MBER GUARANTEED DEPARTURE ON 6 DECE2024.
Organized group itinerary with stays in 4* hotels to discover the most
significant places on the island.
Individual arrival to the hotel in the charming city of Palermo (optional private transfer on
request). Dinner on your own and overnight in hotel.
Meal: Dinner
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 Palatina, admirable example from an historical and an artistic point of view, and a prove of how different cultures and religions can coexist. Ruggero II employed Bizantyne, Muslim and Latin workers. 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, situated in the ancient Kalsa area and adorned with 16th century sculptures. Dinner on your own and overnight in hotel.
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. You will have a stop to have lunch in a famous restaurant. Arrival in Catania 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. Continuing the visit enjoy a break in a historical bar of the city centre to taste the typical “granita & brioche”. Dinner on your own and overnight in hotel.
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.
Breakfast in hotel and end of services. Goodbye Sicily!
Meal: Breakfast
![](https://globalgroupts.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Taormina.jpg)
![](https://globalgroupts.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/cathedral-of-monreale-palermo.jpg)
![](https://globalgroupts.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/The-Cathedral-of-Palermo-is-an-architectural-complex-in-Palermo-Sicily-Italy.-.jpg)
![](https://globalgroupts.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Cathedral-of-Monreale.jpg)
![](https://globalgroupts.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Mount-Etna.jpg)
![](https://globalgroupts.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Shutterstock_sicily-italy-small-1.jpg)
Multilingual Tour leader and professional travel guide (English, Italian or Spanish) for the whole tour (from the 2nd day to the evening of the 4th day), local guides or audio-guides where necessary.
Deluxe bus from 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.
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, Catania city centre, Etna Tasting of Sicilian typical products:
Catania (day 3) tasting of Sicilian “granita & brioche”;
Etna (day 4) 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) available on request.
- Supplement for Post-night in hotel in Catania (Bed and Breakfast treatment) available on request.
- Transfers Catania airport/hotel in Catania available on request.
- Transfers Palermo airport/hotel in Palermo available on request.
- Assistance – Medical Expense Reimbursement – Luggage insurance – Travel Cancellation Expenses
Insurance: on request.
EXTRA FEES ENTRANCES TO BE CONFIRMED:
Monreale Cathedral AUD 15,00 p.p.
Monreale Cloister AUD 17 p.p.
Palermo Cappella Palatina AUD 38 p.p.
Palermo Martorana Church AUD 5 p.p.
Taormina Greek theatre AUD 30 p.p.
For organizational reasons or due to force majeure the itinerary may be modified.