Tours in Sicily           

 

The period in which most of the tours take place is during Spring. However, the result is that most of the tourist resorts are packed with people to the detriment of service.

It is then necessary to avoid the period between the Easter holidays and May. In addition it is  important to point out that the schools also flood the museums and the archeological sites with school children   during this period, detracting much from the experience that such a visit should entail.

 A  typical Sicilian tour by a Tour Operator starting from New York.

  1. -Day 1-Evening departure  from New York JFK International Airport via Alitalia Airlines wide bodied jet. Enjoy complimentary beers and wines at dinner and free headsets for your  audio visual pleasure. Cross the  Atlantic and awaken in Italy with the Alps shimmering in the morning sun.A continental breakfast will be served prior to landing.
  2. -Day 2-Morning arrival at Milan's Malpensa  Airport. Connect to your domestic Alitalia flight to  Palermo. Following brief customs formalities and passport control. Proceed to the customs exit where you will be met by your professional Tour Manager who speaks your language, understands your customs and is familiar with  your custom itinerary. His\her job is to make your  vacation easy and enjoyable. We board our deluxe, air conditioned motorcoach and transfer to downtown Palermo. Check in and room assignment. In the afternoon, enjoy a half day city tour featuring the Quattro  Canti, the Norman Palace, the Teatro Massimo, St. John of the Hermits, the Cathedral and Piazza Bellini. We return to the hotel filled with emotion. Time to freshen up before going out to dinner at a local restaurant. Return to hotel for overnight.
  3. -Day 3-Continental breakfast at hotel and depart for a scenic tour of Palermo's environs. Our first stop will be at the Palatine Chapel in Palermo. We proceed to Monreale which enjoys breathtaking views of the city of Palermo. Stop to visit the Benedictine Cloister. We will continue to Segesta to view the magnificent Doric Temple. Proceed to Erice, a medieval triangular shaped city still surrounded by ramparts and perched atop Mount San Giuliano. We return to Palermo in the afternoon. Balance of the day at leisure. Time to freshen up before going out to dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at hotel.
  4. -Day 4-Continental breakfast at hotel and depart for a day excursion to Sicily's southern coast. We will travel through the island's rugged interior, past fortified villages and farming communities to Agrigento. Stop for a walking tour of the Valley of the Temples. Proceed to the city of Agrigento to view the Abbey of Santo Spirito and Duomo of Agrigento. We return to Palermo in the afternoon. Balance of the day at leisure. Time to freshen up before going out to dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at hotel.
  5. -Day 5- Continental breakfast at hotel and soon after departure from Palermo. We will travel through the rugged interior of the island, past austere fortified hilltowns and sleepy farming hamlets to Enna, the geographical center of the island. Stop to view the Baroque Duomo. We proceed to Piazza Armerina to view the well-preserved Roman mosaics at the Villa del Casale depicting hunting and mythological scenes. Finally we will visit the town of Caltagirone, famous for its colorful ceramics. We return to Palermo. Time to freshen up before going out to dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at hotel.
  6. -Day 6- Continenetal breakfast at hotel and depart for Cefalù, a fishing village situated on the northern coast of Sicily. Stop to view the Arab-Norman Cathedral and fishing port. Later continue via the modern motorway to Catania, a Baroque Gem situated at the base of Mt. Etna. Enjoy a city tour featuring Piazza dell'Elefante, the 11th century Duomo, Bellini's Tomb, the Ursino Castle, Via dei Crociferi, with its magnificent examples of Baroque architecture, the greek-roman Theater, San Niccolo's Church and the Bellini Opera House, pride of the city.     We proceed to Taormina, a chic resort hugging the cliffs on the ionian coast. Check in and room assignment. Time to freshen up before going to dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at hotel.

 

The eruption that changed the surrounding area of Taormina 20,000 years ago

  1. -Day 7- Continental breakfast at hotel and depart for a panoramic tour of Mt Etna to the Sapienza Refuge. Stop to view the curious lava formations and volcanic air holes and enjoy an incomparable view of the Ionian Coast.  On a clear day  you can see the Strait of Messina. We descend the volcano and return to Taormina. Enjoy an orientation tour featuring San Domenico church, Corso Umberto, Palazzo Corvaja, the Greek-roman Theater and the Municipal Gardens. Free time for browsing or shopping. Time to freshen up before going out to dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at hotel.
  2. -Day 8- Continental breakfast  and morning at  leisure to enjoy  this tranquil resort town at your own pace. Midday departure for Lentini where you will stop for a unique lunch experience hosted by a local landowner. We proceed to Syracuse, one of the former Greek  colonies of the island. Enjoy a city tour featuring the Latomie, the Ear of Dionigi, the Arethusa Fountain, the Cordari Grotto, the Greek Theater, the Roman Anphitheater and the Island of Ortigia. We return to Taormina in the late afternoon. Time to freshen up before going out to dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at hotel.
  3. -Day 9-Continental breakfast at hotel and a full day at leisure. For the more ambitious, perhaps join  us for  an optional excursion to  Messina, Capo D'Orlando and Tindari. Topnight enjoy a Farewell Dinner at a Typical retaurant with local specialties. Return to hotel for  overnight.
  4. -10 Day - Continental breakfast and transfer to Catania's Fontanarossa Airport for your return Alitalia flight to the States connecting in Rome, serving lunch and a snack aloft, and arriving at New York's JFK Airport the sane afternoon.
NOTA BENE

In -day 3- there is too much in the itinerary schedule. As a consequence either you will not see part of the programme with much upsetting of the tourists or you will see it in the japanese style, hit and run.