Sicily … A Love Of A Lifetime

Itinerary

Day 1: Day 1: Arrival Palermo

Stop At: Palermo, Palermo, Province of Palermo, Sicily
Arrival at Palermo airport .Free Transfer to the hotel. Check in at our charming hotel 4* central located . Welcome cocktail. Meet our guide for an introduction to the tour . Welcome Dinner in a elegant setting in central Palermo with the most refined Sicilian cuisine . A restaurant where you will have a unique dining experience
After dinner, panoramic tour of Palermo by Night. Return to the hotel and retire for the night. (Dinner included

Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel 4* central located in Palermo

Day 2: Day 2: Palermo Street Food and culture

Stop At: Mercato del Capo, Via Cappuccinelle, 90138, Palermo, Sicily Italy
Morning: The morning will be spent with a special walking tour of Palermo dedicated to “Street food”. A 3 hour walking tour where you will sample the best of Sicily’s street food, led by a local expert guide , you will explore the fascinating culinary world of Sicily’s Capital. You will visit the famous and bustling Vucciria and Mercato del Capo, ourdoor markets, tasting five different Sicilian treats along the way – including “panelle” (chickpea fritters) and arancine (deep- fried rice balls). Pass major Palermo monuments during the tour: "Palermo Arabo-Normanna", "Palermo Barocca". Round out your tour with some local sweet wine and seasonal dessert.
Afternoon: Afternoon travel to Monreale the Norman “Mons Regalis”. The majestic dome was founded in the 12th century by the Norman king William II. It is 6.340 square meters of polychrome and gold mosaics and the access to the Benedictine cloister makes it one of the most magnificent testimonies of the Norman conquest of Sicily.
Back to the hotel. Dinner on your own . Creative Sicilian dishes will be served between strings and retro furnishings in an intimate and elegant setting. Overnight (Breakfast and street food taste included)

Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch: It's not a definite lunch . It's a street food tour with some tasting
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: We stay in the same hotel 4* in Palermo that we have for the day 1

Day 3: Day 3: Erice - Marsala between wines and pastry

Stop At: Marsala, Marsala, Province of Trapani, Sicily
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Then, transfer to Erice, a magnificent village nestled in a picturesque setting that rests untouched from medieval times and where our guests will visit its ancient churches and rich historic city centre. Visit to the Antique Convent Pastry Shop, one of the most renowned Sicilian bakeries. There, enjoy a taste of the fine Erician pastries first created within the convent walls and, as a special treat, sample some of the typical almond dough desserts filled with candied lemon.
Next, transfer to Marsala, a city famous for the production of its namesake wine. Stop in Florio winery.
Don't miss the delicious wines
Guided tastng of 4 wines in the charming “sala delle botti” combined with bread, olives, tuna, arancini, focacce, local cheeses.
Check in at the hotel for rest and relaxation.
And now you are ready for a pleasant evening . In front of one of the most peculiar landscape of Sicily: the Stagnone di Marsala, we will have an Aperitif in a charming place overlooking the saltpans during sunset.
Retire for the night. ( Breakfast, brunch and aperitif included)

Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: A brunch in a winery with some tasting
• Dinner: it's an apero dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel 4* in Marsala

Day 4: Day 4: A DIP BETWEEN NATURE AND HISTORY: AGRIGENTO - SYRACUSA

Stop At: Agrigento, Agrigento, Province of Agrigento, Sicily
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Then, transfer to Agrigento
Our morning will be dedicated to the visit of Agrigento a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998 and one of the most symbolic remains of classical Greek civilization. Accompanied by a guide, you will experience the same sensations as they did, admiring the Temple of Juno and the grandiose Temple of Corcord, which will amaze you for its sheer size, harmonious architecture and perfect state of preservation.
Picnic lunch at the Kolymbetra park, an agricultural jewel returned to light after decades of abandon. This Garden has fruit trees from every part of the world and some of the trees are over 1000 years old! Then surrounded by pomegranate, pistachio, orange and lemon trees and under the Mediterranean sun you will enjoy a typical Sicilian lunch served to you outdoors, complete with local fruit, cheese and wine. This is sure one of the highlights of your trip
Transfer to Syracuse, city with colourful history and beautiful landscape. Check in at our charming and unique hotel 4* Hotel .
Overnight (breakfast and picnic included).

Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: it's a picnic in the garden
Accommodation included: Hotel 4* in Siracusa

Day 5: Day 5: BEAUTY and DOLCE VITA : SYRACUSA and TAORMINA

Stop At: Syracuse, Syracuse, Province of Syracuse, Sicily
Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Morning dedicated to Syracusa, a prominent Ancient greek settlement in Italy. Visit the archaeological zone: the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Ear of Dyonisus and the Latomie.
Stroll through the historical center on the Ortigia island to admire the Cathedral, the Aretusa fountain and the ancient streets. Time for shopping. Lunch on your own
Transfer to Taormina with a stopping in Fiumefreddo for a visit to the ancestral home of the notorious Corleone family at the heart of Francis Ford Coppola’s classic nine-hour cinematic : the “Castello degli Schiavi”, the house of DON CORLEONE.
This beautiful looking residence was built in 1700 as a country house for the Nobility.
The house was location for several scenes throughout the Godfather films including the un-intentional murder of Apollonia in the Godfather and also the brutal revenge Killing of Don Ciccio, by Vito Corleone in Godfather part II.
Walk into the castle and meet the owner that will let you introduce into the aim of the film
Continue to Taormina Check in at the hotel. Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight (Breakfast and dinner included)

Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner: A dinner in a local restaurant
Accommodation included: Hotel 4* in taormina

Day 6: Day 6 : BETWEEN SKY and FIRE: ETNA - TAORMINA

Stop At: Mount Etna, 95030 Catania, Sicily Italy
After breakfast we depart for your “Special morning on Mt. Etna” one of our unique excursion in private jeep.
You will see the highest active volcano in Europe. You will discover many habitats and beautiful scenery, characteristic villages at its slopes and, of course, the terrific power of nature.
Following our excursion we’ll continue our drive to an ancient estate located on the slopes of the volcano Etna. The farm, which belongs to a noble family, is surrounded by extensive vineyards and has a panoramic view of both Mt. Etna and the sea. Mt. Etna is the highest volcano in Europe.
The climate and the volcanic soil help give wines a unique mineral taste typical of the region around Mt. Etna.. Wine tasting and guided visit to the wine cellar with a member of the family.
Lunch at the farm
Back to Taormina to spend the afternoon at leisure in this beautiful spot, which offers also historical and cultural attractions, such as the Greek Theatre, used as stage for many important international events.
You can also admire the various buildings in Corso Umberto, the main road that in the summer evenings is always crowded and just in the middle it widens on a "belvedere", with an unforgettable view on the whole bay.
Dinner on your own . Overnight in Taormina (Breakfast and lunch included)

Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: A lunch and wine tasting in a special winery
Accommodation included: Hotel 4* in taormina . Same of the night before

Day 7: Day 7: CASTELBUONO - CEFALU’

Stop At: Cefalu, Cefalu, Province of Palermo, Sicily
Day 7: CASTELBUONO - CEFALU’
Morning: breakfast at the hotel and check out. Departure to Castelbuono a nice village at 20 minutes from Cefalù. Have a walking tour of the village and stop in a very know pastry to taste the famous “pistachos’s panettone”.
Have a lunch in a typical restaurant (based on mushrooms and asparagus)
Then a stop in a particular place: Abbazia Santa Anastasia a former Benedictine abbey built in the twelfth century in the hills high above the north coast. The medieval abbey or "abbazia" is steeped in a natural landscape so extraordinary that the present owner, entrepreneur Francesco Lena, originally purchased the land to turn the estate into a holiday resort. Instead, he began experimenting with international varietals such as Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon as well as the indigenous Nero d’Avola. Continue to Cefalù . Check in at our hotel. Visit of this picturesque medieval town dominated by the gold - coloured cathedral, a Romanesque jewel built by the Norman king Roger II. The interior is decorated with fabulous mosaics executed in a spectacular array of colours on a gold background. Walking through the small streets of the historical city centre. The old roman lavatory can be seen here as a testimony of the strong ancient Roman presence here.. Farewell dinner in a restaurant overlooking the sea. Overnight at the hotel (Breakfast , Lunch and dinner included)

Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner: a farewell dinner overlooking the sea
Accommodation included: Hotel 4* in cefalù

Day 8: Day 8 – PALERMO AIRPORT

Stop At: Palermo, Palermo, Province of Palermo, Sicily
Breakfast in hotel. It’s time to say goodbye. Transfer to Palermo airport for your return flight. Departure. See you at the next “Sicily By Experts” tour to explore an other corner of the Island.


Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.