The Wonderful Sicily
 8 Days
/ 7 Nights
Day 1 ARRIVE IN TAORMINA AREA
Day 2 TAORMINA - SYRACUSE - NOTO - SYRACUSE
Day 3 SYRACUSE - PIAZZA ARMERINA - AGRIGENTO
Day 4 AGRIGENTO -SELINUNTE - SEGESTA -PALERMO AREA
Day 5 PALERMO - MONREALE
Day 6 PALERMO AREA-CEFALU' - TAORMINA
Day 7 ETNA - TAORMINA
Day 8 DEPARTURE
Day 1: ARRIVAL-TAORMINA AREA
Independent arrival at the airport of Catania. Privat transfer to the hotel
in Taormina.
Dinner and overnight.
Day 2: TAORMINA-SYRACUSE-NOTO-SYRACUSE
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure with private car to Syracuse. We begin with
the Neapolis,
the archaeological park set in wonderful panoramic surroundings and contains
testimonies of the greatness of Greco – Roman Syracuse. We visit the Ropemaker’s
Grotta opens from the great Latomie of Paradise, the Ear of Dyonisius, the Greek
theatre, the Roman amphitheatre, the Altar of Hieron II.
We proceed to Ortigia were you can find very little remains of its great past
although it was the cradle of Syracuse civilization. The few imposing remains
belong to the temple of Apollo and of Artemis.
The small peninsula also contains monuments of the Middle Ages and of the Renaissance,
but the baroque style prevails and certainly dates back to 1693.
The greatest and most singular monument of Ortigia is the Cathedral of Syracuse
which rises on the highest point of the peninsula. One of the famous spots in
Ortigia is the Fountain of Arethusa, a natural spring of fresh water forming
a pool with papyrus plants.
In the afternoon departure to Noto, for a visit of one of Sicily's most beautiful
baroque towns.
Return to Syracuse. Dinner and overnight.
Day 3: SYRACUSE-PIAZZA ARMERINA-AGRIGENTO
After breakfast at the hotel, departure with private car for Piazza Armerina.
Set in greenery, not far from the city, are the remains of the imposing imperial
Villa del Casale, famous throughout the world for its splendid floor mosaics,
covering an area of 3500 square metres. Their narrative style of composition,
range of subject and variety of colours, make them an invaluable example of
Roman artistic values and customs. After the visit, continuation to Agrigento,
the city that more than any other in Sicily has preserved the architecture and
the ruins of the Greek period.
It is spread out along the spectacular Valley of the Temples which slopes down
from the modern Agrigento towards the sea.
Going down along the beautiful archaeological walk, there are views of the numerous
monuments of antiquity and the middle period. Firstly there are the ruins of
the Temple of Olympian Jupiter, the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the Temple
of Hercules. Then you stand before the Temple of Concordia, a supreme masterpiece
of Doric architecture in Sicily, come down to us almost intact. The last of
the great valley monuments is superbly isolated and is called Juno Lacinia.
Accommodation in hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 4: AGRIGENTO-SELINUNTE-SEGESTA-PALERMO AREA
After breakfast departure with private ca to Selinunte, in a beautiful isolated
position, founded in the 2nd half of the 7th century B.C. by Greek settlers,
was continually at odds with Segesta. Visit of the archaeological area and continuation
to Segesta, an important Elymian city, still prosperous under the Romans, it
quickly began to decline until at the start of the Middle Ages it lay in ruins.
Visit of the archaeological area with an outstanding Doric temple, on Monte
Barbaro, overlooking the Gulf of Castellamare.
The journey continues to the area of Palermo. Dinner and overnight at the hotel
in Terrasini.
Day 5: PALERMO-MONREALE
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we begin with a visit of Palermo. Our leisurely
walk through the baroque streets leads us to the colourful market of "La
Vucciria" or "Il Capo". In the afternoon you will be able to
see the Norman Palace, nowadays the seat of the Sicilian Region Parliament and
the Cathedral before going to Monreale where the Cathedral takes the visitor
into the realm of the most highly refined Arab – Norman civilization.
Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 6: PALERMO-CEFALU'-TAORMINA
After breakfast departure for Cefalù, dominated by the small head like
shape promontory “Rocca”,
for a visit of the cathedral of the 12th century. We continue along the north
coast and arrive in the area of Taormina.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7: ETNA-TAORMINA
Breakfast at the Hotel. Morning dedicated to the excursion on the Mount Etna
once called Mongibello after the Arab term “ghebel”, meaning mountain.
Mount Etna is visible from most parts of Sicily and its spreads across the island
is best seen from the summit. The summit is at 3269 metres but we arrive up
to 2000 metres to visit the Silvestri Craters. Departure for Taormina, known
all over the world for its position, climate, flowers, and perfect hospitality.
The Greco – Roman theatre, is very near the town centre.
Having a diameter of 109 metres, it is second only to the Theatre at Syracuse.
The beauty of the place is set off by its great panoramic frame, marvellous
for both its variety and its spread.
It is certainly unique for the view it gives of Mount Etna with its broad, solemn
ascent to the snowy, smoking summit.
We then make a leisurely walk through the town and free time at disposal. Return
to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 8: DEPARTURE
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport of Catania for your return
flight or an extension in your hotel in Taormina.
Suggested hotels:
Noto: Hotel La Corte Del Sole
Agrigento: Hotel Baglio Della Luna
Palermo: Hotel Villa Igiea
Taormina: Hotel S. Domenico Palace
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