9-Night Spicy and Exotic Sicily

Day 2

Accommodation

Lovely Estate Inn - Selinunte, Sicily Region

Check in policies:

Check-in time is after 2.00pm on your day of arrival. Check-out time is before 11.00am.

Daily Itinerary

Bustling Palermo - Amazing Monreale - Sublime Selinunte

After breakfast we’ll join our local guide and take a street tour, learning about the intriguing anti-Mafia movement. We will visit the home of the anti-Mafia magistrate himself, Paolo Borsellino. What an exceptional experience! Afterward, we’ll head to Monreale. This place of splendor is situated on the peak of Monte Caputo. It looks over a fertile valley, La Conca d’Oro. Monreale Cathedral is known worldwide for its mosaics; over 130 Byzantine mosaics adorn the church, depicting the New Testament and the lives of saints. After we’ve soaked up the glory, we drive to our sublime lodging in Selinunte. Breakfast is included.

Monreale Trivia:
Q. What does La Conca d’Oro mean?
A. The Conca d’Oro is the name of a region that is rich with citrus groves. “Oro,” means golden… golden-colored with oranges and lemons. “Conca” is a crescent shape, used to represent this region along the north coast of Sicily. The Conca d’Oro includes the city of Palermo and the nearby rural areas extending to Villabate and Bagheria in the east.

Overnight Location

Selinunte, Sicily Region

On the Map: Selinunte was an extensive Greek city on the southwestern coast of Italy’s Sicily. It is situated between the valleys of the Cottone and Modione rivers. Located on the southwest coast, and the mouth of the Selinunte River, Selinunte was one of the most important Greek colonies in Sicily. It is 4 miles west of the Hypsas river, now called the Belice. 

The city is next to the sea on two high areas that are connected by a narrow isthmus. The southern part of the city contains the acropolis, part of the archaeological site. At the area’s peak, the city had 30,ooo inhabitants. It was destroyed and abandoned in 250 BC, never to be occupied again. This makes the modern Archaeological Park a true wonder.

Day 3

Accommodation

Enchanting Palace Hotel - Favara, Sicily Region

Check in policies:

Check-in time is after 3.00pm on your day of arrival. Check-out time is before 11.00am

Daily Itinerary

Sublime Selinunte - Delicious Mazara Del Vallo and Sciacca - Surprising Favara

This morning, we're in for a culinary treat: prepare to sample a local farm’s tasty olives, award-winning oil and fresh breads. Then: en route to Favara, we’ll stop by Agrigento to visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Valley of Temples. One of the most impressive collections of ancient Greek monuments in the world – a local guide will reveal the history of this enchanting archaeological site. Afterwards, we’ll move on to our hotel in Favara where we’ll enjoy a delicious local dinner together as a group. Breakfast and dinnera are included.

Selinunte Trivia:
Q. Where did Selinunte get its name?
A. The town’s name comes from the Greek word, “selinous,” meaning celery. Celery grows wild in the woods here, and it is on the crest of the city. Any Authentic trip to Sicily should include a visit to beautiful Selinunte.

Overnight Location

Favara, Sicily Region

On the Map: Favara is a town in south central Sicily, Italy, 5 miles northeast of Agrigento, by road. From there it forms into a larger city. Located on the slope of a hill that is 1,800 feet high, Monte Caltafaraci, the average elevation of Favara is 1,100 feet. It is on a seaside hill with a warm, Mediterranean climate. 

The first signs of people living in this area are dated to the late copper age, 2400 - 1990 BC. There is beautiful red pottery from that era. The name of the town is Arabic in origin. It is also the site of a late 13th-century castle, built by the Chiaramonte family, Sicilian nobles from the 11th–15th centuries.

Day 4

Accommodation

4-Star Garden Retreat - Ragusa, Sicily Region

Check in policies:

Check-in time is after 3.00pm on your day of arrival. Check-out time is before 11.00am

Daily Itinerary

Surprising Favara - Inspiring Agrigento and Piazza Armerina - Breathtaking Ragusa

After breakfast, we’ll enjoy another ancient history lesson with a visit to Piazza Armerina’s Villa Romana del Casale, which contains one of the largest collections of Roman mosaics in the world. Then, we’ll spend the afternoon at leisure in the magnificent hilltop town of Ragusa where our idyllic accommodation awaits. Wander around the old town’s picturesque, cobbled streets and browse various artisan shops. Breakfast is included.

Favara Trivia:
Q. Is Favara famous for any particular food?
A. Favara is a feast of various foods, but the most well-known is Easter Lamb. (And it’s not a meat dish!) Easter Lamb, or pecura, is central to Easter holidays. It is a sweet made from almond flour ground into a paste, with sugar added. Then it is stuffed with pistachio paste, vanilla, and lemon, and shaped into a lamb. The first to make this delicacy were the nuns at Mary Convent in the Batia quarter of Favara.

Overnight Location

Ragusa, Sicily Region

On the Map: Ragusa is a city in southern Italy. It is the capital of the province, also named Ragusa, on the island of Sicily. 74,000 people live in Ragusa. The town is built on a wide limestone hill between two deep valleys. One is called Cava San Leonardo, and the other is Cava Santa Domenica. Along with seven other cities in the area, it is a valuable part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ragusa is below the Hyblaean Mountains, and is divided by a dramatic gorge into Ragusa Ibla and Ragusa Superiore. 

Ragusa Ilba is the original settlement, and it is situated on a rocky crest. It has the three-tiered Baroque Duomo San Giorgio, standing on top of a curvaceous set of stairs. The exquisite San Francisco all’Immacolata, and the Gothic doorway of a long-gone palace still stand, while the rest was destroyed by an earthquake. Ragusa Superiore is the upper town. It was founded on the plain above Ilba after the earthquake of 1693.

Day 5

Accommodation

4-Star Garden Retreat - Ragusa, Sicily Region

Check in policies:

Check-in time is after 3.00pm on your day of arrival. Check-out time is before 11.00am

Daily Itinerary

Breathtaking Ragusa - Rural Modica - Breathtaking Ragusa

After breakfast we’ll savor a chocolate tasting in Modica—this is the only chocolate made from pure cocoa beans, with no fats added. Heaven! Our next adventure takes us through the countryside for an exceptional lesson in cheese making. We’ll dive into Sicily’s rustic atmosphere and meet with a Sicilian shepherd. From him we get the real story behind the creation of this area’s well-loved provola ragusana cheese.  And, of course, there will be a tasting session! After we return to Ragusa, we have the rest of the day to explore curving lanes, ancient Ragusa Ibla, or walk along a beach on the Mediterranean Sea. Breakfast is included.

Modica Trivia:
Q. What is Modica famous for?
A. Actually, Modica is famous for two things. The first is its spectacular Baroque architecture. It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with seven other towns in Sicily’s Val di Noto (Province of Noto). It is also known for Modica Chocolate. Modica is the only chocolate made with cocoa and sugar and mixed in a cold-working process. It has zero added fats. The only fat it does contain is the cocoa butter that’s naturally found in cocoa beans.

Overnight Location

Ragusa, Sicily Region

On the Map: Ragusa is a city in southern Italy. It is the capital of the province, also named Ragusa, on the island of Sicily. 74,000 people live in Ragusa. The town is built on a wide limestone hill between two deep valleys. One is called Cava San Leonardo, and the other is Cava Santa Domenica. Along with seven other cities in the area, it is a valuable part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ragusa is below the Hyblaean Mountains, and is divided by a dramatic gorge into Ragusa Ibla and Ragusa Superiore. 

Ragusa Ilba is the original settlement, and it is situated on a rocky crest. It has the three-tiered Baroque Duomo San Giorgio, standing on top of a curvaceous set of stairs. The exquisite San Francisco all’Immacolata, and the Gothic doorway of a long-gone palace still stand, while the rest was destroyed by an earthquake. Ragusa Superiore is the upper town. It was founded on the plain above Ilba after the earthquake of 1693.

Day 6

Accommodation

Boutique Harborside Hotel - Syracuse, Sicily Region

Check in policies:

Check-in time is after 3:00pm on your day of arrival. Check-out time is before 10:00am. 
 

Daily Itinerary

Breathtaking Ragusa - Charming Noto - Spellbinding Syracuse

After we enjoy a delicious breakfast, we’ll head to the city of Noto. Noto is the center of almond orchards, cultivation, and cuisine. A local guide will let us in on the details, and then we’ll savor an almond-themed lunch. We’ll wind through the country and coast to Syracuse, founded in 734 BC by Corinthians. Our local guide will lead us through the archaeological park and the dramatic Teatro Greco. After settling in at our exceptional lodgings, we have time to relax, delight in the views, or explore Ortigia, the ancient center of Syracuse. Breakfast is included.

Ragusa Trivia:
Q. Did a volcano destroy Ragusa?
A. No. Ragusa, founded in the 2nd Millennium BC, was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1693. It killed 5,000 people, and the city was mostly rebuilt. Many Baroque buildings, from the time of renewal, still remain. Most people moved to a new settlement, and this was called Ragusa Superiore, or Upper Ragusa. What was left of the original city, plus Ragusa Superiore, were joined as one in 1927 to become the provincial capital.

Overnight Location

Syracuse, Sicily Region

On the Map: Syracuse is located in the southeast corner of the island of Sicily, next to the Gulf of Syracuse and the Ionian Sea. Syracuse is not hilly, in itself, but it is located near a rise of land that is 6,600 feet in height. This dramatic rise is just off the shoreline. Syracuse has a hot summer climate and mild winters. Frosts are quite rare. It is a historic city, and the capital of the Italian province of the same name. 

Founded by the Ancient Greek Corinthians, 2,700 year-old Syracuse was quite a powerful city-state. It was described by Cicero as “the greatest Greek city, and the most beautiful of them all.” By the 5th century BC, it was equal in size to Athens. The city is note-worthy for its Greek and Roman history, amphitheaters, architecture, culture, and as the birthplace of mathematician Archimedes.

Day 7

Accommodation

Boutique Harborside Hotel - Syracuse, Sicily Region

Check in policies:

Check-in time is after 3:00pm on your day of arrival. Check-out time is before 10:00am. 
 

Daily Itinerary

Spellbinding Coastal Syracuse

Syracuse was second only to Athens as the most important city in Greece. Today, go out and about and explore! You might like to take a boat to mystical caves, the place where time slips away. Or you might explore the ruins of ancient temples inside the city. Go to the pier and gaze out on the Mediterranean before taking a walk on the beach. Choose to simply stroll the streets and shop for handcrafted goods, dip into an enticing cafe, and then be amazed when a small lane opens into a Baroque Piazza. We do feel that a stop at the Piazza Duomo might top your list. Breakfast is included.

Syracuse Trivia:
Q. Does Syracuse, Sicily, distort sounds?
A. Yes and no. The Ear of Dionysius is a strange slice of cavern in Syracuse. This slim cut in limestone is 75 feet high and just wide enough to enter. Listen to the sounds: Your voice reaches out and comes back to you, over and over again. And it’s true—tearing a sheet of paper can sound as sharp as a firecracker or gunshot. The painter famed for his use of shadow, Caravaggio, gave the cave its name. It is said that in ancient times, political prisoners were dropped here so rulers could listen in on their conversations. The origin of the cave, man-made or formed by nature, is a mystery.

Overnight Location

Syracuse, Sicily Region

On the Map: Syracuse is located in the southeast corner of the island of Sicily, next to the Gulf of Syracuse and the Ionian Sea. Syracuse is not hilly, in itself, but it is located near a rise of land that is 6,600 feet in height. This dramatic rise is just off the shoreline. Syracuse has a hot summer climate and mild winters. Frosts are quite rare. It is a historic city, and the capital of the Italian province of the same name. 

Founded by the Ancient Greek Corinthians, 2,700 year-old Syracuse was quite a powerful city-state. It was described by Cicero as “the greatest Greek city, and the most beautiful of them all.” By the 5th century BC, it was equal in size to Athens. The city is note-worthy for its Greek and Roman history, amphitheaters, architecture, culture, and as the birthplace of mathematician Archimedes.

Day 8

Accommodation

Classic Elegant Resort - Etna Region, Sicily Region

Check in policies:

Check-in time is after 3.00pm on your day of arrival. Check-out time is before 12.00pm noon.

Daily Itinerary

Spellbinding Syracuse - Dramatic Mt Etna - Scenic Etna Region

Mt. Etna, one of Europe’s most active volcanoes, has shaped much of Sicily’s landscape. Today we visit that slumbering giant, towering over a rugged landscape. The views from Rifugio Sapienza cannot be matched. We’ll have a chance to take a cable car in order to get a closer look at the bubbling craters. Feel the awesome power of nature here. Volcanic soil makes for excellent vineyards, and our next stop is an exceptional winery. We’ll indulge in a beautiful lunch, complete with wine tasting and pairing. Relax and smile! Our classic hotel in the foothills awaits… Breakfast and Lunch are included.

Mt. Etna Trivia:
Q. Is Mt. Etna still an active volcano?
A. Yes. Mount Etna is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. It covers an area of 459 sq. miles, and the circumference is 87 miles. It is about 2 ½ times the size of Mt. Vesuvius. Fertile volcanic soils on the lower slope are excellent for vineyards and orchards. In Greek mythology, the monster Typhon was trapped under Etna by Zeus, the god of sky and thunder, king of all gods.

Overnight Location

Etna Region, Sicily Region

On the Map: The Etna Region, on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, is between the cities of Catania and Messina. The African and the Eurasian Tectonic Plates meet here. Etna is one of the tallest active volcanoes in Europe. At an elevation of 11,014 ft., it is the tallest peak in Italy south of the Alps.

Etna wine country, in Sicily’s far east corner, hugs Mount Etna. Etna wine is a mind-boggling appellation that is famous for its unique volcanic soil and distinctive wines. 

Day 9

Accommodation

Classic Elegant Resort - Etna Region, Sicily Region

Check in policies:

Check-in time is after 3.00pm on your day of arrival. Check-out time is before 12.00pm noon.

Daily Itinerary

Scenic Etna Region - Joyful Taormina - Scenic Etna Region

After breakfast, we’ll visit an impressive Greco-Roman Theatre. Then, we will head to the spectacular hilltop town on the coast, Taormina. Let yourself go, and indulge in la dolce vita, Sicilian style! After a day spent exploring towns and the seaside, we gather for our farewell dinner to laugh and share stories. Breakfast and Dinner are included.

Taormina Trivia:
Q. Is Taormina worth a visit?
A. Absolutely! Perched on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea, it has numerous churches, lively bars, fine restaurants, an ancient Greek theater, and is a haven for people who love antiquing. Santuario Madonna dell Rocca is a gorgeous church on a slope above town. Enjoy dramatic views of the coast, Mt. Etna to the south, and the beautiful turquoise beaches. Just south of town is the Isola Bella, an exquisite nature reserve.

Overnight Location

Etna Region, Sicily Region

On the Map: The Etna Region, on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, is between the cities of Catania and Messina. The African and the Eurasian Tectonic Plates meet here. Etna is one of the tallest active volcanoes in Europe. At an elevation of 11,014 ft., it is the tallest peak in Italy south of the Alps.

Etna wine country, in Sicily’s far east corner, hugs Mount Etna. Etna wine is a mind-boggling appellation that is famous for its unique volcanic soil and distinctive wines. 

Day 10

Daily Itinerary

Scenic Etna Region - Seaside Catania

We enjoy our final breakfast, and then go to the port city of Catania. We’ll have a walking tour of this gem of a town. Soak up the vibrant atmosphere at the colorful fish market. Perhaps there’s one last gift you’d like to purchase at a unique shop. On our tour, we’ll stop by Catania’s premier cannolo store and fill our own cannoli. It’s a delicious end to the perfect adventure!  Breakfast is included.

Catania Trivia:
Q. Where can I go to find nature in Catania?
A. Catania is charming and, as the second largest city on the island of Sicily, is fairly busy. If you want to take a breather from the city, head to the Giardini Bellini/Parco Maestranze. Located west of the town center, this is a beautiful public space to relax, renew, and enjoy nature. The Bellini Garden is on the east side of the park. It is complete with a graceful fountain, flowers, a lovely bandstand, and shady trees. The Maestranza Park has walking trails lined with cool, forested areas.

As you will be arriving late in the day to Catania, please ask your  Destination Expert about extending your stay for a night, so there is zero stress about arriving at the airport in time for your flight home!

Depart From

Depart from Catania Airport, Sicily Region

Today you will depart from Catania–Fontanarossa Airport, also known as Vincenzo Bellini Airport, an international airport 2.3 NM southwest of Catania in Sicily.