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9-Day Glorious Sicily Escorted Tour

The 9-Day Sicily Escorted Tour package is a comprehensive tour of Sicily’s sightseeing highlights

Sicily is a fascinating Mediterranean island. It is located at the crossroads of history’s greatest civilizations. It’s long and rich history lends itself to the escorted tour experience. You’ll be escorted around the entire island of Sicily visiting Agrigento, Catania, Cefalu, Erice, Marsala, Monreale, Mt. Etna, Palermo, Ragusa, Siracusa, and Taormina.

The daily Sicily trip itinerary explores the mixture of cultures that colonized Sicily over the centuries. Sicily’s location is manifest in its architecture, music, food, culinary traditions, and culture. Families, friends, groups, and singles will all enjoy history’s great civilizations coming to life on this 9-Day Sicily escorted tour.

For the price of the Sicily escorted tour with airfare from your preferred city submit the form or call ItalianTourism.us 800.227.1577.

9-Day Sicily Escorted Tour Itinerary Map

Highlights

Sicily Escorted Tour Sightseeing Highlights

  • Discover Norman architecture in Cefalu, Monreale, and Palermo
  • Explore the ancient Greeks in Agrigento, Taormina, and Siracusa
  • Siracusa walk through the Paradise Quarry gardens, listen to the acoustics in the mysterious ear of Dionysius and visit the Greek amphitheatre.
  • Siracusa: Explore the ancient streets and delightful squares of Ortygia.
  • Visit Sicily’s Colosseum in Siracusa
  • Agrigento: Join a local expert who will guide you through the Temples of Juno, Concorde and Hercules, some of the best preserved Greek temples in the world.
  • See the world’s finest Byzantine mosaics in Monreale
  • Stroll around authentic Sicilian towns like Erice
  • In Ragusa learn about Sicilian Baroque architecture
  • In Marsala taste the famous wine and see the salt flats and windmills
  • Visit the Greek and Roman Gods in Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples
  • Taormina: Set on a cliff, open to the sky, take your seats in the ancient Greek Theatre and enjoy the view through the crumbling arches to snowy Mount Etna with a Local Expert.
  • Cefalu: See the Cathedral and walk down to the medieval stone fountain in the old fishermen’s quarter.
  • Palermo: See Teatro Massimo, Quattro Canti Square, Fontana Pretoria and Palermo Cathedral.
  • Erice: Explore the quiet alleys of this ancient walled town –
  • Taormina: Visit the courtyard of Palazzo Corvaja. Stroll along Corso Umberto to Piazza IX Aprile.
  • Trapani Salt Marshes: Stop at one of the restored windmills and learn about the ancient process of salt extraction.

Glorious Sicily Tour Includes

  • 7 nights luxury accommodations in Catania, Ragusa, Palermo, Taormina.
  • Meals: Breakfast daily, 4 dinners, 1 lunch.
  • Inclusive Sicily tour includes airport transfers, tours, entrance fees, and meals per itinerary.
  • Palermo: There is an array of restaurants and cuisines to choose from on your Dine-Around evening.
  • Erice: At a local farm, sample the olive oil produced on the island with a tasting of Sicilian wine and a light lunch.
  • Taormina: Enjoy a Celebration Dinner with wine, reflecting some of Sicily’s top culinary heritage.
  • Enjoy the unique comfort of luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with extended leg room and on-board restroom. It’s business class comfort.
  • Personal radio headsets, gives you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights without missing any of your local expert’s fascinating insights and commentaries.
  • Baggage handling everywhere, with seamless and prompt delivery to your door at every hotel.
  • Hotel and restaurant tips included – you’ll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. Plus we include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
  • Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel WiFi.

Click here to review the day-by-day Sicily escorted tour itinerary.

Accommodations

Sicily Escorted Tour Accommodations

Catania 1 Night – Il Principe Hotel

The Il Principe Hotel is centrally located in the heart of Catania’s historic center, surrounded by Baroque architecture. The beautifully refurbished rooms feature high ceilings and have been designed with your comfort in mind

Ragusa 1 night – Mediterraneo Palace

Located next to the Santa Domenica Valley and crossed by three historic bridges, just a few minutes away on foot to the Municipal Gardens of Villa Margherita.

Palermo 3 nights – Hotel Palazzo Sitano or Mercure Central

Giardini Naxos (Taormina Riviera) 2 nights – Hilton Giardini Naxos

Overlooking the Ionian Sea, the Hilton Giardini Naxos boasts traditional Mediterranean hospitality and fabulous rooms and facilities.

Optional Tours

Sicily Optional Tours:

Below are examples of optional tours. Exact timing and the price of each will be confirmed along the tour.

GUIDED TOUR OF RAGUSA IBLA

A visit to the spectacularly situated old town of Ragusa with a local guide. The original town was destroyed in an earthquake in 1693 and consequently rebuilt. It has now achieved UNESCO World Heritage Site status due to its beautiful Baroque Churches and squares.

DINNER IN RAGUSA

The spirit and atmosphere of Sicily oozes from every corner of this Island (Trinacria), its cuisine expresses the multitude of invasions and influences, this meal will give you a taste of the uniqueness of this land. Fish is a must (there is a meat alternative), showered by the flagrance of local wine, Ragusa in its wonderful setting, makes this a special evening.

HIDDEN PALERMO

Walk the ancient streets of the historical centre and learn, through the eyes of a local, how the Palermitani live. You’ll discover hidden treasures of this fascinating city that most visitors don’t get to see, like a private visit to the palace of the family of the Counts of Palermo, whom we’ll meet and who will share their amazing experiences with us. This unique tour also includes a drink and light snacks.

DINNER IN PALERMO

Sicilian dining is one of life’s true pleasures! We’ll indulge in great food made from the freshest ingredients, accompanied by the island’s delicious wines.

DINNER IN THE CLOUDS

With one of the most incredible rides of your lives, you will arrive high above the sea, a world apart from the areas that tourists tread. You’ll arrive in your terraced authentic local restaurant for a truly educational meal of delicious regional specialties, with accompanying local wines.

 MT ETNA SAVOCA AND THE GODFATHER

Enter the rustic village life of Sicily with our local guide as we visit Savoca, the town also chosen by Frances F Coppola for his movie “The Godfather”. Enjoy the stunning views and visit Vitelli’s bar, used in one of the scenes of the film, famous for its tasty, ice cold, “granite di limone”. Then up Mt. Etna, the famous active volcano – the highest in Europe. You will have time to photograph the spectacular scenery before our return to Taormina.

9-Day Glorious Sicily Escorted Tour

In-depth all-inclusive escorted tour of Sicily’s sightseeing highlights.

  • Price published is tour only. Check date for Sicily trip you are interested and submit form. [** = SMALL GROUP 24 TRAVELERS]


Sicily Escorted Tour Day-by-Day Itinerary

Travel through Mediterranean history meeting the ancient Greeks, ancient Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Carthaginians, crusaders, Bourbons, and Ottomans on this comprehensive all-inclusive Sicily escorted tour. This escorted Sicily tour provides an in-depth and authentic Sicily vacation experience. The day-by-day itinerary provides time for your expert Sicily tour guide to bring you through its rich history and culture.

Day 1 – Depart USA

Typically flights from the United States fly overnight to Italy.  You’ll be served dinner and breakfast on board the flight. Your final destination in Italy is Catania on the island of Sicily.

Day 2 – Catania

Upon arrival in Catania you will be transferred to your luxury hotel. Spend some time relaxing. Then late this afternoon you’ll join your tour director for a stroll about town. Along the way you’ll see Catania’s Duomo, its central square, and the Palazzo Senatorio. The stroll is followed by a welcome reception and dinner.

Day 3 – Siracusa: The Most Beautiful Ancient Greek City

Yes it is true. The most beautiful of all the ancient Greek cities is located in Italy. Siracusa , Syracuse in English, is located in southwest Sicily. Founded about 800 BC, you will walk through time with your local Sicily tour guide. Visit sites that are known by mythology buffs and interesting to all travelers alike.  Siracusa’s ancient Greek amphitheater has a capacity of 20,000 people. After your guided tour you’ll have time to enjoy Siracusa’s antique city, full of palaces and narrow streets. After you’ll continue on to Ragusa where you’ll stay for the evening. You’ll have time to enjoy stroll around the town while enjoying the famous Sicilian sea views.  You’ll be staying the night here so you’ll have time for a classic Sicilian passeggiata.

Day 4 – Ragusa and Explore the Valley of the Temples

This morning you’ll awake in Ragusa famous for the Sicilian Baroque architecture. Then you’ll continue on to Agrigento to explore the Valley of the Temples. At this site multiple Greek Temples stand. Here you’ll learn more about the ancient Greeks on Sicily during the Magna Grecia era. The you’ll continue on to Palermo. This evening dinner is included.

 Day 5 – Palermo: Discover the Normans

This morning there is the option to explore the bustling Ballaro market crammed in the narrow alleys of the Old Town. Then you’ll tour Palermo with a local guide who is an art history expert. You’ll see all of Palermo’s sightseeing highlights including baroque Quattro Canti Square and glimpse the beauties of the ‘Fountain of Shame’. Visit Palermo Cathedral, a mixture of styles having been altered many times over the years.  Along the way the mixing of architectural and artistic styles that is Sicily’s culture will become evident. Then, after the guided tour of Palermo, you’ll take the short drive to Monreale to visit the Cathedral.  Inside its gold mosaics are the finest examples of Arab-Norman art. This afternoon enjoy some time at leisure back in Palermo. This evening your dinner is included.

Day 6 – Explore Erice

In the morning, wind your way up to the charming hilltop walled town of Erice. Walk through the labyrinth of quiet alleyways, past medieval churches and enjoy sea views from the gardens next to the Castle of Venus! At a farm near Trapani, sample some of the freshest olive oil produced on the island and savour a tasting of Sicilian wine, followed by a light lunch of delicious local produce. Back in Palermo the evening is free.

Day 7 – Cefalu & Taormina 

After breakfast, drive to the quaint fishing town of Cefalu. The town’s imposing Cathedral was erected to fulfill a vow made by the Norman King Roger II. Stroll down to the medieval stone fountain and seek out the Gothic arch of the Porta Marina for a picture perfect view of the little harbor. Maybe try the restaurants down by the beach before continuing on, past the toe of Italy to the Taormina Riviera.

Day 8 – Taormina Escorted Tour

Your hotel faces east, so early risers may experience what D.H. Lawrence christened the ‘dawn coast of Europe’. After breakfast, perhaps take an optional drive through the vineyards to Mt Etna, Europe’s largest volcano. Later, transfer to the old town of Taormina that clings to the side of Mount Tauro, overlooking the Ionian Sea and the snowy peak of Mt. Etna. Join a Local Expert for a visit to the Greek Theater, graced with the most spectacular of backdrops. Stroll on to the tiny courtyard of the Palazzo Corvaja, Taormina’s grandest building. In the evening, rejoice with your friends at a celebration dinner, complete with wine.

Day 9 – Sicily tour ends. 

The Sicily escorted tour ends this morning. This tour may be extended with a three-day tour of the island of Malta.

Click here to review the Sicily escorted tour accommodations.

For more Sicily vacation options click Sicily tours packages.

* When all-inclusive Italy vacation prices are quoted to include airfare the price includes fuel surcharges, airport taxes, Italy airport transfers and fees. All prices are per person based on twin occupancy. Italy tours with air & land tour prices apply from the gateway airport. Prices will vary from alternative gateway airports or cities and may be higher. The total price will be emailed to you prior to any deposit being required. Airline baggage fees may apply. Please review all terms and conditions before booking.