Your luxury Sicily tour explores the largest island in the Mediterranean, which over the centuries was colonized by the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Muslims, the Normans and assorted others before becoming part of Spain and then the Bourbon Kingdom and finally part of Italy. All these conquerors left their cultural footprints behind, as you’ll discover when you join us on our luxury Sicily tour. Vestiges of ancient times entice in Segesta, Agrigento and Taormina. The presence of the Normans lingers in Palermo and Monreale. A distinctive style of Sicilian architecture began in Val di Noto centuries ago and flourishes today. Byzantine and Arab art mingle with Italian influences. Grapes grown in volcanic soil produce impressive wines and chocolate traces a path to the Aztecs by way of early Spanish explorers, providing a taste of the authentic Sicily. Dinner with a Sicilian principessa in her 14th-century palazzo reveals another aspect of cultural heritage. And the culture peculiar to the Mafia is revealed in Corleone. There’s something old, something new, to discover around every bend on this luxury Sicily tour. Submit form or call 800-227-1577 to book your luxury Sicily tour.

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Small Group Luxury Sicily Tour Itinerary

DAY 1, Arrive Palermo, Sicily to meet your Sicily Luxury Tour
Your luxury Sicily tour begins at 7:00 PM at the Grand Hotel Wagner. A transfer from the Palermo Airport to the Grand Hotel Wagner, located in the city’s historic medieval heart, is included. Join us this evening for a welcome reception at the hotel followed by your first true taste of Sicilian culture and cuisine during dinner at a restaurant popular with local residents. Lodging: Grand Hotel Wagner

Lodging
Grand Hotel Wagner

DAY 2, Sicily’s Norman Heritage in Monreale and Palermo
One of the architectural wonders of the medieval world, the Norman Cathedral of Monreale is the last, and thought by some the most beautiful, Norman church built in Sicily. “Splendid” doesn’t do justice to the riches it contains, such as the mosaics that you’ll see throughout which gleam with about 2,200 kilos of gold! Pay special attention to the capitals of the 228 columns you’ll find in the Benedictine cloister as they tell the story of the Normans in Sicily. After lunch, return to Palermo to see other vestiges of the Normans such as the Palazzo Real, the palace of the Norman kings, and the Cappella Palatina, the exquisite chapel adorned with extraordinary Norman-Byzantine mosaics and considered to be an excellent example of Arab-Norman art. When you see the Fontana Pretoria, you may be able to guess why the faithful who attended the churches that line the piazza in which it’s located were a bit taken aback by it.

Lodging
Grand Hotel Wagner

DAY 3, Greek Temple of Segesta and Dinner with a Princess
This morning, your Sicily tour begins with a scenic drive to Segesta, where you’ll immediately understand why the builders of the Doric Temple of Segesta chose this spot. Commanding views from the hilltop site of the temple and the engineering skills and artistry of the ancient Elymians who built it combine to make this a memorable place. Move forward in time in Erice, set on the top of Mount Erice, as you explore winding streets lined with examples of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture. Enjoy another taste of Sicily in the form of the “abbey sweets” made by Maria Grammatico when you visit her workshop. This evening, La Principessa di Raffadali requests the pleasure of your company at her 14th-century home, Palazzo Raffadali, for a tour and a dinner what she will host… it’s an exclusive experience for our guests only!

Lodging
Grand Hotel Wagner

DAY 4, Corleone
In the case of the Mafia, it’s all about the family and crime is the “family business.” Today your Sicily tour visits the town of Corleone, a name made famous by The Godfather. As the town has been home to some pretty notorious Mafia types, both real and fictional, it seems fitting that it is now the home of The International Centre of Documentation Regarding Mafia and Anti-Mafia Movement (CIDMA), a non-profit organization dedicated to promote study of the Mafia, researching legal ways to undermine the Mob’s efforts, and raising public awareness. A visit to CIDMA reveals much about these crime families and their various enterprises. A more benign and friendly family business, the Principe di Corleone winery is the site of a tour and tasting of locally produced reds and whites, followed by a typical Sicilian lunch.

Lodging
Verdura Golf & Spa Resort

DAY 5, Agrigento and Clay in Caltagirone
The Valley of the Temples at Agrigento must have been the favorite neighborhood of the gods if the number of temples there is any indication. Explore temples honoring deities the likes of Zeus, Hercules, Concord, Polluz and Castor in this amazing archaeological site with a local guide; see the Tomb of Theron, reputed to be the Greek tyrant of Agrigento, and the Porta Aurea. After lunch, your Sicily tour continues on to the hill town of Caltagirone for a look at a centuries-old craft successfully making it in the modern world while still using traditional techniques… and closely guarded secrets passed down through the generations. Watch as local artisans create the exquisite, hand-decorated Majolica ceramics known and loved the world over.

Lodging
Poggio del Sol Resort

DAY 6, Sicily’s Baroque Valley and Aztec-influenced Chocolate
The UNESCO World Heritage Site, sometimes called the Baroque Valley, began with a cataclysmic earthquake in 1693 that destroyed local villages like Modica and Noto. Not wanting to tempt fate, the residents decided to move the towns to a safer location and rebuilt them in a style that came to be know as Sicilian Baroque, marked by a unique flamboyance and use of elaborate decorative embellishments. This style contributes much to Sicily’s architectural character and soul today. Making chocolate with a recipe and technique that early Spanish explorers learned from the Aztecs is a cultural treasure in Modica; visit a pastry shop founded in 1880 to see how it’s still done in the traditional way. After entering the Sicilian Baroque town of Noto through the Porto Reale, see the Basilica di San Salvatore and the Duomo San Niccolo along the Corso Vittorio Emmanuele on a guided tour.

Lodging
Des Etrangers Hotel & SPA

DAY 7, Siracusa Then and Now
Take a walk through Siracusa’s bustling morning markets overflowing with a kaleidoscope of fresh, locally produced fruits, vegetables, cheeses, fish and more. At the Neapolis Archaeological Park, explore what the ancient Greeks, and then the Romans left behind during a guided visit with a local expert. Explore the 16,000-seat Greek theatre, one of the largest of its kind in world, still in use today, and the 3rd-century Roman amphitheatre used for the same sort of “entertainment” featured at Rome’s Colosseum. At the Orecchio di Dioniso, or Ear of Dionysius, listen carefully to see if you can hear what the tyrant emperor heard as he took advantage of the cave’s excellent acoustics to eavesdrop on prisoners. After visiting the Temple of Apollo and the Baroque Duomo, built atop the ruins of ancient temples and still incorporating a wall from the Roman Temple of Minerva, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.

Lodging
Des Etrangers Hotel & SPA

DAY 8, Mt Etna
Thought to be the home of Vulcan, the god of fire, by the ancient Greeks, Mount Etna dominates the scenery in this part of Sicily, and during its frequent eruptions it can put on quite a show. See it this morning on your luxury Sicily tour after an early start from Siracusa to try to the beat the clouds that sometimes mask the mountain. Take a tour, taste the prestigious wines from grapes grown in the volcanic soil and enjoy lunch featuring the authentic flavors of Sicily at the Tenuto (Murgo) winery. Continue on to Taormina for another view of Mount Etna.

Lodging
San Domenico Palace Hotel

DAY 9, Cinque Terre Stroll, Coastline Boat Cruise, and on to Florence
It was J. W. Goethe who described lovely Taromina as a “patch of paradise” and the Sicels, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Saracens, Arabs, Normans and Spaniards who chose to live here over the centuries obviously agreed with him. From its cliff-top perch, the town looks down over two sparkling bays and out at views of the ever-present Mount Etna as well, making it hard to imagine a more divine spot. Explore the Teatro Greco, built by the Greeks and later remodeled by the Romans, with a local guide before strolling along the Corso Umberto to experience the ebb and flow of daily life in Taormina, perhaps choosing one of the many trattorias for lunch on your own. Join us for our farewell reception and dinner on the terrace of your hotel with sweeping views of the sea and Mount Etna.

Lodging
San Domenico Palace Hotel

DAY 10, Ciao Sicily Luxury Tour
Fly home anytime after your Sicily luxury tour ends in Taormina with an included transfer from the San Domenico Palace Hotel to Catania Airport to begin your journey home. Please allow three hours for flight check-in.
 

Submit form or call ItalianTourism.us today 800-227-1577 to book your

small group luxury Sicily tour package.