Heart of Tuscany & Cinque Terre
Highlights
Featuring: PALERMO – MONREALE – ERICE – AGRIGENTO – TRAPANI – CALTAGIRONE – RAGUSA – SIRACUSA – TAORMINA – MILAZZO
- Monreale Abbey “The most beautiful Temple in the world”
- Villa del Casale, UNESCO World Heritage Site and its mosaics
- UNESCO Cave Necropoli of Pantalica, the most important prehistorical settlement in Europe
- Excursion to Etna Vulcano by 4×4 jeep
- The breathtaking beauty and crystal clear water of the Aeolian islands
Included
- Individual / FIT & Groups suggested Tour
- Accommodation at Ignas Tour’s Selected Hotels
- Transportation by Private Bus/Minibus/Car *
- Official Tour Guides during the City Tours *
- Entrance Tickets and Food & Wine Tastings *
* (according to the program – if mentioned)
from €
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
| Day 1: PALERMO Arrival transfer from Palermo airport to hotel in Palermo. Dinner on your own and overnight. |
| Day 2: PALERMO – MONREALE Buffet breakfast. Morning walking guided tour of Palemo that will take you through quaint narrow streets and alleys surrounded by Arabic-influenced urban structure. Major sights to be seen are, Piazza Politeama, Teatro Massimo and visit of the Norman Palace and the Palatine Chapel with its golden mosaics, depicting stories from the Old and New Testaments, and the Norman Cathedral, testimony of the long Norman reign over the island. Of particular note are the fine icons of St Peter & St James and the throne. The large central mosaic icons represent Christ Pantocrator, one of several Byzantine images in western Sicily. Lunch at your own. If you want to try something different your tour leader will point out restaurants/pizzeria whose owners said no to Mafia and the protection racket (called Pizzo) and are recognizable through a sign displayed on the shop window that reads “Pizzo free”. Afternoon guided visit to Monreale Abbey whose cathedral and the cloisters are frequently referred as Sicily’s greatest Norman buildings and are dated back to the 12th century. The upper part of the cathedral’s interior is completely covered in gleaming, more than 6.000sq m wide gold mosaics. Return to your hotel. Dinner on your own and overnight. Meals: B |
| Day 3: ERICE – TRAPANI – AGRIGENTO Buffet breakfast. Morning departure to the medieval village of Erice situated on the top of a hill overlooking the city of Trapani and the Egadi Islands. Walk through its tiny and characteristic streets, winding lanes and inner courtyards. Lunch on your own. Head down to Trapani area for a panoramic tour of the salt windmills and basins which are still in use. Continue to Agrigento with a guided visit to the famous Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, one of Sicily’s most famous historical attractions. This splendid archeological park consists of 8 temples built between about 510 and 430 BC. Dinner on your own and overnight. Meals: B |
| Day 4: PIAZZA ALMERINA – CALTAGIRONE – RAGUSA Buffet breakfast. Departure to Piazza Armerina and visit the famous Villa Romana del Casale, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to its well preserved mosaics depicting mythological themes and hunting scenes. Lunch in Piazza Armerina area. Continue to one of the most lively Baroque towns in central Sicily, known as “The city of Sicilian ceramics” due to its thousand-year-old tradition. The name itself – Caltagirone – derives from an Arabic word meaning the Castle or Fortress of the vases. Continue to Donnafugata castle where you will have dinner based on «antipasti» and pasta at Trattoria da Mamma Lucia, drinks included. Dinner on your own and overnight. Meals: B |
| Day 5: RAGUSA – SIRACUSA – TAORMINA Buffet breakfast. Walking tour of Ragusa Ibla with wine tasting. Continue to the UNESCO Cave Necropolis of Pantalica the most important prehistorical settlement of Europe, in a walking tour through the archeological area. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon continue to Siracusa to visit the most beautiful Greek colony of Sicily. Visit the archaeological area including the famous Latomie of the Paradise, the Greek Theatre, the Roman amphitheater and Dyonisios “Ear”. Discover the island of Ortigia, the small baroque city center of Siracusa, built by the Aragonians: see the Cathedral and the “Fontana Aretusa”. Continue to Taormina. Dinner on your own and overnight. Meals: B |
| Day 6: ETNA VOLCANO- TAORMINA Buffet breakfast. Morning excursion visit of Mount Etna, the highest active Volcano in Europe. During the tour you will explore the less known northern part by 4×4 Jeeps and reach the altitude of 9186 feet (warm clothes recommended). Lunch at a local private farmhouse where you will have the chance to taste authentic local products and wine. Afternoon guided visit to Taormina, Greek Theatre ticket is included. Happy hour and dinner in Castemola from where you will enjoy the splendid view over Taormina and the Golf of Giardini Naxos. Dinner on your own and overnight. Meals: B |
| Day 7: MILAZZO – LIPARO ISLANDS VOLCANO – CEFALU Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning departure to Milazzo and start a full day excursion to the Islands of Volcano & Lipari (weather permitting), two must-see islands of the stunning Unesco-listed Aeolian Archipelago. Guided morning tour of Lipari, then free time to shop in Lipari’s flower-filled streets and to stroll around the idyllic Old Town. Lunch on your own. Embark your boat to reach the second island: Volcano. Unlike Lipari, famous for its vulcanoes, Volcano’s star attraction are its mud baths. Perhaps use your time on the island to relax at one of the mud baths or take a dip in the warm seas and simply bask on the beach. Return back to Milazzo by boat and meet your driver and motor coach. Transfer to Cefalu’. Dinner on your own and overnight. Meals: B |
| Day 8: CEFALU Buffet breakfast. Transfer to the Palermo airport. Meals: B |
* The itinerary is on request and rates are subject to the availability of the hotels at the time of booking.
Prices are subject to change if travel occur during trade shows, bank holidays or special events and supplements may be applied.
Included Features
- Accommodation in Ignas Tour’s selected Hotels
- Itinerary Car, Minibus or Bus for the Itinerary (all included)
Not Included
- City Taxes – to be paid on spot
- Extra Tips
- Extra Expenses
- Everything not listed under “INCLUDED”
Ignas Tour Hotel Collection
Palermo: Boutique Hotel Vecchio Borgo 4* or similar
Agrigento: Villa Romana 4* or similar
Ragusa: San Giorgio Palace 4* or similar
Cefalù: Hotel Baia del Capitano 4* or similar