1st day - Arrival and transfer (Hotel Taormina)
Upon your arrival, you will clear passport control, and pick up your luggage from the baggage carousel. Upon clearing customs, you will exit the luggage hall, your private English speaking driver will be waiting for you holding a sign with your name to welcome you in Sicily. Transfer to your hotel in Taormina.
2nd day - Etna - Winery Breakfast at your hotel
Pick up by your driver and transfer to explore Etna volcano, the largest active volcano in Europe, and admire a unique combination of nature and the uncontrollable essence of fire. The guided walk options are weather dependent and may include an exploration to the Silvestri craters at Sapienza refuge as well as some nice towns on the Volcano. You can also view the crater of 2001-2002 by cable-car (not included and weather dependent).
For lunch you'll visit an elegant Wine Resort nestled among forests and historic vineyards, home to international wine tourists to discover the proverbial hospitality and cuisine of Sicily. Enjoy lunch in the winery before returning to Taormina this afternoon.
3rd day - Godfather Tour-Castelmola
Pick up by your driver, before proceeding to the two little hilltop towns, where Francis Ford Coppola filmed many parts of the ‘The Godfather’ movies.
Enjoy an introduction to the real Sicily, exploring the towns of Savoca with their quiet streets and peaceful atmosphere, are surrounded by beautiful mountainous scenery, and have several fascinating old churches and the famous Bar Vitelli. You will take a walk on the panoramic promenade to the famous church of Sant’Nicolò or better called Santa Lucia which was used in the Godfather movie for the marriage of Michael Corleone and Apollonia Vitelli. A taste of lemon granita is a must!
Depart to visit Forza D’Agrò. Among the most interesting places, the church of Sant’Agostino, with the convent located on the hill that was the set of the scene in which Vito Corleone flees to the United States persecuted by Don Ciccio's men.
After you will proceed to the lovely hilltop town of Castelmola, recently voted one of Italy’s most beautiful villages. Arrived in the town square you will be enchanted by the breathtaking view of the Sicilian Ionian coast, from where you can admire Taormina and its Roman amphitheater.
A little above the square is the splendid medieval castle of Mola, where the ancient fortifications can still be seen.
Walking through the narrow streets of the medieval town you will arrive at the famous and eccentric Turrisi bar, where you can taste the renowned almond wine and enjoy the splendid view of the bay of Naxos and Mount Etna.
Come back to your hotel in Taormina
4th day - Noto - Syracuse (Hotel Syracuse)
After breakfast drive to Noto, famous for its unique Sicilian baroque style and UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002. Stroll through the open-air museum and the splendid Corso Vittorio Emanuele and admire many of the palaces and churches that, as a whole, are known as the "Stone Garden".
After the visit drive to Siracusa – . It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On arrival, you will visit the Archaeological Park, with the 1st century AD Roman Amphitheatre, the enormous Altar of Hieron II, built about 240 bc for the annual sacrifices to Zeus of 450 bulls, the Greek Theatre, inaugurated by Aeschylus in 476 bc, and the stone quarry known as the Latomy of Paradise, famous for its luxuriant vegetation and the strange man-made cave called the Ear of Dionysius. Overnight Siracusa
5th day - Ragusa - Modica
After breakfast in the hotel, You begins the morning with a walk through the streets of Ragusa Ibla, to admire the magnificence of the Sicilian Baroque.
Visit this unique town, entirely rebuilt in Baroque style after the devastating earthquake of 1693. Leaving the bus and proceeding on foot you can admire some of harmonious Baroque architectures as Zocco and Bertini buildings , passing by narrow lanes, arches and climbs where you can visit other beautiful Baroque buildings, the famous San Giorgio church, San Giuseppe and the Ibleo Gadens.
Then drive back to the stunning town of Modica, listed as a UNESCO WHS for its vernacular architecture and Baroque churches. The city is divided into "Modica Alta" (Upper Modica) and "Modica Bassa" (Lower Modica) and has maintained some of the most beautiful architecture in Sicily, in the Sicilian Baroque style.
You can admire the large Baroque Cathedral dedicated to San Giorgio, town’s patron, the San Pietro church, and the classic Sicilian Baroque bell tower The town is not only famous for its beautiful baroque architecture, but also for the chocolate: you will reach a local chocolate factory where it will be explained how this particular chocolate is made: Modica is custodian of a 400 year tradition of Sicilian chocolate-making. Today Modica still specialises in making granulous chocolate, often flavoured with chilli pepper, cinnamon or vanilla, that is based on Aztec methods and recipes. Enjoy an optional tasting of chocolate. Lunch at a Local restaurant in Modica. Come back to your hotel Siracusa - Overnight
6th day - Caltagirone - P. Armerina - Agrigento (Hotel Agrigento)
Meet your private driver in hotel and drive to Caltagirone capital of ceramics in Sicily, where you can admire the famous staircase of Santa Maria del Monte. Along the streets of the town you can admire the majestic ceramic works of Caltagrione, the beautiful Moor heads, also known as graste.
After the visit leave to Piazza Armerina, along the mountainous interior of the island to the Unesco WHS of Villa del Casale, where you marvel at its exquisite floor mosaics, buried underground until the late 19th century, and learn about the recently completed restoration works to preserve them.
Set in the green environment of the area, this monument represents the most important surviving documentation of Roman civilization in Sicily. This patrician villa comprises more than 40 rooms, almost all them artistically paved with mosaic floors that reproducing the Roman life. It was perhaps built approximately between the end of the 3rd century and mid-4th century A.C. and its former owner was an army officer close to the Imperial Court.
Then drive to Agrigento - Overnight7th day - Agrigento - Palermo (Hotel Palermo) Breakfast in your hotel.
Then visit Agrigento, where you will explore the famed Valley of the Temples, (declared UNESCO WHS) built by the Greeks and conquered by the Romans. Founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century BC, Agrigento was one of the greatest cities in the Mediterranean world. The poet Pindar described it as ‘man’s finest town’.
Your tour includes four of the most important monuments: the Temple of Hercules, the oldest temple, probably dating from the end of the 6th century BC, where nine of the original 38 columns have been re-erected; the beautifully sited Temple of Concordia, the most complete of the temples and the one that was converted into a Christian church in the 6th century AD; the Temple of Hera, which lies half in ruins and the Temple of Zeus – the largest Doric temple ever known – which was never completed. It, too, lies in ruins, having suffered from earthquake damage and the removal of stone to build the port of Porto Empedocle After the visit drive to Palermo – Overnight
8th day - Palermo-Monreale
The itinerary begins with a morning visit to Monreale to discover the Arab-Norman splendor of the Cathedral and Cloister. This treasure dates from the 12th century and shows the diverse architectural influences of both the Normans and the Arabs After lunch at the beach communiti of Mondello you will proceed visiting Palermo, Sicily's Capital, that stretches along a beautiful bay on the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Founded by the Phoenicians in the 7th Century B.C., the city was conquered by Arabs in 831, and a period of immense prosperity commenced.
You will visit the city’s main sights, including the Norman section, Quattro Canti di Città (the Four Corners of the City), Palermo’s extravagant baroque square and the Catacombe dei Cappuccini (Capuchin Catacombs ) with its unique display of nearly 8,000 mummies , each one dressed in their Sunday best.
9th day - Erice-Segesta-Salt Road
Meet your private driver for an excursion on Trapani area. En route, you'll make a number of stops, beginning with the historic city of Segesta, where you will make a visit of the Greek Theater and Doric Temple ruins.
The stone-built theater dating back to the 3rd century BC is rewarded with a location on the summit of Monte Barbaro, offering a stunning view out over rural green pastures and adjacent mountains.
Discover the 5th century BC Temple of Segesta, considered one of the best preserved in the world, which is said to have been abandoned before it was ever completed. Afterward, head to Erice, a wonderful and mysterious medieval town made famous in ancient times as the supposed birthplace of Venus.
Walk through the cobblestone streets of the town, smelling a variety of aromas emanating from the numerous pastry shops for which Erice is famous. You'll visit the ruins of the town's hilltop Norman Castle, a 12th century construct dedicated to Venus. Make a stop at the world famous Pastry shop by Maria Grammatico to taste almond sweets, genovesi and nougat matched with Marsala wine. Rejoin your driver and drive to the historic Salt Road, with its numerous salt pans and Dutch-style windmills and you conclude the day coming back to your hotel.
10th day - Cefalu- Castelbuono
Meet your private driver and move to the medieval town of Castelbuono on the Madonie Mountains. Enjoy a walking tour along the historical city center and admire the medieval Castle.
After, you will reach Cefalù, a very charming town in the Northern coast of Sicily. Rome, the Arabs, the Normans : all of these have left an imprint in this town which is renowned for the famous Norman Cathedral, built by Roger II in 1131. Cefalu’s ancient name derives from Kefalè which means head or headland. Arriving at the parking place you shall leave minivan and proceed on foot for a walking tour of this attractive place with its narrow streets, colourful shops, antiques, ceramics.
Corso Ruggero, the main street, divides the town into two sections: one with twisting stepped lanes, ending at the rock wall, another with straight roads running down to the picturesque port, or rather down to the unbroken curtain of small buildings that constitutes the seafront of the walled town. You shall visit the Cathedral: two massive square towers with mullioned windows enclose the façade with its twin orders of blind arches. Inside it will be possible to admire, among other treasures, beautiful Byzantines mosaics. The walking tour includes also a pleasant walk up to the old port, where you reach the wonderful beach.
1th day - Departure from Palermo airport
Pick up by your English speaking driver and relax on your private transfer to Palermo airport from your hotel. Airport, about 40 mins.
