SICILIAN CAROUSEL 2009

1^st   DAY/SATURDAY  CATANIA

Independent arrival at the hotel. Accommodation. Welcome cocktail, dinner and overnight at your hotel.

2^nd DAY /SUNDAY –CATANIA/SIRACUSA/RAGUSA 

After a buffet breakfast, depart to Syracuse and visit the archaeological area including the famous Latomie of the Paradise and the Dyionisios “Ear”. Continue to the island of Ortigia, historical centre of the city. Visit of the Cathedral and Arethuse fountain. Lunch on your own. Depart for Ragusa and visit of the enchanting historical centre “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 your Hotel.

3^rd  DAY /MONDAY  -RAGUSA/CALTAGIRONE/PIAZZA ARMERINA/AGRIGENTO

After a buffet breakfast, depart to Caltagirone famous centre of the Sicilian ceramics production. Continue to Piazza Armerina and visit  the worldwide known Villa Romana del Casale thanks to its well preserved mosaics. Lunch in a local restaurant  with a special menu chosen to give the opportunity to taste the local specialities. Depart for Agrigento and visit the Valley of the Temples. Accommodation at your hotel.  Dinner in a local restaurant with a typical Sicilian menu. After dinner, unforgettable tour of the Valley of the Temples by night. Overnight.

4^th DAY /TUESDAY – AGRIGENTO/ PALERMO/ MONREALE

After a buffet breakfast depart to Palermo. Accomodation at hotel. Time at leisure and lunch at your own. In the afternoon visit of Monreale : visit of the Cathedral, one of the most beautiful monuments of the world, and the Benedictine Cloister 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 ). Accommodation at your hotel. Dinner and overnight.

5^th DAY/WEDNESDAY– PALERMO/SEGESTA/ERICE/TRAPANI//PALERMO

After a buffet breakfast, depart for 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 walk in 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.

6^th DAY/THURSDAY PALERMO/CEFALU’/PARCO DEI NEBRODI/TAORMINA /GIARDINI NAXOS

After a buffet breakfast, depart to Cefalù and visit the arab-norman Cathedral. Enjoy a walk in the streets of the small village and have a taste of the delicious home-made ice cream. 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 North part of it, surrounded by beautiful landscapes. Arrival in Giardini Naxos, dinner and overnight at your hotel.

7^th DAY/FRIDAY – TAORMINA/ GIARDINI NAXOS

After a buffet breakfast, weather conditions permitting, morning dedicated to a fantastic excursion to Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Across fascinating landscape, we will reach a height of 1800 metres, where we will enjoy a fantastic panorama of the Ionic Sea. In the afternoon visit of Taormina, the small medieval village called "the pearl of the Ionic Sea". Enjoy time at leisure for shopping or walking 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.

8^th DAY/SATURDAY – TAORMINA / GIARDINI NAXOS

After buffet breakfast, end of the Tour