SICILIAN CAROUSEL TOUR - Tour of Sicily 7N-8D Catania-Taormina

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1CATANIA⌄

   Independent arrival at hotel in Catania, accommodation. Welcome drink and dinner at hotel and overnight.

   Meals: Dinner

   Overnight: hotel Katane Palace in Catania. Accommodation. Welcome cocktail and dinner. Overnight in your hotel.

2. 2CATANIA – SIRACUSA – CATANIA⌄

   Drive to Syracuse to visit: the archaeological area; the island of Ortigia, the Cathedral and Fountain of Arethusa

   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.

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Accommodation and overnight at Hotel Katane Palace.

3. 3CATANIA (fish market) – RAGUSA (tasting of icilian specialties /light lunch)⌄

   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

   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.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch: Tasting of artisan cheeses and sicilian specialties (light lunch) · Dinner

   Overnight: Accommodation and dinner at hotel Poggio del Sole Ragusa.

4. 4RAGUSA – AGRIGENTO – MARSALA (wine tasting and overnight in a wine resort)⌄

   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.

   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.

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Accommodation and overnight at Baglio Donnafranca

5. 5MARSALA –SALT ROUTE- ERICE (taste of traditional pastries & street food lunch) – PALERMO⌄

   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.

   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

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch: We will enjoy a “street food” lunch in the centre of the town

   Overnight: Overnight in your Hotel in Palermo

6. 6PALERMO – MONREALE – CEFALU’ – MESSINA - TAORMINA⌄

   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

   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.

   Meals: Breakfast

   Overnight: Accommodation and overnight at Hotel VILLA DIODORO, located near historic centre of Taormina.

7. 7TAORMINA – MT. ETNA (wine tasting) – TAORMINA⌄

   excursion to Mount Etna, the highest active Volcano in Europe. Weather conditions permitting, across fascinating landscape with different kind of vegetation, a mixture of citrus groves, vineyards and fruit trees. We will reach a height of 1800 metres to visit the Sylvester Craters where we’ll enjoy a spectacular panorama over the Ionian Sea.

   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, with its spectacular view of Giardini Naxos and Mount Etna.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch: We will have the opportunity to taste different local wines accompanied by local cheese and cold cuts.

   Overnight: Return to the your hotel, overnight.

8. 8End of the tour⌄

   After buffet breakfast, end of the Tour

   Meals: Breakfast