Our tours / Sicily

Sicily Coast-to-Coast

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and used to be the cultural and political center of the ancient world. It has so much to see that we had a hard time deciding where to go, but a well-paced cross-country trip seemed in order! See Baroque splendor, ancient Greek temples, and savor the fabulous food and wine of this great island.

Duration: 9 nights/10 days ** a 7-night trip is also possible (see itinerary)
Dates: Oct 15-24; also available upon request, contact us for details
Trip starts/ends: Palermo / Catania airport
Activity level: 1 – easy: exploring cities/archaeological sites on foot, mostly paved, minimal climbing (hiking version can be arranged) [more info]
Group size: min 4 - max 14

Highlights

  • discover the fascinating history, churches, and street markets of Palermo
  • visit the Norman Castle and Palatine Chapel in Palermo
  • see the beautiful Cathedral and cloister in Monreale
  • visit 5 of the 7 Unesco World Heritage sites in Sicily, including the mosaics of the Villa del Casale, the Greek Temples of Agrigento, and the ceramic tiles of Caltagirone
  • enjoy some of the best food in Italy
  • taste delicious Sicilian wines and enjoy a visit to a local winery
  • discover the beauty of the Baroque towns of southern Sicily including Ragusa, Scicli and Ortigia

Trip price includes

  • 9 nights in 4-star hotels and country estates
  • 9 breakfasts and dinners plus 1 lunch
  • all visits and transfers as per itinerary
  • at least one bilingual guide

Not included

  • 7 lunches
  • drinks other than water at meals
  • activities not listed in the itinerary

ITINERARY

Days 1-2: Arrival in Palermo

Make your way to fascinating Palermo, whose airport is well connected to Rome and other European hubs. We start off with a guided visit of the historic city center and then have dinner at a local trattoria. On our second day we’ll tour the local market and visit some of the city’s amazing sites. Two nights Palermo. 

 

Days 3-4: Agrigento

Transfer to the southern side of the island to visit the “Valley of the Temples,” featuring some of the best-preserved Ancient Greek ruins in the world. Our hotel is a renovated country estate featuring extensive gardens and views of the temples lit up at night. 2 nights near Agrigento.

 

Days 5-7: Ragusa

Head east to arrive at another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Baroque towns of Ragusa, Modica and Scicli. They were all built following the earthquake of 1693 that devastated the island, so they have an architectural unity that will astound you with ornate balconies, wedding-cake window trim and golden limestone facades. We stay in another country estate, this one owned by a winery – so you know a tasting is in the books! We also take a day-trip to see the magnificent Roman mosaics in Piazza Armerina, and see some ceramics workshops in Caltagirone. 3 nights near Ragusa.

 

Days 8-9: Siracusa/Ortigia

Our final transfer takes you to the east coast and the wonders of Siracusa, which once rivaled Athens as the most important city in Magna Graecia (“greater Greece” of the ancient world). At the tip of the island is the tiny island of Ortigia, where we’ll spend two nights in a fabulous and charming hotel. Explore the coastline and some of the Greek ruins on your last full day on tour. 2 nights Ortigia.

** If you’ve already been to Siracusa/Ortigia, you can skip the last 2 days and go straight to the Catania airport on Day 8, cutting two days off of the itinerary and 400 euros off of the cost

 

Day 10: Departures for Catania airport
We offer one group transfer to the Catania airport, about an hour’s drive, to be timed to the group’s plans. You can also extend your journey for a few days to go up the slopes of the volcano of Mount Etna or see the tiny but well-known town of Taormina.

 

Getting there and away: You can fly directly into the Palermo airport, which is well connected to a variety of European hubs. And we end at the Catania airport, which also has flights to Rome and other European cities.