The Sicilian

Mountains and hills over the sea, archaeological sites, an active volcano, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, exquisite food, blue skies, and breathtaking views…this is Sicily. Starting from Rome, you will travel through the south of Italy to reach Villa San Giovanni where you will cross the sapphire-blue waters by ferry to reach Messina. On this affordable Sicily tour, visit some fantastic historic sights. At Casale, visit the Roman Villa – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally an extravagant residence of a powerful Roman family in the 4th century AD, its mosaics on the floors and walls are well-preserved today. Agrigento, founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century BC, is a treasure trove of fascinating remains. Visit its Valley of the Temples, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, to see vestiges from the classical Greek period. Visit the Doric Temple of Concord, one of the finest examples of Greek civilization – and the Temple of Juno Lacinia, which was severely damaged by fire near the end of the 5th century BC. Also visit Selinunte, an ancient Greek city on the southwestern coast of Sicily that was at the apex of its power before 409 BC. Here, see the remains of the Acropolis, with its temples and fortifications. Visit the heights of Mount Etna – Europe’s largest active volcano. Enjoy a guided tour of Trapani, set on a harbour that was once a powerful trading network; explore Erice, a medieval hilltop town with cobbled streets, fortifications, and ancient churches; and visit Marsala, known throughout the world for its wine. In Palermo, your sightseeing tour includes Cappella Palatina (Palatine Chapel), built in the 1100s, with byzantine mosaics depicting famous scenes from The Bible. This tour through Sicily is designed for the value-minded traveller as the best way to explore the beautiful features of this magnificent, yet charming island!

Escape to Sicily for seven days of beauty, cuisine, and history—without the crowds you’d find in the high-season. Begin in Palermo and meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. Spend the following day on a guided sightseeing tour of Palermo’s ornate Piazza Bellini and Capo Market. See the stunning baroque features of the Church of the Immacolata, and visit the historic Palermo Cathedral. Enjoy the panoramic view of the Conca d’Oro in Monreale, and visit the 12th-century Norman Cathedral with its treasured byzantine mosaics. Walk through the 24-centuries-old Valley of the Temples with your Local Guide in Agrigento, visit Piazza Armerina’s Villa Romana del Casale to admire the world’s largest collection of Roman mosaics. In Syracuse, the birthplace of mathematician Archimedes, you’ll take a guided visit to the archaeological site of the 5th-century-BC Greek Theater, Garden of Paradise, Ear of Dionysus, Altar of Hieron II, Roman Amphitheater, and the Cordmaker’s Cave. Travel to Catania, where you’ll sample Sicily’s famous Arancino, and spend two nights on the spectacular Taormina Riviera, your base for a fascinating excursion to Mount Etna—the largest active volcano in Europe. Explore Taormina, and complete your Sicilian Escape with a fabulous farewell dinner at a local restaurant. You’ll treasure the time spent exploring Sicily’s famous sights and stunning scenery—without the crowds of the busy travel season on this spectacular guided tour of Sicily!