2024 Sicilian Carousel & Aeolian Islands

Sicily and Aeolian Islands Tour
(small group tour)

day 01 Catania Arrival

Independent arrival at the Hotel in Catania. Welcome drink will be followed by dinner at the hotel

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 (fish market)-Ragusa (tasting Sicilian specialties/light lunch)

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. Depart to Ragusa, renowned for its cheese production; therefore, we will not miss a tasting of artisan cheeses and sicilian specialties (light lunch). 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 will 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 (wine tasting and overnight at a wine resort)

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. Overnight.

day 05 Marsala-Salt Route-Erice (taste of traditional pastries & street food lunch)-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. Accommodation 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. Accommodation at your hotel and free time at disposal for dinner. Overnight.

day 07 Taormina- Mt. Etna (wine tasting)-Taormina

After a buffet breakfast, excursion to Mount Etna, the highest active Volcano in Europe. 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. Free time for dinner and overnight.

day 08 Taormina-Milazzo-Lipari

After buffet breakfast, departure to Milazzo. Boarding at the port of Milazzo for Lipari by hydrofoil. Arrival on the island of Lipari, the largest of the Aeolian archipelago. Transfer to the hotel and free time to visit the delightful village of Lipari. Lunch on your own; in the afternoon, taxi tour of the island of Lipari. Free time for dinner and overnight at the hotel.

day 09 Lipari-panarea-Stromboli-Lipari

After a buffet breakfast, free morning at disposal and lunch at your own. In the late morning departure by boat to Panarea / Stromboli. First stop in Panarea where it will be possible to visit the small village with a pleasant walk along the streets among the white Aeolian-style houses. Then continue with the boat to Stromboli, the island, defined as the wildest island because it seems to preserve its bond with nature and in particular with the volcano, called by the locals "Iddu"; free tme to visit. Once you get back on the boat, you will continue until you reach the "Sciara del fuoco", a ridge of the crater from where the lava descends. From the boat it will also be possible to witness the evocative eruptions of the volcano that follow one another with intervals of about fifteen minutes. Return to Lipari in the evening. Dinner free and overnight.

day 10 Lipari-Salina-Lipari

After a buffet breakfast in hotel, departure by boat for Salina. After a stop in the center of S. Marina, continue by boat to circumnavigate the island, swim in Pollara, the beach of the famous film "Il Postino". Free lunch. Continue to Lingua where there is a salt lake from where salt was extracted in ancient times (hence the name of the island). Return to Lipari in the afternoon. Accommodation at hotel and free time at disposal for shopping and dinner.Overnight

day 11 Lipari-Catania

After breakfast in the hotel, transfer to the port of Lipari, and boarding on the hydrofoil for Milazzo. Following transfer to Catania, arrival at the hotel and accommodation. Lunch on your own; afternoon at your disposal for a free visit of the historic center of Catania. Overnight in Hotel

day 12 Catania
Your Sicily experience comes to an end after breakfast and your onward arrangements.

Inclusions: twin share for 10 nights in 4* hotels and 1 night in a 4*Superior or 5* stars Luxury Resort, porterage at hotels, local assistance, English speaking Tour Escort, local Guides where necessary, whispers kit (for groups with more than 10 passengers), welcome drink on day 1, breakfast daily, 2 dinners (Catania on day 1 and Ragusa on day 3), two Street Food experiences in Catania and Palermo, cheese tasting in Ragusa, almond pastries tasting in Erice, visit a cellar and wine tasting in Marsala and on Mount Etna, regular multilingual boat excursion from Lipari to Panarea, Stromboli and Salina, transportation by deluxe motor coach* with free wi-fi (a minivan with English speaking driver, normally not equipped with wifi, will be provided if the number of participants is equal to or less than eight).

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 Oneto Resort, Palermo-GH Piazza Borsa, Taormina-Villa Diodoro, Lipari-Gattopardo (or similar).