Signature Sights & Cities of Sicily

Meet your guide in your hotel lobby this morning to visit Palermo and Monreale. You’ll be enchanted by Palermo’s wide boulevards, traditional Sicilian Old Quarter, and baroque palaces. You’ll see the city’s main sights, including Quattro Canti (the Four Corners), an extravagant baroque square ringed by four buildings with baroque sculptures that depict the Four Seasons, Spanish kings, and the patron saints of Palermo’s four old quarters. You’ll also see the twelfth-century Cathedral, which houses a pantheon of royal tombs. Afterwards, you will be taken to Palermo’s impressive food market Il Capo which is full of color and great epicurean delights. Be sure to sample some typical street food such as pani ca meusa, panelle and arancini while you are there!

Later you’ll discover the Arab-Norman splendor of the Monreale Cathedral. This treasure dates from the 12th century and shows the diverse architectural influences of both the Normans and the Arab population. At day's end, you'll be returned to your hotel in Palermo by private vehicle.

Dinner not included in tour price.

Today you will leave Palermo for Agrigento. Your first port of call will be Segesta, where you will meet your local guide to visit the Greek Theatre and the Temple. Transfer to Erice, a wonderful and mysterious medieval town made famous in ancient times as the birthplace of Venus. Walk through the cobblestoned streets of the town, smelling a variety of aromas emanating from the numerous pastry shops for which Erice is famous. You will visit the Norman Castle and the Duomo and stop at the world famous Pastry shop by Maria Grammatico to taste almond sweets, genovesi and nougat to match with Marsala wine. From here, you will be driven along the Salt Road looking at the Salt Pans en-route to Agrigento. Take in the views of the Salt Pans on the coastline between the cities of Trapani and Marsala before arriving at Agrigento, your destination for the day. (includes entrances in Segesta and tasting at pastry shop).

Meet up with your guide in Agrigento for a three hour guided tour visiting the magnificent Valley of the Temples, scenery of extraordinary beauty, amongst the imposing Greek ruins, the Garden of the Kolymbetra and the Necropolis. (includes transportation and entrance for Valley of Temples included).

Leaving for Ragusa in Eastern Sicily today, you'll pass through an area whose heritage, both for importance and for beauty, has been declared World Heritage by the UNESCO. Arrive in Ragusa Ibla, meet up with your local guide and admire the flamboyant Baroque architecture of the town, seeing the historical centre and the Portale of San Giorgio, Villa Ibla, Piazza Pola with the Chiesa of San Giuseppe and finally the Duomo di San Giorgio and Palazzo La Rocca. At day's end you will be brought to your accommodation in Modica.

Spend the day in the company of a guide complete with a driver and private land rover as you discover Ragusa Ibla, Modica, Scicli (World Heritage sites of the UNESCO) and taste some chocolate of Modica, gelato biscotto (ice-cream biscuits) and granita Siciliana (Sicilian style slushy). Then relax as you have lunch in Ragusa Ibla before returning to the hotel in the late afternoon.

Spend the day traveling by private vehicle and with your own driver from Ragusa to Taormina, stopping at various places of interest along the way.  Meet up a local guide at Syracuse for a tour of the main sites such as the Ear of Dionysius, the Greek Theatre and the archaeological site. Until the Arab conquest of 878, the city was the capital of Sicily and was by far the most important city on the island. Continue on to Ortigia, one of the most interesting urban areas of Sicily, and visit its famous Duomo, built upon the old temple of Athena.(includes entrance in Syracuse).

Today you will be free to explore Taormina, particularly the Greek–Roman Theatre and the Corso Umberto I with its luxury shops. Please let your Sales Advisor know if you would like to have the services of a local guide today.

Every day is beach day in Taormina. Even during the winter months, you can enjoy water sports such as wind-surfing, sailing, fishing, scuba-diving, canoeing, and snorkeling. In some beautiful nearby villages, there are excellent Paragliding clubs for those looking for a little more adventure. Stroll on the beach today and enjoy some relaxation time. Take the time to enjoy a beach side lunch and to take some photos of the sunset.

Relax on your private transfer to Catania (airport) from your Taormina hotel.