8 Days Splendor of Sicily Tour from Catania

Day 1: Catania, Arrival 

Private transfer to the hotel in the charming city of Catania. Meet with our tour leader; dinner and overnight in the hotel.

🏚️ Accommodation: at  Principe Hotel 4* or similar.

Day 2: Siracusa and Noto 

After breakfast in the hotel, we will visit Siracusa, 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. We will continue visiting the splendid Ortigia, a small island that is the historical center of Siracusa. In Ortigia, you will admire the beautiful Cathedral which dominates the square with its authoritative presence.! 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. Free time for lunch. Departure to Noto, the capital of Sicilian baroque, famous for its fine buildings of the early eighteenth century and declared Unesco World Heritage Site. Noto’s Baroque is in fact a game of elegant curves, floral weaves, perspective views palaces and gardens, capitals, and ornaments that adorn the facades of churches and monasteries. We will visit Palazzo Nicolaci Villadorata, a beautiful noble residence in Baroque style and once the residence of Don Giacomo Nicolaci, a patron of the arts. Back to Catania for dinner and overnight in the hotel.

🏚️ Accommodation: at  Principe Hotel 4* or similar.

Day 3 : Ragusa Ibla, Modica, Piazza Armerina

Today visit Ragusa Ibla and its historical center cradle of Sicilian Baroque. It is today stated among the 44 Italian WorldHeritage 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 toward Modica’s chest of innumerable Baroque architectural treasures and for this reason, stated 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…  You will then be brought back to the present time savoring some local delicacies under the shadow of the amazing Orti di San Giorgio: 7 gardens suspended between light and beauty. A breathtaking 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 in hotel.

🏚️ Accommodation: at Hotel Dioscuri Bay Palace Hotel 4* or similar.

Day 4 :  Agrigento, Marsala, Salt Road 

This morning the tour continues in Agrigento visiting the famous Valley of the Temples stated 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 rest of the ancient Akragas. You will see the “Temple of Hera”, the “Temple of Concordia” and the “Temple of Heracles”. Proceeding on, visit of the charming and well-known town of MarsalaAfter a walk along the city center, 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 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.

You will enjoy a delicious light lunch and a memorable wine tasting experience!

The tour will continue visiting the popular Salt Road: 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 the hotel, dinner, and overnight.

🏚️ Accommodation: Hotel Crystal 4* or similar.

Day 5: Monreale, Palermo

After breakfast in the 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 on the island for its history and art.

Palermo stands on a bay dominated by Mount Pellegrino,  While the Baroque predominates, there is a profusion of different architectural styles reflecting the city’s multicultural past:  Visit of the wonderful eclectic Cathedral, the astonishing Martorana Church, and the amazing Cappella Palatina, an admirable example from a historical and an artistic point of view, and a proof of how different cultures, religions, and way of thinking apparently incompatible can coexist. During the day, you will have a stop for a surprise to taste the local street food in a local bakery. Free time for lunch. 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 and overnight in hotel.

🏚️ Accommodation: at  Hotel Crystal 4* or similar.

Day 6: Cefalu, Catania

After breakfast transfer to Cefalù, a charming Medieval town situated on the northern coast of Sicily. Visit its stunning Norman Dome and have free time to stroll through the town or to visit the famous and well-known Mandralisca Museum. Arrival in Catania and free time for lunch. Later on, the tour will continue visiting Catania’s historical center stated Unesco World Heritage Site, with its original Baroque style and its unique streets built with black lava stone. The color scheme of the city-center 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, antique lava-stone elephant, symbol of the city. . Continuing the visit enjoy a break in a historical bar of the city center to taste the typical “granita & brioche”. Dinner at the hotel or in a restaurant nearby and overnight.

🏚️ Accommodation: at  Principe Hotel 4* or similar.

Day 7: Taormina, Mt. Etna Volcan

This morning after a short visit to the famous “Pescheria” (the ancient fish market) in Catania, the tour will continue with an excursion to 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. 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 a stop to enjoy the local homemade honey and some typical products of the area. The tour continues towards Taormina, a charming town renowned for its magnificent position above the sea commanding a celebrated view of Etna. Free time for lunch and in the afternoon visit of 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 look 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 the hotel in Catania for dinner and overnight

🏚️ Accommodation: at Hotel Garibaldi 4* or similar.

Day 8: Catania, Departure

After a buffet breakfast, a private transfer to Catania Airport. End of the tour and time to say bye-bye to Sicily. Possibility to extend your stay in Sicily with additional nights.