A tour to discover the essence of Sicily and its people
8 days / 7 nights – from Palermo to Catania
Arrival at Catania airport, transfer to hotel, free afternoon.
Breakfast. Departure for a tour of Catania and its historic center rich in treasures that testify to its ancient splendor. The Cathedral, Piazza Duomo, the Baroque Via dei Crociferi, the Church of the Collegiata, the Benedictine Convent area, and the characteristic “Pescheria” market form the heart of the city. Then visit the fishing villages along the Ionian coast. Stop at Acitrezza to enjoy the stunning view of the stacks, said to have been thrown by Polyphemus at Ulysses. Acitrezza, besides being a charming fishing village, inspired Giovanni Verga's novel “I Malavoglia”. Continue to Acireale, cradle of Catania’s Baroque architecture and “capital” of the lemon coast. Visit the Churches of San Sebastiano, Saints Peter and Paul, and the Cathedral.
Breakfast. Departure for Tindari, where the sanctuary dedicated to the Byzantine Black Madonna is located. From the terrace in front of the sanctuary, enjoy the panorama of the “7 sisters,” as the Aeolian Islands are called. Below the sanctuary, you can see the Marinello Lagoons, small water pools formed by the sea. Continue to Cefalù, elegant tourist town renowned for its artistic and monumental jewels: the Norman Cathedral, the elegant 12th-century cloister attached to it, and the evocative Medieval Washhouse carved entirely into the rock.
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Sicilian capital, one of the richest cities in history and art. A walk through the heart of Palermo reveals the city’s jewels: the Cathedral, Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti, Norman Palace and the Palatine Chapel inside. In the afternoon, continue to Monreale to visit the Cathedral and adjoining Cloister. On the return, an optional excursion to Monte Pellegrino is possible to see the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia and enjoy the panorama of the city and the gulf.
Breakfast. Departure for Erice, a small and charming medieval town atop Mount San Giuliano. Highlights include the Cathedral with its beautiful bell tower of 1312 and the evocative streets with a medieval atmosphere. Continue to Marsala, city of the landing of the Thousand and famous fortified wine. Visit the Salt Pans with windmills reflecting in the salt basins. Proceed to Selinunte, the largest archaeological park in the Mediterranean: columns and ruins of colossal Greek temples remain from the ancient city, located at the river mouth where wild parsley (Selinon) grows, giving name to the city. Evening arrival at the hotel.
Breakfast. In the morning, visit Agrigento to discover the heart of the most important Greek colony in Sicily: the Valley of the Temples. The Temple of Concordia, Temple of Hercules, Temple of Juno, and Temple of Castor and Pollux are jewels of an ancient civilization. Continue to Piazza Armerina to explore the invaluable Roman mosaics in the Villa Romana del Casale.
Breakfast. Departure for an excursion to Etna, Europe’s highest volcano, a true giant that dominates and “protects” eastern Sicily. Reaching 2,000 m above sea level, traveling along ancient lava flows, enjoy breathtaking views of the Ionian coast. In the afternoon, transfer to Taormina to stroll through its characteristic streets. The Greek-Roman theater is the most important archaeological site with incomparable panoramic beauty.
Breakfast, free time until transfer to the airport.
