Welcome to Sicily

Valderice - Arrival in Palermo or Trapani. Our staff will greet you and transfer you to your booked accommodation in the Trapani area.

Zingaro Park, San Vito lo Capo, Erice, Trapani

Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro - After breakfast, drive to Scopello to visit Zingaro Park (€ 5.00 p.p), a stunning seaside nature reserve. Here, you’ll find the dwarf palm (Chamaerops humilis), the only wild-growing palm species in Europe with large populations in this area. A seaside hike is planned.

San Vito lo Capo - Enjoy a lunch break in San Vito Lo Capo, the most beautiful seaside resort on the west side of the island and one of the top 5 in Italy. It’s also famous for its culinary specialty, “cous cous,” introduced by the Arabs.

Chiesa Madre - Duomo di Erice - Continue to Erice on Monte San Giuliano at an altitude of 750 meters. The panoramic views from here are unique, offering sights of Trapani, the Egadi Islands, and Monte Cofano. Stroll through the picturesque medieval streets and visit the main church, “Santa Maria dell ‘Assunta.”

Erice - Continue your walk to see the mighty city walls from Phoenician times and the remains of the Venusburg. Don’t miss sampling the delicious Ericini (biscuits) before leaving Erice.

Palermo, Monreale, Cammarata

Duomo di Monreale - Depart early in the morning for Palermo. A unique mix of cultures makes Palermo one of the most interesting cities in Europe. First, visit one of the most important sacred buildings of the Middle Ages, the Monreale Cathedral and its cloister. Known as “the most beautiful house of God in the world” with 6240 square meters of golden mosaics, it is the largest iconographic Bible in the world. The basilica’s architecture is a masterpiece of Norman-Sicilian church design. Everywhere you look, you’ll see mosaics depicting sacred history. The magnificent cloister leaves such an impression of grace that you’ll want to stay forever.

Norman Palace - Then head towards the city center to visit the Palatine Chapel in the Norman Palace (€ 18.00 p.p.). The Royal Palace, also known as the Norman Palace, houses the Palatine Chapel, built for the coronation of Roger II as the first king of the Sicilian Empire. Marvel at the gold mosaics, star-decorated beams, and stalactites, and listen to the tour guide’s commentary as you explore the palace rooms, especially the Room of the Winds and the Room of Roger II, and admire the oldest parliament in the world.

Cattedrale di Palermo - Visit the cathedral with the royal tombs (€ 1.50 p.p.), plus Quattro Canti, the Martorana church, and Piazza Vigliena, right in the heart of Palermo’s historical center.

Palermo - Take an orientation tour of Sicily’s capital to get an impression of the city’s most important landmarks, such as Piazza Politeama with its wonderful theater, the largest opera theater building in Italy, Theatro Massimo, the famous and elegant shopping street Via Libertà, and the tourist port of Palermo before leaving the capital.

Cammarata - Tonight, enjoy a typical dinner with local specialties.

Sican Mountains Park

Lercara Friddi - Spend the day exploring highly interesting places, breathtaking landscapes, and Mediterranean delights. Drive via Lercara Friddi, the birthplace of Frank Sinatra’s father.

Prizzi - Continue to Prizzi, where a walk along the Corso is planned, and then on to Palazzo Adriano.

Palazzo Adriano - Visit Palazzo Adriano, founded by Albanian exiles with unique customs and traditions. Here, you’ll visit the beautiful church “Santa Maria Assunta” of the Greek-Byzantine rite. This location was also used for Giuseppe Tornatore’s award-winning film “Nuovo Cinema Paradiso.”

Eremo di Santa Rosalia alla Quisquina - Visit the hermitage of Santa Rosalia alla Quisquina, a mystical and fascinating place in the heart of the forest that tells the story of the Virgin and the patron saint of Palermo. The hermitage includes the church, crypt, monastery rooms, cells, kitchen, and refectory.

Cammarata - Stroll through the heart of Cammarata, known for its unique urban landscape with narrow courtyards, steep climbs, and stairs in the Arab quarter, delighting every visitor.

Agrigento, Piazza Armerina

Valle dei Templi - Visit the world heritage city described by Pindar as the “most beautiful city of mortals.” Take a long walk through the Valley of the Temples to see the Hera, Concordia, Zeus, Castor and Pollux temples, and the Temple of Heracles, which will transport you to the mythical city of antiquity (€ 10.00 p.p).

Giardino della Kolymbethra - Extend your walk to the Kolymbetra Gardens, a hidden gem for nature lovers (€ 5.00 p.p).

San Leone - Enjoy free time and a lunch break on Agrigento’s most beautiful beach promenade.

Villa Romana del Casale - Continue to Piazza Armerina to visit the Roman Villa del Casale, presumably a luxurious country house of a Roman aristocrat, and a world heritage site. The floors of its 40 rooms are covered with nearly intact mosaics, covering a total area of about 3,000 square meters. Dinner and overnight stay in an agriturismo in the Piazza Armerina area.

Caltagirone, Noto, Siracusa

Noto - Drive to Noto, representing the world heritage of Sicilian Baroque in the southeast along with seven other cities.

Parco Archeologico della Neapolis - Arrive in Syracuse, the largest and most powerful city of the Greek era. First, visit the archaeological zone to see the “Latomie del Paradiso,” the Seiler grotto, the Ear of Dionysus, the theater, the sacrificial altar of Hieron, and the Roman amphitheater (€ 10.00 p.p).

Duomo di Siracusa - Continue to Ortigia to see the old town of Syracuse and take a walk to the Arethusa spring, the cathedral, and the Apollo temple. Dinner and overnight stay in a beautiful country house in the Etna - Catania area.

Fonte Aretusa - Visit the legendary Fonte Aretusa, a source of inspiration for poets and artists.

Etna, Taormina (optional)

Mount Etna - Enjoy the amenities of your accommodation (pool, horse riding, hiking, bocce ball, and country activities), or explore the area independently. Nearby are the archaeological excavations of Lentini, the Regional Archaeological Museum of Carlentini, and the UNESCO Area of Pantalica. Intercity buses can take you to Catania, the island’s second-largest city, 30 km away. Alternatively, join our optional excursion to Etna and Taormina. Drive through lemon and orange plantations with unique landscape panoramas to Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano. The ride takes you to the “Silvestri Crater” at around 2,000 m altitude. From here, you can optionally take the cable car up to 2,600 m or a jeep up to about 3,000 m. Numerous hiking trails are available for exploration.

Ancient Theatre of Taormina - Continue to Taormina to visit the ancient theater and stroll through the medieval streets.

Arrivederci Sicilia

Catania - “Just a few words”… It was a wonderful week. After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight or an extended stay.

• Private transportation
• Dinner
• Sample Ericini cookies
• Breakfast

• Entry to Monreale Cathedral and cloister € 10 per person
• Entrance to the Zingaro nature reserve € 5 per person
• Entrance to the Valley of the Temples € 10 per person
• Entrance to the Villa Romana del Casale € 10 per person
• Entrance to the Neápolis Archaeological Park € 10 per person
• Entrance to Ortigia Cathedral € 2 per person
• Royal tombs in the Palermo Cathedral € 1.50 per person
• Palazzo dei Normanni and Cappella Palatina € 18.00 per person
• Eremo di Santa Rosalia € 3.00 per person
• Kolymbethra Garden in Agrigento € 5.00 per person