GUARANTEED DEPARTURE ON 30 DECEMBER 2024.
A magical journey to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Organized group itinerary with stays in 4* hotels to discover the most
significant places on the island.
Individual arrival to your hotel in Palermo (optional private transfer on request).
Dinner on your own and overnight in hotel.
Meal: No Meal
After breakfast in hotel, the morning will be spent visiting Monreale, its huge Norman Cathedral, proclaimed the Eighth Wonder of the World, and its splendid Cloister in Arab Norman style: admirable masterpiece of art, sculpture, and semi-precious stones marquetry! Later you will discover the stunning Palermo, one of the richest towns in the island for its history and art. Palermo 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 Palatine, 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. Dinner on your own and overnight in hotel. * You will greet the arrival of the new year in the wonderful city of Palermo which, decorated for the occasion with lights and colours, will celebrate the event with music and concerts in the main squares of the city centre.
* Optional New Year's Eve dinner
We will welcome the first day of the year visiting the famous seaside village Cefalù and then the lovely inland town on the Madonie, Castelbuono! After breakfast transfer to Cefalù, charming Medieval town situated at the northern coast of Sicily. Visit of its stunning Norman Dome, free time to stroll through the town or to visit the famous and well-known Mandralisca Museum. For lunchtime we’ll move towards Castelbuono, where you will taste the famous Fiasconaro panettoni, historical company which has revisited in a Sicilian key the typical dessert of the Milanese Christmas tradition. Ingredients are carefully selected among the PGI and PDO local products such as the Bronte pistachios; the PGI Sicilian red oranges; the delicious Modican chocolate, Avola almonds and the precious Manna (sweet sap extracted from ash trees). In the afternoon you’ll have time to visit the famous Ventimiglia Castle and its charming chapel and to have a walk around to enjoy the local Christmas markets, concerts and exhibitions. Transfer to Catania, accommodation in hotel, free dinner and overnight.
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 lovely 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. The day will end with an overview of the beautiful Riviera Dei Ciclopi. Back in Catania for dinner on your own and overnight in hotel.
Our special New Year’s Eve Tour comes to an end.
Breakfast in hotel and end of services.
Goodbye Sicily!
Meal: Breakfast
Multilingual Tour leader and professional travel guide (English, Italian or Spanish) for the whole tour (from the evening of the 2nd day to the evening of the 4th day), local guides or audio-guides where necessary.
Deluxe bus form day 2 to day 4.
Whisper kit Crystal Sound for the whole trip: the latest generation, fast and light. It transmits the driving voice up to 150 meters away.
Accommodation in charming 4 stars hotels mostly located in the city centre, international breakfast included:
Palermo city centre: Mercure Palermo Centro 4* / Ibis Styles Palermo Cristal 4* or similar.
Catania city centre: Il Principe Hotel 4* / Romano House Hotel 4* or similar
4 international breakfast, 3 lunches in famous restaurants to have a taste of Sicilian traditional cuisine.
Visit of the main suggestive Unesco World Heritage Sites: Monreale, Palermo, Cefalù, Etna
Tasting of Sicilian typical products:
Palermo (day 5): tasting of local street food
Castelbuono (day 6): tasting of Fiasconaro typical panettoni
Etna (day 7): visit of a beekeeping honey company and honey tasting.
Transfers in/out
Meals not included by the program
Beverages
Entrance fees at monuments/museums
City taxes (where compulsory)
Anything not specified under “The rate includes”
Accommodation in charming 4 stars hotels mostly located in the city centre, international breakfast included:
Palermo city centre: Mercure Palermo Centro 4* / Ibis Styles Palermo Cristal 4* or similar
Catania city centre: Il Principe Hotel 4* / Romano House Hotel 4* or similar
- Supplement for Pre-night in hotel in Palermo (Bed and Breakfast treatment) rates available on request.
- Supplement for Post-night in hotel in Catania (Bed and Breakfast treatment) rates available on request.
- Transfers Palermo airport/hotel in Palermo rates available on request.
- Transfers Catania airport/hotel in Catania rates available on request.
- Assistance – Medical Expense Reimbursement – Luggage insurance – Travel Cancellation Expenses Insurance: on request.
For organizational reasons or due to force majeure the itinerary may be modified.
*Choose one of the Privilege Packages (Silver, Gold or Platinum) that best suits you to include fees entrances. Rates available on request.