| A seven day private tour in Sicily 3 nights in Palermo, 1 night in Agrigento, 3 nights in Taormina Visits: Palermo, Erice, Segesta, Agrigento, Piazza Armerina, Taormina, Etna. |
|
| Full itinerary. Day 1 arrival in Palermo: morning, pick up from the Airport and check into the hotel. After lunch in a typical restaurant we’ll start to visit the wonderful city of Palermo, provincial and regional capitol, set on the north coast of Sicily, it preserves the memories, monuments, and atmosphere of Arab and Norman times as one of its two urban faces, the other face is that of the Baroque architecture that dates from the 17th/18th c., from the time of the Spanish viceroy and the Bourbon monarchs. We’ll visit the Chiesa del Gesù, built in 1564 and later enlarged, it is a sterling example of Sicilian Baroque; we’ll then continue with a visit to the Cattedrale, the result of a complex series of rebuildings, ranging from the first structure (1185) to renovation and addition of the dome by Fuga (1781-1804); Car and driver/guide at your disposal for sightseeing and dinner. Day 2 tour in Palermo: we’ll start with a visit to Palazzo dei Normanni, one of Sicily’s most significant monuments, with its Cappella Palatina, one the finest creations of the entire Norman monarchy, with splendid 12th c. Byzantine mosaics. Next stops will be in S.Giovanni degli Eremiti, a Norman church in a lovely garden, full of exotic plants, with an exquisite 13th c. cloister; Martorana, another jewel of the Norman period with a unique bell tower and a splendid 12th c. Bizantine mosaic; Galleria Regionale della Sicilia, a major art collection with masterpieces by Antonello da Messina, Francesco Laurana, Giovanni di Nicola and others; Museo Regionale Archeologico, a major archaeological museum in a 17th c. building of a former convent, with, among the enormous collections, the famous sculptures from Selinunte. Car and driver guide at your disposal for sightseeing and dinner. Day 3 tour in Erice and Segesta: after a pleasant driving we’ll reach Erice, in the province of Trapani, on the summit of Mt.Erice, this lovely, perfectly triangular town has been a favorite stopping place for many centuries, given to its perfect climate and astounding views; here we’ll see the well preserved walls made of megalithic blocks (5th c. B.C.) in the lower section, and of Norman construction (12th c.) in the upper section and in the gates; we’ll then visit the Chiesa Matrice, a 14th c. church that features an isolated bell tower with mullioned windows (1312), and a Virgin painted by Francesco Laurana (1469); and the Museo Comunale A.Cordici, with a notable collection of ancient artifacts and art, paintings from the 17th/19th c., local crafts work and silver, a marble Annunciation by Antonello Gagini (1525). After lunch in a typical restaurant we’ll drive to Segesta, once a city of the Elimi, a western Sicilian people that blended Greek customs with Phoenician and Carthaginian influences; the city vanished in the high Middle Ages, but the magnificent temple remains, standing on a rise. Car and driver/guide at your disposal for sightseeing and dinner. Drivig times: from Palermo to Erice 1h, to Segesta 30 minutes, back to Palermo 45 minutes. Day 4 from Palermo to Agrigento: morning transfer from Palermo to Agrigento, and check into the hotel; the main reason for going to Agrigento is certainly to see the amazing array of ancient Greek ruins in the old city, nowhere else on earth, not even in Greece, will you see so many sacred buildings in one place (the Greek colony here was founded in 581 B.C. by settlers from nearby Gela and by other settlers from Rhodes and from Crete). Full day tour in the Valley of the Temples and in the Museo Archeologico Regionale (a fine archaeological museum with collections from the city of Agrigento itself, as well as from the various ancient sites in the provinces of Agrigento and Caltanisetta. Car and driver guide at your disposal for sightseeing and dinner. Driving times: from Palermo to Agrigento 2h. Day 5 from Agrigento to Taormina (via Piazza Armerina): after a pleasant driving towards the inland we’ll reach Piazza Armerina, the source of this place’s great fame is the extraordinary archeological complex of the Villa Romana del Casale, a huge Roman country villa (late 3rd/early 4th c.) adorned with wonderful mosaics (it is an intriguing hypothesis, though not at all certain, that this villa belonged to a wealthy importer of wild African animals for the Roman games); after lunch in a typical restaurant we’ll drive to Taormina, a world famous resort on the East cost of Sicily, with wonderful views on the Mt. Etna and on the sea; founded in 358 A.C. by the refugees of Naxos it preserves a medieval appearance with important ruins of the ancient times. After check into the hotel we’ll have a walk along Corso Umberto, lined with pleasant cafes and elegant shops. Car and driver guide at your disposal for sightseeing and dinner. Driving times: from Agrigento to Piazza Armerina 1h and 20 minutes, to Taormina 1h and 30 minutes. Day 6 visit of Taormina and its environs: we’ll start our tour with a visit to the Greek theater, which dates from the Hellenistic period (3rd c.B.C.), and was entirely rebuilt in Roman times (fantastic views from the cavea and from the terrace above the scaena); we’ll then visit the Naumachia that features a monumental façade in brick, with niches, one of the most significant Roman ruins in Sicily; next stop will be to the Duomo, originally built in the 13th c., this cathedral has a long history of construction; we’ll then reach Giardini-Naxos to visit the ruins of the oldest Greek colony in Sicily; after lunch in a typical restaurant we’ll drive to Castelmola, a picturesque little town built high atop a crag (529 m.), with another celebrated view from the terrace of the Caffè S.Giorgio. Car and driver guide at your disposal for sightseeing and dinner. Day 7 tour of the Mt. Etna: Sicily's greatest natural attraction is also its highest mountain. To the ancient Greeks, Mount Etna was the realm of Vulcan, god of fire, and the home of the one-eyed monster known as the Cyclops. At approximately 3350 meters, it is Europe's highest active volcano. The height of its summit changes with each eruption, and over the centuries a few lava flows have reached the coast. Over 1200 square meters of Etna's surface is covered with solidified lava. Etna offers skiing in the Winter months and breathtaking hikes in the woods during the Summer. Car and driver guide at your disposal for sightseeing and dinner Day 8 departure from Catania Airport: our driver guide will transfer you from Taormina to Catania Airport. Driving time: from Taormina to Catania Airport 1h. The tour is per a party of max 4 people, or party of max 8 people. In the price are included : private car transfers; fluent speaking English driver/guide; driver’s meals and hotels; ITALYPRIVATETOURS is not a travel agency and the tour above do not include hotels, restaurants or airfares; your travel agent can make these reservations for you and we are always available to assist you in making the best selection for your needs, or to refer you to a local agent or tour operator. |
|
© 2004-2005 Tuscan Way
Isabel Innocenti
Tuscan Way - La Via dei Sensi
2829 Bird Avenue, Suite 5, PMB 242
Coconut Grove, Florida 33133 USA
Tel: 800-766-2390 or 305-598-8368
Fax: 800-767-9699 or 305-598-8369
Email:
inquire@tuscanway.com