8-day tour of Bucolic Sicily

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1Welcome to Sicily⌄

   Arrival in Palermo or Trapani Reception by our staff and transfer to the booked accommodation in the Trapani area.

   Meals: Dinner

   Overnight: Hotel Baglio Santacroce 3 * (or equivalent)

2. 2Salt pans of Trapani (WWF), Trapani and Erice⌄

   After breakfast we leave for Trapani. There you can expect the fascinating world of salt extraction in the WWF nature reserve of the salt pans of Trapani and Paceco. Glittering salt pools, pink flamingos and historic windmills create a magical backdrop.

   Afterwards we explore the charming old town of Trapani. You have time for your own discoveries, a shopping trip or a refreshing gelato in one of the cosy cafes.

   Continue with the walk, the mighty city walls from Phoenician times and the remains of the Venusburg. A sample of the delicious Ericini (biscuits) should of course not be missing before we leave Erice.

   Meals: Breakfast · Dinner

   Overnight: Hotel Baglio Santacroce 3 * (or equivalent)

3. 3Palermo, Monreale, Cammarata⌄

   Early in the morning departure for Palermo. A unique mix of cultures makes Palermo one of the most interesting cities in Europe. As First you visit one of the most important sacred buildings of the Middle Ages, the Monreale Cathedral and its cloister. "The most beautiful house of God in the world" with 6240 square meters of golden mosaics, it is the largest iconographic Bible in the world. The architecture of the basilica is a masterpiece of Norman-Sicilian church architecture. Wherever you look, the niches, the sides of the sanctuary, the ships, you will see mosaics with acts of sacred history everywhere. The magnificent cloister gives the guest such an impression of grace that one would like to stay there forever.

   Then continue towards the center of the city, here you visit the Palatine Chapel in the Norman Palace. (€ 18.00 p.p.) The Royal Palace or Castle of the Norman rulers and therefore also called the Norman Palace is the Palatine Chapel, which is the first to be visited, built on the occasion of the coronation of Roger II as the first king of the Sicilian Empire. We can't stop being amazed, we adore the gold mosaics, the beams decorated with stars and stalactites and listen eagerly to the comments of the tour guide, further through the rooms of the palace here are especially the room of the winds and the room Roger II and that admire the oldest parliament in the world.

   The cathedral with the royal tombs (€ 1.50 p.p.), plus Quattro Canti, the Martorana church, Piazza Vigliena. right in the heart of the historical center of Palermo

   Afterwards you take an orientation tour through the capital of Sicily so that you get an impression of the most important testimonies of the entire city, such as B. Piazza Politeama with the wonderful theater, the largest opera theater building in Italy Theatro Massimo, the most famous and noble shopping street Via Libertà and the tourist port of Palermo before we leave the capital.

   Tonight you will be served a typical dinner with specialties from the area.

   Meals: Breakfast · Dinner: Tonight you will be offered a typical dinner with specialties from the area.

   Overnight: Agriturismo Casale Margherita 3 * (or equivalent)

4. 4Sican Mountains Park⌄

   Highly interesting places, breathtaking landscapes and Mediterranean delights, this is how you could spend this day in summarize in a few words. Drive via Lercara Friddi, (place of origin of Frank Sinatra's father).

   On to Prizzi, where a walk in the Corso is planned and on to Palazzo Adriano.

   We continue to Palazzo Adriano, which was founded by the Albanian exiles who founded it in ancient times with customs and traditions. But we will not only visit a beautiful church "Santa Maria Assunta" of the Greek-Byzantine rite. Here Giuseppe Tornatore shot his award-winning OSKAR film "Nuovo Cinema Paradiso".

   Then we will visit the hermitage of Santa Rosalia alla Quisquina, a mystical and very fascinating place in the heart of the forest where the life of the Virgin is told, as well as the patron saint of Palermo. In addition to the "cave", the hermitage includes the church, the crypt and the monastery rooms such as the cells, the kitchen and the refectory

   To end the day, visit one of the most popular recreational areas in the province of Agrigento, San Giovanni Gemini, in whose mother church is housed the Black Christ "Gesù Nazarè", who reveals a fascinating story.

   Stroll in the heart of Cammarata, the pride of the district, which thanks to its unique urban landscape (which extends on a steep slope from 600 to 950m high) with its narrow courtyards, steep climbs and stairs of the Arab quarter leaves every visitor delighted .

   Meals: Breakfast · Dinner

   Overnight: Agriturismo Casale Margherita 3 * (or equivalent)

5. 5Agrigento, Piazza Armerina⌄

   Here you will visit the world cultural city, which Pindar described as the "most beautiful city of mortals". You will take a long walk through the Valley of the Temples and see, among others, the Hera, Concordia, Zeus, Castor and Pollux temples and the Temple of Heracles, which will seduce you into the mythical city of antiquity. (€ 10.00 per person)

   We extend our walk to the Kolymbetra Gardens, an insider tip for nature lovers. (€ 5.00 p.p)

   Free time and lunch break on the most beautiful beach promenade in Agrigento.

   Continue to Piazza Armerina. Here you will visit the Roman Villa del Casale, which presumably served as the luxurious country house of a member of the Roman aristocracy, which in turn is a world cultural asset of the first order. The floors of the 40 rooms are covered with almost completely preserved mosaics, which cover a total area of approx. 3,000 square meters. Dinner and overnight in an agriturismo in the Piazza Armerina area.

   Meals: Breakfast · Dinner

   Overnight: Agriturismo Torre di Renda 4 * (or equivalent)

6. 6Caltagirone, Noto, Siracusa⌄

   First you visit the monumental staircase that leads to the church "Santa Maria del Monte".

   After that you drive to Noto, the represent the world cultural heritage of the Sicilian Baroque in the south-east as it were with 7 other cities.

   Then you will reach Syracuse, the largest and most powerful city of the Greek era. Here you first visit the archaeological zone, see the "Latomie del Paradiso" and the Seiler grotto, as well as the Ear of Dionisus, the theater, the sacrificial altar of Hieron and the Roman amphitheater. (€ 10.00 p.p)

   Continue to Ortigia, here you can see the old town of Syracuse and take a walk to the Arethusa spring, the cathedral and the Apollo temple. Dinner and overnight in a beautiful country house in the Etna - Catania area.

   Go to the legendary Fonte Aretusa source of inspiration for poets and artists

   Meals: Breakfast · Dinner

   Overnight: Agriturismo Tenuta di Roccadia 3 * (or equivalent)

7. 7Etna, Taormina (optional)⌄

   Enjoy the amenities of your accommodation (pool, horse riding, hiking, bocce ball, and country activities), or you may want to explore the area independently? Only a few KM away are the archaeological excavations of Lentini, the Regional Archaeological Museum of Carlentini and the UNESCO Area of Pantalica. With intercity buses you can easily reach the second largest city on the island, Catania, which is 30 km away. Or take part in our optional excursion to Etna and Taormina. You drive through lemon and orange plantations with unique landscape panoramas to the largest still active volcano in Europe, Mount Etna. The ride takes you to the "Silvestri Crater" at an altitude of around 2,000 m. From here you can optionally take the cable car up to 2,600 m. Or by jeep up to approx. 3,000 m. The hiking trails that can be explored here are numerous.

   Continue to Taormina. Visit the ancient theater and stroll through the medieval streets.

   Meals: Breakfast · Dinner

   Overnight: Agriturismo Tenuta di Roccadia 3 * (or equivalent)

8. 8Arrivederci Sicilia⌄

   "Just a few words"... ... It was a wonderful week Transfer to the airport After breakfast, depending on the departure, transfer to the airport and return flight to the home airport or an extended stay.