SICILIAN HIGHLIGHTS
Discover the Enchanting Island

6 nights / 7 days
Palermo 3 nights, Taormina 3 nights

INCLUSIONS:
-Palermo: Three nights accommodation;
-Taormina: Three nights accommodation, sea view rooms;
-Daily breakfast buffet;
-Palermo: one dinner at local restaurant with set group menu;
-One light lunch at olive oil factory/farmhouse with tasting of typical local dishes;
-One visit to Sicilian cellar with Sicilian wine tasting;
-Piazza Armerina: one light lunch at country restaurant with set group menù;
-Taormina: one dinner at local restaurant with set group menù;
-Syracuse: one light lunch at local restaurant with set group menù;
-Vehicle/coach with air conditioning, no toilet;
-English speaking Tour Director/Driver Guide as per program;
-All sightseeing, tasting and excursions as specified in the itinerary;
-Hotel & city taxes.

HIGHLIGHTS:
- Palermo: The Sicilian capital and capo market
- Monreale: Dome and the golden mosaics
- Cefalù: Norman cathedral
- Marsala: Winery visit and wine tasting
- Trapani province: Saltpan works
- Erice: Castle built on the remnants of Venus Temple
- Agrigento: Valley of the Temples
- Piazza Armerina: Ancient mosaics in the Roman Villa
- Taormina: Worldrenowned Mediterranean resort town
- Syracuse: Archaeological Park and Ortigia Island

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. Then independently transfer to your hotel. Tonight, enjoy a Dinner at a local restaurant. (D)

Day 2 (Sunday) Monreale, Palermo & Cefalù
Breakfast at hotel. Our first stop will be Monreale to see where the Arab-Norman art and architecture reached the pinnacle of its glory with the Duomo, launched in 1174 by William II. It represents scenes from the Old and New Testaments all in golden mosaics. Then on to Palermo to visit the Palatine Chapel, 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. This afternoon depart for Cefalù, a charming coastal town home to a massive Norman Cathedral with outstanding mosaics. Here we will visit the city center and stroll down main street to reach the Cathedral. Later back to Palermo (BB)

Day 3 (Monday) Marsala Wine, Olive Oil, Erice
Early departure to tour western Sicily where we will reach Marsala and visit a local winery’s cellar and taste Sicilian wines. Later 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. Then, to an olive oil factory & farmhouse to enjoy a light lunch.
This afternoon we continue to Erice uptown. 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. Later back to Palermo. (BB L)

Day 4 (Tuesday) Agrigento & Piazza Armerina
Following breakfast, we will drive through the interior of Sicily to reach Agrigento where we will visit the finest of all ancient Greek sites—the complete Doric Temples. Later we will continue to Piazza Armerina. On arrival light-lunch at country restaurant. This afternoon we view the ruins of the Roman Villa of Casale. The mosaics discovered here are celebrated among scholars of antiquity. Then continue to Taormina, the resort town of Sicily. Tonight dinner at local restaurant (BB L D)

Day 5 (Wednesday) Syracuse
Today we depart for Syracuse, founded by colonists from Cornith in 735 B.C. and once the most important competitor to Athens. On arrival stroll through the streets of Ortygia Island, the heart of the city center. Light lunch at local restaurant. This afternoon visit through the Archaeological Park highlights the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre and the Paradise Quarry. Later back to Taormina. (BB L)

Day 6 (Thursday) Taormina
All daylong at leisure to rest or shops or Optional Excursions (the Tour Escort will provide several optional excursions on the spot). (BB)

Day 7 (Friday) Taormina/Catania
Time to say goodbye to Sicily. Independent transfer to Catania airport. (BB)

IMPORTANT:
These tour departures are guaranteed in double/twin occupancy.
This tour will be operated with a Driver-Guide from 2 to 5 people.
The Driver Guide is not a Licensed Tourist Guide (Licensed Tourist Guide: are the only professionals -- with a Regional license -- permitted to conduct visits and tours in all sites and museums within a city) and he cannot escort you inside the monuments because this is not allowed by Italian Rules.
From 6 to 15 clients, tour is operated with a Driver, a Tour Escort, and licensed Local Guides where necessary.

Meal Legend:
- BB Buffet Breakfast
- L Lunch or Light Lunch
- FC Farewell Cocktail
- D Dinner

FEATURED PROPERTIES USED FOR THIS TOUR
- Palermo: Hotel Plaza Opera
- Taormina: Hotel Villa Angela
Hotel may be substituted with similar category

What Is Not Included:
-Intercontinental Flight;
-Gratuities to Tour Director, Local Guide and Driver;
-Porterage at airport;
-Luggage handling at hotel;
-Tips;
-Beverages and meals not mentioned in the program;
-Travel Insurance;
-Return Airport Transfers;
-Admission fees payable directly on the spot;
-Optional Excursions;
-Licensed local guide by 5 people in the tour.

Notes:
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. Triple rooms normally is a twin with an extra rool-away bed.