Itinerary

Day 1

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, after a brief introduction made by your Tour Director, enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. (D)

Day 2

Day 2 (Sunday): Monreale & Palermo

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. Scenes from the Old and New Testaments are depicted 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 at leisure to explore the town on your own (BB)

Day 3

Day 3 (Monday): Palermo/Cefalu/Polizzi Generosa/Taormina

Today depart for Cefalu, a charming coastal town home to a massive Norman Cathedral with outstanding mosaics. Visit the city center and stroll down main street to reach the Cathedral. Afterwards, we drive across the vast countryside of the Madonie Park showcasing Sicily's great variety of landscapes. The territory of the Madonie mountains is a paradise of earth and sky, tucked away on the island. We soon arrive in Polizzi Generosa—a lovely town nestled in the heart of the Madonie Natural Park in Palermo province. Step back in time viewing the ancient masserie transformed into a farmhouse, the flour mills evidencing the plentiful water supply of the area, and the furnaces used today,as in the past, to make ceramics. Light lunch at country trattoria to taste typical local dishes. This afternoon we will continue to Taormina, the world famous resort town of Sicily. (BB L)

Day 4

Day 4 (Tuesday): Taormina/Syracuse/Taormina

Today we leave for Syracuse. Upon arrival we will visit the magnificent Archaeological Park where we will admire the 5th-century BC Greek Theatre, the stone quarries, the Roman Amphitheatre and the Paradise Quarry. Later we will walk through the island of Ortygia, the picturesque and densely built original center of Syracuse. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon we drive back to Taormina. (BB L)

Day 5

Day 5 (Wednesday): Taormina

Today at leisure to relax, shop, explore(BB)

Day 6

Day 6 (Thursday): Taormina/Catania

Time to say goodbye to Sicily. Independent transfer to Catania airport. (BB)

Meal Legend: BB Buffet Breakfast L Lunch FC Farwell Cocktail D Dinner

Extra Information

Extras -

What is Included:
-Palermo: Two nights accommodation;
-Taormina: Three nights accommodation, NO sea view rooms;
-Daily continental breakfast buffet
-Welcome Dinner with set group menu;
-Vehicle/coach with air conditioning, no toilet;
-English speaking Tour Director/Driver as per program;
-All sightseeing, tasting and excursions as specified in the itinerary;
-One light lunch at country restaurant in Polizzi Generosa with tasting of several typical local dishes;
-One lunch at local restaurant in Syracuse;
-Hotel & city taxes.

DEPARTURE DATES 2009
January:10, 24
February:7, 21
March:14, 28
April: 4, 18, 25
May: 2, 9, 23, 30
June: 13, 20, 27
July: 4, 25
August: 29
September: 12, 19, 26
October: 3, 10, 24, 31
November: 7, 14
December: 12

Price per person
Euro 1.049,00 in double room
Euro 999,00 in triple room
Euro 1.300,00 in single room