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15-Day Sicily Discovery

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Overview

Sicily is a history lesson on a plate. And the best way to understand the island’s colourful history is to immerse yourself in its cuisine. Sicily is fascinating, delicious and paradoxical. It has been influenced beautifully by the parade of Phoenicians, Greeks, Normans, Moors, Romans and Spanish who have left their mark in temples, cathedrals and palaces but also in language, customs and above all, food.

On this trip, you’ll enjoy a wine pairing lunch in a beautiful farmhouse, sample street food, walk in vineyards and olive groves and dine in some of the island’s most authentic restaurants. All of these gastronomic experiences are shared with explorations of the finest archaeological sites on the island in the company of expert guides.
Sightseeing
Outdoors & Nature
Culture & Arts
Food & Drink
Hiking & Trekking

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Palermo

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Arrive in Palermo

You will arrive at Palermo airport and get a private transfer by minivan to your 4* centrally located hotel. You can spend the rest of your day at leisure.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Principe di Villafranca

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    Activities

    Palermo

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Minivan from Palermo Airport to Principe Di Villafranca Di Chiofalo Carmelo

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    Destinations

    Palermo

Day 2

Explore Palermo and Visit a Puppet Maker

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Explore Palermo and Visit a Puppet Maker

After breakfast, you will meet your local guide and start an interesting walking tour of the city centre. During the tour in the city centre, you will visit the workshop of a Puppet maker “Mastro puparo” who carries on this antique Sicilian tradition of beautifully carved puppets.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Principe di Villafranca

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    Activities

    Palermo Private Walking Tour

    Palazzo dei Normanni

    Palermo Cathedral

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

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    Destinations

    Palermo

Day 3

Visit Monreale & Segesta and Eat Lunch in a Typical Manor

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Visit Monreale & Segesta and Eat Lunch in a Typical Manor

After breakfast, you will depart by minivan for a full-day excursion with a local guide. Today, you will visit Monreale Duomo, one of the most sumptuous examples of the so-called Arab-Norman style, whose itinerary has been recently nominated for recognition as a “Unesco” World Heritage Site. After the visit, you will eat lunch with a local cook that will host you at her Baglio. After the welcome, you will walk among the olive grove and she will explain the production of the olive oil. You will visit the manor farm and then have lunch with local food. The last stop for today is the archaeological park of Segesta located in the middle of sunny vineyards.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Principe di Villafranca

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    Activities

    Monreale & Segesta Tour With Lunch at a Local Home

    Monreale Cathedral

    Temple of Segesta

    Monreale Cathedral

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    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

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    Destinations

    Palermo

    Monreale

    Sicily

Day 4

Explore Erice, Salt Pans & Taste Wine in Marsala

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Explore Erice, Salt Pans & Taste Wine in Marsala

You will check out after breakfast and depart by minivan with your driver-guide to visit the wonderful
village of Erice overlooking the Gulf. You will proceed for a visit to the unique Salt Pans, explore the
unique landscape and learn about the ancient process of extracting salt. After lunch, you will proceed to Marsala for a visit to the city centre. Here, you will enjoy a wine tasting in one of the oldest producers in the area – Florio.

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    Accommodation

    Masseria Agnello

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Erice Self-Discovery

    Marsala Salt Pans

    Marsala

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hotel Principe di Villafranca to Masseria TORRE COCCARO

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    Meals

    Breakfast

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    Destinations

    Palermo

    Erice

    Sicily

    Province of Agrigento

    Marsala

Day 5

Visit Agrigento Temple Valley and Scala Dei Turchi

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Visit Agrigento Temple Valley and Scala Dei Turchi

In the morning, you can choose between relaxing at your relais or joining an optional Marzipan experience. After lunch, transfer to Agrigento Temple Valley where you will meet our professional guide. Your tour will develop along the rocky crest of the Temple Hill of Agrigento. A series of sanctuaries consecrated to the most important Polias Gods have decorated this crest since the late sixth century BC. On the way back, by travelling along the coast towards the west, we will reach the so-called Scala dei Turchi in Realmonte.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Masseria Agnello

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Marzipan ExperienceOptional Activity

    Valley of the Temples

    Scala dei Turchi

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Masseria Agnello to Masseria Agnello

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    Meals

    Breakfast

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    Destinations

    Province of Agrigento

    Favara, Sicily

    Sicily

Day 6

Walking Tour From Upper Ragusa to Ibla

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Walking Tour From Upper Ragusa to Ibla

After breakfast, you will check out from your hotel and depart to Ragusa, where you will enjoy a walking tour of the city centre with an expert local guide. You can enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Il Duomo Relais

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    Activities

    Private Walking Tour from Upper Ragusa to Ibla

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    Meals

    Breakfast

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    Destinations

    Province of Agrigento

    Ragusa

Day 7

Explore Modica and Chocolate Tradition

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Explore Modica and Chocolate Tradition

After breakfast, you will depart by private car to discover one of the jewels of Sicilian Baroque.
You will meet your guide in Modica and start exploring this enchanting town. Afterwards, you will have a sweet break and a hands-on chocolate experience, where you will dive into the world of “Modica Chocolate”. It’s a show cooking where a local cook will show you how to make the local chocolate bar and explain to you its history and tradition. In the afternoon, you will travel back to Ragusa or embark on an optional tour to Scicli.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Il Duomo Relais

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Modica Chocolate Experience

    ScicliOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Ragusa to Ragusa

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    Meals

    Breakfast

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    Destinations

    Ragusa

    Modica

    Scicli

Day 8

Travel Along the Tuna Routes

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Travel Along the Tuna Routes

After breakfast, you will depart by minivan to the incredible setting of Vendicari Natural Reserve.
Here, you will meet your guide and enjoy a walk in this unique environment. After the walk, you will proceed with a visit to the tiny fishing village of Marzamemi.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Il Duomo Relais

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Nature Reserve Oasis of Vendicari

    Marzamemi

    Porto Palo

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from The Duomo Relais to The Duomo Relais

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    Meals

    Breakfast

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    Destinations

    Ragusa

    Sicily

    Marzamemi

    Porto Palo

Day 9

Explore Siracusa & Go Wine Tasting in Noto

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Explore Siracusa & Go Wine Tasting in Noto

Today, you will depart to Siracusa, where you will find the local guide, who will accompany you during an interesting excursion to the Greek archaeological site and Ortigia. You will visit a local wine producer near Noto. After a pleasant walk among vineyards and the explanation of the wine production, you will sit around a table for lunch together with a tasting of the most important wines of the area. In the afternoon, proceed toward the baroque town of Noto, where you can have a walk and discover the town on your own.

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    Accommodation

    Il Duomo Relais

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    Activities

    Siracusa Private Walking Tour

    Noto

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    Restaurants

    Noto Winery

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Ragusa to Ragusa

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    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

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    Destinations

    Ragusa

    Syracuse

    Taormina

    Noto

Day 10

Enjoy Taormina & Etna Wine Experience

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Enjoy Taormina & Etna Wine Experience

After breakfast, you will check out and get a transfer to Taormina. Here you will have time to discover this amazing sea town on your own. After lunch, you will continue towards Mount Etna, where you will discover the volcano wines at the winery Tenuta Cavanera. After a guided tour of the cellars, you will enjoy a wine tasting. You will also have time to relax admiring the beautiful landscaper around the resort.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Firriato Hospitality - Cavanera Etnea4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Free Time in Taormina

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from The Duomo Relais to Firriato Hospitality - Cavanera Etnea

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    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Ragusa

    Taormina

    Sicily

Day 11

Trek Etna With Picnic Lunch on the Lava Rock

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Trek Etna With Picnic Lunch on the Lava Rock

After breakfast, you will meet your guide for a thrilling experience in nature. Imagine a picnic lunch on the lava rock! This is what you can enjoy on this food experience tour on the slopes of Mount Etna. After an adventurous trek uphill, it’s time for a refuelling break! With the magnificent Mount Etna as your backdrop, your hosts will create a unique taste-and-nature experience of Etna by sharing their traditional family recipes. Etna DOC wines will enhance the flavours and peculiarities of this amazing territory. Buon appetito!

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Firriato Hospitality - Cavanera Etnea4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Etna Trekking With Picnic Tour

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    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Sicily

Day 12

Wander in Nebrodi Mountains Park

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Wander in Nebrodi Mountains Park

After breakfast, you will check out and depart by private car to North. Today, you will ride among the
scenic Nebrodi Mountains Natural Park, which is the biggest protected area in Sicily. The first stop will be in Argimusco, where you'll admire the particular rocky formations made of a series of megaliths that are believed to be remains of an ancient astronomical observatory. You’ll travel towards Montalbano Elicona, which is one of the 100 most beautiful hamlets in Italy. The tour will proceed to Mistretta, the cultural capital of Nebrodi and Santo Stefano di Camastra, the "town of pottery".

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    Accommodation

    Relais Santa Anastasia

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    Activities

    Nebrodi Mountains Natural Park Tour

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    Meals

    Breakfast

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    Destinations

    Sicily

    Castelbuono

Day 13

Visit Medieval Villages

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Visit Medieval Villages

Today, you will start the tour in Polizzi Generosa, which is a small medieval village on a hill on the southern slopes of the Madonie Mountains. It is a treasure chest full of artistic and naturalistic treasures, popular traditions and typical products. You will continue with a visit to Petralia Soprana, one of the most enchanting towns of the Madonie Mountains. The tour will end in Geraci Siculo, renowned to be the capital of Ventimiglia County. You will take a step back in time by visiting the winding and evocative streets of the historic centre.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Relais Santa Anastasia

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    Activities

    Polizzi Generosa

    Petralia Soprana

    Geraci Siculo

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Madonie to Madonie

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    Meals

    Breakfast

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    Destinations

    Castelbuono

    Polizzi Generosa

    Petralia Soprana

    Geraci Siculo

Day 14

Visit Castelbuono and Cefalù

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Visit Castelbuono and Cefalù

Today, you will discover Castelbuono a small and beautiful village lying in a valley in the Milocca hills and surrounded by a forest landscape with oak, chestnut, ash and cherry trees in the Madonie. You will proceed to Cefalù for a walking tour in the charming small town of Cefalù, still preserving its Medieval atmosphere in the narrow streets running up and down from the sea to the main square on the top of the city. Your last stop is Palermo, where you will arrive in the late afternoon.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Principe di Villafranca

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    Activities

    Castelbuono

    Cefalù

    Palermo

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Relais Santa Anastasia to Palermo

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    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Castelbuono

    Palermo

    Cefalù

Day 15

Departure Day

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Departure Day

You will check out after breakfast and get a transfer to Palermo airport for the departure. Good bye!

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Minivan from Hotel Principe di Villafranca to Palermo Airport

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Palermo

Included in Price

  • 14 nights accommodation
  • 21 activities
  • 14 breakfasts and 2 lunches
  • Airport transfer
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

Not Included in Price

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entrance fees
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
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