The real secret of this tour is that smaller is better. The maximum number of participants is 20. By thinking small you avoid the crowds. Attention to little details is important, too. When you compare tours, that's a BIG difference. This is a convenient tour with exceptional accomodations and features, including airport transfers.

Reservation info (with departure dates) follows the itinerary and summary. Visit our general tours page for faqs and purchase conditions.

Sicily boasts a unique multicultural heritage spanning thirty centuries. Discover the real Sicily and its history with this very special tour. Winery visits, time in the country and visits to the most famous sights are part of a cultural odyssey, literally from west to east --with arrival in Palermo and departure from Catania. Group size is 2 to 20 and averages 12 participants.

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 at a restaurant. Overnight in Palermo.

Sunday: This morning, we'll explore medieval Palermo. We'll visit the Norman abbey of Monreale, overlooking the city, famous for its Byzantine mosaics and Norman-Arab cloister. Following lunch we'll visit some of the city's Norman-Arab sights such as the Palatine Chapel, cathedral and Martorana Church. Evening at leisure. Overnight in Palermo.

Monday: Excursion to the charming medieval hilltop town of Erice, founded by Phoenicians and Elymians, and later rebuilt as a Norman stronghold. Lunch at an olive farm, followed by mid-afternoon departure for Marsala for a wine tasting. Return to Palermo for an evening at leisure. Overnight in Palermo.

Tuesday: This morning, following check-out, we'll head southward across rural Sicily to Agrigento's timeless Greek temples. Noon at leisure for dining. Then we'll depart for Villa Gussio, an aristocratic rural estate in Leonforte near Enna, to experience the rural Sicily of myth and folklore. Dinner and overnight at Villa Gussio.

Wednesday: Today we'll take a cultural excursion around the central highlands of Sicily. Following a brief stop in Enna to visit its castle, we'll proceed to Piazza Armerina to visit its ancient Roman villa. Enjoy lunch at your leisure in Piazza Armerina, an enchanting medieval town. In mid-afternoon we'll visit Caltagirone, known for its ceramic (majolica) art. Time at leisure for shopping, followed by return to Villa Gussio for dinner and overnight.

Thursday: After check-out we'll venture down the Ionian coast to visit the Siracusa archeological site and old historical district (Ortygia). Home to Archimedes, ancient Syracuse was one of the most important cities of the Greek world. Later, we'll arrive at Taormina for an evening at leisure and overnight.

Friday: Today (following breakfast and check-out) you'll travel up the slopes toward the summit of Mount Etna, Sicily's highest mountain and Europe's largest active volcano. Then to a nearby winery and its vineyards for a wine tasting and light rustic lunch. Time at leisure at Taormina before farewell dinner and overnight.

Saturday: Check-out and transfer to Catania airport for departure.

Summary:

Prices: €1599.00 per person double occupancy (i.e. two persons per room), €1850.00 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 (specifically Plaza Opera in Palermo, Villa Gussio Nicoletti in Leonforte, Monte Tauro or Villa Angela in Taormina, or substitutions if necessary), transportation (coach or minibus) and tour escort for the entire trip, with all breakfasts, 4 dinners and 2 lunches (mineral water included); 2 winery visits; all taxes; entrance fees at all scheduled historical/archeological sites; airport transfers, cableway fares at Erice and Etna, porterage at hotels for 1 piece of luggage, airport transfer between 8 AM and 7 PM.

Does not include: Alcoholic beverages (wine or beer) and soft drinks unless indicated, tips (gratuities) to escorts, guides and drivers, airfare, meals not indicated, trip insurance, 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: From Palermo (tour ends in Taormina) as indicated.

Tours begin on:
19 April
10 May
7 June
28 June
6 September
20 September
18 October

Reservations:

To reserve contact us at historic-tour@bestofsicily.com indicating "Historic" 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.

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