Sicily – UNESCO sites, history – Self drive (P-20sd)

Arabic-Norman, Greek Civilization in Sicily

Palermo

Monreale

Segesta and Erice

Agrigento and Temple Valley

Piazza Armerina

Taormina

Etna and Alcantara Valley

Catania

Tour Program:

DAY 1    Palermo Airport Arrival – Palermo – Arab-Norman Itinerary

Early morning arrival at Palermo Airport, pick up your rental car and drive to the hotel in Palermo. Meet with our local, English speaking private guide and drive to the Botanical Garden where the guided visit starts:  Botanical Garden, Villa Giulia, Piazza Marina. Along the panoramic road to Monte Pellegrino and visit of the pilgrimage church of St. Rosalia. Drive to the hotel and check in and time for lunch on your own. Afternoon private guided visit with an Arabic-Norman itinerary starting from the historic center of Palermo: Royal Palace (external):  Palatine Chapel (external), Porta Nuova, the Cathedral, Piazza Bellini,  the Byzantine mosaics of the Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio, the 16th Century Fontana Pretoria characterized by life-size marble statues and the Church Saint Cataldo and finally Basilica of the Holy Trinity of the Chancellor, commonly known as Basilica La Magione in the Kalsa District where our guided tour ends. Transfer to the hotel in Palermo. Dinner on your own and overnight at the hotel in Palermo

DAY 2    Palermo – Monreale –  Palermo on your own

Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast meet with our private guide at the hotel and drive with your rental car to Monreale; the third and last Norman king of Sicily, King Wilhelm, had the Cathedral and Abbey of Monreale built towards the end of the 12th Century. Private guided visit: The Cathedral of Monreale and one of the most beautiful Cloister’s in Europe. Transfer back to Palermo and have a stroll on your own in Palermo. Lunch on your own and leisure time in Palermo. Dinner on your own and overnight at the hotel in Palermo

DAY 3    Palermo – Segesta – Erice – Trapani

Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast meet with our private guide and transfer with your rental car to Segesta where the private guided visit starts: Temple of Segesta and Monte Barbaro; the ancient city of Segesta with important excavations and archaeological finds as well as the ancient theater. On request we also visit the Sanctuary of Contrada Mango. Time for lunch in Sagesta. Transfer to Erice; from this characteristic medieval village, perched on the top of a 750 meters high mountain, you have a splendid 360 ° view of the Gulf of Trapani and the Egadi Islands; a dream ! A walk in the narrow streets, alleys and churches will make you happy!. Transfer to the hotel in Trapani or near Trapani. Dinner at your own and overnight at the hotel

DAY 4    Trapani – Agrigento – Temple Valley – Agrigento

Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast 2 1/2 hour’s drive with your rental car, without assistant/guide to the city center of Agrigento. Meet with our local, private guide and the visit starts with the historic city center of Agrigento. Lunch on your own in a restaurant in Agrigento. Transfer to Temple Valley, an UNESCO Heritage since 1997. Through our guide, learn about the characters who made ancient Akragas (Agrigento) one of the most flourishing centers of classical Greek civilization by visiting the Sacred Way admiring the Temple, the Temple of Hera (Juno), the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Heracles (Hercules), the Temple of Zeus (Jupiter) and the Sanctuary of the Chthonic Divinities where the Temple of Castor and Pollux or Dioscuri is located. Transfer to our hotel in Agrigento. Dinner on your own and overnight in Agrigento

DAY 5    Agrigento – Piazza Armerina – Catania

Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast 2 hour’s drive with your rental car, no guide/assistant to Piazza Armerina in Central Sicily where our local, private guide will wait for you. Visit: The origins of this city are very ancient: the area was already inhabited by the Greeks. The pride of the town is the Villa Romana del Casale; one of the most famous and admired Roman buildings in the world with its mosaics dating back to the end of the 4th Century. A.D. and belonged to a powerful Roman family. Piazza Armerina has one of the largest and richest historical centers in Sicily and was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. Lunch on your own in Piazza Armerina or on the way to Catania. Check in at the hotel in Catania. Dinner on your own and overnight at the hotel in Catania.

DAY 6    Catania – Taormina – Catania

Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast drive with your rental car to Taormina, a splendid city with its amazing Greek Theater from the 3rd Century BC. at the top of the Ionian Sea and with the Etna Volcano in the background. Meet with our local, private guide and start with the tour: Greek Theatre from where you have a view of the Ionian Sea with the Etna Volcano in the background.  Odeon Theater is built with large clay bricks welded with lime and is divided into three parts: the stage, the orchestra and the cavea, Corvaja Palace in Gothic-Cathalan style, the most famous palace in Taormina, Saint Catherine Church built on the ruins of the Greek temple, Church of San Giuseppe, built between the late 1600s and early 1700s, overlooks Piazza IX April, right next to the Clock Tower. Time for lunch in one of the restaurants, time for some shopping and transfer back to the hotel. in Catania. Time to relax and dinner on your own and overnight at the hotel in Catania

DAY 7    Catania – Fish Market – Etna Volcan – Gorges of Alcantara – Catania

Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast meet with our local guide: Have a walk through the interesting Fish Market in Catania. Drive to the Etna crater located over 2000 meters and have a walk with our assistant between old lava flows and the extinct craters. Drive to Alcantara Valley, on the way stop for a lunch on your own. Visit of the Gorges of Alcantara. Transfer to the hotel in Catania. Time for dinner on your own and overnight at the hotel in Catania

DAY 8   Catania – Private guided walking Tour in Catania – Departure

Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. Meet with our local guide at the hotel and private walking tour in Catania: Elephant Fountain, Palazzo Comunale, Badia di Sant’Agata, Via Crociferi and its churches, Piazza Università with Palazzo San Giuliano and University Palace, Piazza Stesicoro with archaeological remains of a Roman Amphitheater. Lunch on your own and time for shopping and to buy the specialties of Sicily. Late afternoon transfer with your rental car, without assistant to Catania Airport and of the trip

Our tours are customizable

Our Hotels: Hotel Porta Felice Palermo, Hotel Crystal in Trapani, Hotel Colle Verde in Agrigento, Hotel Romano House in Catania or similar

Package rates in EURO, per person in double room occupancy – 4 Star Hotels

Period A: Until June 29, 2022, August 31 to October 30, 2022

Period B: June 30, to August 30, and October 31 to December 27, 2022

The package rate includes:

• 2 overnight at 4 star hotel in Palermo
• 1 overnight at a 4 star hotel in Trapani
• 1 overnight at a 4 star hotel in Agrigento
• 3 overnights at a 4 star hotel in Catania
• 7 buffet breakfasts at the hotels
• Full Day private guide Palermo Day 1
• Half Day private guide in Monreale Day 2
• Full Day private guide/assistant Segesta/Erice/Trapani area
• Full Day private guide/assistant Agrigento
• Half Day private guide in Piazza Armerina
• Half Day private guide in Taormina
• Full Day private guide/assistant Etna, Alcantara Valley
• Half Day private guide in Catania
• Entrance fee Botanical Garden in Palermo
• Entrance fee Cathedral/Cloister in Monreale
• Entrance Segesta
• Shuttle bus in Segesta
• Archaeological Area in Agrigento
• Entrance Villa del Casale in Piazza Armerina
• Entrance fee Greek Theater in Taormina
• Entrance Alcantara Gorges

The package rate does not include:

• Porterage service, tips, personal expenses
• Not mentioned meals
• Additional entrance fees and additional guided visits
• City taxes
• Travel insurance and health insurance; advisable
• Flights
• All not above mentioned

Important:

We reserve the right to make some changes if necessary, without affecting the program value. Please be in time for the appointment with the guide; maximum waiting time 15 minutes. No refunds in case of non-service due to delay

It is mandatory to wear the mask during the Covid period

RENTAL CAR:     Please consider a seat in the car as well for our guide.