• 8-day package (7 nights) for a completely independent trip to discover Sicily in spring

• 8-day package (7 nights) for a completely independent trip to discover Sicily in spring

DAY 1: ARRIVAL

• Arrival at the hotel. Overnight in Acireale area.

DAY 2: ETNA & TAORMINA

• Breakfast in the hotel. This day you can decide to visit Etna & Taormina.
  Suggested itinerary: In the morning drive to Mt. Etna, the highest peak of Sicily and the most active volcano in Europe. The territory surrounding the volcano constitutes the “Park of Etna”, one of the largest protected areas in Italy: You will be astonished about the great variety of vegetation and landscapes that we will meet along the way before arriving at the “Silvestri Craters” (about 1.900 mt). From here on you will have the option to continue the excursion by jeep. We suggest you to make a stop at a local beekeeper to taste quality honey and have a wine tasting and to see how he is produced. In the afternoon visit of Taormina, situated on a plateau on the slopes of the steeply dropping Monte Tauro, dominating the Ionian coast from Capo Sant’Andrea to Capo Taormina. Possibility, to visit the Greek-Roman theatre, the 2nd largest classical theatre in Sicily. Re-entry in hotel. Overnight in hotel.

DAY 3: CATANIA & SIRACUSA

• After breakfast departure to Catania, a city lying on the slopes of Etna, rich in sumptuous and magnificent buildings.
  Suggested itinerary: We suggest you to visit the typical fish market (closed Sunday) and to stroll around the city center which, for its historical and typical baroque buildings, has been proclaimed, together with the other towns of the Val di Noto, a World Heritage Site 'HUMANITY' by UNESCO. After visiting the city, continue to Syracuse, one of the most interesting sites on the island, where you can visit the Archaeological Park, famous for its Roman amphitheater, the Greek theater and the ear of Dionysus. Continue your visit by going to the island of Ortigia, the oldest part of the city, characteristic for its narrow alleys, for its sea views and for the wonderful square with its splendid cathedral. On to Ragusa/Syracuse and overnight.

DAY 4: AVOLA, MODICA & SCICLI

• Breakfast in the hotel. Suggested itinerary Drive to Avola for “Avola almond”. The Avola almond is a quality product known throughout the world, protected by a special consortium that certifies the individual steps of its processing and marketing. These are the most famous almonds of Sicily. In this territory there are several "cultivars" (types) of almonds produced, exported all over the world and used a lot both in confectionery and in other savory dishes of Italian cuisine. Once in Avola (a town rebuilt in Baroque style in 1693 after an earthquake that destroyed many towns in the area), Optional visit the Almond Museum (https://museodellamandorladiavola.wordpress.com/). In Avola  will possible to buy almond, almond flour, almond grain and almond cream. If you have time we suggest you to drive to Modica (UNESCO World Heritage city) especially known for its chocolate as well as for its wonderful buildings and to Scicli. Overnight.

DAY 5: AGRIGENTO "ALMOND BLOSSOM"

• Breakfast at hotel. Suggested itinerary: Drive to Agrigento and start a walk from the Cathedral of San Gerlando, built in 1054, to the Via Atenea. On this 3 km-long walk, you can visit the Church of Santa Maria dei Greci, built on the ruins of a Doric temple.  Thanks to the glass floor of the church, it is possible to admire the base of the Doric columns. Continuing on, you can see the seat of  Diocesan Museum of Agrigento and walking through the historical centre you will come across the Monastery of Santo Spirito built by the Chiaramonte family in 1300, where even today the cloistered nuns produce almond cakes that are very well known in the Sicilian culinary world. Inside the Monastery there is a Church whose interior is decorated with stuccos work by Serpotta. Finally, the Municipal Museum exhibits some of the paintings of the most famous Italian and Sicilian painters, in particular Francesco Lo Iacono, a well-known 19th century landscape painter. (perhaps the most impressive). We continue to visit the Temples’ Valley, including the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Concorde (one of the best preserved Doric temples in the whole Greek world), the Temple of Hercules , the Temple of Castor and Pollux. Then we entry in the garden of the Kolymbethra  an archaeological site of great naturalistic and landscape importance, located in a small basin in the heart of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. It has become one of the most important Sicilian and national archaeological/naturalistic sites. The vegetation and structural restoration overseen by the FAI, today facilitates visits to the Temple of Hephaestus, as well as having contributed to the discovery of some hypogea.In this time of the Year,  the park is covered in flowering almond trees, an this spectacular view of nature can be appreciated also from the church of San Nicola, located within the Valley of the Temples. Behind this  church, there is the regional museum, which houses the original telamon statue and numerous artefacts from ancient Akgragas. (dating back 2400 years Continue to Palermo where you will arrive in the evening. Overnight in Agrigento.

DAY 6: MARSALA, ERICE & SEGESTA

• Breakfast at hotel. Suggested itinerary: Drive to Marsala, famous because of the salt works and the production of wine. Stop in the Riserva dello Stagnone a magical place, with a striking natural landscape of rare beauty for its white salt pans with windmills. Continue driving to Erice, the medieval town on the summit of Monte San Giuliano. Here you can admire the Venus Castle (exterior) and the Cathedral. In the meantime we suggest you to have a stop at a bakery to taste the typical almond pastry of Erice. Drive to Segesta, one of the most beautiful archeological sites of Sicily, where you should visit the Doric temple whose majestic appearance and dominating position bestows great nobility to the landscape. Return to Agrigento. Overnight.

DAY 7: PIAZZA ARMERINA

• Breakfast in the hotel  and departure to Piazza Armerina where you will have a short break for tasting some typical Sicilian food. Visit of the Villa Romana del Casale, famous for the most beautiful collection of late-Roman mosaics. On to Start your visit to this city. Continue to Catania area and Overnight.

DAY 8: DEPARTURE

• Breakfast at the hotel and End of our services.

• 2 overnights in a 4-star hotel in Acireale/Mascali area on BB basis
• 2 overnights in a 4-star hotel in Syracuse/Ragusa area on BB basis
• 2 overnights in a 4-star hotel in Agrigento area on BB basis
• 1 overnight in a 4-star hotel in Acireale/Mascali area on BB basis

• Lunches
• Beverage
• Tips and extra
• City tax
• Entrance to monuments and archaeological parks
• Porterage service
• Anything not expressly indicated in "the rate includes”

Optional Experiences 1 - € 65,00 per person    

• Wine tasting 4 wines at a winery in Etna
• One dinner Domia restaurant in Mondello (menu not a la carte) drink not included or Pizza in a Sicilian restaurant

Optional Experiences 2 - € 90,00 per person    

• Wine tasting 4 wines at a winery in Etna
• Wine tasting 4 wines at a winery in Marsala area
• One dinner Domia restaurant in Mondello (menu not a la carte) drink not included or Pizza in a Sicilian restaurant

• Acireale/Mascali Area: Wave Hotel, Orizzonte, King's House or similar (*)
• Syracuse/Ragusa Area: Panorama Palace, Mediterraneo Palace or similar (*)
• Agrigento Area: Grand Hotel Mosè, Kore or similar (*)

(*) It could happen and in case of problems the hotels indicated may be replaced with others of the same category located in the same towns or up to 30 km distance where will be possible to realize the program. The name of the hotel will be sent to you 21 days before the arrival.

• Each customer can independently choose whether to follow the suggested itinerary or create one based on their own needs. However, it is essential to follow the schedule related to the cities where overnight stays are planned.
• Parking at the hotel is not guaranteed, but it will be possible to find it nearby.
• Norma Vacanze reserves the right to modify the excursion itinerary if deemed appropriate or due to force majeure.
• Norma Vacanze is not responsible for accidents, delays, damage or loss of luggage or personal belongings, nor for damages caused by third parties or others such as floods, storms, landslides, earthquakes, political unrest, epidemics, terrorist attacks, strikes, etc.

The rate does not include:

• Tourist tax to be paid locally
• Lunches and dinners unless mentioned
• Tips and personal extras
• Porter service
• Fuel
• Highway tolls
• Parking fees
• Tickets for planes, ships, trains, or buses to reach the airport
• Entrance fees to monuments and archaeological parks
• Cinque Terre Card (1 day €115 per person)
• Anything not expressly indicated under "the rate includes".

• Cancellations up to 120 days before departure with full refund.
• Cancellations from 119 to 15 days before departure: penalty of €50 per person.
• Cancellations from 14 to 8 days before departure: 30% penalty.
• Cancellations from 7 to 4 days before departure: 50% penalty.
• In case of cancellation within 3 days of departure: 100% penalty.
• No refund is provided in case of no-show or voluntary interruption of an already started trip.