This morning after a short visit of the famous “pescheria” (the ancient fish market) in Catania, the tour will continue with an excursion to the Mount Etna, the highest (c. 3350m) volcano in Europe and one of the largest and most active in the world, nowadays UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its regional park protects 59.000 hectares of unique geology, flora and fauna, villages and farms, and traditional methods of forestry, beekeeping, wine manufacture, stonework and carpentry. Views of stunning landscapes will amaze you heading to Refugio Sapienza. You will reach the “Crateri Silvestri”, small volcanic cones now inactive, surrounded by ancient lava flows. The view beyond the mountain’s hundreds of subsidiary cones and craters, can extend across the whole of Sicily, the Aeolian islands and Calabria. The spectacle is unique! You will have the chance to enjoy the local homemade honey and some typical products of the area. The tour continues towards Taormina where you will have lunch in a restaurant in the historic centre of the city. Taormina is a charming town renowned for its magnificent position above the sea commanding a celebrated view of Etna. Visit of Taormina’s fascinating Greek theatre which will leave you breathless for its commanding view on Giardini Naxos Bay and the Etna Mountain! Free time for a nice walk among the picturesque Medieval typical narrow streets, to go shopping and looking around the local handicrafts. Back in Catania for dinner on your own and overnight in hotel.

After breakfast, the tour continues to visit Catania’s historical centre stated UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its original Baroque style and its unique streets built with black lava stone. The colour scheme of the city-centre buildings is black and dark grey, relieved with white limestone details around doors and windows. The effect is extremely elegant! The walking tour will start from the scenic Duomo square with its magnificent Cathedral and the famous “Liotru” statue, antique lava-stone elephant, symbol of the city. Not far from here we will reach University Square, and we will have a walk along the splendid baroque Via Dei Crociferi, the most representative 18th century street in Catania, where we will admire the famous S. Benedict Monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch break in a lovely restaurant. In the early afternoon you will move towards Acireale, a beautiful baroque city known for one of the most famous and ancient carnivals in Italy. As every year, the Carnival of Acireale transforms the Sicilian town into a kaleidoscope of colours, music and joy. A theatre of wonders made of masks, music and art. The streets of the old town come alive with performances by street artists, jugglers and musicians, creating a magical and engaging atmosphere. One of the most anticipated events of the Carnival of Acireale is the parade of allegorical-grotesque floats. These floats are real works of art in motion. They represent the result of months of work by local artisans and artists. Each wagon is a unique combination of satire, fantasy and technical mastery. The structures are animated by complex mechanisms that allow the figures to move, creating a spectacular and surprising effect. Participating in the Carnival of Acireale means immersing yourself in an atmosphere of celebration and joy, where every corner of the city comes alive with music, dances, lights and shows. Back in Catania. Free dinner and overnight.

After breakfast in hotel departure to Syracuse to visit the most beautiful and greatest Greek colony in Sicily and World Heritage Site! The visit will start with the Archaeological Park of Neapolis, with its Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Latomie of Paradise and the Ear of Dionysius. Proceeding on and visit of the splendid Ortigia, a small island which is the historical centre of Syracuse. In Ortigia you will admire the beautiful Cathedral which dominates the square with its authoritative presence. The façade is a powerful Sicilian-Baroque composition, but it gives no hint that this building was once a Doric temple! Stop to enjoy a lunch in a local restaurant. Walking along the nice streets of the centre, you will reach a wide terrace on the waterfront surrounding the famous Arethusa’s Fountain, one of the most famous fresh-water sources of the Greek world. Back in Catania for free dinner and overnight in hotel.

This morning the tour continues in Agrigento visiting the famous Valley of the Temples stated World Heritage Site. As one of the most prosperous of the ancient Greek cities on the island, Agrigento presents a remarkable series of Doric Temples of the 5th century. Among hundreds of almond trees, you will admire the rests of the ancient Ak ragas. You will see the “Temple of Hera”, the “Temple of Concordia” and the “Temple of Heracles”. Proceeding on, visit of the charming and well-known town of Marsala, where Garibaldi went ashore in May 1860. You will walk through the streets of the centre where you overlook ancient noble palaces, monuments and impressive baroque churches. After that exclusive guided tour inside the historic Florio Cellars. The visit starts in front of the majestic giant vats, built at the end of the 19th century and still used for the refinement of Marsala wine, and it continues inside the 3 fascinating barrel chambers. After a thirty-minute tour through the barrel vaults, you will reach the avant-garde tasting rooms named Donna Franca and Duca Enrico. You will enjoy a delicious light lunch and a memorable wine tasting experience! The tour will continue visiting the popular Salt Road: here the salt marshes have given rise to one of the oldest salt-extracting industries in the world! Between Trapani and Marsala, the Salt Road is now protected for its interesting birdlife, and as an important site of industrial archaeology. Transfer to Marsala, accommodation in hotel, dinner and overnight.

After breakfast transfer to Erice, a charming medieval village located on top of Mount Erice famous for its cobbled streets, ancient churches and breathtaking panoramic sea views. The city retains a unique historical atmosphere. You will visit the Cathedral of Erice, also known as the Cathedral Church, an impressive Gothic building of the fourteenth century with an elegant rose window and a charming bell tower that offers a panoramic view of the city. Free time for a walk through the narrow streets, to go shopping and tasting the local confectionery delights, before stopping for lunch in a local restaurant. The tour continues towards to Segesta, an ancient city in the hinterland between Trapani and Palermo, where you will visit the Archaeological Park of Segesta, famous for its magnificent Solitary Temple and the Greek theatre, both remarkably well preserved. Founded by the Elemi, the city offers a fascinating immersion in the history and culture of ancient Sicily. The ruins are in a beautiful hilly landscape, offering spectacular views and a charming atmosphere. In the evening transfer to Palermo, accommodation in hotel, free dinner and overnight.

After breakfast in hotel, the morning will be spent visiting Palermo. The city stands on a bay dominated by Mount Pellegrino. While the Baroque predominates, there is a profusion of different architectural styles reflecting the city’s multicultural past. Visit of the wonderful eclectic Cathedral, the astonishing Martorana Church and the amazing Cappella Palatina, admirable example from an historical and an artistic point of view, and a prove of how different cultures and religions can coexist. During the day, you will have a stop to enjoy a typical lunch with local food. Along the path you will admire the famous Teatro Massimo and the debated fountain in Pretoria Square, adorned with 16th century sculptures. You will stop at Monte Pellegrino, the sacred mountain of Palermo. You can observe panoramic views of the Gulf of Mondello, the imposing rock bastions of the mountain and the characteristic flora and fauna of the mountain. Free dinner and overnight in hotel.

Breakfast in hotel and end of services. Goodbye Sicily!