Small group tours in Sicily: Luxury Sicily

E&M Travel, Online Agency. Upscale vacations for discerned traveler.

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Day 1. PALERMO
Arrival at Grand Hotel Villa Igiea , luxurious 5-star-hotel place in a liberty style building, overlooking a small bay on the outskirts of the city. The building is completely surrounded by gardens that cover a large area, sloping down to the sea.
Dinner at leisure (try one of our suggested restaurants!)
Overnight at the villa.

Day 2. PALERMO
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. In the morning guided visit of Palermo, which looks like a baroc jewel, thanks to the sumptuous nobiliary buildings located in the elegant avenues around Piazza Vigliena (or Piazza dei Quattro Canti) and to the Kalsa quarter. Furthermore, there are impressive churches, such as: San Giuseppe, SS Salvatore, del Gesù, all decorated with multicolour marbles,stuccos and frescos. In the afternoon continue to Monreale, a small town 7 kilometer from Palermo. Here you can admire the Dome, architectural masterpiece which dates back to the Norman period. Its walls are almost completely covered by Byzantin mosaics and it covers a very large area, including a magnificent cloister, surrounded by 228 columns with inlaid capitals

Lunch and dinner at leisure (We'll give you lots of suggestions for things to see and truly off-the-beaten track places to have lunch/dinner!)
Overnight in Palermo

Day 3. PALERMO
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. In the morning leave to Selinunte, once capital of Magna Grecia.Your driver will pick you up at the hotel at 9am and take you for a full-day private excursion to see the ancient temple at Segesta and Selinunte. Nowadays, thanks to the high position of the temples, whose profiles stand out in the sky, Selinunte represents one of the most important archeological sites in the Mediterranean area.

After the visit, proceed to Segesta, where the ruins of the Greek Theatre, on the slope of Mount Barbaro, of the perfectly kept temple and the old town, have been brought again to light.

Day 4. AGRIGENTO
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. This day will be devoted to a visit of the Valley of Temples.
You will have a private guided tout, with a specialized guide, and the rest of the day is free. The archeological ruins of the Greek domination are numerous and they were visited and narrated by Goethe in his work Viaggio in Italia In the middle of the valley the most spectacular structure, the Concordia temple, rises surrounded by the ruins of the temples dedicated to Juno, Jupiter, Castor and Pollux, Hercules, Vulcan and Esculapio. Lunch and dinner at leisure
Overnight in Agrigento

Day 5. AGRIGENTO/VILLA ARMERINA
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Today onto Piazza Armerina, a small town in the south-central part of the island. Visit the Villa Romana del Casale, a Roman country villa of the 3rd century, famous for its precious mosaics. Check-in at Villa Tasca. a charming farmhouse. Time to relax before dinner ( on your own) and overnight.

Buffet breakfast in hotel. Morning transfer by private car to Siracusa, situated on the eastern coast of Sicily Accommodation at Grand Hotel (4 stars), an old patrician mansion, pleasant and comfortable. Lunch and dinner at leisure. Overnight in Siracusa

Day 7 SIRACUSA
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Guided city sightseeing: Siracusa, splendid and magnificent, in the classic age was the richest and the most powerful among the Hellenic towns in Sicily and some archeological ruins testify the former glory: the impressive Greek Theatre, the Jerone's Altar and the ruins of the Apollo, Jupiter and Athena Temples.

Day 8 SIRACUSA / TAORMINA (220 km.)
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. In the morning leave by private car and drive along the coast, to the north, to the charming Taormina Accommodation at San Domenico Palace (5 stars), which originally was a monastery, situated on a natural terrace overlooking the sea. Its cloisters are at present lush gardens and the austere furniture of that time gives now a sort of sober and rigorous elegance to the bedrooms. Lunch and dinner at leisure
Overnight in Taormina.

Day 9 TAORMINA
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Days at leisure in this beautiful spot, which offers also historical and cultural attractions, such as the Greek Theatre, used as stage for many important international events. You can also admire the various buildings in Corso Umberto, the main road that in the summer evenings is always crowded and just in the middle it widens on a "belvedere", with an unforgettable view on the whole bay. Lunch and dinner at leisure. Overnight in Taormina

NB : on request we can reserve restaurants / visit of ancient palaces / cooking courses

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