Amber Road Tours

Sicily

13 days/12 nights

• Day 1

  Arrival at Palermo International Airport (see map) where you will be met by your tour escort and transferred to the 19th century Grand Hotel et Des Palmes (3 nights), one of Italy’s most famous hotels, located in the heart of Palermo’s historic district. At 6:30pm welcome meeting and aperitifs at the hotel bar Il Gattopardo. Sicilian cuisine, due to its unique history and mix of peoples, is distinctly different from that of any other Italian region. This evening we’ll begin your introduction with an included dinner of typical food and wines at a local ristorante.

• Day 2

  The history of Sicily is woven from a rich 3,000 year old fabric populated by Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Germans, French, Spanish and Italians. Palermo, the capital of the island, has one of the largest historic centers in Europe with over 500 palaces, churches, monasteries, theaters and gardens - truly an architectural feast. Today our local guide will introduce us to this marvelous city with an Arab – Norman tour that includes visits to the 9th century Palazzo Reale, with its splendid Palatine Chapel; and the Mercato della Vucciria, the most popular outdoor food market in town with every kind of regional delicacy. Included lunch at the best typical tavern in Palermo. Afternoon and evening free for your own cultural and gastronomic explorations.

• Day 3

  We begin this morning with Teatro Massimo, one of the world’s largest theaters. Then our local guide will introduce to the lesser known Palermo, with a visit to a beautiful art nouveau villa just outside the historic center. A midday trip up into the hills to Monreale, a lovely, small city best known for its splendid 12th century cathedral with a blend of Arab-Byzantine-Norman artistic styles and one of the world’s largest and most beautiful displays of mosaic artwork. Afternoon and evening on your own.

• Day 4

  Morning visit and lunch in the ancient hilltop town of Erice, once home to a people known as the Elimi, conquered in turn by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and then some. Today, it has a charming medieval appearance with cobblestone streets and spectacular castles. – perhaps the loveliest village in all Sicily. After lunch we’ll descend to sea level for a short ferry ride to Isola San Pantaleo for a fascinating archeological tour with local guide. The ancient name of this city/island was Motya, a powerful military and trading center founded by Phoenicians that thrived from the 8th to the 5th centuries BC.  Late afternoon transfer to the west coast town Mazara del Vallo for two nights at the Hotel Mahara. Evening and dinner on your own.

• Day 5

  Not so many years ago some area fisherman trawled up a rare and beautiful 2 meter high 4th century BC Greek bronze statue. Now it’s the centerpiece of the Museum of the Dancing Satyr, where we’ll begin our day. Mazara del Vallo is probably the closest point in Italy to Africa. Originally a Greek colony, it was conquered by Arabs in the 9th century and under their rule became a city of wealth and splendor. Nowadays it is a busy fishing port with a delightful historic center, Baroque architecture and seaside promenade. For your included lunch you will be personal guests at the home of a friend of the father of the fiancé of the best friend of your tour escort’s best friend’s husband. No joke – that’s Sicily – it’s an authentic family experience! In the afternoon we’ll visit two (2) wineries to give you the opportunity to taste the most well known and best Sicilian wines and olive oil. Evening on your own in Mazara.

• Day 6

  Some say that in Sicily you find better preserved Greek temples than exist in Greece itself. This morning you’ll see for yourself when we visit the Valley of Temples in Agrigento. Originally called Akragas, it was founded as a Greek colony in the late 6th century BC. Our local guide will take us through this amazing acropolis and recount the story of the rise and fall of one of Sicily’s most important ancient cities. Afternoon transfer to Ragusa, for a two night stay at the Hotel Il Barocco. 
  One of the most charming and picturesque hill towns in Sicily, Ragusa is divided into two parts - the ancient Ragusa Ibla with its labyrinth of crooked lanes, tiny squares and noble palazzos - and the slightly less old Ragusa Superiore. Included dinner of refined flavors at a nearby restaurant, located in a 17th century palace.

• Day 7

  Morning in the elegant small city of Scicli – a World Heritage site renowned for the architectural beauty of its historic center. Then a visit to a local farmhouse that hosts the Museo della Pietra (stone museum) where they will show us ancient techniques for grinding grain and the preparation of a traditional dish, caturro. We’ll also have a ricotta cheese working demonstration and make a lunch out of both. Afternoon at Donnafugata Castle, a medieval palace boasting more than 100 rooms, an engaging art collection and maze garden. Evening on your own.

• Day 8

  Our first stop is Modica, to see its magnificent 18th century cathedral and a famous, historic (and very tasty) factory that produces chocolate from a unique ancient recipe. Then, Noto, the magical Baroque city par excellence with its sandstone architecture, wide avenues and beautiful squares. After lunch, transfer to Syracuse, the once thriving metropolis of ancient Magna Graecia. You’ll be staying at the 19th century Hotel Roma in the heart of Ortygia Island.  Late afternoon and evening on your own.

• Day 9

  Morning free to explore the cradle of old Syracuse, Ortygia, with a history 3,000 years long.  You can take the lovely island perimeter walk, see the ruins of the Greek Temple of Apollo, visit the 13th century Norman Castle Maniace, or simply wander winding streets and alleys. This afternoon our local guide will take us to the Neapolis Archaeological Zone for a visit to the impressive 16,000 seat Greek Theater, the Ear of Dionysius (a huge cavern) and the 3rd century AD Roman amphitheater, followed by time at the archaeological museum. Evening on your own.

• Day 10

  Today we’ll leave our coach and take a trip by steam locomotive along the Circumetnea narrow gauge railroad that traverses the lower slopes of Mt Etna across hardened lava flows, through fertile fields of citrus, pistachio, olives and vineyards, with stop offs at villages rich in history, medieval castles and ancient Greek walls. At the end of our journey the coach will reappear to transfer us to the famous hilltop town of Taormina, where we’ll be staying at the Hotel Villa Carlotta, a 19th century former noble residence (3 nights) with dazzling sea views.  Evening on your own.

• Day 11

  Taormina, once a rich, ancient Greek town of 12,000 inhabitants, lies up on a 300 meter high rocky promontory overlooking the Ionian Sea.  Picturesque and lively, a medieval aspect amidst bougainvillea and groves of lemons and oranges, it offers bustling cafes and boutiques as well as a deep immersion in art and archaeology surrounded by a spectacular landscape that seems almost unreal. The Greek theater, the second largest in Sicily and with Etna as its spectacular backdrop, deserves part of your morning. Then enter the long pedestrian Corso Umberto and the rest of the day will unfold by itself.

• Day 12

  Today we provide you with an adventure. Mount Etna, the biggest and most active of Europe’s volcanoes, rises majestically 11,000 feet above sea level, occasionally spewing forth flame, smoke and lava – the last serious eruption being in 2003. Our coach and local guide will take us up the side to the Sapienza Refuge, at a level of 6,266 ft, where you’ll witness a vast lunar landscape with open volcanic cones. You can walk at leisure or take your adventure further with the option to proceed higher up by funivia and then jeep. After lunch, our final excursion will take us to a very particular small village of Sicily unchanged since 50 years and where scenes from “the Godfather” were filmed.  Farewell dinner in Taormina.

• Day 13

  End of tour – morning transfers to Catania airport.