SICILIAN CAROUSEL TOUR 2012

ITINERARY 

1st Day SATURDAY – CATANIA                                                                                       

Independent arrival at the Hotel Una Palace in Catania. Accommodation. Welcome cocktail, dinner and overnight at your hotel. (D)

2nd Day SUNDAY - CATANIA - SIRACUSA - RAGUSA

After a buffet breakfast, depart to Syracuse and visit the archaeological area including the famous Latomie of  Paradise and the Dionysius “ear.” Continue to the island of Ortigia, the small Baroque old city centre of Siracusa: visit the Cathedral and the Arethuse Fountain. Lunch on your own. Depart to Ragusa and visit the enchanting historical centre “Ibla,” with its Baroque stunning palaces and churches. Enjoy a tasting of typical products of the island in a nice bar in the main square by the Dome. Accommodation, dinner and overnight at Hotel Poggio del Sole. (B, D)

3rd Day MONDAY - RAGUSA - CALTAGIRONE - PIAZZA ARMERINA - AGRIGENTO

After a buffet breakfast, depart to Caltagirone famous for the production of ceramics and pottery: visit a ceramics laboratory and the opportunity for shopping. Continue to Piazza Armerina and visit the world renown Villa Romana del  Casale thanks to its well preserved mosaics. Lunch in a local restaurant with a special menu chosen to give you the opportunity to taste the local specialties. Depart to Agrigento and visit the Valley of the Temples including the Temple of Juno, Concord, Heracles, Zeus and Castor & Pollux. Accommodation and dinner at your hotel; Dioscuri Bay Palace. Overnight. (B, L, D)

4th Day TUESDAY - AGRIGENTO - PALERMO - MONREALE

After a buffet breakfast depart to Palermo. Accommodation at Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa. Time at leisure and lunch on your own. In the afternoon visit Monreale: the Cathedral, one of the most beautiful monuments in the world with its Moorish architecture and the Benedictine Cloister built in Arab - Norman style. Continue to visit the historical centre of Palermo, one of the largest of Europe, including the Cathedral, the Palatine Chapel, the Royal Palace. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in your hotel.  (B, D)

5th Day WEDNESDAY - PALERMO - SEGESTA - ERICE - TRAPANI - PALERMO

After a buffet breakfast, depart to Segesta to admire the Temple and the Theatre surrounded by a suggestive landscape. Continue to the medieval village of Erice placed on the top of a hill overlooking the city of Trapani and the Egadi Islands: walk through its tiny and characteristic streets. Lunch on your own.  Down to Trapani for a panoramic tour of the salt windmills, still working. Return to Palermo. Dinner and overnight in your hotel. (B, D)

6th Day THURSDAY - PALERMO - CEFALÙ - PARCO DEI NEBRODI - TAORMINA

After a buffet breakfast, depart to Cefalù a former fishing village, now a charming coastal town. Enjoy a walk to the city center and down main street to reach the Arab-Norman Cathedral and the medieval wash-house built in the rock. Drive through the Park of “Nebrodi” and stop at the Miraglia Forest for lunch with a typical menu. Continue to Cesarò, Randazzo and visit the Etna Park from an unusual point of view - the north facing side - surrounded by beautiful landscapes. Arrival in Taormina.  Accommodation, dinner and overnight at Hotel Villa Diodoro, located near the historic centre of Taormina.  (B, L, D)

7th Day FRIDAY - TAORMINA - ETNA (OPTIONAL) - TAORMINA

After a buffet breakfast, morning at leisure or for those who will be interested, the possibility of an optional excursion to Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Weather conditions permitting, across fascinating landscape we will reach a height of 1800 metres, where we will enjoy a fantastic panorama of the Ionian Sea. Lunch on your own. In the afternoon visit Taormina, the small medieval village called “the pearl of the Ionian Sea.” Enjoy time at leisure for shopping orwalking through the tiny streets. Possibility to visit the Roman - Greek Theatre on your own. In the late afternoon return to the hotel. In the evening be ready for a farewell dinner at your hotel. (B, D)

8th Day SATURDAY - TAORMINA

After a buffet breakfast, end of the tour. (B)tigia, historical center of the city and visit the Cathedral and The Arethusa Fountain. Lunch on your own. Depart to Ragusa and visit the enchanting historical center “Ibla,” with its Baroque stunning palaces and churches. Enjoy an aperitif in a nice bar in the main square by the Dome. Accommodation, dinner and overnight at Hotel Poggio del Sole. (B, D)

3rd Day MONDAY

RAGUSA - CALTAGIRONE - PIAZZA ARMERINA - AGRIGENTO

After a buffet breakfast, depart to Caltagirone famous center of Sicilian ceramics production. Continue to Piazza Armerina and visit the world renown Villa Romana del Casale thanks to its well preserved mosaics. Lunch in a local restaurant with a special menu chosen to give you the opportunity to taste the local specialties. Depart to Agrigento and visit the Valley of the Temples. Accommodation and dinner at Hotel Dioscuri Bay Palace. After dinner, an unforgettable tour of the Valley of the Temples by night. Overnight in Agrigento. (B, L, D)

4th Day TUESDAY

AGRIGENTO - PALERMO - MONREALE

After a buffet breakfast depart to Palermo. Accommodation at Grande Albergo Sole. Time at leisure and lunch on your own. In the afternoon visit Monreale: the Cathedral, one of the most beautiful monuments of the world, and the Benedictine Cloister built in Arab-Norman style. Continue to visit the historical center of Palermo, one of the largest in Europe (including the Cathedral, the Palatine Chapel, the Royal Palace). Dinner and overnight in your hotel. (B, D)

5th Day WEDNESDAY

PALERMO - SEGESTA - ERICE - TRAPANI - PALERMO

After a buffet breakfast, depart to Segesta to admire the Temple and the Theatre surrounded by a suggestive landscape. Continue to the medieval village of Erice placed on the top of a hill and take a walk through its tiny and characteristic streets. Lunch on your own. Down to Trapani viewing the salt windmills still working. Return to Palermo. Dinner at a local restaurant. Panoramic tour of Palermo by night. Overnight in your hotel. (B, D)

6th Day THURSDAY

PALERMO - CEFALÙ - PARCO DEI NEBRODI - TAORMINA

After a buffet breakfast, depart to Cefalù and visit the Arab-Norman Cathedral. Enjoy a walk down the streets of this small village full of shops and antiques. Continue to the Park of “Nebrodi.” Stop at the Miraglia Forest for lunch with a typical menu. Continue to Cesarò Randazzo and visit the Etna Park from an unusual point of view; the Northern part of it, surrounded by beautiful landscapes. Arrival in Taormina. Accommodation, dinner and overnight at Hotel Villa Diodoro, in the center of Taormina. (B, L, D)

7th Day FRIDAY

TAORMINA - ETNA (OPTIONAL) - TAORMINA

After a buffet breakfast, morning at leisure or for those who are interested, the possibility of an optional excursion to Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Weather conditions permitting, across fascinating landscape we will reach a height of 1800 meters, where we will enjoy a fantastic panorama of the Ionian Sea. Lunch on your own. In the afternoon visit Taormina, the small medieval village called “the pearl of the Ionian Sea.” Enjoy time at leisure for shopping or walking through the tiny streets. The possibility exists to visit the Roman - Greek Theatre on your own. In the late afternoon return to the hotel. In the evening be ready for a farewell dinner at your hotel. (B, D)

8th Day SATURDAY

TAORMINA

After a buffet breakfast, end of the tour. (B)

Rate Includes:

• Accommodation in 4 stars hotels centrally located
• Welcome cocktail
• 7 Dinners, 2 Lunches, 7 Breakfast (Highlights Mini Tours: 4 Dinners, 1 Lunch, 4 Breakfast)
• Sicilian typical products tasting (wine, chocolate, biscuits, etc) in Ragusa Ibla 
• Transportation De Luxe motorcoach  or minivan with driver/guide for groups with less than 15 pax
• English speaking  tour escort
• Local guides where necessary
• Porterage at Hotel

Rate Does Not Include : 

• Transfers in/out from airport (available upon request)
• Entrance fees (price for entrance fees for all the tour is € 57,00 per pax updated to the day 20.11.11
• Beverages with meal unless otherwise specified

RATES:

$1342 per person for double or twin

$337.50 for single supplement

$1290 for third person in triple

Departure : 

April:  07, 21

May:  05, 12, 26

June:  02, 16, 30

July:  14

September:  01, 08, 15, 22, 29

October:  06, 13, 20See below to select a specific date.