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READ MORE...This unique tour combines a fully escorted tour in Sicily with an independent stay on the Aeolian Islands. In a small group with no more than 20 participants, you'll journey through Sicily's magnificent landscape discovering its colours, flavours & traditions. Then enjoy a 3-night stay on Lipari Island, the largest of the Aeolian Archipelago, with boat excursions to Salina, Panarea & Stromboli islands included. This 9-day tour starts in Palermo and ends in Catania.
Tuesday - On arrival at Palermo airport, make your way to your centrally located hotel. An optional private airport transfer is available on request. After checking in, the remainder of the day is free to relax or get acquainted with your new surroundings.
Wednesday - Enjoy breakfast at your hotel followed by free time to start exploring the Sicilian capital on your own. In the afternoon, meet our guide to start the guided tour of the city. First, we will enjoy a “street food” lunch in the centre of the town and then visit the Cathedral, one of the most important architectural monuments. We will continue our visit by walking along Corso Vittorio Emanuele to reach "I Quattro Canti di Città” Piazza Pretoria, Piazza Bellini and we’ll visit the Church of Santa Caterina. The evening is yours to relax and have dinner on your own. (B)
Thursday - Today's tour begins with a visit to the town of Monreale, set in a panoramic position on a hill just a few kilometres from Palermo. Here there will be a visit of the Cathedral, one of the most beautiful monuments in the world with its Moorish architecture, housing very fine mosaics representing a complete cycle of the Old and New Testaments in Arab-Norman style. We continue to Cefalù, a former fishing village, now a charming coastal town. Enjoy a walk to the city centre and down the main street to reach the Arab-Norman Cathedral and the medieval washhouse built in the rock. Free time to explore the town, for shopping and lunch on your own. In the afternoon we proceed to Taormina along the coastal road, passing through the town of Messina from where you'll have the chance to admire the suggestive scenery of the Strait of Messina. Check into your Taormina hotel and enjoy a well-deserved rest. (B)
Friday - Today enjoy an excursion to Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Weather conditions permitting, we'll journey across a fascinating landscape past citrus groves, vineyards & fruit trees. We will reach a height of 1800 metres and visit the Sylvester Craters from where you can enjoy a spectacular panorama of the Ionic Sea. We then stop at a local vineyard on the eastern slopes of Etna and visit a prestigious cellar, where we'll have the opportunity to taste different local wines accompanied by local cheese & cold cuts. In the afternoon it is back to Taormina, a charming city called "the Pearl of the Ionian Sea". Enjoy time at leisure for shopping or walking through its tiny streets. You'll also have the possibility to visit the Roman-Greek theatre on your own, with its spectacular view of Giardini Naxos and Mount Etna. (B)
Saturday - Following breakfast at the hotel, a minivan transfer will take you to Milazzo harbour to board a hydrofoil ferry to Lipari Island. Arriving on the island of Lipari, the largest of the Aeolian archipelago, you will be transferred to the hotel. Enjoy some free time to visit this delightful village and have lunch on your own. In the afternoon, a taxi tour of the island of Lipari is planned. The evening is free to enjoy as you please. (B)
Sunday - Spend a relaxing morning and perhaps have an early lunch before the late morning departure by boat to Panarea and Stromboli Islands. The first stop will be in Panarea where you can visit the small village with a pleasant walk through the narrow streets lined by typical white Aeolian-style houses. Then continue by boat to Stromboli, considered the wildest of the Aeolian islands with its dramatic scenery and ancient volcano, referred to as "Iddu" by the locals. Free time to visit the island. Once you get back on the boat, the tour continues around the island until reaching the "Sciara del Fuoco", a ridge of the crater from where the lava descends toward the sea. From the boat, it will also be possible to witness the evocative eruptions of the volcano that follow one another at intervals of about fifteen minutes. Return to Lipari in the evening. (B)
Monday - A boat tour to Salina Island is planned for today. After a stop in the center of Santa Marina, the boat tour continues by circumnavigating the island to Pollara, where you'll have the possibility to swim at the beach made famous by the movie "Il Postino". Free time for lunch. The final stop of today's boat tour will be in the village of Lingua with its salt lagoon from where salt was extracted in ancient times, hence the name of the island. Return to Lipari in the afternoon and the remainder of the day is free to relax, enjoy some shopping, and have dinner on your own. (B)
Tuesday - After breakfast at your hotel, you'll be transferred to the port of Lipari and board a hydrofoil ferry for Milazzo. On arrival, a minivan transfer will take you to your hotel in Catania. After checking in, the remainder of the day is free to explore Catania on your own. There are plenty of attractions in the historic centre to be discovered, including Piazza Duomo, Pescheria, Castello Ursino, Piazza San Francesco, via Teatro Greco, Piazza Dante, via Gesuiti, the Alessi staircase, Piazza Università, Piazza Vincenzo Bellini and Piazza San Placido. (B)
Wednesday - Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before making your way to the airport for your return journey. Or ask us about booking an optional airport transfer. (B)
Tuesday - Tuesday - May 07, 14, 21 & 28; June 04, 18 & 25; July 16; August 27; September 03, 10, 17 & 24, 2024.
Not included: Entrance fees - approximately Euros 10.00 per person.
This tour is limited to a maximum of 20 participants. For 8 or fewer participants, the tour will be operated by minivan with an English-speaking driver & local guide services as necessary, and the travel program might be adjusted.
In case of adverse weather conditions on the Aeolian Islands, the itinerary may be modified.