Splendor of Sicily

Overnight Stays:
Taormina(2 nights)  Siracusa( 1 nights) Ragusa(2 nights) Agrigento (2 night) Palermo (2 night)

Tour overview:
Dive into the rich history of Sicily with our new, exclusive Uncovered Sicily tour.

Discover the passion in the art and culture of the ancient Sicilian civilizations as you travel west to east across the island.The itinerary includes visits to some of the most authentic, fascinating sites in Sicily, such as a selection of ancient greek monuments and the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento (Unesco world heritage listed) Experience unique Sicilian terrain by exploring the Splendor of the Baroque towns of Noto and Modica, the ancient town of Piazza Armerina, and the coastal cities of Palermo and Taormina, described by Goethe as” a part of paradise” with its stunning views, ancient ruins and medieval street having the ever-active Mt. Etna as its backdrop.

Don’t forget to indulge in a wine and chocolate tasting on the way!

The excellent service of the Italian Institute’s Travel Department and the unique, diverse lineup of sites make the Splendor of Sicily a tour you won’t want to miss.

Day 1 – Arrival Day in Catania & Overnight in Taormina

• Welcome to Sicily! Your Sicily tour commences at our featured Hotel in Taormina. Located in the heart of Taormina is our hotel where your Driver will welcome you and help you with check in. After you will have a free time for dinner with restaurant recommendations.
• Overnight in Taormina at Hotel ***

Day 2- Taormina- Visit the Greek Roman Theatre, the Roma Odeion and the Main Medievial monuments of the city

• Morning walking tour in Taormina, by visiting the Greek-Roman Theatre, the Roman Odeion and the main Medieval monuments of the city

Taormina’s greek Theatre:

Created by the Greeks was built and expanded in Roman times. With sweeping views of the sea and perfect acoustics. It was one of the most active centers of Greek culture and then as now brings to the stage shows.

• Free time for Lunch ( Restaurants recommendation will be provided)
• Free Afternoon in Taormina
• Overnight in Taormina at Hotel ****

Day 3 – Syracuse (UNESCO)

• Breakfast at the Hotel  
• Private transfer from Taormina Hotel to Siracuse Hotel
• Free half-day to relax and enjoy Syracuse on your own: Enjoy extra walk around town or simply relax at the hotel before your lunch time. Restaurant suggestion will be provided
• Lunch on your own
• Afternoon Half-day tour in Syracuse. Visit to the Neapolis Archaeological Park and the Saint John’s catacombs. Introduction to Ortygia. 

  Neapolis Archeological Park:

  The Archaeological Park (from the greek new city), includes the classic monuments of Greek and Roman Syracuse. It starts from the Roman Amphitheatre then to visit the Greek Theatre, the Latomie and the Sanctuary of Apollo Temenite

• Dinner on your own
• Overnight in Syracuse Hotel ****

Day 4 – Vendicari, Marzamemi, Noto (UNESCO) and Wine tasting (Nero d’Avola – Eloro Pachino DOC)

• Breakfast at the Hotel
• Visit to the Vendicari Nature Reserve and the fishing village of Marzamemi + Wine tasting: You will check out in the morning and Depart from Syracuse to visit this beautiful Natural Reserve and the village of Marzamemi with a Wine Tasting and lunch at winery (included)
• Visit to Noto and its Baroque heritage: After wine tasting and lunch, transfer to the splendid town of Noto (which it is a really small and must town to see) in the early afternoon where your guide will walk you around town.

Noto:

Considered Sicily’s “Baroque City,” Noto is in the province of Syracuse, in the southeastern corner of Sicily. The town is located about 35 kilometers southwest of the city of Syracuse. Old Noto was completely destroyed in the extremely violent earthquake that struck Eastern Sicily in 1693, a quake that heavily damaged Catania and Syracuse also. The present site of Noto was rebuilt from scratch, and almost entirely in the Baroque style, the prevailing style of building in Sicily at the time.

• Private transfer to Ragusa and overnight in Ragusa: After Noto , your driver will take you to Ragusa. This is about 1 hour drive. The Driver will help you with check in and after you will have a free time for dinner with restaurant recommendations.
• Overnight in Ragusa Hotel ****

Day 5 – Ragusa (UNESCO) and Modica (UNESCO)

• Breakfast at the Hotel
• Free morning to relax and enjoy Ragusa Ibla on your own ( A guide will walk you from Ragusa to Ragusa Ibla and give you all the informations and suggestions to visit this splendid old town)

Ragusa Ibla:

This old town is built over three hills separated by a deep valley. It, also, consists of two centres, one rebuilt on the old medieval layout and the other, Upper Ragusa, newly built after 1693. It contains nine major churches and seven major palazzi, all Baroque.

• Free time for Lunch ( Restaurants recommendation will be provided)
• Visit to the old town centre of Modica and Chocolate Tasting: In the early afternoon, your driver will be ready to take you to Modica. Ah! the city of Chocolate!!! A tasting and a tour in the most ancient chocolate shop of Sicily will be awaiting for you! This is a great place where you can buy little gifts for your family and friends to bring from Italy!

Modica:

Modica is an attractive historic town in south-eastern Sicily, one of the area’s UNESCO-listed Baroque towns. Modica is particularly famous for its chocolate, and it is an appealing destination for food-lovers, making a good holiday base or day-trip destination. Modica is situated in the dramatic landscape of the Monti Iblei, a range of high ground divided up by deep valleys and surprisingly populous towns. Important in Medieval times, Modica was rebuilt after the great earthquake of 1693 and now boasts fine late-Baroque architecture as well as a medieval old town.

After Modica , your driver will take you to Ragusa. This is about 30 min drive. Free time for dinner with restaurant recommendations

• Overnight in Ragusa Hotel ****

Day 6 – Piazza Armerina (UNESCO)

• Breakfast at the Hotel
• Enjoy a breakfast buffet and checkout from hotel. In the mid- morning, visit to Piazza Armerina with your Certified guide. Visit to Piazza Armerina and his Roman Villa: All right! After spending the past evening eating chocolate, on the next morning, You will check out all ready   to go and visit Piazza Armerina. This is another must for people that go to Sicily
• Visit to the Roman Villa at Casale in Piazza Armerina:

Roman Villa at Casale:

The Villa Romana del Casale remained as testimony of inestimable value of Roman life and passion for the beauty that distinguished her. The mosaics of the environments of everyday life in many parts are almost intact and the colors still vivid, as if they had passed sixteen centuries. Here you will find a wealth of detail both in dining places, that still inspire the structure of modern health clubs, up to the most common or the most sumptuous dedicated to important people visiting.

• Free time for Lunch ( Restaurants recommendation will be provided)
• Private transfer to Agrigento: After lunch, you will be driving from Piazza Armerina to Agrigento. The Driver will help you with check in and after you will have a time to relax for the afternoon in this beautiful place, make sure enjoy the view at the hotel! Free time for dinner with restaurant recommendations. Overnight in Agrigento Hotel ****

Day 7–Agrigento (UNESCO)

• Breakfast at the Hotel
• Enjoy a breakfast buffet and checkout from hotel. In the mid- morning, visit the Valle dei Templi with your Certified guide.

Valley of the temples.

Place of extraordinary architectural beauty that shows in our day, the splendor of the Civita Greek. Just to mention a few temples in it: the Temple of Hera Lacinia, Concordia, Aesculapius, Hercules, of Olympian Zeus, the Temple of Dioscuro and Vulcano.

• Free time for Lunch ( Restaurants recommendation will be provided)
• Private transfer to Palermo: After lunch, your driver will take you to Palermo , This is about 2 hour drive and you may stop at your request as needed. The Driver will help you with check in and after you will have a free time for dinner with restaurant recommendations.
• Overnight in Palermo Hotel ****

Day 8- Segesta and Erice

• Breakfast at the Hotel
• In the morning, visit to Segesta with your Certified guide.

Segesta and his temple:

High up in a mountainous area towards the west of Sicily is the beautiful and frankly magical Segesta archaeological complex. Segesta was originally founded by the Elymian people, one of the native people of Sicily. They later integrated with the Greeks, making Segesta an important Classical town. It was later ruled by the Romans, but declined in importance before being finally abandoned in around the thirteenth century.

• Free time for Lunch ( Restaurants recommendation will be provided). After the lunch, transfer to the splendid town of Erice in the early afternoon where your Tour guide will walk you around town
• Afternoon Tour to Erice

Erice the Medieval town

Erice is an unforgettable medieval hilltown with ancient origins in Sicily, close to the port city of Trapani on the island’s western coast. The sober historic town is surrounded by defensive town walls, crowned by a castle, and dominates the surrounding area from its mountainous height of approximately 800 metres above sea level

• Arrive at Hotel and free time for dinner ( Restaurants recommendation will be provided)
• Overnight in Palermo Hotel ****

Day 9 – Palermo e Monreale

• Breakfast at the Hotel
• Morning Walking tour of Palermo with your Certified Guide

Palermo:

It’s the day to visit the Capital city of Sicily and his beautiful monument you will visiting the “Palazzo Reale”, the Palatine Chapel, the Cathedral of Palermo, the historic market of Ballarò and the “Oratorio di San Lorenzo” with your Certified guide.

• Free time for Lunch ( Restaurants recommendation will be provided)
• In the afternoon Visit to Monreale: Norman cathedral and its cloister with your Certified guide

Monreale:

Despite its proximity to Palermo, Monreale maintains its importance because it contains one of the purest jewels of Norman Sicily: the Cathedral with its mosaics and its cloister. The taste Norman joins here so sublime with classic elements, expressed by the artists and laborers Arabs and Byzantines who still inhabited the island at the time of construction. A shining example of what it was the mixture of styles and cultures in this island.

• Free time for Dinner ( Restaurants recommendation will be provided)
• Overnight in Palermo at Hotel ****

Day 10 – Departing Day

• Breakfast at the Hotel
• Departure (possible transfer from Hotel to Airport may be available for group but we will need to know time of departure) (not included)

Price includes

• 9 nights accommodation in Quality hotel properties, with Private bathrooms, air-conditioning and all non-smoking rooms.
• Deluxe, air-conditioned mini-coaches/Bus
• Local VAT taxes, government fees, gas, highway tolls, city access licenses and permits, parking fees.
• Breakfast at all the Hotel
• English Speaker Certified Tour Guides
• Museum Tickets
• 1 Lunch
• Wine tasting
• Chocolate tasting

Not Included

• Lunch and dinner (if not specified)
• Arrival Transfer
• All that is not mentioned in “included”
• Travel Insurance
• Tax imposed by Local Municipalities (typically between 1-2 Euros per guest per night).

SPRING:

APRIL  9th             $4990 P/P    

MAY    7th                $4990 P/P

MAY    29th             $4990 P/P

SUMMER:

JUNE  4th                   $ 5480 P/P

JUNE 18th                  $ 5480 P/P

JULY 2nd                   $ 5480 P/P

JULY 16th                  $ 5480 P/P

AUTUMN:

SEPTEMBER  3rd    $ 5480 P/P  

SEPTEMBER  17th   $ 5480 P/P

OCTOBER       1st      $ 5480 P/P

OCTOBER       15th   $ 5480 P/P

Rates are per person and not include Airfare arrangements . Or Airport transfers. If you travel solo, the single supplement is $690