Sicily Select Tour - Private (7 nights/8 days): An amazing private Historical & Cultural Tour of Sicily from Palermo, Customized just for you, Driver-Guide, Villa lodge experience, First class properties, main Sicilian Highlights ... this is the tour you are looking for...
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Day By Day
OVERNIGHTS: Palermo 3 nights + Leonforte 1 night + Taormina 3 nights ITINERARY: Day 1 (Saturday) Palermo Welcome to the warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Sicily! Upon arrival at Palermo airport please proceed through the Passport Control and collect your luggage inside the customs area. Outside of customs, you will find the driver waiting holding a sign with your full name. Transfer to the hotel. This evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. (D)
Day 2 (Sunday) Monreale & Palermo After breakfast, we will show you where the Arab-Norman art and architecture reached the pinnacle of its glory with the Monreale Duomo, launched in 1174 by William II. Scenes from the Old and New Testaments are depicted in golden mosaics covering the interior. Then to the Palatine Chapel in Palermo, which was the crowning architectural achievement of William II’s grandfather, Roger II. We then continue by seeing: Piazza Pretoria and Via Maqueda with its “four corners” converging Palermo at a quartet of Baroque palaces left over from the heyday of Spanish rule dating back to 1560. Then we visit the Cathedral constructed in various architectural styles throughout the Roman, Norman, Arabic, and Islamic dominations. This afternoon at leisure to explore the town on your own or OPTIONAL EXCURSION(BB)
Day 3 (Monday) Palermo/Erice Olive Oil Factory/Marsala/Palermo Early departure to tour western Sicily where we will reach Erice city center. 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. Then, to an olive oil factory & farmhouse to enjoy a light lunch. In the afternoon, we travel between Trapani and Marsala on the Salt Way Road. We will tour the historic saltpan works, where the ancient tradition of harvesting salt from the sea is still practiced. We then continue on to Marsala and visit a local winery’s cellar and taste Sicilian wines. Later back to Palermo. (BB L)
Day 4 (Tuesday) Palermo/Agrigento/Piazza Armerina/Leonforte Today’s drive across the vast countryside showcases Sicily’s great variety of sceneries. We soon arrive in Agrigento whose history dates back to 580 BC. An independent tour leads us through the Valley of the Temples, a magnificent cluster of Greek ruins overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. This afternoon we continue to Piazza Armerina to view the ruins of the Roman Villa of Casale. The mosaics discovered here are celebrated among scholars of antiquity. Later, we depart to Leonforte near Enna. This region boasts a rich production of wheat, citrus fruits, and olive oil. Tonight, we lodge at Villa Gussio, an old traditional Sicilian country hotel. The hotel is a jewel set in the green heart of Sicily, a magic place where history and nature blend to celebrate a spontaneous hymn to beauty. Dinner at the hotel. (BB D)
Day 5 (Wednesday) Leonfonte/Syracuse/Taormina Today we depart for Syracuse, founded by colonists from Cornith in 735 B.C. and once the most important competitor to Athens. Our independent visit through the Archaeological Park highlights the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre and the Paradise Quarry. Later stroll through the streets of Ortygia Island, the heart of the city center. Lunch at a local restaurant. Afterward, we drive along the coast to Taormina, the world famous resort town of Sicily, known for its views and atmosphere. (BB L)
Day 6 (Thursday) Taormina/Mount Etna & Winery/Taormina A short drive takes us to the main visitor elevation on the slopes of Mt. Etna. Those interested in experiencing the Etna craters will have the option to purchase cable car tickets on the spot (weather and volcanic conditions permitting) to experience the lava fields and incredible landscape view from Europe’s highest and most active volcano on their own. Then to a winery and farmhouse. This estate also produces olive oil, grappa, sparkling wine and artisan food. We indulge in a typical Sicilian light lunch at the farmhouse. This afternoon, back to Taormina and time at leisure. Tonight we gather for a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant. (BB L D)
Day 7 (Friday) Taormina The day is yours to rest or explore the town on your own or OPTIONAL EXCURSION(BB)
Day 8 (Saturday) Taormina/Catania Time to say goodbye to Sicily as we are transferred to Catania Airport (CTA) for our return flight. (BB)
MEAL LEGEND:BB Buffet Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner
HighLights
Palermo: Sicily’s Vibrant Capital
Monreale: Gold Mosaic’s Scene from the Old and New Testaments
Erice: Medieval streets, Breathtaking views and fortress
Palermo: Hotel Plaza Opera Leonforte: Villa Gussio Nicoletti Taormina: Hotel Villa Angela (Sea View Room) Hotels may be substituted with similar category
N O T E S
ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES: When?choosing your accommodation please keep in mind that the categories shown beside the hotel descriptions are supplied by the local authorities. Grading may not necessarily reflect your own personal direct comparison with hotels of the same category elsewhere. If unsure feel free to ask us to advice you to help you to choose the accommodation that best suits you
HOTEL ROOMS: Room assigning is done by the hotel management and is as fair and impartial as the rooms at their disposal allows. Our efforts start weeks before the tour begins when we send a list to each hotel, noting any special requests made by you. Many of you may have requested non-smoking rooms, but because of the tremendous demand for these recently, many hotels are not able to satisfy all the requests. For assistance in operating the TV, heating/air-conditioning or telephone, do not hesitate to contact the front desk staff, they are there to help you.
ROOMS TYPE: Twin/Double in many countries, a double bed is one bed for two people, a twin room is two twin close together. Single rooms are normally very small. DUS rooms?is a double for single use and usually if you need it you have to pay the supplement. Triple rooms normally is a twin with an extra rool-away bed.
Details
Start/Finish: The tour is Land only; start in Palermo and finish in Catania
Language: English Only (other languages are available on request)
TRAVEL FORMAT: This tour is provided using a Driver-Guide. The Driver-Guide is able to provide basic historical information but he cannot escort you inside the monuments because this is not allowed by Italian Government. Only Licensed local guide can enter inside with you. In case you need Licensed Local guide feel free to inquiry us and we will be able to provide this extra cost.
LEVEL OF TRIP: This trip is designed to create comforts. The accommodation is boutique style, which usually means a combination of well-known first class hotels and lesser known gems with plenty of regional character and charm. The food is first rate, with a blend of haute cuisine and regional Sicilian delicacies, discrete and comfortable transportation, the guides are knowledgeable and charming.
SICILIAN FOOD:Sicily is an island and there is a heavy emphasis on fish. Also, in Sicily typically the meal begins with a “starter? then pasta and then your main course. Please keep in mind that the food in Italy and Sicily might not be the same type of Italian food that you have are used to in your hometown. Sicily is famous for cannolis and marzipan. Please save room for dessert!
BAGGAGE HANDLING: The charge for handling one suitcase per person sometimes is not included with your tours.
WHAT TO PACK: The most important ingredient to a successful vacation is exploration. Please pack comfortable walking shoes. Sicily has a lot of steps and archaeological sites please pack accordingly. For city walking, wear leather shoes with good support. They are more socially and aesthetically acceptable than athletic shoes. Raingear is essential and a little umbrella could be handy. Gore-Tex fabric, which is both waterproof and breathable, is an excellent choice. Always pack a light sweater or jacket, even in summer.
INFORMATION & HINTS: -Once you land in Italy don’t forget to set your watch to the local time; -In Italy the current voltage in Hotels is 220W. -In Italy eating snacks is not a problem. But if you want to use restaurants, they open at certain times of the day: 11:30AM till 2:30PM and from 7:00PM till 10:30PM; -Gratuities to restaurant are never included in the bill. Cover charge is not a tip. If paying with credit cards in Italy please pay your tip separately in cash to the waiter and this should be 10% of the total bill; -The use of public toilets requires a payment to the attendant of € 0.30 cents. Public toilet charge € 0, 50 cents; -Shops are generally closed from 1:00PM till 4:00PM and close approximately at 7:30PM. -Ask for a receipt of your bills from most of the shopping establishments. By Italian Law, you must obtain them before leaving the premises; -Be careful of your purse and wallets. Pick pocketing and purse snatching can happen especially in crowed places, such as famous monuments, bus stops, and railways stations. We advise that you do not give money to beggars as this is a common distraction for someone else to snatch your valuables; -Do not carry all your money with you when leaving for sightseeing or strolls, deposit part of your money in the hotel safe or in the special belt around your waist; Have handy telephone numbers of your banks in the event of stolen or lost credit cards; -Keep separate a photocopy of your Passport; -Keep your Currency Exchange forms if you plan to change money back to another currency.
GETTING THERE: Flights: We generally recommend that our travellers arrive one day before the trip starts in order to get their bearings and ease in to the new surroundings. Travel Services:For the convenience of our travellers, we would be happy to assist you in case you need a special rate for your pre-post nights in Sicily.
What's Included
»What's Included
»What's NOT
included
One main round trip airport transfers for service done from 08.00am to 7.00pm
Palermo: 3 nights accommodation
Leonforte: 1 night accommodation in Real Estate
Taormina: 3 nights accommodation
Buffet breakfast daily
Two visit to Sicilian cellars and tasting Sicilian wine
Car/Vehicle with Air Conditioning
English speaking Driver Guide as per program
Welcome Dinner with choice of 2 set-menù
Farewell Dinner with choice of 2 set-menù
One dinner at Hotel-Villa with choice of 2 set-menù
One light-lunch at Olive-Oil factory-farmhouse with tasting typical local dishes
One light-lunch at Winery-farmhouse with tasting typical Etna dishes
Natural mineral water at included meals
All sightseeing, tasting and excursions as specified in the itinerary
Cablecar to Etna Volcano (subject to weather forecast)
Admission fee included for all sites and other activities as per itinerary
Baggage Handling of one piece of luggage at hotel only
Price per person Minimum 6 people €1.750-double/twin Minimum 5 people €1.850-double/twin Minimum 4 people €2.100-double/twin Minimum 3 people €2.300-double/twin Minimum 2 people €2.650-double/twin
