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Catania, Sicily
Day 1: Arrive Catania
On arrival drive approx. one hour to Siracusa. Transfer to the hotel
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Siracusa, Sicily
Day 2: Siracusa
Embark on a full day tour here including the archaeological area. 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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Piazza Armerina-Agrigento, Sicily
Day 3: Drive Siracusa-Piazza Armerina-Agrigento
A 2.5 hr drive to Piazza Armerina and visit the splendid art city. Two hour tour.
Lunch at a local restaurant, pay direct.
Afterwards, we continue 2 hr drive to Agrigento.
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Scala dei Turchi - Selinunte - Mazara del Vallo, Sicily
Day 4: Drive to Scala dei Turchi - Selinunte - Mazara del Vallo
A two hour tour of Agrigento, a hilltop city on Sicily's southwest shore to visit to the ruins of the ancient city of Akragas in the Valley of the Temples, a vast archaeological site with well-preserved Greek temples.
Continue, 20 min drive, we have a quick stop to see the curious Scala dei Turchi. This white cliff is located along the stretch of sea between Realmonte and Porto Empedocle (Agrigento) and its rock is made of a soft, limestone and a blinding white marble.
Then a 1 hr 30 min drive to Selinunte, the largest archaeological site in Europe.
Onward, 40 min drive to Mazara dei Vallo
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Mazara del Vallo, Sicily
Day 5: Mazara del Vallo - excursion to Marsala
Mazara del Vallo sums up the character and history of the whole island! Morning walking tyour culminates with a walk through the Casbah, the old Arab quarter.
Afternoon a 45 min drive to Marsala, a coastal town in western Sicily known for its ancient ruins, fortified Marsala wine and Stagnone Nature Reserve, with salt pans and migratory birds. Tour old town and visit the Grignani Palace, now a museum.
Return to Mazara del Vallo for overnight.
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Palermo, Sicily
Day 6: Drive Erice – Segesta – Palermo, Sicily
A 1hr 15 min drive to Erice, a beautiful medieval village on the top of the mountain; narrow streets and small squares, flanked by churches and noble palaces which allow glimpses of majestic views.
After lunch, one hour drive to Segesta and embark on a 2 hour tour of Parco Archeological. Continue, 1.5 hr drive to Palermo
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Palermo, Sicily
Day 7: Palermo
Full day tour of Palermo, capital of Sicily.
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Cefalù – Tindari – Messina, Sicily
Day 8: Drive Palermo – Cefalù – Tindari – Messina
Morning drive 1.5 hr 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. A two hour tour including a visit to the Mandralisca Museum, nearby; home to archaeological exhibits and a picture gallery with a portrait by Antonello da Messina.
Afterwards, a 2 hr drive to Tindari with its imposing Sanctuary of the Black Madonna.
Lunch at a local restaurant, pay direct. Continue, approx. 1 hour to Messina, a harbor city in northeast Sicily, separated from mainland Italy by the Strait of Messina.
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Messina, Sicily
Day 9: Messina
Morning a walking tour of Messina including the Cathedral and the treasury of the Cathedral which contains the famous golden Manta of the Virgin Mary; its’197 ft. Bell Tower and the world’s largest Astronomical Clock (Orologio Astronomico) which is set in the Bell Tower.
We visit inside the Clock Tower. Along the staircase, you can admire the bronze statues and the complex and ingenious system of leverages and gears that generate the movement of the clock. At the top you can appreciate a beautiful view over the city of Messina and its strait.
At noon a complex system of counterweights, leverages and gears, determines the movement of the gilded bronze statues located in the façade. It lasts 12 minutes.
Afterwards, visit the Regional Museum to see the amazing XVII century Caravaggio and Antonello Da Messina paintings. https://discovermessina.com/regional-museum-of-messina-a-must-see/
This afternoon is independent.
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Savoca - Taormina – Catania, Sicily
Day 10: Drive Messina – Savoca - Taormina – Catania
Morning drive 1 hour to Savoca, the small medieval town where in 1970 Francis Ford Coppola set the first film of the famous "Godfather" trilogy. We have a one hour visit here.
Afterwards continue 1 hour drive to Taormina, a hilltop town on the east coast of Sicily. It is located near Mount Etna, an active volcano with trails leading to the summit. A 1.5 hour tour.
We shall then venture into Piazza Duomo for lunch, pay direct. Enjoy some independent time to explore Taormina.
Continue 50 minutes to Catania, located on the east coast of Sicily on the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest city in Sicily and sits under the imposing shadow of Mount Etna, or A Muntagna, as the locals call it.
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Catania
Day 11: Excursion to Mount Etna
Morning drive one hour and enjoy a half day visit of Mt. Etna, including round-trip funicular. Onward to a local farmhouse for visit of vineyards followed by lunch with wine tasting, pay direct.
Transfer to the hotel. Rest of afternoon/evening at leisure.
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Catania
Day 12: Depart Catania
Transfer to the hotel.
