently incompatible can coexist. During the day, you will have a stop to enjoy a typical lunch with local food. Along the path you will admire the famous Teatro Massimo and the debated fountain in Pretoria Square, situated in the ancient Kalsa area and adorned with 16th century sculptures. Dinner on your own and overnight in hotel.

Day 3 - Palermo, Cefalu', Catania 

After breakfast transfer to Cefalù, charming Medieval town situated at the northern coast of Sicily. Visit of its stunning Norman Dome, free time to stroll through the town or to visit the famous and well-knownMandralisca Museum. You will have a stop to have lunch in a famous restaurant. Arrival in Catania to visit Catania’s historical centre stated Unesco World Heritage Site, with its original Baroque style and its unique streets built with black lava stone. The colour scheme of the city-centre buildings is black and dark grey, relieved with white limestone details around doors and windows. The effect is extremely elegant! The walking tour will start from the scenic Duomo square with its magnificent Cathedral and the famous “Liotru” statue, antique lava-stone elephant, symbol of the city. Not far from here we will reach University Square and we will have a walk along the splendid baroque Via dei Crociferi, the most representative 18th century street in Catania, where we will admire the famous S. Benedict Monastery, Unesco World Heritage Site. Continuing the visit enjoy a break in a historic bar of the city centre to taste the typical “granita & brioche. Dinner on your own and overnight in hotel.

Day 4 - Catania, Mt. Etna, Taormina 

This morning after a short visit of the famous “pescheria” (the ancient fish market) in Catania, the tour will continue with an excursion to the Mount Etna, the highest (c. 3350m) volcano in Europe and one of the largest and most active in the world, nowadays Unesco World Heritage Site. Its regional park protects 59.000 hectares of unique geology, flora and fauna, villages and farms, and traditional methods of forestry, beekeeping, wine manufacture, stonework and carpentry. Views of stunning landscapes will amaze you heading to Rifugio Sapienza. You will reach the “Crateri Silvestri”, small volcanic cones now inactive, surrounded by ancient lava flows. The view beyond the mountain’s hundreds of subsidiary cones and craters, can extend across the whole of Sicily, the Aeolian islands and Calabria.

 The spectacle is unique! You will have the chance to enjoy the local homemade honey and some typical products of the area. Then you will have lunch in a lovely restaurant. The tour continues towards Taormina, charming town renowned for its magnificent position above the sea commanding a celebrated view of Etna. Visit of Taormina’s fascinating Greek theatre which will leave you breathless for its commanding view on Giardini Naxos bay and the Etna mountain! Free time for a nice walk among the picturesque Medieval typical narrow streets, to go shopping and looking around the local handicrafts (coral jewels, precious laces, ceramics, pastries and much more). The day will end
with an overview of the beautiful Riviera dei Ciclopi. Back in Catania for dinner on your own and overnight in hotel. 

Day 5 - Day at Leisure 

Free day. Optional private excursions on request or to spend a day on the beach. Dinner on your own and overnight in hotel

Day 6 - Catania, Siracusa, Noto 

After breakfast in hotel departure to Syracuse to visit the most beautiful and greatest Greek colony in Sicily and World Heritage Site! The visit will start with the Archaeological Park of Neapolis, with its Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Latomie of Paradise and the Ear of Dionysius. Proceeding on and visit of the splendid Ortigia, a small island which is the historical centre of Syracuse. In Ortigia you will admire the beautiful Cathedral which dominates the square with its authoritative presence. 

The façade is a powerfulSicilian-Baroque composition but it gives no hint that this building was once a Doric temple! From Piazza Duomo you will reach a wide terrace on the waterfront surrounding the famous Arethusa’s Fountain, one of the most famous fresh-water sources of the Greek world. Free time for lunch. Departure to Noto, the capital of Sicilian Baroque, famous for its fine buildings of the early eighteenth century and declared Unesco World Heritage Site. Inspired by Baroque ideals of “open city”, Noto is a rare masterpiece and the clearest example of theatrical tastes in 18th century architecture whose local limestone has been burnt gold by the sun. 

Noto’s Baroque is a game of elegant curves, floral weaves, perspective views, palaces and gardens, capitals and ornaments that adorn the facades of churches and monasteries. Visit of Palazzo Nicolaci Villadorata, beautiful noble residence in Baroque style. Free time for a walk along the town. Transfer to Ragusa for dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 7 - Ragusa, Modica, Piazza Armerina

Today visit of Ragusa Ibla and its historical centre cradle of Sicilian Baroque. Used as a location of the extremely popular Police Inspector Montalbano Tv series, it is today stated among the 44 Italian World Heritage Sites. This little precious ancient town hosts more than 50 churches and many Baroque architectural treasures! You will be fascinated by its Cathedral, situated in the beautiful Dome square and you will love the “Giardino Ibleo”, the oldest of the four main gardens in Ragusa…  At 383 meters above sea level, from this beautiful garden you can admire a spectacular panorama! The tour proceeds towards Modica chest of innumerable Baroque architectural treasures and for this reason stated Unesco World Heritage Site. Walking along the tiny streets of this charming town, you will have a stop to visit Sabadì, one of the most renowned chocolate manufacturers whose chocolate has been awarded as the best Modica chocolate in the last 9 years!

You will enjoy a multisensorial chocolate tasting discovering the authentic Sicilian perfumes… the local nepitella (wild mint), the orange blossom honey, the raw PGI - quality Sicilian lemon and the PGI – quality Sicilian red orange are just some of the many flavours you can taste! Then you will enjoy savoring some local delicacies under the shadow of the amazing Orti di San Giorgio: 7 gardens suspended between light and beauty. A breath-taking panorama will be the setting of your relaxing lunch! The day goes on to the charming Piazza Armerina to visit the famous Villa Romana del Casale, Unesco World Heritage Site, to admire the splendid polychrome mosaics! This majestic villa, belonged to a member of the Roman Senatorial aristocracy, hosts prestigious mosaics representing mythological and historical episodes and scenes of hunting and entertainments: you will love it! Departure to Agrigento. Dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 8 - Agrigento, Marsala, Salt Road 

This morning the tour continues in Agrigento visiting the famous Valley of the Temples stated World Heritage Site. It was defined by Pyndar “the most beautiful city of mortals”. As one of the most prosperous of the ancient Greek cities on the island, Agrigento presents a remarkable series of Doric Temples of the 5th century.
Among hundreds of almond trees you will admire the rests of the ancient Akragas. You will see the “Temple of Hera”, the “Temple of Concordia” and the “Temple of Heracles”. Proceeding on, visit of the charming and wellknown town of Marsala, where Garibaldi went ashore in May 1860.  Marsala is a Mediterranean modern city, divided between sea and land, featuring unforgettable colors: bright yellow, intense blue, strong red, dazzling white and natural green. After a walk along the city centre, guided tour of the Florio Cellars. The visit starts in front of the majestic giant vats, built at the end of the 19th century and still used for the refinement of Marsala wine. It continues inside the 3 fascinating barrel chambers, 165 meters long and running beneath 104 arches, under which 1.400 small barrels and about 600 larger barrels and vats of different capacities are arrayed, as c. 5.500.000 liters of Marsala wines age in silence and stillness. After a thirty minute tour through the barrel vaults, where the ancient tuff stone floor has been restored, you will reach the avant-garde tasting rooms named Donna Franca and Duca Enrico. 

You will enjoy a delicious light lunch and a memorable wine tasting experience! The tour will continue visiting the popular Salt Road: here the salt marshes have given rise to one of the oldest salt-extracting industries in the world! Between Trapani and Marsala, the Salt Road is now protected for its interesting birdlife, and also as an important site of industrial archaeology. Transfer to Palermo, accommodation in hotel, free dinner and overnight.

Day 9 - Palermo, Erice, Segesta 

After breakfast in hotel, arrival to Erice, ancient town founded by the Elyms, which is castled on Mt S. Giuliano at 751 meters of altitude. This is a fascinating ancient village with tiny and narrow streets, Medieval arches and Spanish style courtyards which will seduce you!
Thanks to its elevated position you can enjoy a wonderful view: from one side the bay of Trapani, the salt pans and the Aegadian islands and from the other side the wide valley of Valderice, Custonaci and the hinterland countryside. You will visit Eryx city centre, its main cathedral and the Venere Castle. In the afternoon you will proceed towards Segesta, ancient Elymians colony dominated by a commanding and elegant solitary Doric temple. The wide hills dedicated to crop and pasture, and the few trees which space out the landscape are probably the same as thousands of years ago… 

The few recent houses built, in fact, do not interfere with the natural beauty of these places. Visit of both the temple and the theatre which were built in the III century b.C. and are located 400 meters above sea level. Accommodation in hotel in Palermo, dinner on your own and
overnight.

Day 10 - Palermo,Departure 

After a buffet breakfast,nd of the tour and time to say bye bye Sicily. Possibility to extend your stay in Sicily with additional nights. 

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• 9 nights accommodation in double room a selected 4* Hotel

• Multilingual Tour leader and professional travel guide (English, Italian, Spanish) for the whole tour, local guides or audio-guides where necessary.

• Daily Breakfast

• 5 Lunches at traditiona restaurants 

• 2 Dinners 

• Etna : visit of a beekeeping honey company and honey and typical Sicilian preserves tasting
  

• Catania : tasting of Sicilian “granita & brioche”
  

• Palermo : tasting of local street food
  

• Modica : visit of the well-known chocolate manufacturers Sabadì with tasting 

• Visit of a Winery and Wine Tasting in Marsala 

• Transportation during the whole tour in comfortable Air Con bus or minivan accordingly to the size of the group.

• Transfer in from Catania Airport 

•  Deluxe bus form day 2 to day 9
  

• Whisper kit 

• Airport transfer on arrival 

Not Included : 

International flights 

Travel insurance 

All what not mentioned under "what's included"

Transfer out 

Beverages

City tax where required

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Notes: 

Possibility to extend the tour with pre and post night

Guaranteed departures

The tour is suitable for couples, solo travellers,  seniors.