ARCHEOLOGICAL TOUR
12 days / 11 nights
DAY 1
Arrival – Catania airport – Taormina aerea
Arriving in Catania airport, take your car and drive to your hotel in Taormina area. Overnight
DAY 2
Randazzo – Cesarò – San Fratello – Cefalù
Discover the unknown part of Sicily. First stop is the medieval town of Randazzo, renowned for the production of Etna's wine Nerello Mascalese. Here you can admire the Cathedral made of Lava stone. Continue towards Cesarò, a little village in the Nature Reserve of "Parco dei Nebrodi". Proceed to the village San Fratello founded in the 11th century the wife of norman King Roger I. Our itinerary continue towards Cefalù, dominated by the small promontory “La Rocca”. Visit of the Arabic-Norman Cathedral of the 12th century and its beautiful historical center. Take your car and drive direction Palermo. Overnight in your hotel.
DAY 3
Palermo and Monreale
The best way to visit Palermo , is to walk through the old city rich of magnificent Byzantine, Arab-Norman and Baroque buildings. We suggest you to visit San Giovanni degli Eremiti ,the Norman's Palace , the Palatine Chapel and the Cathedral of Palermo. Don’t miss to taste the "arancine" (fried rice balls), "sfincione" (tipical pizza with onion) and "panelle", (fried chick pea fritters). Drive to Monreale to admire the cathedral with golden mosaic and the Benedictines cloister, considered the finest example of the Norman architecture in Sicily. Return to the hotel. Overnight.
DAY 4
Segesta – Erice - Selinunte
Drive to Segesta, the most important town in Hellenistic and Roman times. Discover the well preserved Doric temple. Proceding to Erice, a typical Sicilian medieval town, Visit the Cathedral and stroll along the typical mediaval streets with the beautiful view of the gulf of Trapani. Return to the hotel in Selinunte area and overnight.
DAY 5
Cave di Cusa – Eraclea Minoa - Agrigento
Departure to the archeological area of Cave di Cusa, the ancient stone used to build the sacred temple of Selinunte. The site was probably founded in the 6th century b.c. by Greek colonists from Selinunte. We suggest to visit Eraclea Minoa, with its beautiful Theater, built at the end of the 5th century B.C. that opens the cavea toward the Mediterranean Sea; the district of the Hellenistic and Romans residence, the Antiquarium. Drive towards the Hotel in Agrigento area.
DAY 6
Agrigento – Piazza Armerina – Caltagirone – Ragusa
Discover Agrigento. Visit of the Valley of Temples with the Doric Temple of Juno and the elegant, harmonious Temple of Concordia , known as one of the greatest and most important expressions of the Greek world. Departure to Piazza Armerina. Visit the picturesque ruins of the Villa Romana del Casale, renowned throughout the world for its splendid floor mosaics. The journey continues to Caltagirone also known as the “city of sicilian pots”. We suggest to visit the famous steps to Santa Maria del Monte. Do not miss “La Villa Comunale” and “The pots Museum”. Return to the hotel in Ragusa area and overnight.
DAY 7
Modica –Scicli- Cava d’Ispica- Ragusa
Departure to Modica, unique and charming baroque style sicilian old town. Visit a chocolate shop to find out how the Modicans citizen have been making chocolate in Aztec way. Continue to Scicli, a small town in the province of Ragusa, lying on a vast rocky mountains where join the rivers of the San Bartolomeo, the Santa Maria la Nuova and the Fiumara di Modica. Our journey continues to “la Cava D’Ispica” situated between the towns of Ispica and Modica, where you can find archeological remains of rooms, sanctuaries and necropoli of the Neolithic era. Return to the hotel in Ragusa area and overnight.
DAY 8
Ragusa Ibla – Noto - Siracusa
Drive to the historical centre of Ragusa Ibla, one of the UNESCO-listed Baroque towns of south-eastern Sicily. The main building monument is the cathedral, "Duomo di San Giorgio". The city is divided into two distinct areas: Ragusa Ibla and Ragusa, separated by the so-called "valle dei ponti" . Drive to Noto (World Unesco Heritage), one of the most example of the Sicilian baroque architecture . Stroll in the narrow streets, admiring the golden-colored stone buildings, the beautiful facades and balconies, the numerous palaces and Cathedrals. Return to the hotel in Siracusa area and overnight.
DAY 9
Siracusa – Castello Eurialo
Visit Siracusa: one of the most important archaeological centre in "Magna Graecia". The Neapolis Archaeological Park is the most characteristical part of the old Greek town, with its Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre and the Ear of Dionysius. The oldest part of the town is on the little island of Ortigia, with the remains of the earliest Greek constructions, such as the Temple of Apollo, and traces of the grandiose Temple of Athena, and the Arethusa Fountain. Time to walk around the beautiful baroque buildings of Ortigia. Drive towards Castello Eurialo, round 7Km from Siracusa, a ruine of the important defensive Dionisio I. Return to the hotel in Siracusa area and overnight.
DAY 10
Etna – Acireale - Taormina
Today you will drive to Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Visit of the extinct craters Silvestri at 1900 Mt. There is the possibility to go up to 2.900 Mt. with a cablecar and a jeep in order to try the most unforgetable experience, and admire a stunning panorama and the activity of the vulcano. Continue towards Acireale, this pretty Baroque town is set around the spectacular square "Piazza Duomo". Acireale is also famous for its ancient carnival and puppet theatre. Return to the hotel in Taormina area and overnight.
DAY 11
Taormina
Visit Taormina, well known as the “Pearl of Sicily”. with a breath-taking view of the majestic Mt. Etna with towns clinging to its slopes. Taormina is a middle age village with a charming Greek theatre and the typical mediaval streets. Don’t miss to taste the typical “granita” , close the Theatre.
DAY 12
Departure
Departure from Catania airport. End of the program and services.