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Reservation info (with departure dates) follows the itinerary and summary. Visit our general tours page for faqs and purchase conditions. Discover the real Sicily and its unique sights and sites with this tour scheduled at least twice each month to suit your holiday schedule. Yes, 29 departure dates! No other agency in Sicily offers so many throughout 12 months of the year. Group size is 2 to 20. Itinerary: (Please note: Summary follows. All breakfasts are included, other meals included are indicated in bold face.
Locality and site names link to detailed descriptions on Best of Sicily.) Saturday: Arrival at Palermo. Meet your tour escort for a welcome dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight at hotel in Palermo. Sunday: Following breakfast, we'll visit the Norman abbey of Monreale, overlooking the city, famous for its Byzantine mosaics and Norman-Arab cloister. In the afternoon we'll discover medieval Palermo with a visit to Palermo's medieval Palatine Chapel and Martorana Church, the Baroque Quattro Canti, Piazza Pretoria and the cathedral. After lunch, we'll Evening at leisure. Overnight in Palermo. Monday: Breakfast followed by early check-out and departure for eastern Sicily. First we'll visit Cefalù, famous for its medieval cathedral. En route to Taormina on the Ionian coast, we'll stop at Polizzi Generosa in the Madonie Mountains for a light lunch at a country house where we'll sample some local dishes. Then we'll depart for Taormina for an evening at leiure. Overnight in Taormina. Tuesday: Following breakfast, excursion to Siracusa (Syracuse), home of Archimedes and one of the most important cities of the ancient Greek world. First you'll explore the old city, the island of Ortygia, where we'll have lunch. In the afternoon we'll discover the Syracuse archeological site. Return to Taormina for evening at leisure. Overnight in Taormina. Wednesday: Breakfast followed by an entire day at leisure in charming Taormina. The atmosphere of this hilltop town, full of winding streets and enticing shops and restaurtants, makes it a great place to spend a day indulging personal tastes and unexpected curiosities. Optional excursion up the slopes toward the summit of Mount Etna, Sicily's highest mountain and Europe's largest active volcano. Another option is a cooking class. (See optional excursions below.) Evening and overnight in Taormina. Thursday: Breakfast and early check-out. Today we visit Piazza Armerina's ancient Roman villa, well known for its mosaics. Time at leisure for shopping and lunch, then we depart for Agrigento to visit its Greek temples. Dinner and overnight at Agrigento. Friday: Early breakfast and check-out. Venturing into Sicily's wine region, we'll stop at Marsala, where we'll visit a winery and enjoy a wine tasting and farewell cocktail. The Trapani region is known for its salt pans (marshes) and wind mills. On our way to Palermo we'll visit hilltop Erice, a picturesque medieval town built upon much older Phoenician and Elymian ones. Overnight in Palermo. Saturday: Check-out following breakfast. Independent transfer to Palermo Airport. Summary: Prices: €1199.00 per person double occupancy (i.e. two persons per room), €1450.00 single occupancy, payable by bank wire transfer or major credit card. See our general tours page for purchase conditions and cancellation policies. Includes: Seven (7) nights accomodation in 4-star hotels listed here or the equivalent substitution (to be advised 20 days before beginning of your tour but usually Politeama in Palermo, Hotel della Valle in Agrigento, Hotel Lido Caparena in Taormina), transportation (coach or minibus) and tour escort for the entire trip, with all breakfasts, 2 dinners and 2 lunches (beverages not included), 1 cocktail, 1 winery visit, all taxes. Does not include: Beverages, tips (gratuities) to escorts (or guides/drivers), airfare, meals not indicated, entrance fees at 6 archeological/historical sites (total approx. €45), trip insurance, airport transfers (may be purchased separately), porterage and baggage handling, options, anything not mentioned under "Includes" above. Accomodation: Double room with private bathroom. Single room with supplement. Guide/Escort Language: English. Group Size: From 2 to 20 participants. Dates offered: Departures from Palermo as indicated here. No other agency in the world offers a Sicily tour with this frequency and number of departures! Tours begin on Saturday at Palermo: Reservations: To reserve contact us at historic-tour@bestofsicily.com indicating "Golden" in the subject line, or by phone at +39 091 626 9685, or fax +39 091 380 9900. From the United States or Canada you may also contact us by SkypeIn at 718-473-0803. (Please remember that there's a six-hour time difference between Central European Time here in Italy and American Eastern Time in Toronto and New York.) This tour is organized by Chat & Tour (Tradizione Turismo), Via Autonomia Siciliana 23, 90143 Palermo, Italy. Visit our general tours page for faqs and purchase conditions regarding this and other tours. Optional Excursions: 1) Etna Volcano & Winery Lunch: You'll be taken to the medium-high altitude of the volcano slopes where (weather and volcanic conditions permitting) you may hire a jeep ride or cable car for the highest area, around the craters. Then you'll enjoy a light lunch at a winery offering typical Sicilian cuisine. €75.00 per person 2) Etna Jeep Excursion & Country Lunch: You'll be taken by jeep to the higher altitude of the volcano slopes, including Fontana Peak the 'extinct' craters of the Sartorius Peaks and the lava flow from the 2002 eruption. Then you'll enjoy a light lunch at a farmhouse offering typical Sicilian cuisine. Returning to Taormina, the partially off-road drive will pass the Alcantara Gorge. €110.00 per person 3) Market Gourmet Cooking Class: This is the epitome of food preparation from start to finish. Independent transfer to a local restaurant (near your hotel) where you'll be met by chefs Antonio Orlando and Maria. At an open-air market you'll select the fresh ingredients of your culinary creation --which (accompanied by the perfect wine) you'll enjoy as your lunch, followed by dessert. Preparing and tasting this piece of Sicily is an experience you'll never forget. The class runs from 9 AM to 1 PM (lunch time). €110.00 per person Airport Transfers & Extra Nights: Airport Transfer: Though there are buses, trains and taxis from the airport to central Palermo, we can arrange a personalized transfer at €70.00 per person (based on a minimum of two passengers) from 8 AM to 7 PM, or €90.00 per person from 7:30 PM to 7:30 AM. Pre/Post Night in Palermo: A night (or more) immediately before the tour begins or after it ends. Double occupancy (double or twin) €70.00 per person, Single occupancy €99.00. Whenever possible, lodging will be in the same hotel used during the tour. ©2007, 2008 Best of Sicily, Palermo, Italy. Unauthorized use
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The real secret of this tour is
that smaller is better. We never allow tours to exceed the maximum number of
participants, even if it means dividing the clientele into 4 or 5 smaller groups. By thinking small you avoid the
crowds. Attention to little details is
important, too... When you compare tours, that's a BIG difference!
