GUARANTEED DEPARTURE ON 21 FEBRUARY 2025.
A magical journey to celebrate the Carnival of Acireale.
Organized group itinerary with stays in 4* hotels to discover the most
significant places on the island.
Individual arrival to your hotel in Catania (optional private transfer on request). Dinner
on your own and overnight in hotel.
Meal: No Meal
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.
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 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.
Accommodation in charming 4 stars hotels mostly located in the city centre, international breakfast included:
Catania city centre: Il Principe Hotel 4*/ Romano House Hotel 4* or similar.
4 international breakfast and 3 lunches in famous restaurants to have a taste of Sicilian traditional
cuisine
Visit of the main suggestive Unesco World Heritage Sites: Etna, Catania city centre, Syracuse
Agrigento, Palermo
Entrance to the circuit of the Carnival of Acireale
Tasting of Sicilian typical products:
Etna (day 2): 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:
Catania city centre: Il Principe Hotel 4*/ Romano House Hotel 4* or similar
- Supplement for Pre-night/Post-night in hotel in Catania (Bed and Breakfast treatment) 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.
EXTRA FEES ENTRANCES TO BE CONFIRMED:
Taormina Greek theatre AUD 30 p.p.
Syracuse Archeological Park AUD 41 p.p.
Syracuse Cathedral AUD 5 p.p.