cod. tour: p74zy719de BOOKING +39 0836 528551
THE PEARL OF THE MEDITERRANEAN
Classic Tour of Sicily 7 nights starting from either Catania or Palermo
Sicilia
starting from euro: 500.00
Day 1 – Arrive in Catania - You’ll be met at the airport for your private transfer to your hotel where dinner awaits you.
Day 2 – Mt. Etna and Taormina – Breakfast in your hotel. Excursion to Mt. Etna, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Your coach will reach an altitude of 1,900 metres where you can enjoy a view of the craters, such as the Silvestri Craters. Optional excursion to reach a peak of 3,000 metres (with a paid local guide) by taking the cable-car (‘funivia’) up to 2,600 metres and then carry on to the top by jeep to admire the still active craters. Afternoon departure to discover Taormina with its ruins that stand out against the deep blue sky and sea. Back to your hotel where dinner awaits you.
Day 3 - Catania and Syracuse – After breakfast in your hotel, leave for Catania where you will visit the historic centre and the fish market. Then on your way to Syracuse, the home of Archimedes, where you’ll visit the Greek theatre, the Roman amphitheatre, the ‘latomie’ (stone quarries) of Paris, as well as the most important of these quarries - the Orecchio (‘Ear’) of Dionysius in Neapolis, the famous archaeological site. An afternoon visit to Ortygia, which is the physical as well as spiritual heart of the city of Syracuse. The island of Ortygia is a predominantly medieval centre boasting also several Baroque palaces and churches, and here you will visit the Palace and the Fountain of Arethuse. Free time and then back to your hotel where dinner awaits you.
Day 4 - Piazza Armerina and Agrigento – Breakfast in your hotel and then leave for your visit to Villa Casale, located just outside the town of Piazza Armerina. This sumptuous Roman villa boasts thirty rooms decorated with 3,500 square metres of mosaics. Then on to Agrigento to explore the Valley of the Temples with its magnificent ruins and well preserved temples. Arrival at your hotel where dinner awaits you.
Day 5 – Erice and Selinunte – After breakfast in your hotel, leave for the medieval village of Erice located about a hundred kilometres from Palermo. Here you’ll find Pepoli Castle as well as the Castle of Venere which houses ruins of a temple dedicated to the goddess Venus Ericina. In the afternoon – a visit to the archaeological site of Selinunte. Arrive at your hotel where dinner awaits you.
Day 6 – Northern Coast: Cefalù and Palermo – After breakfast in your hotel, departure for Castelbuono, a town founded by the Byzantines. Guided visit of the historic centre with its many churches as well as the Castle of Ventimiglia, plus a chance to sample local specialties. Stop for lunch on the way to Cefalù at a traditional restaurant with wine and local music included. Arrive at Cefalù where you will visit the cathedral. On to your hotel where dinner awaits you after you get settled in.
Day 7 - Palermo – After breakfast in your hotel, you will enjoy a panoramic view of the city centre by coach and visit a traditional open air market as well as the imposing cathedral and the Palazzo dei Normanni (‘Palace of the Normans’) which houses the famous Palatine Chapel with its sumptuous Byzantine mosaics, the oldest of which date back to the 12th century. Next a visit to Monreale. After lunch in your hotel, a visit to Mondello and Monte Pellegrino…or free time. Dinner at your hotel.
Day 8 - Departure – After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to airport and departure.
