Sicilian Carousel 2023

Exclusive small groups tour up to 20 pax – Exclusively in English.

8D/7N Saturday Catania – Taormina

A Journey In The Colors, In The Flavors, And The Sicilian Traditions

1st Day /Saturday CATANIA
Private transfer from Catania Airport to hotel. Welcome drink and dinner at hotel and overnight.

2nd Day /Sunday CATANIA – SIRACUSA – CATANIA
After a buffet breakfast, depart to Syracuse and visit the World Heritage Site “Neapolis.” The visit to this archaeological area includes the famous Greek theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Latomie of Paradise, and the “Dionisios Ear.” Continue to the island of Ortigia, the small baroque old city center of Siracusa, and have free time for lunch. In the afternoon, visit 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. Free time at your disposal to stroll through the center’s streets and for shopping. Return to your hotel in Catania. Free evening at your disposal to experience the city and its nightlife and to dine in one of the typical restaurants in the city center. Overnight.

3rd Day /Monday CATANIA (fish market & street food) – RAGUSA (cheese taste)
After a buffet breakfast, depart for an excellent walking tour of Catania; stroll through the city center with your professional guide, who will charm you with the city’s history, and visit the famous fish market “A PISCARIA,” one of the largest fish markets in Sicily. Here you will have the chance to taste typical Catania’s street food delights. As old as the city itself, it’s a great way to experience Sicily’s abundant fishing and seafood culture, with a very special and authentic atmosphere. Depart to Ragusa and visit the enchanting historical center “Ibla,” with its stunning baroque palaces and churches; together with seven other cities in the Val di Noto, Ragusa is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Ragusa is also renowned for its cheese production; therefore, we will not miss a tasting of artisan cheeses. We will continue to the reserved hotel, where we will have time to relax at the swimming pool or the spa. Dinner in hotel and overnight.

4th Day /Tuesday RAGUSA – AGRIGENTO – MARSALA (wine tasting & Marsala by night)
After a buffet breakfast, depart to Agrigento, a hillside town famous for its magnificent Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; visit the Valley, including the Temple of Concordia, which is almost perfectly preserved condition, the temples of Juno and Heracles. Free time at disposal for lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll proceed to Marsala, a city on the western coast famous for producing sweet Sicilian wine. Arrival at Baglio Oneto dei Principi di San Lorenzo Resort . Here we will tour the resort’s wineries, starting from the vineyards, where the wine-making process begins. We’ll explore the historic courtyard and the Palmento Room, where grapes were laid down in berries to be crushed before being transferred to barrels. We will visit the ageing cellar, a room that has never stopped keeping its fascinating atmosphere intact. We will taste three different fine wines. In the evening, we’ll reach Marsala city center and have free time to discover the historical center by walking and free time for dinner. Free time at your disposal to relax at the swimming pool or to enjoy magic moments at sunset in your hotel. Return to the hotel and overnight.

5th Day /Wednesday MARSALA –SALT ROUTE- ERICE (taste of traditional pastries) – PALERMO
After a buffet breakfast, 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. Arrival in Erice, placed on the top of a hill overlooking the city of Trapani and the Egadi Islands: walk through its tiny and characteristic streets, the winding lanes and, inner courtyards and stop for marzipan and biscuit tasting. Free time at disposal for lunch. Continue to Palermo, the capital of Sicily. We will 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 Martorana Church, one of the most beautiful churches of Palermo.We will then reach one of the most famous and historical markets of Palermo to experience the authenticity of this wonderful and colorful city. We will end our tour with a taste the delights of typical Palermo’s street food, one of the most renowned all over the world . Accomodation at hotel and free time at disposal for shopping and dinner. Overnight.

6th Day /Thursday PALERMO – MONREALE – CEFALU’ – MESSINA – TAORMINA
After a buffet breakfast 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 wash-house built in the rock. Free time at disposal to explore the town and shopping and lunch on your own. 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. Accomodation at your hotel and free time at disposal for dinner. Overnight.

7th Day /Friday TAORMINA – MT. ETNA (wine tasting) – TAORMINA
After a buffet breakfast, excursion to Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Weather conditions permitting, across the fascinating landscape with different kinds of vegetation, a mixture of citrus groves, vineyards, and fruit trees. We will reach a height of 1800 meters to visit the Sylvester Craters, where we’ll enjoy a spectacular panorama over the Ionian Sea. Stop at a local vineyard on the eastern slopes of Etna and visit a prestigious cellar. We will have the opportunity to taste local wines accompanied by local cheese and cold cuts. In the afternoon, back to Taormina, a charming city called “the pearl of the Ionian Sea,”: and enjoy time at leisure for shopping or walking through its tiny streets. Possibility to visit the Greek-Roman Theatre on your own (Ticket to pay on the spot), with its spectacular view of Giardini Naxos and Mount Etna. Free time for dinner and overnight.

8th Day /Saturday TAORMINA
After buffet breakfast, depart to Catania Airport

Inclusions:
• Transfers in/out
• Entrance tickets to sites and museums
• 6 nights accommodation in 4* hotels
• 1 night in a 4*S or 5* stars Luxury Resort
• Welcome drink on day 1
• Board: 2 Dinners (Catania on day one and Ragusa on day 3) and 7 Breakfasts at hotel
• Mineral water (1/2 per person) at meals in hotel
• 2 street food experiences in Catania and Palermo
• Cheese tasting in Ragusa
• Almond pastries tasting in Erice
• Visit a cellar and wine tasting in Marsala
• Visit a cellar and wine tasting on Mount Etna
• Transportation de Luxe motor coach* with free wifi
*a minivan with an English Speaking driver, normally not equipped with wifi, will be provided if the number of participants is equal to or less than eight
• English-speaking Tour Escort*
• Local guides where necessary
• Whispers kit (for a group with more than ten passengers)
• Porterage at hotels
• Staff assistance

Package descriptions and pricing are subject to change without notice.