Cathedral Monreale
8-day Escorted Tour from Catania
Saturday Departures 2020 Apr 11, 18. May 02, 09, 16, 23, 30. June 06, 13, 20. July 04, 11, 18. August 22, 29. September 05, 12, 19, 26. October 03, 10, 17.
Visit: Catania, Siracusa, Modica, Piazza Armerina, Agrigento, Palermo, Monreale, Erice, Marsala, Trapani Area, Cefalu, Taormina, Mt Etna (optional).
This fully escorted 8 day tour from Catania is conducted exclusively in English. It takes you on a fascinating 8-day journey to Sicily’s 5 UNESCO World Heritage sites and many other beautiful locations. You will enjoy evening meals several lunches, many in local restaurants specially selected for their delicious Sicilian cuisine.
Day 1 Saturday CATANIA
Independent arrival at the Hotel Il Principe in Catania. Accommodation. Welcome cocktail and dinner. Overnight in your hotel.
Day 2 Sunday – CATANIA – SIRACUSA – MODICA – RAGUSA
After a buffet breakfast, depart to Syracuse: visit the archaeological area “Neapolis” including the famous Latomie of the Paradise and the Dyionisios “Ear”. Continue to the island of Ortigia, the small baroque old city centee of Siracusa: visit of the Cathedral, which is built upon the site of the Temple of Minerva, the legendary Arethuse Fountain and the Temple of Apollo. Lunch on your own. Depart to Modica, a town whose architecture has been recognized as providing outstanding testimony to the exuberant genius and final flowering of Baroque art in Europe and is one of many UNESCO Heritage Sites in Sicily. The tour will then continue with a visit inside a real chocolate factory: there you will have the chance to discover the techniques leading to the production of an amazing quality of chocolate. It will also be possible to create, with your hands, your own bar of chocolate to bring with you. Accommodation and dinner at POGGIO DEL SOLE RESORT. Optional: visit “by night” the ancient city Ragusa “Ibla”, cradle of Sicilian baroque, with its Cathedral, situated in the beautiful square of the Dome and the “giardino Ibleo” (additional charge Euro 25.00pp payable at the time; the excursion will take place with a minimum of participants). Overnight.
Day 3 Monday RAGUSA – PIAZZA ARMERINA – AGRIGENTO
After a buffet breakfast, depart to Piazza Armerina to visit the worldwide famous Villa Romana del Casale, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to its well preserved mosaics depicting mythological themes and hunting scenes. Lunch in a local restaurant with a special menu chosen to give the opportunity to taste local specialities. Depart to Agrigento, a hillside town famous for its magnificent Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here we will have a guided tour of the Valley, including the Temple of Concordia, which is in almost perfectly preserved condition and Juno and Heracles. Accommodation and dinner at hotel DIOSCURI BAY PALACE. Overnight.
Day 4 Tuesday AGRIGENTO – PALERMO – MONREALE
After a buffet breakfast depart to Palermo. This special day will be dedicated to discovering the capital of Sicily, Palermo. Arrival in Monreale and visit of the Cathedral, one of the most beautiful monuments of the world with its Moorish architecture, housing very fine mosaics representing a complete cycle of the Old and New Testaments and the Benedictine Cloister in Arab-Norman style. Back to Palermo, you will have the chance to taste Palermo’s street food, one of the most renowned all over the world, while wandering around its historical centre, one of the largest of Europe. Visit the Cathedral and Palazzo Mirto, located in the ancient Arabic quarter of Kalsa, near Piazza Marina. Dating back to the 17th century, the building served as the Palermo residence of the Filangeri family for four centuries, and offers visitors a glimpse of the lavish, lost world of the Sicilian nobility. Accommodation, dinner and overnight at GRAND HOTEL PIAZZA BORSA. Overnight.
Day 5 Wednesday PALERMO – ERICE – MARSALA – SALT ROUTE (Trapani Area) – PALERMO
After a buffet breakfast, depart to the medieval village of Erice located on the top of a hill overlooking the city of Trapani and the Egadi Islands. Walk through its tiny streets, winding lanes and, inner courtyards. Continue to Marsala, a city on the western coast famous for its production of sweet Sicilian wine. Stop at a prestigious winery for a guided tour of the historic Wine Cellars + tasting of wines (white, red and marsala) with local food pairings. Then we will head down to Trapani area for a panoramic tour of the salt windmills and basins, which are still in use. Return to Palermo. Dinner on your own. Overnight in your Hotel.
Day 6 Thursday PALERMO – CEFALU’ – NEBRODI PARK – TAORMINA
After a buffet breakfast, depart to Cefalù a former fishing village, now a charming coastal town. Enjoy a walk to the city center and down the main street to reach the Arab-Norman Cathedral and the medieval wash-house built into the rock. Drive through the Park of “Nebrodi” and stop at the Miraglia Forest for a typical Sicilian lunch. After we continue to Cesarò, Randazzo and visit the Etna park from an unusual point of view – the north facing side – surrounded by beautiful landscapes. Arrival in Taormina. Accommodation, dinner and overnight at hotel VILLA DIODORO, located near historic center of Taormina.
Day 7 Friday TAORMINA – MT ETNA (OPTIONAL) – TAORMINA
After a buffet breakfast, morning at leisure. For those who are interested, there is the opportunity to take an optional excursion to the Mount Etna, the highest active Volcano in Europe. Weather conditions permitting, across fascinating landscape, we will ascend 1800 meters to visit the Sylvester Craters where you can enjoy a spectacular panorama over the Ionian Sea (extra charge on the spot Euro 45pp; the excursion will take place with a minimum of participants). Lunch on your own. Afternoon in Taormina, charming city called “the pearl of the Ionian Sea”: enjoy time at leisure for shopping or walking through its tiny streets. You might even want to explore the Greek-Roman Theater on your own, with its spectacular view of Giardini Naxos and Mount Etna. Return to your hotel: dinner and overnight.
Day 8 Saturday TAORMINA
After breakfast, end of the Tour
Includes:
- 8 day tour from Catania
- Accommodation in centrally located 4-star hotels
- Welcome cocktail
- 7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 6 dinners
- Street food in Palermo
- Mineral water (1/2 per person) included at all meals
- Entrance fees Siracusa Neapolis & Dome, Armerina Villa Romana del Casale, Agrigento Valley of Temples, Palermo Palazzo Mirto, Monreale Cloister & Dome
- Visit the winery, wine tasting & light lunch in Marsala
- Visit a chocolate factory in Modica and enjoy a chocolate making class
- Transportation by Bus GT max comfort with FREE WIFI or minivan with driver/guide for groups with less than 8 people
- English speaking tour escort
- Guided visits according to the program
- Whispers Kit so you always hear the tour guide
- Porterage at hotels
Excludes:
- Airport transfers at the start and the end of the tour. Transfers can be arranged with us on request.
- City Tax: Charged per person per night and is collected directly by the hotels
- Drinks not indicated as included above. (Coffee and wine at meals in the hotels)
- Optional excursions
Hotels:
- Catania: Il Principe Hotel 4* or similar
- Ragusa: Poggio Del Sole Resort 4* or similar
- Agrigento: Dioscuri Bay Palace 4* or similar
- Palermo: Grand Hotel Piazza 4* or similar
- Taormina: Villa Diodoro 4* or similar
2020 Price Per Person in Euro- Catania 8 day tour: US$ price will vary with the exchange rate
- Double 1254.00
- Single 1514.00
- 3rd person in triple room 1219.00
Additional Services:
- Airport transfers are available on request
- Additional night’s accommodation in Catania or Taormina are available on request.