8D/7N - 2024 Sicilian Carousel

day 01 Catania Arrival
Indipendent arrival at the hotel. Welcome drink and dinner in the evening.

day 02 Catania-Siracusa-Catania After a buffet breakfast, departure to Syracuse: visit the World Heritage Site “Neapolis”. The visit of this archaeological area includes the famous Greek theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Latomie of Paradise and the “Dyionisios Ear”. Continue to the island of Ortigia, the small baroque old city centre of Siracusa; Visit of the beautiful Cathedral, which is built upon the site of the Doric Temple of Minerva, the legendary Arethusa’s Fountain, and the Temple of Apollo. Free time for lunch and afternoon at disposal to stroll through the streets of the centre and for shopping. Return to your hotel in Catania. Free evening at your disposal to experience the city and its nightlife and to dine in one of the typical restaurant in the city centre. Overnight.

day 03 Catania-Ragusa
After a buffet breakfast, departure for a nice walking tour of Catania, stroll through the city centre with your professional guide who will charm you with the history of the city and visit the famous fish market “a Piscaria”, one of the largest fish markets in Sicily. As old as the city itself, it’s a great way to experience the abundant fishing and seafood culture of Sicily, with a very special and authentic atmosphere. Here you will have the chance to taste the delights of typical Catania’s street food.
Depart to Ragusa and visit of the enchanting historical centre “Ibla”, with its stunning baroque palaces and churches; together with other seven cities in the Val di Noto, Ragusa is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Ragusa is also renowned for its cheese production, therefore we will not miss a tasting of artisan cheeses. We will visit the enchanting historical centre “Ibla”, with its stunning baroque palaces and churches; together with other seven cities in the Val di Noto, Ragusa is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We continue to the reserved hotel where we will have time at disposal to realx at the swimming pool or at the Spa. Dinner in hotel and overnight.

day 04 Ragusa-Agrigento-Marsala
After a buffet breakfast, departure to Agrigento, a hillside town famous for its magnificent Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; visit of the Valley, including the Temple of Concordia, which is in almost perfectly preserved condition, the temples of Juno and Heracles. Free time at disposal for lunch. In the afternoon we’ll proceed to Marsala a city on the western coast famous for its production of sweet Sicilian wine. Arrival at Baglio Donnafranca, a perfectly restored nineteenth-century baglio, which rises in the Marsala countryside, on the hills in front of the Stagnone Reserve and the Egadi Islands. The baglio was a property of Florio. Here we will have the opportunity to visit the cellar and learn all about winemaking. At the end of the tour, we wil enjoy a wine tasting/light dinner at susnset. Arrival at Baglio Donnafranca, a perfectly restored nineteenth-century baglio, which rises in the Marsala countryside, on the hills in front of the Stagnone Reserve and the Egadi Islands. The baglio was a property of Florio. Here we will have the opportunity to visit the cellar and learn all about winemaking. At the end of the tour, we wil enjoy a wine tasting/light dinner at susnset.

day 05 Marsala-Salt Route-Erice-Palermo
After a buffet breakfast, departure to Erice, via the spectacular “Salt Route”, a road flanked by the salt pans, windmills, and the “salt houses” where they still extract the sea salt as the Phoenicians. Arrival in Erice, placed on the top of a hill overlooking the city of Trapani and the Egadi Islands: walk through its tiny and characteristic streets, the winding lanes and, inner courtyards and stop for marzipan and biscuit tasting Continue to Palermo, the capital of Sicily. We will enjoy a “street food” lunch in the centre of the town and then we’ll visit the Cathedral, one of the most important architectural monuments. We will continue our visit by walking along Corso Vittorio Emanuele to reach "I Quattro Canti di Città” Piazza Pretoria, Piazza Bellini and we’ll visit the Church of Santa Caterina. Accomodation at hotel and free time at disposal for shopping and dinner. Overnight.

day 06 Palermo-Monreale-Cefalu’-Messina-Taormina
After a buffet breakfast departure to visit the town of Monreale, situated on a hill at few kms far from Palermo in panoramic position. Visit of the Cathedral, one of the most beautiful monuments in the world with its Moorish architecture, housing very fine mosaics representing a complete cycle of the Old and New Testaments in Arab-Norman style. Continue to Cefalù, a former fishing village, now a charming coastal town. Enjoy a walk to the city centre and down main street to reach the Arab-Norman Cathedral and the medieval washhouse built in the rock. Free time at disposal to explore the town and shopping and lunch on your own. Proceed to Taormina through the coastal road passing through Messina from where we’ll have the chance to admire the suggestive scenery of the Strait of Messina. Accomodation at your hotel and free time at disposal for dinner. Overnight.a buffet breakfast departure to visit the town of Monreale, situated on a hill at few kms far from Palermo in panoramic position. Visit of the Cathedral, one of the most beautiful monuments in the world with its Moorish architecture, housing very fine mosaics representing a complete cycle of the Old and New Testaments in Arab-Norman style. Continue to Cefalù, a former fishing village, now a charming coastal town. Enjoy a walk to the city centre and down main street to reach the Arab-Norman Cathedral and the medieval wash-house built in the rock. Free time at disposal to explore the town and shopping and lunch on your own. Proceed to Taormina through the coastal road passing through Messina from where we’ll have the chance to admire the suggestive scenery of the Strait of Messina. Accommodation at your hotel and free time at disposal for dinner. Overnight.

day 07 Taormina-Mt Etna-Taormina
After a buffet breakfast, excursion to Mount Etna, the highest active Volcano in Europe. Weather conditions permitting, across fascinating landscape with different kind of vegetation, a mixture of citrus groves, vineyards and fruit trees. We will reach a height of 1800 metres to visit the Sylvester Craters where we’ll enjoy a spectacular panorama over the Ionian Sea. Stop at a local winery on the eastern slopes of Etna and visit a prestigious cellar. We will have the opportunity to taste different local wines accompanied by local cheese and cold cuts. In the afternoon back to Taormina, charming city called "the pearl of the Ionian Sea": enjoy time at leisure for shopping or walking through its tiny streets. Possibility to visit the Greek-Roman Theatre on your own, with its spectacular view of Giardini Naxos and Mount Etna. Free time for dinner and overnight.

day 08 Taormina Departure
Your Sicily experience comes to an end after breakfast.

Inclusions: twin share for 6 nights in 4* hotels and 1 night in a Wine Resort, Welcome drink on day 1, Board in hotels: 2 Dinners (Catania on day 1 and Ragusa on day 3) and 7 Breakfasts at Hotel, Mineral water (1/2 per person) at meals in hotel, 1 Street food lunch experience in Palermo including water and a glass of wine. Cheese & sicilian products tasting/light lunch in Ragusa including water and a glass of wine. Almond pastries tasting in Erice. Visit of a cellar in Marsala. Wine tasting and light dinner at Sunset in Marsala. Visit of a cellar and Wine tasting on Mount Etna. Transportation by *a minivan with English Seaking driver, normally not equipped with wifi, will be provided if the number of participants is equal to or less than eight. English speaking Tour Escort. Local Guides where necessary. Whispers Kit (for group with more than 10 passengers). Porterage at hotels. Local assistance.

Exclusions: arrival/departure transfers (on request), entrance fees, city tax to be paid directly to hotels, beverages, optional excursions.
Hotels: Catania-Katane, Ragusa-Poggio del Sole Resort, Marsala-Baglio Donnafranca Wine Resort, Palermo-GH Piazza Borsa, Taormina-Villa Diodoro (or similar).