Glimpse of Sicily
7 Days
Europe
Tour Overview
- Roundtrip Airport
- Transfers throughout the program.
- Transfers to the excursions.
- 6nts Accommodation including Breakfast.
- Excursions as outlined in the program.
- Private transport from Hito Cajon to Uyuni.
- Catamaran sailing in La Paz.
- Meals s per the itinerary.
- Permanent assistance in each destination.
- Raincoats and boots in Uyuni in rainy season.
- International or domestic airfare.
- Services and non-mentioned meals / drinks in the itinerary.
- Early check-in, late check-out, and hotel extra
- Personal expenses.
- Tips for guides and hotel staff.
Welcome to the warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Sicily! Upon arrival at Palermo Airport meet the driver for the short drive to your hotel
Rest of day at Leisure
Palermo Street Food
Monreale, English speaking guide to visit the Dome
Today indulge your senses in the Palermo Street Food Gastronomy which has a centuries-old culinary tradition, with Greek, Arab, Spanish and French influences. This immersion into Palermitan street food will give you a good understanding of the provenance and use of many Sicilian foods, as well as of local gastronomy. During the walk we highlight many of Palermo’s artistic and architectural landmarks, including its Norman heritage, which has recently been included on the World Heritage List.
This afternoon meet the Local Guide in the area around the Cathedral and catch on a taxi to Monreale to see where Arab-Norman art and architecture reached its pinnacle in the Duomo launched in 1174 by William II. It represents scenes from the Old and New Testaments all in golden mosaics.
Return to Palermo. for the night
Private vehicle and English speaking driver disposal: full day from h 8.30AM
Today meet the driver at your hotel and depart for Erice , which was an important religious site associated with the goddess Venus. Wander through its ancient streets and visit some of the famous homemade pastry shops — world-famous for marzipan candies and other delicacies like almond and pistachio pastries – and the lovely preserved Medieval town offering the most breathtaking views and a palpable sense of history. Then we join the most visited sites: the Pepoli Castle and Venus Castle. The former was built by the Arabs while the latter was a Norman construction with imposing towers that derived its name from the fact that it was built on the site of the ancient Temple of Venus, allegedly founded by Aeneas.
Later travel in the countryside to an olive oil farmhouse for our delicious lunch
We then travel from Erice to Trapani-Marsala Salt Way Road, skirting the lagoon to see the snow-capped mountains but hills of salt, one of the Sicilian economy’s historical resources that was very precious in the days of the Phoenicians, who were the first to bring some form of technology to its production.
Overnight in Palermo
Private vehicle and English speaking driver disposal: full day from h 8.30AM
Today depart for Agrigento to enjoy the finest of all ancient Greek sites—the complete Doric Temples , one of Sicily’s most famous historical attractions. This is one of the most outstanding examples of Greater Greece art and architecture, and is one of the main attractions of Sicily as well as a national monument of Italy.
Later travel to Piazza Armerina, situated deep in the Sicilian hinterland, at 721 metres above sea level. Upon arrival we visit the Roman Villa built in the middle of the 4th Century AD as a hunting lodge by a Roman patrician. The Villa is home to some of the best preserved and extensive examples of Roman mosaics spread over 3500 mt. and is one of the most luxurious of its kind. These extraordinarily vivid mosaics, probably produced by North African artisans, deal with numerous subjects, ranging from Homeric escapades and mythological scenes to portrayals of daily life, including the famous tableau of girls exercising in their “bikinis”.
Continue to Taormina for overnight
Today is at leisure for your independent walk in the Corso Umberto Street, the core of the town. From here you can join the Greek Theatre built for the most part of brick, and is therefore probably of Roman date, though the plan and arrangement are in accordance with those of Greek, rather than Roman, theatres; It is one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions, so that Johann Wolfgang Goethe in his famous “Journey to Italy” wrote: “No theater audience has never had such a sight in front of him.” The highlight of today walking tour is for sure go up using the old steps up to the top of the theatre to admire an amazing view of the Taormina Bay and the Etna volcano, the view from here is amazing and unforgettable.
The balance of the day is at leisure.
Overnight in Taormina
Today is at leisure or Optional Day Tour
Overnight in Taormina
Optional Tours:
- Etna, Alcantara and Wineries by Jeep WD4x4
- Taormina Boat Tour
- Etna Volcano
- Syracusa (visit: Ortigia and Archaeological Park)
- Godfather Tour, half day