SoletoTravel Catania Overnight Experiences

Wonders of Sicily - Monolingual tour in English from Catania




Discover the wonders of Sicily in a 8 days / 7 nights tour, exclusively in English language from Catania to Taormina.


The tour starting from Catania goes through several Unesco Heritage Sites, ancient Greek and Roman heritages like the Agrigento valley of the Temples , picturesque baroque towns like Modica , panoramic views and masterpieces of Art, without forget the chance to try the local culinary delicacies, ending in the Sicilian pearl, the town of , Taormina. The tour is a monolingual one in English only.


_______________________________________________________________________________ Itinerary


Day 1 - Catania


Private transfer to the hotel in the charming city of Catania. Meet with our tour-leader; dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 2 - Catania - Siracusa - Catania


After a buffet breakfast, departure to Syracuse: visit the World Heritage Site “Neapolis”. The visit of this archaeological area includes the famous Greek theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Latomie of Paradise and the “Dyionisios Ear”. Continue to the island of Ortigia, the small baroque old city centre of Siracusa; Visit of the beautiful Cathedral, which is built upon the site of the Doric Temple of Minerva, the legendary Arethusa’s Fountain, and the Temple of Apollo. Free time for lunch and afternoon at disposal to stroll through the streets of the centre and for shopping. Return to your hotel in Catania. Free evening at your disposal to experience the city and its nightlife and to dine in one of the typical restaurant in the city centre. Overnight.

Day 3 - Catania, Ragusa


After a buffet breakfast, departure for a nice walking tour of Catania, stroll through the city centre with your professional guide who will charm you with the history of the city and visit the famous fish market “A PISCARIA”, one of the largest fish markets in Sicily. As old as the city itself, it’s a great way to experience the abundant fishing and seafood culture of Sicily, with a very special and authentic atmosphere. Depart to Ragusa, renowned for its cheese production; therefore, we will not miss a tasting of artisan cheeses and sicilian specialties
(light lunch). We will visit the enchanting historical centre “Ibla”, with its stunning baroque palaces and churches; together with other seven cities in the Val di Noto, Ragusa is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We will continue to the reserved hotel where we will have time at disposal to realx at the swimming pool or at the Spa. Dinner in hotel and Overnight


Day 4 - Ragusa,Agrigento , Marsala


After a buffet breakfast, departure to Agrigento, a hillside town famous for its magnificent Valley of the Temples, a UNESCOvWorld Heritage Site; visit of the Valley, including the Temple of Concordia, which is in almost perfectly preserved condition, the temples of Juno and Heracles. Free time at disposal for lunch. In the afternoon we’ll proceed to Marsala a city on the western coast famous for its production of sweet Sicilian wine. Arrival at Baglio Donnafranca, a perfectly restored nineteenth- century baglio, which rises in the Marsala countryside, on the hills in front of the Stagnone Reserve and the Egadi Islands.
The baglio was a property of Florio. Here we will have the opportunity to visit the cellar and learn all about winemaking.
At the end of the tour, we wil enjoy a wine tasting/light dinner at sunset.
Overnight

Day 5 - Marsala, Salt Route, Erice, Palermo


After a buffet breakfast, departure to Erice, via the spectacular “Salt Route”, a road flanked by the salt pans, windmills, and the “salt houses” where they still extract the sea salt as the Phoenicians. Arrival in Erice, placed on the top of a hill overlooking the city of Trapani and the Egadi Islands: walk through its tiny and characteristic streets, the winding lanes and, inner courtyards and stop for marzipan and biscuit tasting Continue to Palermo, the capital of Sicily. We will enjoy a “street food” lunch in the centre of the town and then we’ll visit the Cathedral, one of the most important architectural monuments. We will continue our visit by walking along Corso Vittorio Emanuele to reach "I Quattro Canti di Città” Piazza Pretoria, Piazza Bellini and we’ll visit the Church of Santa Caterina. Accomodation at hotel and free time at disposal for shopping and dinner. Overnight

Day 6 - Palermo,Monreale, Cefalu',Taormina


After a buffet breakfast departure to visit the town of Monreale, situated on a hill at few kms far from Palermo in panoramic position. Visit of the Cathedral, one of the most beautiful monuments in the world with its Moorish architecture, housing very fine mosaics representing a complete cycle of the Old and New Testaments in Arab-Norman style. Continue to Cefalù, a former fishing village, now a charming coastal town. Enjoy a walk to the city centre and down main street to reach the Arab-Norman Cathedral and the medieval washhouse built in the rock. Free time at disposal to explore the town and shopping and lunch on your own. Proceed to Taormina through the coastal road passing through Messina from where we’ll have the chance to admire the suggestive scenery of the Strait of Messina. Accomodation at your hotel and free time at disposal for dinner. Overnight.


Day 7 - Taormina,Mt.Etna,Taormina























After a buffet breakfast, excursion to Mount Etna, the highest active Volcano in Europe. Weather conditions permitting, across fascinating landscape with different kind of vegetation, a mixture of citrus groves, vineyards and fruit trees. We will reach a height of 1800 metres to visit the Sylvester Craters where we’ll enjoy a spectacular panorama over the Ionian Sea. Stop at a local vineyard on the eastern slopes of Etna and visit a prestigious cellar . We will have the opportunity to taste different local wines accompanied by local cheese and


cold cuts. In the afternoon back to Taormina, charming city called "the pearl of the Ionian Sea": enjoy time at leisure for shopping or walking through its tiny streets. Possibility to visit the Greek-Roman Theatre on your own (Ticket €.12,00 p.p.), with its spectacular view of Giardini Naxos and Mount Etna. Free time for dinner and overnight.

Day 8 - Taormina ,Departure






































After a buffet breakfast,end of the tour and time to say bye bye Sicily. Possibility to extend your stay in Sicily with additional nights.













___________________________________________________________________________ What's Included :


- 6 nights accommodation in 4* hotels.
- 1 night in a Wine Resort
- Welcome drink on day 1.
- Board in hotels: 2 Dinners (Catania on day 1 and Ragusa on day 3) and 7 Breakfasts at Hotel.
- Mineral water (1/2 per person) at meals in hotel
- 1 Street food lunch experience in Palermo including water and a glass of wine.
- Cheese & sicilian products tasting/ light lunch in Ragusa including water and a glass of wine.
- Almond pastries tasting in Erice.
- Visit of a cellar in Marsala
- Wine tasting and light dinner at Sunset in Marsala
- Visit of a cellar and Wine tasting on Mount Etna
- Transportation de Luxe motor coach* with free wi-fi *a minivan with English Seaking driver, normally not equipped with wifi, will be provided if the number ofparticipants is equal to or less than eight
- English speaking Tour Escort*
- Local Guides where necessary
- Whispers Kit (for group with more than 10 passengers)
- Porterage at hotels



Not Included :
International flights
Travel insurance
All what not mentioned under "what's included"
Transfer out
Beverages
City tax where required
________________________________________________________________________________________________ Notes:
Possibility to extend the tour with pre and post night

Guaranteed departures


The tour is suitable for couples, solo travellers, seniors.


Departures every Saturday from April to October 2024


The group size is variable , all departures are guaranteed without a minimum number of participants.


HOTELS 4 STARS or similar used for the tour :


CATANIA KATANE HOTEL****


RAGUSA POGGIO DEL SOLE RESORT****


MARSALA BAGLIO DONNAFRANCA WINE RESORT *****


PALERMO GRAND HOTEL PIAZZA BORSA**** or POLITEAMA PALACE ****


TAORMINA VILLA DIODORO**** or HOTEL CAPARENA ****