14-Day Sicily and Malta Small Group Tour

Sicily and Malta Tour Itinerary

DAY 1, Saturday – Depart for Italy

Depart for Italy

DAY 2, Sunday – Arrive in Palermo

Welcome to Sicily! Arrive in Palermo, the energetic capital of Sicily, and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to rest and relax before tonight’s orientation meeting with your Tour Manager on the exciting tour that awaits you, followed by a Welcome Dinner with the group
Overnight: Palermo
Meals: Dinner

DAY 3, Monday – Palatine Chapel and Palermo City Tour

Start your tour of Palermo with the visit of the Palatine Chapel, a UNESCO Heritage Site, located inside the complex of Palazzo dei Normanni. Its glittering gold mosaics, complemented by inlaid marble floors and wooden ceilings, reflect Norman Sicily’s cultural complexity. Continue with a walking tour including the Cathedral, Piazza dei Quattro Canti, Piazza Pretoria, and the church of Casa Professa, an expression of the Baroque style in its most amazing form. Visit a Puppet Theater, a traditional form of Sicilian entertainment that dates back to the 15th century and is still alive today. Discover Palermo on your own with its winding alleyways and colorful back streets during free time
Overnight: Palermo
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 4, Tuesday – Segesta, Farm Lunch, Erice

Morning drive through western Sicily where you will view the famous Doric Temple of Segesta rising high on a hill, constructed in the 5th century B.C., one of the greatest examples of this style of architecture. Enjoy lunch with an olive oil tasting at a local farm. Continue to the mountaintop Erice, a wonderfully preserved medieval town with breathtaking views and a great historical presence. Walk along the cobbled streets lined with superb examples of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture, home of the “Ericina” ceramic handicraft art. Continue to your hotel where dinner will be served
Overnight: Marsala Area
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5, Wednesday – Mazara Kasbah Maze & Dancing Satyr, Salt Mines, and Motya Charioteer

This morning, drive to Mazara, walk the Kasbah maze of streets and view the statue of the Dancing Satyr, a rare example of Greek bronze sculpture, found by chance in 1998 by a fishing boat. After free time in the town, continue to the salt plant area before boarding your boat to cruise on the so-called Stagnone to the island of Motya, dating back to the Phoenician time. Here, you will see the beautiful and unique marble statue of the Motya Charioteer. It is believed to be the work of a leading Greek artist made in the period following their defeat of the Persians. It was found inside Phoenician fortifications, which were quickly erected before Dionysios I of Syracuse invaded and sacked Motya in 397 BC. End your day with dinner facing the sea. Return to your hotel
Overnight: Marsala Area
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 6, Thursday – Valley of Temples

This morning, view the stone quarries of Cusa before enjoying lunch with local specialties. Continue to discover Agrigento’s celebrated Valley of the Temples in the afternoon, the largest and best preserved temple ruins outside of mainland Greece. Tour this magnificent archaeological park, built between 430 and 510 B.C., all majestically positioned in the same area on rocky crests south of modern day Agrigento
Overnight: Agrigento
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7, Friday – Make your own Pizza and Piazza Armerina

Today, enjoy making your own Pizza using fresh ingredients in Licata. After tasting your own creation, travel to Piazza Armerina to view the intricate examples of Roman mosaics at the famous Roman Villa del Casale, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These extraordinarily vivid mosaics deal with numerous subjects, ranging from Homeric escapades and mythological scenes to portrayals of daily life. The Villa itself was rediscovered in the 19th century after being almost completely covered by a landslide. Continue on to check into your hotel in Ragusa
Overnight: Ragusa
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

DAY 8, Saturday – Ragusa-Ibla, Modica, Aromatic Herb & Plant Gardens

This morning, indulge in the baroque atmosphere of Ragusa-Ibla, with its breathtaking sights of houses, churches, and palaces that seem layered one on top of the other. After lunch, travel to Modica, known all over the world for its chocolate production. Continue to visit a garden of aromatic herbs & plants. Learn how the herbs are grown and their uses while trying to recognize them!
Overnight: Ragusa
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 9, Sunday – Noto, Siracusa with its Neapolis & Ortigia

Today, travel to Noto, a wonderful Baroque town, where you will have time to wander around and discover one of the most spectacular urban settlements. Arrive in Siracusa to admire the “Old City,” also known as Città Vecchia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located on the island of Ortygia. After free time for lunch, continue with a visit to the archaeological area of the Neapolis and get a glimpse of Siracusa as it was in ancient times with its Greek theater, the remains of Roman Amphitheater, and the “Ear of Dionysius,” an awe-inspiring artificial limestone cave renowned for its outstanding acoustics. Travel to Catania, a wonderful combination of ancient and modern, under the shadow of Mt. Etna
Overnight: Catania
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 10, Monday – Mt. Etna Summit & Taormina

Begin the day with a visit to the lava-crusted slopes of Mt. Etna, which dominates the scenery and is the most active volcano in Europe! Ascend via cable car and buses to reach the altitude of 9,000 feet; step carefully on the varied layers of lava which have solidified over the centuries. Learn about Etna’s impact on the surrounding area and its unique geology. After you’lll depart toward Taormina with a stop to try local street food for lunch. In Taormina you will enjoy a walk on the main Corso, followed by free time to enjoy the city. Perhaps visit the massive Greek Theater, from where you can enjoy remarkable panoramas of the city and countryside. Return to Catania in the late afternoon
Overnight: Catania
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

DAY 11, Tuesday – Arrival in Malta, Valetta Sightseeing

This morning, early departure to Malta. Begin your discovery of Malta with a visit to Valleta. The town was built by Knights of St John in the 16th century and maintains the same feel with its gardens and baroque art & architecture. Afterwards, head across Grand Harbor to discover the historical area known as the Three Cities: Vittoriosa, Cospicua & Senglea. Tonight, enjoy dinner at your hotel
Overnight: Sliema
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 12, Wednesday – Explore Gozo

Today, you will start the day early in order to visit Malta’s sister island of Gozo, an island where time stood still, where traditions and customs form part of the daily life of the islanders. Gozo is greener, more rural, and offers beautiful scenic views, having most of the population still following their forefathers’ trades of farming and fishing. During this excursion, visit the Temple of Ggantija, which is the only major prehistoric site on the Island of Gozo. The temple is among the oldest and best preserved in the world. Continue your visit to Ta’ Pinu Church, a national shrine, picturesque Xlendi Bay, and the Citadella in Victoria, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This afternoon, visit a farm in Gozo and enjoy a Mediterranean tasting of wine and delicacies followed by lunch. Return to Sliema and spend the rest of your day at leisure
Overnight: Sliema
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

DAY 13, Thursday – Mdina & Rabat, Home-Hosted Lunch

Your tour today will first take you to Rabat to explore St Paul’s Catacombs, which feature an extensive underground system of tombs that date back to the medieval period. Continue to Mdina, the ancient capital of Malta, located in the central part of the island. This walled city dates back to prehistoric times and has witnessed Malta’s major historical events, having a strategic position on one of the land´s highest plateaus. During your walk in the silent city, visit the Mdina Cathedral and the imposing bastions that allow you to admire panoramic views of most of the island. Proceed to Naxxar, the oldest village on the island, to visit Palazzo Parisio, a unique 19th century palace with splendid gardens. Afterward, return to your hotel in Sliema. Tonight, enjoy dinner together and bid farewell to your Tour Manager and newfound friends
Overnight: Sliema
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner