DAY 1 - CATANIA
Transfer to the hotel and rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation.
DAY 2 - CATANIA / ETNA / TAORMINA / CATANIA (HALF BOARD)
Breakfast. Departure for Mount Etna (subject to weather conditions), the highest active volcano in Europe (3,345 metres): the bus will arrive at the Sapienza Refuge at a maximum height of 1,800 metres. Visit (without guide) of the extinct craters, the so-called ‘Crateri Silvestri’. Lunch. Continue to Taormina, perched on the picturesque rock of Monte Tauro (204 metres above sea level). Visit with a local guide to the famous Greek Theatre, from where you can enjoy a magnificent panorama of Etna and the Ionian Sea. Free time for shopping and to discover the city's romantic streets. Return to Catania, the most important city on the east coast, characterised mainly by its volcanic stone buildings. Accommodation.
DAY 3 - CATANIA / PIAZZA ARMERINA / CEFALÙ / PALERMO (HALF BOARD)
Breakfast. Departure to Catania for a guided tour, with its magnificent Cathedral and the famous fish market. Continue to Piazza Armerina and visit with local guide the splendid Villa Romana del Casale, a luxurious dwelling in the heart of Sicily, an important example of the Roman period, where you can admire the precious mosaics depicting the customs and habits of that time. Lunch in a local rustic restaurant. We will continue to Cefalù, an evocative village near the sea that presents the visitor with a marvellous artistic display of lights and colours. Free time to stroll through the narrow streets full of jewellery shops and elegant boutiques that preserve all their medieval fascination. Don't forget to visit the wonderful Norman cathedral dating back to 1131 and the medieval laundry. Continuation to the hotel in Palermo. Overnight stay in Palermo.
DAY 4 - PALERMO / MONREALE / PALERMO (HALF BOARD)
Breakfast. In the morning, we will take a walk through the historical centre of the Sicilian capital. We will visit its main monuments such as the Palatine Chapel, the Cathedral of Palermo, the famous Piazza Pretoria, with its immense fountain completely worked in white Carrara marble with mythological allegories, the Quattro Canti or Piazza Villena, in honour of the viceroy under whose mandate the construction of the four baroque palaces at the intersection of Via Vittorio Emanuele and Via Maqueda was completed, the Norman church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio (exteriors), also known as the Martorana which was built in 1143 by Giorgio of Antioch Admiral of Roger and the Church of Santa Caterina (interiors). We will continue to the Teatro Massimo, one of the largest theatres in Europe, with visit included. Lunch. In the afternoon, departure to Monreale and visit of the Benedictine Cloister and the Cathedral, one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Europe. Return to Palermo. Overnight in Palermo.
DAY 5 - PALERMO / ERICE / AGRIGENTO (FULL BOARD)
Breakfast. Departure to Erice, a medieval village situated 750 metres above sea level. It has many Sicilian features, such as a Norman town planning, the Arabic organisation of the houses around the courtyard and a wide range of sweets. Tasting in a typical pastry shop of almond pastries and a glass of Moscato wine. Continue to the western part of Sicily. Lunch in a farmhouse with olive oil tasting. In the afternoon departure to Agrigento: ‘the most beautiful city of mortals’ where we will visit the Valley of the Temples, one of the most majestic cities of the ancient Mediterranean, still preserved in excellent condition. The Valley of the Temples has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Agrigento.
DAY 6 - AGRIGENTO / MODICA / RAGUSA (HALF BOARD)
Breakfast. Departure to Modica city in the south of Sicily, declared as part of the late baroque cities of Val di Noto. Founded around the 7th century BC during the period of Greek colonisation. City known for its famous ‘chocolate’ with a unique taste perfumed with Sicilian fragrances (cinnamon, chilli, coffee, lemon peel, pistachio, Marsala, almond, fig, vanilla). Tasting in a local chocolate shop. Lunch and continuation to Ragusa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002. Overnight stay.
DAY 7 - RAGUSA / NOTO / SIRACUSA / CATANIA (HALF BOARD)
Breakfast. Departure to Noto, capital of the Sicilian Baroque, where we will take a walk to admire the Cathedral completely renovated after several years of restoration, as well as stroll through its streets full of architectural treasures. Continuation to Syracuse, the largest city of antiquity. Before lunch, weather permitting, we will take a mini-cruise to admire the beauties of the old town from the sea. In the afternoon, continuation of the visit of Syracuse, which stretches along the sea, next to the island of Ortigia, which is connected to the mainland by a bridge, and offers the visitor the remains of its glorious past. Departure to Catania. Arrival and accommodation.
DAY 8 - CATANIA / PORTUGAL
Breakfast. At a time to be arranged locally, transfer to the airport. Boarding formalities and departure. Arrival in Portugal.
Remarks:
- The programme can be modified with regard to the order of the stays, respecting the content of the programme.
- In some departures, the hotel booked could be in the Catania area instead of Ragusa or Siracusa.
- With less than 7 participants the trip could be done with a driver/guide.
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