Sicily and Rome
8 Days / 7 Nights
Day 1: Rome - Palermo
Arrival at Rome Airport in the morning and connection Flight to Palermo.
Arrival at Palermo airport. Meet with our Tour escort and trft to the reserved
Hotel.
During the afternoon short visit of Palermo, capital of Sicily, you can find
all the traces of the Sicilian history from Phoenicians through the Spanish
domination to the Liberty style. The visit includes: the Norman Palace (Palatine
Chapel), the Cathedral, St. John of the Hermits and then on to visit Monreale
with its Cathedral and the Benedectine Cloister. Dinner and Overnight.
Day 2: Palermo - Segesta - Erice - Marsala - Mazara del Vallo - Agrigento
Breakfast to the Hotel and departure for the day exc. After about 45 minutes,
arrival in Segesta and visit of the Doric Temple of the Vth century B.C.
Departure to Erice. Enjoy a little walk, self visit of some churches located
into the city centre, the Venere Castle. Continue to Marsala, through the Salt
Road (stop at Salt Pans and Windmils). Indipendent Lunch. After lunch a short
stop in a winery for tasting sicilian wine and viit to the cellars. Continue
to Mazara del Vallo. Visit of the “Dancing Satyr” inside the Museum
placed into the ancient church of Sant’Egidio. Departure to Agrigento.
Accomodation.
Performance in a Agrigento Church
Dinner and Overnight.
Day 3: Agrigento - Piazza Armerina - Caltagirone - Ragusa
Breakfast at Hotel. Meet with local guide for visit of Temples Valley. After
the visit departure to Piazza Armerina. Arrive and self visit of Piazza Armerina
and it’s magnificient Roman Villa of Casale. Continue to agriturism (farm-house).
Lunch in agriturism (menù: typical sicilian dish). Departure to Caltagirone.
Arrive and enjoy a walk in the famous steps decorated with sicilian ceramic.
Free time at leisure for the shopping.
Departure to Ragusa. Arrive and transfer at Hotel.
Performance in a Ragusa Church.
Dinner. At the end of the dinner, ending in Ragusa and enjoy Ragusa Ibla panoramic
view by night. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 4: Ragusa - Modica - Noto - Taormina area
Breakfast at Hotel. Departure to Modica. Arrive and self visit of San Pietro
Cathedral. At the end of the visit, tasting chocolate in the oldest shop “Bonajuto
shop (or similar subject to availability)”. A walk to arrive in San Giorgio
Cathedral for the self visit. Departure to Noto. Arrive in Noto and visit of
the old city centre, famouse for the sicilian boroque. Indipendent Lunch. Departure
to Taormina area. Arrival at the reserved Hotel. Check-in, free time at leisure.
Dinner and overnight
Day 5: Taormina - Etna - Rome
Breakfast at Hotel. Departure to the beautiful town of Taormina where we have
free time to enjoy the unique panoramic views overlooking Giardini Naxos, a
former Greek colony, now an international yachting centre. This peaceful panoramic
town, 2006m above sea level was colonized by the Greeks. The main street, the
elegant Corso Umberto, with its cafes, restaurants and boutiques is a bustle
of nationalities.
Late morning departure to Mount Etna. The drive up the mountain slopes takes
us through picturesque villages and an ever changing landscape. The lower slopes
of the volcano are extremely fertile with groves of oranges, lemons and other
Mediterranean flora and of course vines which produce Sicily's best wines. We
go through forests of chestnut trees which gradually give way to oak, beech,
birch and pine. During our tour of Mount Etna we visit the Sylvester Craters.
Our stop here gives you the time to have Indipendent lunch at one of the mountain
restaurants and some souvenir shopping.
Late afternoon departure to Catania Airport. Flight to Rome.
Arrival at Rome Airport. Trft to the reserved Hotel.
Dinner and Overnight.
Day 6: Rome ( Vatican )
Following breakfast at the hotel, meet our local guide for a half-day tour
of Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel, with its breathtaking frescos
by Michelangelo, and the Raphael Rooms, which works established Raphael’s
reputation in Rome. See St. Peter’s Square, the largest part of Vatican
City, the world’s smallest state and the only European State. Discover
the beauty of St. Peter’s Basilica, Catholicism’s most sacred shrine.
View the “Pieta” by Michelangelo and the breathtaking interior work
by Bernini. Walk to St. Peter’s Square where the choir will perform in
the Basilica for the afternoon Mass.
Afternoon at disposal.
Performance in a Rome Church.
Pizza Dinner and Overnight.
Day 7: Rome
Following breakfast at the hotel, meet our local guide for a half-day tour
of ancient Rome.
We begin our tour of Rome at the Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill), seat of the
Roman Senate since the 12th century and the original citadel of the ancient
city. This beautiful square was redesigned by Michelangelo in the 16th century.
Next we take a guided tour of the Roman Forum and we will see the Curia, the
Rostra, the Temple of Vesta, the Basilica of Constantine, and the Arch of Titus.
After our guided tour of the Forum we proceed to the Colosseum, the symbol of
Rome. Built to seat 55,000 spectators, this arena staged Romeís most
brutal gladiatorial combats. We will see the ìcagesî where the
wild animals were held before the fights.
Afternoon at disposal for the last shopping.
Farewell Dinner. Overnight.
Day 8: Rome - DEPARTURE
Coach trft to Rome airport
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