Explore Sicily in nine days: you’ll uncover layers of history in the island of Sicily. Is a sort of showcase where you can immerse your senses in the art, culture and gastronomy!

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Day 1: Arrival in Palermo, the capital of Sicily 

Welcome to the warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Sicily!

Upon arrival at Palermo Airport (PMO) collect your luggage inside the customs area. Then transfer to your hotel.                                                                                                         

This afternoon is at leisure to explore the town on your own.

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Day 2: Full Day Monreale and Palermo with Street Food Tastings  

Today meet the guide and taxi to join Monreale to see where Arab-Norman art and architecture reached its pinnacle in the Duomo, launched in 1174 by William II. It represents scenes from the Old and New Testaments all in golden mosaics.

 

Then, a short drive takes us to Palermo. Our first stop is at the Palatine Chapel, a finest example of Arab-Norman art in Palermo. Built by Roger II from 1130 to 1140, the chapel is adorned with extraordinary Norman-Byzantine mosaics. We then continue onto the Four Corners which is the junction in Palermo. Effectively, it is the centre point of the four areas of the old town centre. You will almost inevitably pass through it and it is worth stopping for five minutes to have a look at its sculptures which were commissioned by the Spanish Viceroy in 1611. The sculptures on each of the four corners depict a variety of themes, including the four seasons, four Spanish kings and the four patron saints of the old town areas. Going south-east down Via Maqueda you will come across Piazza Pretoria which is home not only to a splendid fountain but several other impressive buildings including, on the right, the City Hall. The fountain, known for generations as the “Fountain of Shame”, has an interesting history. The large central fountain is the focal point for sixteen nude statues of nymphs, humans, mermaids and satyrs. If you imagine this being erected during the Inquisition, it is quite easy to imagine why it received its epithet, the “Fountain of Shame”.

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The last but not the least is our stop at the Ballarò Open Air Market a place overflowing with beautiful fresh fish, and local vegetables and cheeses.  Originating from the era when Sicily was occupied by the moors, this 1000 year old market has run much in the same manner for centuries.  It has strong Arab influences, resembling an eastern souk, and these influences are also evident in the merchandise itself.  Next to mounds of ricotta and caciocavallo cheeses, barrels of olives and fat slabs of swordfish sit saffron and other spices, as well as sacks of beans and gorgeous indigenous fruits and local vegetables.  Here you will have the opportunity to taste a typical palermitano dish, such as the famous Panelle (a thin paste of crushed ceci/garbanzo beans rolled into sheets, fried and served in pizza-like slices).

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Day 3: Palermo to Marsala visiting Erice, Olive Oil Farmhouse and Saltpans

Today departure for Erice uptown, which was an important religious site associated with the goddess Venus. Wander through its ancient streets and visit some of the famous homemade pastry shops -- world-famous for marzipan candies and other delicacies like almond and pistachio pastries – and the lovely preserved Mediaeval town offering the most breathtaking views and a palpable sense of history. Then by walk we join the most visited sites: the Pepoli Castle and Venus Castle. The former was built by the Arabs while the latter was a Norman construction with imposing towers that derived its name from the fact that it was built on the site of the ancient Temple of Venus, allegedly founded by Aeneas.

Lunch today is in an olive oil farmhouse. 

This afternoon we then continue to Trapani-Marsala Salt Way Road, skirting the lagoon to see the snow-capped mountains but hills of salt, one of the Sicilian economy's historical resources that was already very precious in the days of the Phoenicians, who were the first to bring some form of technology to its production. The area offers a truly unique landscape. Windmills, first introduced during mediaeval times, dot the horizon, a testament to how things were once done, though one or two continue to function, pumping water through the sluice gates into or out of the various basins. Piles of harvested salt, neatly covered with terracotta tiles, lie between the road and the basins waiting to be dispatched.

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Day 4: Marsala to Agrigento visiting Turkish Steps and Valley of the Temples

Today, on the way to join Agrigento, we drive across coastline, beaches and cliffs, including the remarkable white chalk ones of the Turkish Steps-Scala dei Turchi. The name translates as Turkish Steps, and indeed there is a striking resemblance to Pamukkale, Turkey. However the explanation on the history of the name is that the Scala dei Turchi was the place Arab pirates, locally referred to as “turks”, anchored their boats out of the wind while they pillaged the surrounding area. The "Scala dei Turchi" is a splendid, blinding, white jewel that frames the clear blue sea. One cannot describe the view and communicate it all: you have to live immersed with all your five senses in the magic of this incredible cliff of white marl. It's a fascinating place, where centuries of rain and wind have carved a natural staircase and whose white color is made more dazzling by the sunlight. The Turkish steps is not only a natural feature, but is also a part of local legends: it is said that the Saracen pirates (for the Sicilians, the "Turks", which is a negative connotation that indicates all the people that were once devoted to piracy), docked ships in the calm, clean waters, protected by the “Scala”, and climbed these natural "steps" to reach the top of the cliff and raid local villages.

Later onto Agrigento to see the Valley of the Temples: two hours walking tour on the Valley of the Temples an important Unesco World Heritage site covers the Temple of Hera, the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Hercules and the Temple of Zeus. Agrigento, according to legend, was founded by Daedalus and his son Icarus after they had fled from Crete “by air”. Historically, however, its origins date back to 582 B.C. when it was founded by Rhodian-Cretan colonist from the neighboring Gela who named their city Akragas after the nearby river. It rapidly increased in size, importance and military strength under Phalarides, the first tyrant, and later under Theron, who extended his way over northern Sicily as far as Himera. In conclusion, Agrigento was a city of artists and illustrious personages, amongst whom the philosopher Empedocles. Pindar defines it as “the most beautiful of mortal cities” and, in fact, in the Vth century B.C., those famous temples, whose beauty we still admire today, were built.  

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Day 5: Agrigento to Siracusa visiting Ragusa Ibla and Modica  

Today meet the driver at hotel and drive to Ragusa Ibla, one of the most picturesque towns in Sicily. The view from the upper town over Ragusa Ibla on its own separate hilltop is quite breathtaking. One of the UNESCO-listed Baroque towns of south-eastern Sicily, Ragusa is also one of the principal filming locations for the Sicilian Detective Saga Il Commissario Montalbano (Montalbano Inspector), a series which has done wonders for publicising the beauty of this area.

This afternoon departure for Modica. Like the other towns in the Val di Noto, was badly damaged in the 1693 earthquake and largely rebuilt in Sicilian Baroque style. Modica is custodian of a 400 year tradition of Sicilian chocolate-making. Being part of the Spanish kingdom for so many years meant that Sicily was often one of the first recipients of the new foodstuffs being brought back from South America. Cacao was one of these and today Modica still specialises in making granulous chocolate, often flavoured with chilli pepper, cinnamon or vanilla, that is based on Aztec methods and recipes. Chocolate shops abound and, for the real chocoholic, it is sometimes possible to watch the “chocolatiers” at work. Tasting of Modica chocolate is a must.

Later we drive back to Syracusa.

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Day 6: Siracusa and Ortigia – Half Day Walking Tour

Today visit this wonderful town with a professional guide who will lead you to the discovery of the most important beauties as well as the hidden treasures of Siracusa and Ortigia Island.

 

Transfer by taxi the Archaeological Park that highlights the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre and, the Paradise Quarry. After we travel back to the Island of Ortigia by taxi to start the walking tour from the Aretusa Fountain, visit the incredible Dome of Siracusa built on top of a Greek Temple and today incorporated in a beautiful baroque church!!

Continuing the walk, the tour will end at Apollo Temples to permit you to get back independently to your accommodation.

 

This afternoon is at leisure.

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Day 7: Siracusa to Taormina visiting Etna and Winery

Departure for the Etna Natural Park to discover a beautiful Volcano rich in sounds, perfumes, and colors. Along the scenic drive we will stop at the the 2002 lava flow reachable through a winding curvy road surrounded by chestnut and oak forests. The 2002 eruption lasted from October 27th to January 29th 2003 and it is considered one of the most explosive eruptions of the past one hundred years. Continuing our excursion we will reach Piano Provenzana (1800 meters above sea level), a ski resort, theater of the great eruption of 2002. Here you will have free time to enjoy an excellent espresso and take a short walk to visit the ruins of the hotel Le Betulle partial covered by a molten lava flow.

Then to a local winery to indulge our senses in the delicious lunch followed by wine tastings

This afternoon we then continue onto Taormina, the world-famous resort town of Sicily.

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Day 8: Taormina at leisure

Today is at leisure to explore the town on your own.

 

We do recommend an independent walking tour to visit Taormina: start in Corso Umberto Street, the core of the town. From here you can join the Greek Roman Theatre, built for the most part of brick, and is therefore probably of Roman date, though the plan and arrangement are in accordance with those of Greek, rather than Roman, theatres; It is one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions, so that Johann Wolfgang Goethe in his famous “Journey to Italy” wrote: “No theater audience has never had such a sight in front of him.” The highlight of today walking tour is for sure go up using the old steps up to the top of the theatre to admire an amazing view of the Taormina Bay and the Etna volcano, the view from here is amazing and unforgettable.

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Day 9: Taormina > Catania airport

Time to say goodbye to Sicily!

Transfer to Catania Airport and departure to your next destination