Sicilian Jolly Tour
DAY
1st SATURDAY - PALERMO
Independent arrival at Hotel Excelsior Hilton Palermo, prestigious
historical Hotel
Located in one of the city center’ s main streets. Enjoy a welcome
cocktail. Dinner and overnight in your hotel.
DAY
2nd SUNDAY - PALERMO - CEFALŮ - CASTELBUONO – CATANIA
After a buffet breakfast, depart to Cefalů, a charming coastal town, a
former fishing village, which is also home to a breathtaking Norman
Cathedral with dazzling mosaics. Take a stroll to the city center and
down Main Street to reach the Cathedral and the medieval washhouse
built in the rock. Proceed to Castelbuono, a typical medieval village
on the slopes of the Madonie. Walking through the typical alleys of
the village, you can admire the Church of St. Anne, Patron Saint of
the city, with the bell tower next to the Church of “Matrice Vecchia”.
After the visit, tasting of typical Sicilian products at a renowned
pastry shop: panettone and the famous artisan liquors (Rosolio) of
various flavors. Lunch in a farmhouse Castelbuono. Proceed to Catania.
Accommodation, dinner and overnight at the Excelsior Grand Hotel Catania.
DAY
3rd MONDAY - CATANIA - MONTE ETNA - TAORMINA - CATANIA
After
a buffet breakfast, weather conditions permitting, excursion to Mount
Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Across fascinating
landscape, we will reach a height of 2000 meters, where we will enjoy
a fantastic panorama of the Ionic Sea. Lunch in a local restaurant on
the slopes of Etna. Continue to Taormina called “the pearl of the
Ionic Sea”, founded in 400 BC and beautifully located overlooking the
sea and the peak of Mount Etna. Enjoy time at leisure to shop for
handmade lace, coral jewels, ceramics, homemade sweets and preserves
down “Corso Umberto” or simply walk through the tiny streets.
Possibility to visit the fascinating Roman - Greek theatre. Back to
your Hotel: dinner and overnight.
DAY
4th TUESDAY - CATANIA - SIRACUSA - RAGUSA
After
a buffet breakfast, depart to Syracuse to visit the most beautiful
Greek colony of Sicily. Visit of the archaeological area including the
famous Latomie of the Paradise, the Greek Theatre, the Roman
Amphitheatre and the Dyonisios “Ear”. Visit the island of Ortigia, the
small baroque old city center of Siracusa, built by the Aragonians:
here you can admire the Cathedral and the “Fontana Aretusa”. Lunch in
a local restaurant. In the afternoon, driving through Modica, one of
the most picturesque cities of all Sicily, we’ll reach Ragusa, a city
that is divided into two parts: the upper part built after the
earthquake in 1693 and the lower part that is called Ragusa Ibla, one
of the most important testimony of the Baroque architecture. Enjoy a
tasting of Sicilian typical products in a nice bar in the main square
by the Dome, “Basilica di San Giorgio”.
Accommodation, dinner and overnight at Hotel Poggio del Sole Resort.
DAY
5th WEDNESDAY - RAGUSA - CALTAGIRONE - PIAZZA ARMERINA - AGRIGENTO
After
a buffet breakfast, depart to Caltagirone famous for the production of
ceramics and pottery: visit of a ceramics laboratory and opportunity
of shopping. Continue to Piazza Armerina and visit the worldwide known
Villa Romana del Casale: it is the richest, largest and most complex
collection of late Roman mosaics in the world Lunch in a local
restaurant. Continue to Agrigento: visit of the Valley of the Temples
including the Temple of Juno, Concord, Heracles, Zeus, Castor & Pollux
that represent the most beautiful example of the Greek Civilization in
Sicily.
Dinner
and overnight at Hotel Dioscuri Bay Palace (some departures at Della
Valle).
DAY
6th THURSDAY - AGRIGENTO - SELINUNTE - ERICE - PALERMO
After
a buffet breakfast, depart to the Archaeological park of Selinunte,
the largest in the Mediterranean area with the impressive Temples and
Acropolis. Proceed to Castelvetrano and stop in a local farmhouse
(famous for olive oil production) where before lunch it will be
possible to have a tasting of local typical products (olive oil, black
bread of Castelvetrano, olives). Proceed to Erice, a medieval town
full of myth, history and art, which sit on top of Mt. Erice,
overlooking the city of Trapani and the Egadi Islands. After the
visit, proceed to Palermo.
Accommodation, dinner and overnight at Hotel Excelsior Hilton Palermo.
DAY
7th FRIDAY - PALERMO - MONREALE - (MONTE PELLEGRINO – CATACOMBS - CAPO
MARKET OPTIONAL) - PALERMO
After
a buffet breakfast, morning visits of the Capital of Sicily, one of
the richest towns in the island for history and art: the Cathedral,
the “Palatina” Chapel, and panoramic tour of the town (the “Quattro
Canti”, the Opera House, the Pretoria Square). Continue to Monreale to
admire the Cathedral with its splendid 12th century mosaics and the
cloister of the Benedictines monastery with Moorish architecture.
Lunch in your Hotel. Afternoon at leisure or optional excursion to
Monte Pellegrino, the most famous mountain in Palermo, to arrive at
the shrine of Santa Rosalia, the patron saint of the city; from the
viewpoint enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the Conca d’Oro. Visit the
Catacombs of Cappuccini, a haunting experience, where in a maze of
corridors are held about 8,000 bodies, embalmed and more or less well
preserved. End the afternoon with a walk to the discover of one of the
most colorful historical markets of Palermo: “The Capo Market”
immersed in an explosion of vegetables, and fruits.
Dinner
and overnight in your Hotel.
DAY
8th SATURDAY - PALERMO
After
a buffet breakfast, end of the Tour.
