Eastern Sicily tour

A short tour of Eastern Sicily. Starting from Catania and ending in Palermo

5 days/ 4 nights. Departures on Fridays

Land package only. Escorted in English only

Price Euro 550 (double occupancy). Single supplement Euro 175. 3rd bed Euro 523.

Hotels:4 star superior. Standard rooms. Centrally located. Hotel Hilton (or similar) in Giardini Naxos and Grand Hotel Excelsior (or similar) in Palermo)

Tour operator: Verdesicilia Srl

DAY 1- FRIDAY : CATANIA-TAORMINA

Arrival in Catania airport. Transfer to your hotel by your own. Meeting with the participants. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

DAY 2- SATURDAY: TAORMINA- MOUNT ETNA-TAORMINA

Buffet breakfast at hotel and morning walking tour of Taormina’s charming city center includes the Greek/Roman amphitheatre, with its spectacular view of Giardini Naxos and Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe. Enjoy the excursion to Mount Etna, till 1800 meters and visit the Sylvester Craters  where you can enjoy the best views, as you drive through the fertile slopes and villages that sit on ancient volcanic eruptions. Tonight you may experience dinner on your own in one of the many colourful restaurants of Taormina.

DAY 3- SUNDAY: TAORMINA-SIRACUSA-(optional tour to SAVOCA, FORZA D’AGRO’) -TAORMINA

Buffet breakfast at your hotel and experience an included excursion to Syracuse. A guided tour of this venerable city highlights the Archaeological Park, Greek Theater, Latomia del Paradiso and Cave of Dyonisius’ Ear. On the way back to Taormina, we offer a once in a lifetime experience. You may take an optional “Godfather” tour featuring the authentic villages chosen by Francis Coppola for most of the scenes in the Godfather movies. This is a good way to explore the real untouched Sicilian countryside, local lifestyle and culture. This evening savor a special Sicilian dinner with wine in a restaurant characteristic of this region.

DAY 4- MONDAY: TAORMINA-AGRIGENTO-PALERMO

Buffet breakfast at your hotel and depart for Agrigento, a hillside town famous for its magnificent Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a guided tour of the valley, dating back to the 5 century B.C. The poet Pindar described the site “as the most beautiful city built by mortal men”, The Doric style temples, all constructed within a century, face east, a standard criteria for both Greek and Roman temples so the statue of the god housed in each temple faced the rising sun. The best temple is that of Concordia (similar in design to the Partenon in Athens) which is an almost perfectly preserved condition. Your local guide will highlight the history and architecture of Concordia and of the other temples that are part of this archaeological treasure-trove. After visiting the Valley of the Temples, resume travel to Palermo, where you arrive in the evening in time for an enjoyable and relaxing dinner at your hotel.

DAY 5 - TUESDAY:  PALERMO

Buffet breakfast at your hotel. End of the tour.