Sicilian Highlights exclusively in English, small group tour (maximum 16 participants)
Palermo-Agrigento-Monreale-Erice-Segesta-Piazza Armerina-Taormina
6days/5nights, Palermo/Taormina
2020 depart every Sun: year round (except Dec 20-27)
Cost from: $2070 per person twin share
Single room supplement $580
day 01 Palermo Arrival
Welcome to Sicily! Upon arrival at Palermo airport please proceed through Passport Control and collect your luggage inside the customs area. Then independent transfer (Private Airport Transfer package is available on request) to Palermo city. The balance of the day is at leisure.
day 02 Palermo walking street food tour and Monreale
Breakfast at hotel. A walking tour into a lively open air market, a place with strong Arab influences, resembling a souk, with picturesque stands of fresh fish, cheeses, fruits and vegetables. During the tour you will have the opportunity to observe local people in their dailly activities and to savor foods that a real Sicilian people love to eat! Tasting of typical street food is included. The walking tour through the ancient center of Palermo is around 3-4 hours and you will visit several monuments including Piazza Pretoria and the Cathedral. At the end of the walking tour you will reach Monreale by taxi for a short stop (about 45 minutes) to visit the Dome (Admission fee: not included), a wonderful example of the Arab-Norman art and architecture. Launched in 1174 by William II, the Dome represents scenes from the Old and New Testaments all in golden mosaics. Later back to Palermo by taxi. The balance of the day is at leisure.
day 03 Erice and Segesta with lunch at Farmhouse-Olive oil producer
Breakfast at hotel. Early departure to tour western Sicily where we reach Erice uptown. The Elymians settled the medieval town of Erice, which was an important religious site associated with the goddess Venus. Wander through its ancient streets and visit some of the famous homemade pastry shops—world-famous for marzipan candies and other delicacies like almond and pistachio pastries. At arrival, friendly walk along the city centre with stop at local pastry shop to taste some Sicilian local sweet. Later we proceed to have a light-lunch in a local farmhouse-Olive oil producer including tasting of mixed local product such as cheese, salumi, olives, local bread combined with their production of olive oil and wine. This afternoon we continue onto Segesta (independent visit), one of the major cities of the ancient indigenous Elymian people, to visit the unfinished Doric temple (Admission fee: not included), late 5th century BC, built on a hilltop just outside of the ancient city and has a commanding view of the surrounding area. Later we return to Palermo.
day 04 Palermo- Agrigento-Piazza Armerina-Taormina
Following breakfast, departure to the Archaeological Park of Agrigento. Here you will visit the finest of all ancient Greek sites—the complete Doric Temples (Admission fee: not included). We drive through the interior of Sicily to reach the amazing Roman Villa of Casale (Admission Fee: not included) in Piazza Armerina. The mosaics discovered here are celebrated among scholars of antiquity. Later we transfer to Taormina, the world famous resort town of Sicily.
day 05 Taormina at leisure
Breakfast at hotel. Today is at leisure to relax, shopping or explore Taormina on your own. Taormina is a hill-village with a glossy sheen of glamour. A drink at the tables of Caffè Wunderbar (or similar) in Piazza IX Aprile may set you back a few euros, but you'll be basking where Tennessee Williams and Elizabeth Taylor basked before you. As well as the famed Greek-Roman Theatre (Admission fee: not included), there are several minor sites to be discovered around Taormina. The attractive principal thoroughfare, Corso Umberto is pedestrian and ideal for strolling and window-shopping. Picturesque lanes above and below the Corso are interesting to explore, while if you want to stretch your legs further there are attractive walks up into the hills, or down to the sea. Given its compact size, Taormina has a huge range of bars, cafes and restaurants where you can while away pleasant hours while admiring the views. The balance of the day is at leisure.
day 06 Taormina
Breakfast at hotel. Time to say goodbye to Sicily. Today independent transfer (Private Airport Transfer package is available on request) to Catania airport (CTA) on time for your departure flight.
Inclusions: twin share in a 4 star accommodation, breakfasts daily, air conditioned coach, English speaking tour director or driver escort, local guide, light lunch at a farmhouse with wine tasting and local specialties, tasting street food in Palermo.
Hotels: Palermo: Plaza Opera, Taormina: Villa Diodoro (or similar).
Excluding: transfers, admissions, beverages, gratuities.
Note: small group, maximum 16 participants