The Golden Shapes of Sicily

Arrive at Catania airport and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, discover this “picture-perfect city” with romantic streets and the renowned Greek Theatre from where you can admire a magnificent panorama of Etna and the Ionic Sea. Stop for the best “granita con brioche” in town. Return to the hotel, enjoy dinner at leisure and rest for the evening, we suggest the restaurant “ La Baronessa”

After breakfast at the hotel, meet with the chef at his cooking lab and learn how to cook delicious Sicilian food. You will eat what you have prepared, pairing it with some Sicilian wines. In the afternoon, visit one of the prettiest villages near Taormina, Castelmola. Then, driving along a coastal road rich in blooming gardens and typical villages, arrive at the medieval town of Savoca. A must you cannot miss here, is a lemon “granita” at the famous Bar Vitelli, Francis Ford Coppola’s favourite and the set where he shot many scenes of The Godfather II.  Continue until the charming little village of Forza d’Agrò overlooking the Arab-Norman castle of Capo Sant’Alessio.  Return to the hotel, enjoy dinner at leisure and rest for the evening. We suggest the restaurant “ La Cambusa”  in Giardini Naxos.

Have breakfast at the hotel and get ready for a visit to Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. You will cross through spectacular landscapes as you make your way through the lava fields and the craters of ancient and recent eruptions. Arrive at “Crateri Silvestri” and take your time to visit these spectacular old craters on your own or take the cable car to get to 2.500m. Your driver will then take you to visit a winery. Return to the hotel, aperitif at the Hotel San Domenico enjoy dinner at leisure and rest for the evening.

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Siracusa, the biggest ancient town between 734-733 BC. Admire the beautiful views of  Ortigia island and the historical remains of its glorious  past: The Temple of Minerva, the legendary Fontana di Arethusa, the Temple of Apollo, the Greek Theater and the Roman Amphitheater located near the Latomie. Return to the hotel, enjoy dinner at leisure and rest for the evening.

Have breakfast at the hotel, meet our driver and leave for a visit to Noto, and its suggestive shapes of italian baroque. Access Corso Vittorio Emanuele through the Royal Gate. There are some symbols that decorate the door (a tower which is symbol of fortitude and a Cirneco, a dog symbol of faithfulness). These symbols origin from Bourbon monarchy. Over the Corso Vittorio Emanuele you can admire architectural golden buildings. Free time to have an aperitif or light lunch in Noto and leave to Ragusa Ibla,  short visit of this village, the old part of Ragusa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its numerous churches (mostly over 50) and the baroque palaces of incomparable beauty.
What you will love of Ragusa is walking through narrow and typical streets, as almost a labyrinth, to discover the hidden gems in every corner.

Enjoy dinner at leisure and rest for the evening, overnight in Ragusa Ibla

After breakfast at the hotel, meet our driver and leave to Modica and Scicli; during the visit, you will attend a chocolate workshop in an ancient 18th century villa, and at the end you will enjoy the sunset inside a vegetable garden. Return to the hotel, enjoy dinner at leisure and rest for the evening.

Have breakfast at the hotel, meet our driver at the hotel and leave to Agrigento, where you will check-in at the hotel. In the afternoon, enjoy a visit to the Valley of the Temples, one of the main archaeological sites of all the ancient Greek civilization. Return to the hotel in Agrigento enjoy dinner at leisure and rest for the evening.

In the afternoon enjoy a private guided visit of Palermo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an Arab-Norman city where the Western-European, the Byzantine and the Islam worlds meet, with wonderful masterpieces of artistic-architectural syncretism. At the end of the tour, return to the hotel, enjoy dinner at leisure and rest for the evening.

After breakfast at the hotel, join a private guide and visit of Villa Tasca.  The villa is surrounded by an enormous, nationally recognised park, a typical example of the “giardino romantico” or romantic gardens so popular in the late 18th century when the villa was built, with lush tropical vegetation, and a cute lake with a miniature neoclassical temple. Return to the hotel, enjoy dinner at leisure and rest for the evening.

After breakfast at the hotel, meet our driver and leave to Cefalù, The ancient “Kephalodion” – Greek term that means head, related to the natural shape of the rock that overlooks the village. It keeps unchanged both its medieval appearance, with narrow streets, finely decorated palaces; and its maritime appearance, with the old fishermen’s houses that overlooks the sea. Return to the hotel, enjoy dinner at leisure and rest for the evening.

After breakfast at the hotel, get privately transferred to Palermo airport or continue your trip in Sicily.

Arrivederci