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Sicily Tour
Day 1: Arrival Catania-Drive to Siracusa
Drive to Siracusa. Transfer to the hotel.
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Siracusa
Day 2: Siracusa (Syracuse) (B,L)
Full day tour of the central Archaeological Park Neapolis comprises the Roman Amphitheater, the Teatro Greco and the Orecchio di Dionisio, a limestone cave shaped like a human ear. The Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi exhibits terracotta artifacts, Roman portraits and Old Testament scenes carved into white marble.
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Day 3: Piazza Armerina-Agrigento (Porto Empedocle)
Piazza Armerina, splendid art city woven into the heart of Sicily, boasts a slew of monuments that tell of its glorious past. The Villa Romana del Casale, UNESCO World Heritage originally the property of a powerful Roman family, it dates back to the 4th Century A.D.
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Day 4: Agrigento Full Day Tour
Agrigento is a hilltop city on Sicily's southwest shore. Founded in 581 B.C. by Greek, Rhodium-Cretan colonists, it become Akragas the following century, and was one of the most resplendent centers in the Mediterranean.
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Day 5: Selinunte-Mazara del Vallo
Selinunte is the largest archaeological site in Europe. On a par with pretty much anything found in Greece itself, Selinunte has lain abandoned for nearly 2,500 years, its numerous temples, its acropolis and its agora in dignified ruins.
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Day 6: Mazara del Vallo
Embark on a walking tour of Piazza della Repubblica, the city’s central piazza.
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Day 7: Mazara del Vallo – Segesta-Palermo
The Tempio di Segesta (Temple of Segesta) is perhaps the best-preserved Doric temple in the world, and the only freestanding limestone temple in Sicily.
This afternoon, a walking tour starting from the heart of Palermo, the Politeama Square with its magnificent theater built in 1874. We’ll walk down via Ruggiero Settimo, an elegant street with shops that runs through the city to the Central Station.
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Day 8: Palermo
Full day tour of Palermo, capital of Sicily. We start with a visit to the Regional Archaeological Museum Antonio Salinas. We will then walk down, the oldest street in Palermo, dating to the Phoenicians, passing thru the historic Vucciria market (La Vucciria).
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Day 9: Palermo – Cefalù – Messina
Drive to Cefalù, a coastal city in northern Sicily. We visit its’ Norman cathedral, a 12th-century fortress-like structure with elaborate Byzantine mosaics and soaring twin towers.
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Day 10: Messina – Taormina – Catania
We stop in Taormina, a hilltop town on the east coast of Sicily. It sits near Mount Etna, an active volcano with trails leading to the summit.
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Day 11: Catania: Excursion to Mount Etna
We enjoy a half day visit of Mt. Etna and lunch at a local farmhouse.
Return to Catania for overnight.
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Cyprus Tour
Day 12: Arrival Larnaca and Drive to Limassol
Upon arrival, go through passport control and customs where our guide will escort you to a luxury a/c minibus for the transfer to the hotel, approx. 45 minutes. During the transfer our guide will offer general information on Cyprus.
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Day 13: Limassol – Full Day Tour
We begin with a visit to the ancient Kingdom of Kourion. Next is a visit to the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates, charmingly situated amongst woodlands just in the outskirts of Kourion. Passing though the Fassouri citrus plantations; we come across the medieval Castle of Kolossi. After lunch, we set off on our walking tour of the city starting from the most modern and recently built part of Limassol, the Marina. Wrapped around the Limassol castle, the historic center combines beautiful old buildings in combination with modern architecture. It’s an area buzzing with cafes, bars and restaurants that are as popular with locals as with visitors, where visitors can bargain with the local shopkeepers for handicrafts and visit one of the town’s many coffee shops.
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Day 14: In the footsteps of Aphrodite – Exploring Paphos
We meet our guide in the hotel lobby at 9 am and depart for a full day tour of Paphos. Legend has it that Paphos was home of Aphrodite, goddess of beauty and love. Still under the spell of the goddess, the area retains her magic and has remained intact by time. It seduces its visitor with its majestic landscape, lovely coastline and historical treasures.
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Day 15: Omodos – Kalopanayiotis Village
Today we travel to rural Cyprus, where hospitality is legendary. More than just a friendly smile and ‘Yia sou,’ visitors will experience the warm and loving nature of traditional Cyprus! Our scenic route takes us through beautiful nature and traditional villages.
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Day 16: Troodos – Kykkos – Pedoulas - Kalopanayiotis Village
Visit the monastery of Agios Ioannis Lampadistis, situated in a central area of the Troodos mountain range. We then proceed to Kykkos Monastery. Not far from Kykkos we enjoy a short stroll to Throni, to visit the tomb of the late Archbishop Makarios III amidst the dense forest. Afterwards, we visit the church of Archangel Michael in Pedoulas. Continue our tour to Troodos Mountains.
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Day 17: Byzantine Churches in Troodos Mountains – Nicosia
The day begins with a visit to the Cyprus Railways Museum which is housed in the old railway station near Evrychou village, in the Troodos mountains. Next is a visit to the byzantine churches in the area of the valley of Solea including churches Panayia Podithou and Archangelos Michael. Continue to the church of Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis. We continue to the village of Nikitari to visit the church of Panagia tis Asinou.
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Day 18: Nicosia: The medieval capital & Northern Cyprus
We start with a visit to South Nicosia (Lefkosia), the medieval capital. We visit the Archaeological Museum with a fascinating collection of Cypriot antiquities and treasures from the Neolithic age to the Early Byzantine period. Afterwards, we walk across Ledras checkpoint to enter The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
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Day 19: Northern Cyprus - Discovering Bellapais & Kerynia
Crossing the border to the North at the Agios Dometios check point, the first stop is the Saint Hilarion Castle. We continue approx. 30 min drive to Bellapais. We will have a 45 minutes visit around the Bellapais Abbey which is a fine example of Gothic architecture of the Lusignan period. We will visit the scenic harbor and the Kyrenia Castle which houses two interesting museums.
Overnight in Nicosia.
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Day 20: Larnaca – Full Day Tour
Our first visit will be The Cyprus Handicraft Centre In Nicosia.
Afterwards, en-route to Larnaca, we stop to visit sites.
First stop is Choirokitia, the oldest Neolithic settlement in Cyprus. Next, we go to the village of Lefkara, renowned for its unique architecture, charming narrow streets and limestone built houses. After a short city tour we visit the cathedral of St. Lazarus, the first bishop of Kition, originally built in 900 AD. We continue with the visit of the Tekke Mosque of Hala Sultan.
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Day 21: Discovering Ammochostos – Northern Cyprus
The day begins with an approx. 1 hr 15 min drive to Ammochostos (latin: Famagusta), once one of the most fortified ports of the Mediterranean enjoys a history spanning thousands of years. We then cross the border in Strovilia and proceed to Salamis. Continuing, a visit to Othello Castle, and its 14th century Gothic Hall. We visit the old city of Famagusta with its walls the marketplace as we continue with visits to the Venetian Palace and St. Nicholas Cathedral (now Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque).
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Day 22: Departure
Our guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and assist you to check-out before the transfer to Larnaca Airport. Upon arrival at Larnaca Airport our guide will assist you for a smooth flight check-in.
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Greece: Crete
Day 23: Arrival Athens
Transfer to the airport for flight to Athens.
Transfer to your hotel.
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Day 24: Fly to Heraklion
Visit El Greco museum in Fodele village, the archaeological museum in Heraklion and Knossos, the ancient capital of the great king Minos. Your guided tour will take you through the fantastic ruins of the ancient palace complex.
Visit Skalani and Karteros traditional villages.
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Day 25: Gortys – Festos – Rethymno
Drive to Gortys, an ancient Greek/Roman town where archaeologists found judicial laws pertaining marriage, inheritance, adoption, divorce, etc. dating to 500 B.C. written in the Cretan Doric language.
We drive westward to the beautiful town of Rethymno, one of the most historical and picturesque towns on Crete.
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Day 26: Rethymno – Arkadi – Chania
City tour of Rethymno and visit Rethymno fortress. Visit the historical Monastery of Arkadi. The Monastery is set in a spectacular scenic at the edge of a gorge and represents a symbol of freedom for the Cretans. Enjoy a city tour and visit the Archaeological Museum of Chania.
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Day 27: Chania – Seven villages excursion
You will visit traditional villages, taste original Cretan delicacies, view the beautiful nature of Crete and be introduced to the traditions of the island.
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Day 28: Fly to Athens & Depart
Transfer to airport.
