Experience Sicily

Let’s experience Sicily together!

Myths & Mysteries of Sicily

Thursday, May 24, 2018 – Tuesday, June 5, 2018 | (13 days/12 nights)

Catania > Palermo | Private Professional Driver | Fully Escorted | Limited to 12 Guests

Join us for a journey to discover Sicily in springtime! During Myths & Mysteries of Sicily, we’ll explore off-the-beaten path towns, interact with locals, immerse ourselves in Sicilian culture and ancient history, explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Valley of the Temples at Agrigento, Siracusa’s archaeological park, Palermo’s Arab-Norman gems, and the enchanting towns of Taormina, Caltagirone, Caccamo, and Erice. Our accommodations are elegant hotels and characteristic family-run inns, and we’ll relish long meals in traditional trattorias. This experiential tour is designed for a curious traveler who wants to savor every minute with a performance of live, world-class theater in an ancient Greek theater, a hands-on cooking class, discussions about Sicily’s ancient goddesses, guided walking tours by local experts, and so much more!

Price: $4,975.00 per person, double occupancy *, **

Tour price includes costs for all accommodations, excursions, planned entertainment and associated ticket prices, tour transportation, and all but 8 meals (consult day to day description for details). (Price does not include airfare or travel insurance.)

* Single Occupancy Supplement is an additional $950.00.

** Save $150/person if you pay by personal check.

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Myths & Mysteries of Sicily

Thursday, May 24, 2018 – Tuesday, June 5, 2018 | (13 days/12 nights)

This itinerary is subject to change

Day 1/ Thursday, May 24

• Group transfer from Catania airport to our hotel in Taormina
• Settle in, rest, and on your own, enjoy the ambiance of Taormina, which is lined with cafés, galleries, and boutiques
• Evening welcome meeting, review of our tour together
• Dinner as group featuring traditional Sicilian cuisine at a local trattoria

Meal Included for Today: Dinner

Accommodations: Taormina, 4-star hotel

Day 2/ Friday, May 25

• Time on your own to enjoy bewitching Taormina!
• Optional morning half-day Mount Etna excursion (for an additional cost).
• In the mid-afternoon, we’ll meet to travel to Siracusa and check-in to our elegant hotel.
• Dinner as a group at a local trattoria

Meal Included for Today: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodations: Ortigia, 4-star hotel

Day 3/Saturday, May 26

• Early morning tour of Siracusa’s archeological park featuring one of the ancient world’s most impressive amphitheaters
• Our local, expert guide will escort us through Museo Orsi, the outstanding regional archeological museum, where we’ll contemplate divine masterworks of ancient Greece
• Tasting lunch as a group in Ortigia’s vibrant open-air Mercato Antico
• We’ll scrutinize the alleyways and architecture of Ortigia’s historic center with our local, expert guide
• For the evening, we’ll be bewitched by a performance of classic Greek theater in Siracusa’s ancient amphitheater, presented by the Istituto Nazionale del Dramma Antico

Meal Included for Today: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations: Ortigia, 4-star hotel

 

Day 4/Sunday, May 27

• With a local mamma, we’ll participate in a hands-on cooking class of typical Sicilian cuisine at a dairy farm in the countryside.
• For lunch, we’ll eat the fruits of our labor, family-style, just like the Sicilians do every Sunday.
• After lunch, we’ll take a passeggiata through the UNESCO recognized town of Palazzolo Acreide, which is known for having the longest baroque balcony in Sicily.
• Upon returning to Ortigia, you’ll have time on your own for dinner and further exploring.

Meal Included for Today: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations: Ortigia, 4-star hotel

 

Day 5/Monday, May 28

• After checking out of our hotel, on our way to Piazza Armerina, we’ll stop at the ceramics capital, Caltagirone, where you will have time on your own to shop for countless items made from ceramics.
• After lunch as group at a local Slow Food designated trattoria, our expert guide will mesmerize you with stories from ancient Roman times told through the images at the fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Site, Villa Romana del Casale, a treasure of Roman mosaic scenes, including the “Bikini Girls.”
• After checking into our characteristic inn, we’ll enjoy dinner as a group at its outstanding restaurant.

Meal Included for Today: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: Agrigento, boutique hotel

 

Day 6/Tuesday, May 29

• With our expert guide, we’ll tour Agrigento’s magnificent Valley of the Temples UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring its temples to Juno, Hercules, and Zeus.
• After a light lunch on your own, you’ll have the afternoon free to relax and enjoy the gardens of our boutique hotel.
• This evening, as a group, we’ll have dinner at a Slow-Food designated trattoria in Agrigento’s historic center. On our way back to our hotel, we’ll gaze at the magnificent temples lit up at night.

Meal Included for Today: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodations: Agrigento, boutique hotel

 

Day 7/Wednesday, May 30

• This morning we’ll head north into Sicily’s Sicani mountains where our host will take us through his medieval town and its surroundings to meet the baker, the cheese-maker, and the local shepherd and his sheep! It’s hard to explain how magical this visit will be—your breath will be taken away by the natural beauty of the countryside in springtime and the warm hospitality of Sicilians.
• After our day, you can enjoy dinner at a time of your choice at our inn.

Meal Included for Today: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: Agrigento, boutique hotel

Day 8/Thursday, May 31

• We’ll leave Agrigento behind and head north today to Palermo province. On the way, we’ll stop in the Norman stronghold of Caccamo with its imposing castle, where for lunch we’ll enjoy pizza like lords and ladies.
• You’ll have time to relax and enjoy our hotel before dinner as a group.

Meal Included for Today: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: Palermo, 4-star hotel

Day 9/Friday, June 1

• Friday is a thrilling day to visit Palermo’s open-air markets, and we’ll do just that with our local, expert guide while tasting the city’s world-famous street food.
• In the afternoon, we’ll continue walking to take-in the city’s UNESCO-recognized Arab-Norman landmarks.
• This evening dinner is on your own.

Meal Included for Today: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodations: Palermo, 4-star hotel

Day 10/Saturday, June 2

• This morning after checking out of our hotel, we’ll tour Monreale Cathedral with a local guide who will bring the more than 68,000 square feet of mosaic tile designs that illustrate scenes from the Old and New Testaments to life.
• After a light lunch on your own, we’ll check-in to our family-run inn in the splendid sea-side village of Scopello.
• You’ll have time to enjoy our inn’s pool and gardens before we enjoy dinner as a group.

Meal Included for Today: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodations: Scopello, family-run inn

Day 11/Sunday, June 3

• Today you’ll feel the wind in your hair with a slow catamaran cruise on the seas of Lo Zingaro Nature Preserve. Our hosts will take us to hidden coves and secret swimming spots as we take-in the unspoiled coastline of northwestern Sicily. Bring your bathing suit!
• After our cruise, you’ll have an opportunity for a gelato or otherwise with a few minutes on your own at the marina of Castellammare del Golfo.
• This evening, you’ll have time on your own for dinner.

Meal Included for Today: Breakfast and Light lunch

Accommodations: Scopello, family-run inn

Day 12/Monday, June 4

• This morning we’ll ascend Mount Eryx to the enchanting town of Erice, where at one time,the goddess Venus ruled. You’ll have time on your own to wander through the streets, shop, and enjoy lunch at your leisure.
• Before heading back to our inn to prepare for departure, we’ll see the salt flats of Trapani with their magnificent windmills.
• For our final evening, together we’ll have dinner at our inn.

Meal Included for Today: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodations: Scopello, family-run inn

Day 13/Tuesday, June 5

• Transfer to Palermo airport
• Arrivederci Sicily!

Meal Included for Today: Breakfast (If time allows, or boxed breakfast)

Accommodations: Scopello, family-run inn

Experience Sicily

Important Notes to Consider

• The tour officially begins with your transfer from Catania Fontanarossa Airport to our hotel in Taorminaon Thursday, May 24, 2018 and officially ends with a transfer to Palermo Punta Raisa Falcone-Borsellino Airport on Tuesday, June 5, 2018.
• Flights from the U.S. will depart the night before our tour begins (on May 23, 2018) and will arrive the morning or afternoon of May 24, 2018. Our first group event will be an orientation meeting in the evening at our hotel in Taormina. Please plan accordingly.
• The boutique nature of this itinerary means that it is subject to change as we get closer to departure. Our objective is to include activities and events that are tailored to our guests’ interests. Therefore, in most cases, changes will enhance your experience, as it is our mission to provide you with the most memorable experience in Italy.
• The trip price is for double occupancy and does not include international airfare. There is a single supplement of $1000.
• Complete details about our accommodations will be released once you have paid in full. All information will be emailed to you approximately 30 days before departure.
• Tour price includes costs for all accommodations, excursions, planned entertainment and ticket prices, tour transportation, and all but 8 meals (consult day to day description for details).
• Tour price does not include international airfare, travel insurance, mini-bar purchases, room service, or personal purchases and gifts.
• The meals included in the tour price include 2 glasses of wine and/or soft drinks per meal. If you wish to enjoy additional wine or other alcoholic beverages beyond this allotment, you are welcome to purchase them separately from the group’s bill.
• The cost of this tour does not include travel insurance; however, it is highly recommended that you purchase a comprehensive plan to cover the costs of your airfare, tour, loss of luggage, and medical expenses. Please see above for a list of providers.
• Gratuities are included. Any additional recognition of our drivers, hosts, and guides is at your discretion.
• Sicily is a large region that requires significant driving. It is very mountainous and, as a result, has many winding, curvy roads. We have designed the itinerary to break up the driving as much as possible, but on some days, long drives will be necessary. If you suffer from motion sickness, please bring motion-sickness medication with you. Please alert us regarding what will make you more comfortable.
• You must be in good physical health to enjoy this tour. Although we will not be engaging in physically rigorous excursions, there is a significant amount of walking on various surfaces and types of terrain as well as standing for extended periods of time, especially at archeological sites. NB the small-group nature of this tour enables us to accommodate our guests who move slower.
• Please inform us in advance regarding any dietary restrictions, food allergies, and other personal concerns.
• Photographs or, in some cases, videos of participants of Experience Sicily tours and events may be used for educational and promotional purposes by Experience Sicily. Participants expressly consent to this manner of promotional use when reservations are completed.
• Experience Sicily appreciates constructive criticism and feedback. If you have any suggestions or issues while on the tour, please approach Allison privately to discuss thoughts and solutions.