The Private week tour Sicily (8 days and 7 nights), to discover the most important highlights of the island.
You will have to take care of all yours facilities by choosing the hotels or bed and breackfast that best suit your needs and we will think of providing all the trasportations and local tours guides (if requested), needed for the whole private tours.
Flying in to Palermo / flying out from Catania or vice versa.
3 nights in Palermo – 4 nights in Taormina
DAY 1 – TRANSFER TO THE HOTEL
Pick you from the airport and drive to the hotel, with the rest of the day at your leisure.
DAY 2 – PALERMO AND MONREALE
A day exploring Palermo and it’s area during your Private week tour Sicily.
The city was founded in 734 BC by the Phoenicians as Ziz.
Palermo then became a possession of Carthage.
Upon arrival into the city you will be met by your personal licensed guide
starting to visit the medieval area of Palermo where the main features are
from Baroque Arabian-Normand period.
Piazza Pretoria with it’s beautiful renaissance fountain,
the heart of the city called ” quattro canti”, the magnificent Cathedral
church and so on…
A must is the visit of a local market where you can experience the colorful
local life and taste some Sicilian street food.
Then we drive outside Palermo to the medieval village of Monreale,
driving along scenic roads overlooking the Conca d’oro valley where
we will visit the magnificent “Duomo di Monreale” and on request the “chiostro dei cappuccini”.
According with your guide and keeping intothe 4 hours guided tour,
you can choose to visit the following sights:
Cappella Palatina, Palazzo dei normanni, Zisa castle, Catacombs of Cappuccini….
of course cutting short some of the previous sights.
DAY 3 – CEFALU’ AND CASTELBUONO
Today,
will pick you up from your place at your most convinient time and drive
along the beautiful Tyrrhenian coast-line which extends from Capo Faro to Finale,
The shores are among the most beautiful in Sicily,
also for the landscapes and limpidity of the water.
These beaches are the second home for many citizens from Messina who like
to spend here most of their summer time.
Our first stop today is in Cefalù, an old greek settlement built to celebrate the victory of the syracusans over Carthage.
We then continue onto Cefalù, one of the highlight of the island.
This town was built on a regular plan, enhanced by small medieval streets.
It is also a fishing port and a popular seaside resort.
The main square is dominated by the imposing Cathedral built
at the wishes of Roger II in 1131,
it is one of the most outstanding examples of Sicilian architecture from the normand period.
one half is a maze of narrow streets with steps winding up towards the cliff,
the other one has straight, perpendicular roads leading down to the sea..
We will end this tour by stopping in the charming town of Castelbuono
where you can stroll along the small medieval streets.
DAY 4 – TRANSFER ON TO TAORMINA via AGRIGENTO or CALASCIBETTA
Today after providing the pick up from your place in Palermo,
our Private week tour Sicily gives you two choices;
one is driving south in order to reach the worldwide known “Valley of the temples”
characterized by the exceptional state of conservation and a series of important
Doric temples of the Hellenic period;
The other one is driving straight to Calascibetta,
a little tiny medieval village dramatically perched on a cliff side hill,
out of touristic path, 1000 metres above sea level, “stunning views up here”
where you can have lunch on a typical small trattoria owned by a family.
On either cases we will end the day in Taormina.
DAY 5 – RELAX IN TAORMINA
Your leisure day in town, having the chance to explore this tiny village on your own,
or along with your personal guide if requested.
DAY 6 – M. ETNA AND WINERY
Today we’ll pick you up from your place in Taormina and drive to the
charming little village of Zafferana Etnea ( last town before Mount Etna)
where you will enjoy wonderful views.
Here we will have some free time to explore this charming place.
Then drive up in order to rich the end of the street (approximately 7000 feet, 2000 mt),
across the famous Etna’s Park ( UNESCO site).
Arraved at the end of the road, after a short break to a bar, we will take an easy walk
to visit the Silvestri Craters, an ancient complex of craters opened up in 1892.
From here we will drive across a beautiful countryside aerea to rich the winery
Murgo where the owner will proudly show you his wonderful property overlooking the sea
and the wine tasting combined with a Sicilian typical lunch
(Four wines combined delicious typical sicilian food, such as: dried tomatoes,
Etna mushrooms and olives, local salami, Provola cheese,
(possible vegetarian version and children menù on request).
Back to Taormina.
DAY 7 – SYRACUSE AND ORTYGIA ISLAND
Geographically and historically, Syracuse can be divided into two distinct areas.
On one side is the island of Ortygia, the site of first human settlements and home to Syracuse’s most ancient history.
On the other is the modern city, with its architectural,
artistic and cultural wealth and contradictions between the old and and the new.
More than any other modern city in Sicily,
Syracuse manifests a visible continuity from its ancient Greek past,
both historical and mythological.
We will stroll upon our arrival the open local fish and fruits market situated in the historical centre.
We then visit the archaeological area of Neapolis with is Greek theatre,
the Roman amphitheatre and Latomia del Paradiso.
We will arrive at the ‘Ortigia Island’,
the heart of the city and we will stroll along the ancient narrow streets,
which still keep the Medieval influence, before arriving at the Duomo square, one of the city highlights.
This Duomo was built above a Greek Temple,
which holds more than 2.500 years of history.
It is possible to visit one of the more charming spot of Ortigia,
the “Arethusa fountain” with its Papyrus plants, overlooking the Ionian sea.
We can suggest and stop, at your convenience time,
in a local Sicilian restaurant to let you enjoy local dishes. Back to Taormina.
DAY 8 – TRANSFER TO CATANIA AIRPORT
Your vacation is now over,
we are transferring you to the airport and we really hope you
have enjoyed your time in Sicily along with us.
All tours are based on the minimum time needed to enjoy the areas
but are completely adjustable to your needs.
We are completely flexible with any changes and tailored sightseen,
but any modifications made to the initial trip may be subject to some quotes variations.