SICILIAN HIGHLIGHTS TOUR: Itinerary (7 nights/8 days):

Palermo (2 nights) Taormina (3 nights) Agrigento (1 night) Palermo (1 night)

Day 1 (Saturday): Palermo

Welcome to the warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Sicily! Upon arrival at Palermo airport please proceed through the Passport Control and collect your luggage inside the customs area. Then independently transfer to your hotel. Tonight, after a brief introduction made by your Tour Director, enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. (D)

Day 2 (Sunday):  Monreale & Palermo 
Breakfast at hotel. Our first stop will be Monreale to see where the Arab-Norman art and architecture reached the pinnacle of its glory with the Duomo, launched in 1174 by William II. Scenes from the Old and New Testaments are depicted in golden mosaics. Then on to Palermo to visit the Palatine Chapel, which was the crowning architectural achievement of William II’s grandfather, Roger II. We then continue by seeing: Piazza Pretoria and Via Maqueda with its “four corners” converging Palermo at a quartet of Baroque palaces left over from the heyday of Spanish rule dating back to 1560. This afternoon at leisure to explore the town on your own or Optional Excursion.  (BB)

Day 3 (Monday): Palermo/Cefalù/Polizzi Generosa/Taormina

Today depart for Cefalù, a charming coastal town home to a massive Norman Cathedral with outstanding mosaics. Visit the city center and stroll down main street to reach the Cathedral. Afterwards, we drive across the vast countryside of the Madonie Park showcasing Sicily’s great variety of landscapes. The territory of the Madonie mountains is a paradise of earth and sky, tucked away on the island. We soon arrive in Polizzi Generosa—a lovely town nestled in the heart of the Madonie Natural Park.  Step back in time viewing the ancient masseria transformed into a farmhouse, the flour mills evidencing the plentiful water supply of the area, and the furnaces used today, as in the past, to make ceramics. Light lunch at

country trattoria to taste typical local dishes. This afternoon we will continue to Taormina, the world famous resort town of Sicily.(BB L)

Day 4 (Tuesday):  Taormina/Syracuse/Taormina
Today we leave for Syracuse. Upon arrival we will visit the magnificent Archaeological Park where we will admire the 5th-century BC Greek Theatre, the stone quarries, the Roman Amphitheatre and the Paradise Quarry. Later we will walk through the island of Ortygia, the picturesque and densely built original center of Syracuse. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon we drive back to Taormina. (BB L)
Day 5 (Wednesday): Taormina
Today at leisure to relax, shop, explore or Optional Excursion (BB)

Day 6 (Thursday): Taormina/Piazza Armerina/Agrigento

Following breakfast, we will drive through the interior of Sicily to reach Piazza Armerina where we will view the ruins of the Roman Villa of Casale. The mosaics discovered here are celebrated among scholars of antiquity. This afternoon continue to Agrigento where we will visit the finest of all ancient Greek sites—the complete Doric Temples. Dinner at local restaurant. After dinner, we enjoy an orientation tour of Agrigento by night to admire the Illuminated Temples. (BB D)
Day 7 (Friday):  Agrigento/Marsala Winery/Salt Way Road/Erice/Palermo
Today we tour western Sicily and begin in Marsala. The town is the most famous wine producer on the entire island. Upon arrival, we transfer to a local winery and visit the cellars. Enjoy a Farewell Cocktail with snacks and wines. Following this visit, we reach the lovely Trapani province where we will admire the Salt Way Road and Sicilian windmills. Then continue on to the medieval hillside town of Erice. Upon arrival, walk through the town to reach the Castle built upon the remnants of the Venus Temple.  Afterwards, we stop at a local pastry shop to taste the typical marzipans and almond pastries. Time at leisure. This afternoon we will drive to Palermo for our last night in Sicily. (BB FC)
Day 8 (Saturday):  Palermo airport
Time to say goodbye to Sicily.  Independent transfer to Palermo airport. (BB)

Meal Legend: BB Buffet Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner S Snack