Walking in the Land of the Volcanoes Situated in the middle of the Mediterranean, Sicily has been at the cross-roads of history since prehistoric times. A meeting place of the East and the West, the North and the South. It has been fought over and colonised since the first millennium BC by such peoples as the Phoenicians and Greeks, the Romans, the Moors, the Normans and Spaniards. The natural beauty of the island reflects the diversity and complexity of its history. The largest island in the Mediterranean, it is a land of sea and sun, an island of astonishing natural richness and contrasts: from the dreamlike panorama of the Aeolian Islands to the steaming lava flows on mighty snow-capped Etna; from the Baroque splendours of Palermo to the forgotten villages of the interior and magical Aeolian Islands.

Classical Sicily Special Travel Package... An example one of many available

SATURDAY Day 1: Arrive at Palermo airport and transfer to your 4 star hotel in the city center. Free time before meeting for a welcome drink and information. Dinner at a local trattaria and overnight stay at your hotel.

SUNDAY Day 2: Breakfast at your hotel and then meet your local guide for a tour of the most important monuments in Palermo as well as the colorful daily market.

Palermo, Sicily Vacations & Getaways

On to Monreale to visit the renowned Duomo and time for lunch on your own. Then return to Palermo city center. Free time to relax or go for a walk before departing for Mondello. Stroll along the seafront before dinner at a local restaurant in this renowned seaside resort.

Monreale, Sicily Vacations & Getaways

MONDAY Day 3: After breakfast at your hotel check out and drive towards Erice, first stopping at Segesta to see the solitary Doric style temple in its beautiful setting.

Segesta, Sicily Vacations & Getaways

Then on to Trapani for a walk in the center and time for lunch before driving up the mountain to the medieval Erice. Check in at your 3 Star superior hotel before visiting the town with its characteristic cobblestone alleys and wonderful views. Wine tasting followed by dinner and overnight stay at your hotel.

Trapani, Sicily Vacations & Getaways

TUESDAY Day 4: Breakfast at your hotel, check out and depart for Agrigento. First stop at the beautiful seaside site Selinunte, once an important Greek colony. Visit the remains of the ancient town and its nine temples. Time for lunch before continuing to Agrigento and checking in at your 4 Star hotel. Visit the Valley of the Temples before dinner at a local restaurant. Return to your hotel for a lovelt overningt stay.

Erice, Sicily Vacations & Getaways

WEDNESDAY Day 5: Breakfast at your hotel, check out and drive to the center of Sicily to Piazza Armerina to visit the Roman Villa Casale, one of the finest relics of the Imperial Roman age. The more than 37,500 square feet of floors is literally covered by colorful, intricate mosaics representing scenes of everyday life as well as mythology.

Time for lunch before continuing on to Taormina to check into your 4 Star hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at your hotel.

THURSDAY Day 6: Breakfast at your hotel and then a morning excursion to the southern side of Mount Etna, Sicily's highest mountain and Europe's largest active volcano. It's a beautiful drive up the mountain through all the various types of Etna vegetation and cultivation until you reach the harsh black barren ground of numerous lava flows. At 6000 feet you can see the most recent lava flows and walk around a couple of old, spent craters. There is an optional excursion by cable car and jeep, accompanied by alpine guides, to about 10,000 feet or as high as is safely possible at the time.

Lunch at a mountain restaurant before returning to Taormina where the rest of the afternoon is free to explore the alleys and main pedestrian main street and the monuments, boutiques, cafes and piazzas. A visit to the Greek Roman theater is a must for superb location and it's panoramic backdrop.

Mt. Etna, Sicily Vacations & Getaways

Friday Day 7: After breakfast, an excursion to Syracuse. First visit the remains of the Eurialus Castle, a once important defensive fort engineered by Archimedes. Then stroll through the narrow streets and alleys of the Ortygia island, the ancient heart of the city, to see the fascinating Duomo, built over a Greek Temple, and the Fountain of Aretusa reknown in mythology.

Time for lunch and a stop at the archeological area for those wishing to see Sicily's largest Greek theater, before heading back to Taormina. Free time before your farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Saturday Day 8: Breakfast at hotel, then check out and transfer to Catania airport to depart.

To visit Sicily is to have your senses awakened, your heart quickened and your intellect intrigued. Contact us to custom plan your trip or to combine any or all of theese packages!