SICILY from Catania to Catania
8 DAYS
LAND ONLY

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Also available Sicily 5 days
Sicily / Malta 11 days
or Sicily in combination with other Mediterranean countries

CATANIA / SIRACUSA / NOTO / RAGUSA / MODICA / PIAZZA ARMERINA / AGRIGENTO /
MARSALA / SALT ROAD / MONTREALE / PALERMO / CEFALU / ETNA – TAORMINA / CATANIA
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2024 Saturday departures
March -23, 28
April 6, 13, 20, 27
May 4, 11, 18, 25
June 1, 8, 15, 22
July 6, 13, 20, 27
August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
September 7, 14, 21, 28
October 5, 12, 19, 26
November 2, 9, 16

Day 1 - Saturday: CATANIA (hotel in Catania/Acitrezza)
Transfer from the airport to your hotel in Catania or in the picturesque and delightful seaside village of Acitrezza, known
for its famous Faraglioni (optional private transfer on request). Dinner on your own and overnight in hotel.

Overnight Il Principe Hotel 4*/ Romano House Hotel 4* or similar

Day 2 - Sunday: SYRACUSE – NOTO (hotel in Ragusa)
After breakfast in the 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 visiting 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 powerful Sicilian-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.

Departure to Noto, the capital of Sicilian Baroque, famous for its fine buildings of the early eighteenth century and
declared a 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, a beautiful noble residence in Baroque style.

Free time for a walk along the town. Transfer to Ragusa for dinner and overnight in hotel.

Overnight Mediterraneo Palace Hotel 4* or similar

Day 3 – Monday: RAGUSA IBLA – MODICA – PIAZZA ARMERINA (Hotel in Agrigento)
Today visit 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, a chest of innumerable Baroque architectural treasures and for this reason stated as a 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 PG
- 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, belonging to a member of the Roman Senatorial aristocracy, hosts prestigious mosaics representing
mythological and historical episodes and scenes of hunting and entertainment: you will love it.

Departure to Agrigento. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel.

Overnight Baia di Ulisse Wellness & SPA 4* or similar

Day 4 – Tuesday: AGRIGENTO - MARSALA- SALT ROAD - (hotel in Palermo)
This morning the tour continues in Agrigento visiting the famous Valley of the Temples, a World Heritage Site.
It was defined by Pyndar as “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 remains of the ancient Akragas. You will see the “Temple of Hera”,
the “Temple of Concordia” and the “Temple of Heracles”. Proceeding on, visit the charming and well-known 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, a 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.
Overnight Mercure Palermo Centro 4* / Ibis Styles Palermo Cristal 4* or similar

Day 5 - Wednesday: MONREALE - PALERMO (hotel in Palermo)
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. Palermo stands on
a bay dominated by Mount Pellegrino, a headland described by Goethe as the loveliest he had ever seen. While the Baroque predominates,
there is a profusion of different architectural styles reflecting the city’s multicultural past: Punic walls, Art Nouveau villas, noble residences,
17th century squares, including an elegant opera house.

Visit to the wonderful eclectic Cathedral, the astonishing Martorana Church and the amazing Cappella Palatina, admirable examples from an
historical and an artistic point of view, and a proof of how different cultures, religions and ways of thinking apparently incompatible
can coexist. Ruggero II employed Byzantine, Muslim and Latin workers.

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.

Overnight Mercure Palermo Centro 4* / Ibis Styles Palermo Cristal 4* or similar

Day 6 - Thursday: CEFALÙ- CATANIA (hotel in Catania/Acitrezza)
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-known Mandralisca Museum.

You will have to stop to have lunch in a famous restaurant. Arrival in Catania to visit Catania’s historical centre, the 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,
an 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 historical bar of the city centre to taste the typical “granita & brioche”.
Dinner on your own and overnight in the hotel.

Overnight Il Principe Hotel 4*/ Romano House Hotel 4* or similar

Day 7 – Friday: ETNA – TAORMINA (hotel in Catania/Acitrezza)
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, bee-keeping, 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, a charming town renowned for its magnificent position
above the sea commanding a celebrated view of Etna. Visit 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 to Catania for dinner on your own and overnight in hotel.

Overnight Il Principe Hotel 4*/ Romano House Hotel 4* or similar

Day 8 - Saturday: CATANIA
Breakfast in hotel and end of services.

For organizational reasons or due to force majeure the itinerary may be modified

THE RATE INCLUDES:
• Multilingual Tour leader and professional travel guide* (English, Italian or Spanish) for the whole tour
(from the 2nd day to the evening of the 7th day), local guides or audio audio-guides where necessary.
- Deluxe bus from day 2 to day 7
- Whisper kit
- Accommodation in charming 4 stars hotels mostly located in the city centre, international breakfast included:
- Deluxe bus from day 2 to day 7
- Whisper kit
- Accommodation in charming 4 stars hotels mostly located in the city centre, international breakfast included:
Catania city centre : Il Principe Hotel 4*/ Romano House Hotel 4* or similar — Acitrezza: I Malavoglia Hotel 4* / I Faraglioni Hotel 4* or similar
Ragusa city centre : Mediterraneo Palace Hotel 4* or similar
Agrigento: Baia di Ulisse Wellness & SPA 4* or similar
Palermo city centre : Mercure Palermo Centro 4* / Ibis Styles Palermo Cristal 4* or similar
- 7 international breakfast, 5 lunches in famous restaurants and 2 dinners in hotels to have a taste of Sicilian traditional cuisine
- Visit of the main suggestive Unesco World Heritage Sites: Syracuse, Noto, Ragusa, Modica, Piazza Armerina, Agrigento, Monreale, Palermo, Cefalù, Catania city centre, Etna.
- Tasting of Sicilian typical products:
Modica (day 3): visit of the well well-known chocolate manufacturers Sabadì with tasting;
Marsala (day 4): visit of the famous Florio wine cellar and wine tasting;
Catania (day 6): tasting of Sicilian granita & brioche ”;
Etna (day 7): visit of a beekeeping honey company and honey tasting.

THE RATE DOES NOT INCLUDE
- Meals not included by the program
- Beverages
- Entrance fees at monuments/museums
- City taxes (where compulsory) that has to be paid directly to hotel upon checking out approximately 2 Euros per person per night for 4 star hotels
- Anything not specified under The rate includes ”
- Admission fees at monuments/museums will need to be paid on site
Syracuse Archeological Park € 14,00 p.p.
Syracuse Cathedral € 2,00 p.p.
Noto Palazzo Nicolaci € 4,00 p.p.
Piazza Armerina Villa Romana € 10,00 p.p.
Agrigento Valley of the Temples € 14,00 p.p.
Monreale Cathedral € 6,00 p.p.
Monreale Cloister € 8,00 p.p.
Palermo Cappella Palatina € 15,50 p.p.
Palermo Martorana Church € 2,00 p.p.
Taormina Greek Theatre € 13,50 p.p.

*Monolingual departures during high season

COST PER PERSON - LAND ONLY
based on double occupancy

Travel agent rate from $1450.00 (US)
Companion rate from $1550.00 (US)
Single supplement from $17500.00 (US)

You will be traveling with regular passengers at travel agent rates
EXTENSIONS ARE AVAILABLE