Mount Etna and Taormina- Baroque architecture
- Palermo
- Marsala
Tours Pace 2
Seriously Sicily
Sicily
from £1,099 per person 9 2 Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £54 if not required-
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All breakfasts and more
Discover the sights, scenery and traditions of Sicily on this fascinating tour
As the largest island in the Mediterranean just over ten nautical miles from mainland Italy, Sicily has been a crossroad of civilisation throughout the ages. It’s a melting pot of culture with a fascinating history to match which you can discover on this comprehensive tour. Explore towns brimming with baroque architecture, unearth centuries of tradition, and take in picturesque landscapes of olive groves and vineyards, mountains and coasts.
Including...
12 nights in hotels (2019 departures)
23 meals: 12 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 10 dinners (2019 departures)
9 nights in hotels (2020 departures)
17 meals: 9 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 7 dinners (2020 departures)
- Optional travel insurance underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance SE, UK Branch and additional cancellation rights on overseas holidays for over 50s, or a price reduction if not required (cover is subject to medical questions)
- Return flights and transfers
- Saga tour manager
- Welcome drink reception
- Porterage at all hotels
Excursions and visits
2019:
- Scenic drive of Ragusa province
- Guided walk of Noto
- Palermo guided walk
- Monreale guided tour
- Walking tour of Mazara del Vallo
- Guided walk of Catania
2020:
- Tour of Syracuse and the Island of Ortygia
- Visit to the Cappella Palatina in Palermo
- Tour of the Roman Mosaics of Piazza Armerina
- Ragusa guided walk
- Visit to Monreale Cathedral
- Visit to Mount Etna
Use of audio headsets on selected guided tours.
View Full Itinerary
Day 1 UK to Ragusa
Fly to Catania and transfer to Ragusa. Stay three nights at the locally rated 4-star Poggio Del Sole Resort. D
Day 2 Noto and Scicli
See Noto’s glorious baroque architecture on this morning’s included walk. Later visit the lesser-known town of Scicli, another baroque gem with a charm all of its own, which rests in a gorge overlooked by a rocky outcrop. B, D
Day 3 Ragusa
Perhaps take an optional scenic drive to delve further into the stunning baroque south-east of the island, visiting the historic towns of Modica at the region's heart. Chocoholics can look forward to visiting one of the oldest producers of this confectionery in Sicily. B, D
Day 4 Ragusa to Palermo
Head to Palermo on the northern coast, pausing en route for lunch (own cost). Spend three nights at the locally rated 4-star Hotel Garibaldi. B, L, D
Day 5 Monreale
Enjoy an included excursion to Monreale and its breathtaking cathedral, one of the great sights of Norman Sicily. Spend the afternoon at leisure. B
Day 6 Palermo
There will be a guided walking tour of the capital this morning. This exotic city has a fascinating history reflected in its varied architecture which encompasses Arabic, baroque and art nouveau styles. Coupled with its glorious coastal setting, it's quite unlike any other Mediterranean city. B
Day 7 Palermo to Mazara del Vallo
Head to Mazara del Vallo on the west coast for three nights at the locally rated 4-star Mahara Hotel. A guided walking tour will introduce you to this Arab-influenced town where the old town centre is known as the ‘kasbah’. B, D
Day 8 Mazara del Vallo
After a morning relaxing at leisure, you may be tempted to join a scenic optional tour of the local area with a wine-tasting session and lunch included at a restored typical rural farmhouse. B, D
Day 9 Mazara del Vallo
Join an optional lagoon boat trip to see historic windmills once used in the production of sea salt before visiting Marsala, famed for its fortified wine. Here you can enjoy a tasting at a cantina. B, D
Day 10 Mazara del Vallo to Acireale
Travel via Messina en route to Giardini Naxos, which is set on an attractive bay, backed by Mount Etna. You'll spend your final three nights at the locally rated 4-star Hellenia Yachting Hotel. B, D
Day 11 Giardini Naxos and Catania
This morning, get a feel for local life on an included guided walking tour of Catania. After lunch, your tour manager will give you brief tour of Giardini Naxos before having some free time to explore further at your own pace. B, D
Day 12 Giardini Naxos
Perhaps join an optional excursion that visits Mount Etna for a close-up look at the old lava flows, then continues to the beautiful resort town of Taormina for a guided tour. B, D
Day 13 Giardini Naxos-UK
Travel to Catania airport for your return flight to the UK. B
View Full Itinerary
Day 1 UK-Caltagirone
Fly to Catania and transfer to Caltagirone. Stay three nights at the locally rated 4-star NH Hotel Caltagirone Villa San Mauro. D
Day 2 Regusa
Today you can join a full-day excursion that drives into the stunning baroque south-east of the island, visiting baroque Modica and the hilltop town of Ragusa, which was rebuilt in two separate parts following the 1693 earthquake. B, D
Day 3 Syracuse
On another included full-day excursion you will head to Syracuse with its ancient ruins and baroque plazas. Visit the Greek Theatre and the island of Ortygia which is home to the Temple of Apollo and the Cathedral. B, D
Day 4 Caltagirone-Piazza Armerina-Palermo
Check out of your hotel and head to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Piazza Armerina, famous for its vast, well preserved Roman mosaics. Continue to Palermo, on the northern coast, pausing en route for lunch in Tenuta Geracello. Spend three nights at the locally rated 4-star Hotel Garibaldi. B, L, D
Day 5 Palermo
This morning, join a guided walking tour of the exotic capital, whose history is reflected in its varied architecture of Arabic, baroque and art nouveau styles. See the Cathedral, Piazza Pretoria and Cappella Palatina before heading to a 15th-century palace, still inhabited, where you can sample local pastries and the ubiquitous limoncello. Later continue to Monreale to see its cathedral, one of the great sights of Norman Sicily. B
Day 6 Palermo
Spend the day at leisure or perhaps join an optional excursion that ventures to the summit of Monte Pellegrino and visits the coastal resort of Mondello. B
Day 7 Palermo-Giardini Naxos
Travel via Cefalu to see its striking cathedral en route to Giardini Naxos, which is set on an attractive bay, backed by Mount Etna. You'll spend your final three nights at the locally rated 4-star Hellenia Yachting Hotel. B, D
Day 8 Giardini Naxos
Spend the day at leisure, or perhaps join an optional tour to Catania. B, D
Day 9 Giardini Naxos
This morning join an excursion that visits Mount Etna and takes you to the Silvestri Craters. Later enjoy a guided tour of the beautiful resort town of Taormina where you will visit a Greek Theatre and take a stroll through Corso Umberto. B, D
Day 10 Giardini Naxos-UK
Travel to Catania airport for your return flight to the UK. B
