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Grand Tour of Sicily

Depart:
Escorted Tour-Land Only

8 Days/ 7 Nights

2019 Departures:

Every Saturday April 6 -October 26, 2019
Price per Person:

In a double room $1299
Single supplement $319

This tour can also be taken Starting from Catania and ending in Palermo on Sundays from April 7-October 27, 2019.

Price per person in a double room $1199
Single supplement $299

Package Includes:

7 nights first class accommodation all with private facilities
Round trip airport transfers-if arriving and/or departing on scheduled days-supplement will be charged for arrivals and/or departures from 10pm-8am
Breakfast each morning
Welcome cocktail
4 lunches-drinks not included
7 dinners-drinks not included
English speaking tour escort
Coach transportation between cities
Sightseeing as per itinerary
Honey tasting at Zafferana Etnea (Mt Etna).
Tasting of local products in Selinunte (olive oil, black bread of Castelvetrano, olives)
Entrance fees to the following: Neapolis in Siracusa, Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina, Valley of Temples in Agrigento, Acropolis in Selinunte, Palatine Chapel in Palermo, Cloister in Monreale, Doric Temple in Segesta
Luggage handling at hotels (1 piece per person)
Hotel taxes and service charges

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Palermo
Upon arrival you will be met and taken to your hotel. Remainder of the day is at leisure to begin your exploration of the largest city in Sicily. This evening you will enjoy a welcome cocktail before your dinner. Overnight Excelsior Mercure Palermo or similar.

Day 2 Palermo-Cefalu-Catania
After a buffet breakfast, depart to Cefalu, a charming coastal town, a former fishing village which is also home to a breathtaking Norman Cathedral, famous for its Mosaic of Christ the Pantocractor, a stunning Byzantine mosaic that’s considered as one of the most important pieces of religious artwork in Sicily. Take a stroll to the city center and down the main street to reach the Cathedral and the medieval wash house built in a rock. Time at leisure to relax at a cafe of your choice for lunch on your own. Proceed to Catania, the town known for its original baroque style and for its streets built with black lava stone from mount Etna. Walking tour through Via Etnea, the Baroque street Via Crociferi, the Piazza Duomo with the Cathedral and the “Liotru” statue, symbol of the city and the roman Amphitheater. Overnight and dinner at the Hotel Excelsior Mercure Catania or similar.

Day 3 Catania-Piazza Armerina-Caltagirone-Catania
After a buffet breakfast, depart to Piazza Armerina in the inland of Sicily, to visit the worldwide known Villa Romana del Casale: it is the richest, largest and most complex collection of late Roman mosaics in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch in a local restaurant. Proceed to Caltagirone known for its ceramics whose handcrafted production is secular. The outstanding quality and creativity of Caltagirone’s ceramics is best admired in the most famous landmark of the town, the monumental Santa Maria del Monte staircase, whose 142 steps are all decorated with hand-painted ceramic tiles, using the typical colors, shapes and patterns of the most traditional pottery production and art. Time at leisure to enjoy the many shops. Back to your hotel in Catania for dinner and overnight.

Day 4 Catania-Mt. Etna-Taormina-Catania
After a buffet breakfast, weather conditions permitting, excursion to Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Across fascinating landscape, you will reach a height of 1900 meters to visit the Sylvester Craters where you can enjoy a spectacular panorama over the Ionian Sea. Lunch in a local restaurant on Mt. Etna (or Taormina in low season). On the way stop at the village of Zafferana Etnea, “the City of Honey” to visit a beautiful place where they produce honey and taste the precious nectar made by skilled hands. Continue to Taormina, charming city called “the pearl of the Ionian Sea”, founded in 400 BC and beautifully located overlooking the sea and the peak of Mount Etna. Enjoy time at leisure to shop for handmade lace, coral jewels, ceramics, home-made sweets and preserves down “Corso Umberto” or simply walk through its tiny streets. Individual visit of the fascinating Greek-Roman theater. Back to your hotel in Catania for dinner and overnight.at the Excelsior Mercure Hotel Catania or similar.

Day 5 Catania-Siracusa-Noto-Ragusa
After a buffet breakfast, depart to Syracuse to visit the most beautiful Greek colony of Sicily. Visit of the archaeological park “Neapolis” including the famous Latomie of the Paradise, the Greek Theater and the Dyonisios “Ear”. Visit the island of Ortigia, the small baroque old city center of Siracusa, here you can admire the Cathedral, which is built on the site of the Temple of Minerva, the legendary “Fontana Arethusa” and the Temple of Apollo. Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, proceed to Noto, one of the most beautiful cities in Sicily renowned for the harmony and unity of its Baroque style and today declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The splendid cathedral is one of the most famous buildings in Noto. Proceed to Ragusa for dinner and overnight at the Hotel Mediterraneo Palace or similar. Optional visit “by night” of the ancient city Ragusa “Ibla”, cradle of Sicilian baroque, with its Cathedral, situated in the beautiful square of the Dome and the “Giardino Ibleo” (supplement on the spot; the excursion will take place with a minimum of participants).

Day 6 Ragusa-Modica Agrigento
After a buffet breakfast, depart to Modica to visit the city divided into two parts, Modica “Bassa” and “Alta”. Modica is also a UNESCO site and is famous for its Baroque churches and scenic squares; tasting of the famous chocolate (Xocoatl) made with ancient methods brought to Sicily from Spain. Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, proceed to Agrigento to visit the magnificent Valley Of Temples of Agrigento, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Temple of Concord, which is in almost perfectly preserved conditions, Juno and Heracles that represent the most beautiful example of the Greek Civilization in Sicily. Overnight and dinner at the Hotel Dioscuri Bay Palace or similar.

Day 7 Agrigento-Selinunte-Marsala-Palermo
After a buffet breakfast, depart to the Archaeological Park of Selinunte, the largest in the Mediterranean area with the impressive Temples and Acropolis. Stop in a local farmhouse famous for olive oil production where, before lunch, it will be possible to have an oil tasting of local production. Continue to Marsala, a city on the western coast famous for its production of sweet Sicilian wine. Visit of the historical center and stop at a prestigious winery, where you can enjoy a wine tasting and learn about local production. Proceed to Palermo for overnight and dinner at the Hotel Mercure Excelsior Palermo or similar.

Day 8 Palermo-End of Tour
After breakfast you will be taken to the airport. You may extend your stay in Palermo or continue to Rome or Naples.

Additional nights in Palermo available. .

Optional Monte Pellegrino-Capo Market tour is approx. $50 per person to be paid on the spot in Sicily as a minimum number of passengers is required for tour to run.

City taxes are not included. Approx. $20 per person to be paid on the spot directly to the hotels.




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