Tour Type
Classic
Tour Overview
Day 1 Palermo
Sizzling Sicily, day 1 of 8
Welcome to Italy! And welcome to Palermo! On arrival at the airport, your private English-speaking driver will be waiting to take you to your centrally located hotel. Palermo is the regional capital of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, and due to its colourful past is home to a vibrant mix of many cultures. The old town of Palermo is full of history, showcasing diverse art and architecture including Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. It is also home to exotic plants such as palm trees, prickly pears, bananas, lemon trees and more. In fact, the world-famous German writer, Goethe, visited the newly opened botanical gardens in 1787, and described them as “the most beautiful place on earth”.
Day 2 Palermo (Breakfast: Hotel )
Sizzling Sicily, day 2 of 8
Palermo: Sicilian Street Food Adventure. The street food of this sun-kissed island is seriously good! Take a gourmet journey through the city’s gastronomic landscape, exploring the main food markets and, of course, tasting different Sicilian treats along the way. The 700-year-old Vucciria market sells everything from designer clothes and handbags, to fresh produce, meats and cheese. Mercato di Capo has the feel of a traditional Arab souk with stalls groaning with the weight of oriental spices, fresh fish and exotic vegetables. There’s opportunities to try local sweet wine and a seasonal dessert such as Sicily’s delicious gelato or the famous cannoli – deep-fried pastry filled with sweetened ricotta cheese.
Day 3 Palermo (Breakfast: Hotel )
Sizzling Sicily, day 3 of 8
Palermo: Village Life. Spend the day exploring the Sicilian villages. In Monreale visit the immense Norman cathedral, proclaimed the eighth wonder of the world. It contains a splendid Arab-Norman style cloister – a masterpiece of art, sculpture and semi-precious stones! Meanwhile Monreale Dome is famous for the gold mosaics representing scenes from the Old and New Testaments. At the Segesta Archaeological Park visit the incredibly well preserved ancient Greek temple. Its amphitheatre boasts a hilltop position on Mount Barbaro with incredible views. Erice is a beautiful hilltop medieval town surrounded by cyclopean walls. Walk through the atmospheric streets to see the temple dedicated to Venus, the castle and beautiful Cathedral. And finally, visit the Trapani salt flats, a unique landscape of ancient mills, windmills and wildlife stretching into the Mediterranean. See how the sea salt is still manually collected and produced by the salt workers.
Day 4 Palermo – Taormina (Breakfast: Hotel )
Sizzling Sicily, day 4 of 8
Taormina: Wine Tasting and a Chic Sicilian Town. Set off to Taormina, stopping to sample Sicilian wine along the way. After arriving and checking into the hotel there is time to relax or to explore the charming medieval town of Taormina. The main attraction is the fascinating Greek Theatre. It started life in the 3rd century BC hosting plays by Sophocles and Euripides among others. Today, it hosts all manner of events including plays, concerts and fashion shows. But one of its starring roles has to go the incredible views from the theatre. Take in the often-smoking Mount Etna, the Bay of Naxos, and the incredible coastline of beaches, rocky coves and sea stacks. In the middle of the old Roman town is the Odeon, a small theatre built by the Romans which was rediscovered in 1892 when a blacksmith came upon it while digging his land.
Day 5 Taormina (Breakfast: Hotel )
Sizzling Sicily, day 5 of 8
Taormina: Explore Agrigento, Syracuse and Piazza Armerina. Discover some of the most important places in Sicily. Piazza Armerina is a pretty and historic town famous for the exquisite classical mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale. See the elegant town hall, the grand old Palazzo Trigona, and the18th century Duomo which dominates the town standing majestically on top of a hill. A walking tour through Agrigento, known as City of the Temples, will introduce you to unique archaeological beauties such as the Doric temples in the UNESCO-listed Valley of the Temples. In the Agrigento Regional Archaeological Museum marvel at the ‘telamon’, a colossal male statue rescued from a nearby temple. In the historic city of Syracuse explore the Ortigia area dating back to 734 BC. It is a deeply atmospheric quarter full of ancient Greek antiquities. Enjoy the views of the Archaeological Park of Neapolis, the most important ruins in Syracuse and home to an immense ampitheatre.
Day 6 Taormina (Breakfast: Hotel )
Sizzling Sicily, day 6 of 8
Taormina: Mount Etna – A Walk on the Wild Side. Get ready to explore the smoking volcano – Mount Etna! Climb into the jeep and set off on an off-road adventure to Crateri Silvestri – small, inactive volcanic cones surrounded by ancient lava flows. From here gaze out over Sicily, the Aeolian Islands and Calabria. Take in the contrasting sights of this stunning volcanic landscape. Walk to the impressive Monte Fontana and through ancient forests, all the while learning about the great variety of plants and animals which populate this active volcano.
Day 7 Taormina (Breakfast: Hotel )
Sizzling Sicily, day 7 of 8
Catania: Discover Catania’s Culture and Cuisine. Clutching your very own foodie passport, set off on foot on a gourmet tour of Catania. Breathe in the aromas of the fish market while your guide unveils the little secrets of shopping for fish and other seasonal products. Your guide will also share tips about recipes and restaurants, and regale stories about the history and culture of the area. Stroll through the elegant part of the city. There’s plenty of stops to try local culinary delights such as a cooling syrup treat and a sweet Italian dessert. After every sampling stop, you will receive a stamp in your foodie passport. With the incredible array of cuisine in Catania, it will soon be full.
Day 8 Taormina (Breakfast: Hotel )
Sizzling Sicily, day 8 of 8
Sadly it’s the last day and time to say ‘Arriverderci’ to Sicily! The English-speaking driver will transfer you to Catania Airport for the flight to Rome.
Highlights
- Be seduced by the quaint villages, chic towns and ancient sites of Sicily.
- Sample typical Sicilian street food, locally-produced wine and seasonal desserts.
- Take an off-road adventure up the smoking volcano of Mount Etna.
Duration
- 8 Days
Inclusions
- Accommodations, meals, tickets, fees, transportation as mentioned in your itinerary.
- Tour guide services provided in the requested languages, unless otherwise mentioned in the itinerary.
- Ground transportation in private, air-conditioned vehicle
- Drinking water and cold towels during sightseeing
- Multi-lingual 24-hour customer support hotline in all destinations
- Welcome pack on arrival
- Fully licensed and insured to international standard
- All applicable local taxes.
Exclusions
- Visa fees, Personal expenses, Tips and gratuities and Airfares.
- Other services not mentioned in here
Notes or FAQ’s
- Additional airfare, airport taxes and fuel surcharges may apply.
- Additional charges may apply if changes or cancellations are made to flight tickets.
- We will notify you if ticket issuance deadlines are outside our standard terms and conditions.
- Breakfast box in case of very early morning departures.
- For solo traveller the single supplement is already included in the tour price.
- If you have decided to travel on a local holiday or festival, certain rates may be higher.
- We will let you know right away if this condition applies to you.
- Accommodation is subject to availability until you have confirmed your booking and paid any relevant deposits.
- In the event your chosen hotel is not available alternatives will be offered.