Itinerary Details
The Sicilian With Malta
Day 1 ARRIVE IN PALERMO, ITALYWelcome to Palermo! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (D)
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Day 2 PALERMOSicilian Specialties PALERMO Guided sightseeing includes the Church of Immacolata and a visit to the cathedral. Scenic drive to Monreale for a panoramic view of the Conca d’Oro and a visit to the Norman Cathedral. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
The story of the splendid Monreale Cathedral began as Arabs took control of Palermo. They transformed the cathedral into a mosque and banished the Bishop of Palermo from town. Not wishing to venture too far from his beloved cathedral, the Bishop settled in a small village in the hills overlooking Palermo, the site of modern-day Monreale. There, he built a modest church to keep the flame of local Christian worship alive. Today the cathedral is known for its stunning mosaics that cover an area of over 64.500sq ft.
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Day 3 PALERMO–ERICE–MARSALA–MAZARA DEL VALLOSweet & Salty Sicily ERICE Free time to browse.
MARSALA Visit a salt mill en route to Mazara del Vallo. Enjoy a wine tasting. (B,D)
99 mi / 160 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURE & TRADITION Lagoons, salt pans and windmills can be found along the coastline near Marsala. Learn all about the production of salt when visiting one of the original salt mills.
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Day 4 MAZARA DEL VALLO–SCIACCA–AGRIGENTOTimeless Temples MAZARA DEL VALLO Guided sightseeing includes the cathedral and a walk in the Old Town.
SCIACCA Photo stop at the panoramic viewpoint.
AGRIGENTO Take a guided walking tour at the Valley of Temples. (B,D)
93 mi / 150 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ANCIENT ARCHAEOLOGY The ruins of Akragas remain Sicily's most amazing archaeological site. The impressively well-preserved Tempio della Concordia sits in a spectacular setting upon a ridge where it served as a beacon for homecoming sailors and today draws enthralled visitors to revel in the remarkable Valley of the Temples.
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Day 5 AGRIGENTO–PIAZZA ARMERINA–RAGUSAAncient Artistry in Sicily PIAZZA ARMERINA Take a guided visit to the Villa Romana del Casale with the largest and most complex collection of Roman mosaics in the world. (B,D)
130 mi / 210 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ART & ARCHITECTURE Explore the extraordinary example of Roman power in one of the most luxurious villas of its kind in the Italian countryside. Marvel at the magnificently preserved mosaics that embellish the Villa Romana del Casale, designed and installed by African mosaic workers and the strength of the Roman influence and power throughout the Mediterranean region.
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Day 6 RAGUSAHistoric Streets & Sweets RAGUSA Guided walking tour includes the city’s oldest district, the Ibla, the 19th-century gardens of Giardini Iblei, and St. George Cathedral. Visit an authentic Carrettieri (Sicilian carts) workshop. Free time. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
Visit an authentic Carrettieri workshop and learn everything about this ancient art. The craftsmanship involved in creating these carts is highly esteemed, and the tradition has been passed down through generations. Sicilian cart painting is considered a unique form of folk art, recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
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Day 7 RAGUSA–NOTO–SYRACUSEWorld Stages NOTO Walk along Corso Vittorio Emanuele to admire San Nicolò Cathedral.
SYRACUSE Guided visit to the Archaeological Park features the Greek Theatre and the Roman Amphitheatre. (B)
56 mi / 90 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ARCHITECTURE & ARCHAEOLOGY Discover the extraordinary evidence of history found at Neapolis Archaeological Park of Siracusa. The stars of this show are the magnificent ancient ruins of the Greek Theatre and remarkable Roman Amphitheatre which are revered as one of the greatest archaeological sites in all of Italy.
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Day 8 SYRACUSE–CATANIA–TAORMINA RIVIERACoastal Treasures CATANIA Take an orientation walk with free time to browse in Piazza del Duomo and Via Etnea. Take a scenic drive en route to Taormina Riviera with free time this afternoon and evening. (B)
75 mi / 120 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURE & TRADITION Catania is an ancient port city on Sicily's east coast. It sits at the foot of Mt. Etna, Europe’s tallest volcano. The city's wide central square, Piazza del Duomo, features the whimsical Fontana dell 'Elefante statue and richly decorated St. Agata Cathedral. Nearby, La Pescheria weekday fish market is a rowdy spectacle surrounded by seafood restaurants.
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Day 9 TAORMINA RIVIERA EXCURSION TO SAVOCAFrozen in Time SAVOCA Orientation walk followed by a [LF] Granita (semi-frozen drink), and brioche tasting at Bar Vitelli.
TAORMINA RIVIERA Orientation walk and free time for lunch. Visit the Greek Theatre, followed by a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
43 mi / 70 km
LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Not quite the same as sorbet, the Sicilian invention of granita is Sicily’s take on frozen concoctions that varies with the delightful tastes of lemon, mandarin orange, jasmine, almond, mint, coffee, or berries. A frozen blend of Sicilian pistachios is also a tempting way to enjoy this traditional treat.
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Day 10 CATANIA-LA VALLETTA, MALTA-ST. JULIAN Gardens and a Grand Harbor CATANIA Fly to La Valletta airport.
LA VALLETTA Orientation walk includes the Barakka Gardens (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT Enjoy superb views over the whole of the Gran Harbour, with the Three Cities in the background from the Barakka Gardens. Perched atop the Grand Harbour, these colonnaded gardens were created in 1661, and were actually the private gardens and exercise grounds of the Knights of the langue of Italy, whose auberges lie very close by.
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Day 11 ST. JULIANHome of Giants ST. JULIAN Free day to explore the city. (B)
FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE with a visit to the little island home’s oldest freestanding structures in the world: the 5,500-year-old complex of the Ggantija Temples. Locals claim the site was built by giants, hence the name “Ggantija.”
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Day 12 ST. JULIAN : EXCURSION TO RABAT-MOSTA & MDINACatacombs and Silent Cities RABAT Stop in the city famous for its catacombs
MOSTA Take pictures of the stunning Roman Catholic church with a unique architectural history.
MDINA Walk through the “Silent City” and take in views of the ancient walls. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEM When the capital city was moved out of Mdina, the city was left uninhabited, and was considered a ghost town and the “silent city” nickname was born. This name is still fitting today as there are many signs around the city as reminders to be silent and no cars allowed in the city.
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Day 13 ST. JULIANSafe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
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