sellMAGNIFICENT SICILY

Upon arrival to Palermo you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon at your leisure to explore or rest after your journey. Later on, enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant within walking distance from your hotel before retiring for the night at your hotel.

After breakfast, experience a guided tour of the capital of Sicily, Palermo. This cosmopolitan city, where they live in harmony as a mosaic of cultures, makes the town both mystical and exotic at the same time. The tour begins in the center of town with a visit to the Palace of the Normans and its superb Palatine Chapel, the Cathedral of Palermo, and the Quattro Canti. You will then move towards Monreale, for a visit of the famous Benedictine Abbey, dating from the 12th century, which houses beautiful mosaics representing a complete cycle of the Old and New Testament, and the Cloister.

After breakfast you will meet your guide for the day and enhance your Palermo experience with a private walking tour through the streets experiencing the many street foods of the city. Sample the best of Sicily’s street food during a 3 or 4 hour walking tour of Palermo. This small-group food tour, led by a local expert guide, explores the fascinating culinary world of Sicily’s capital. Visit the famous and bustling Vucciria and Mercato di Capo outdoor markets, tasting five different Sicilian treats along the way including ‘panelle’ (chickpea fritters) and ‘arancine’ (deep-fried rice balls). Pass major Palermo monuments during the tour, like the imposing Teatro Massimo, and round out your tour with some local sweet wine and a seasonal dessert. Get in line at neighborhood bakeries, cafes, and street food stalls to try a variety of famous Sicilian street snacks. Munch on chickpea fritters called panelle and deep-fried balls of rice stuffed with meat, vegetables, and cheese called arancine. Sip on a sweet Sicilian wine to wash down your fried treats, and then head for a seasonal dessert. You may indulge in Sicily’s famous cannoli (deep-fried pastry cylinders filled with sweetened ricotta cheese), some gelato, or perhaps a refreshing granita (a fruity slushy). After the tour the rest of your evening is at your leisure.

Enjoy a day on your own to explore, go shopping, go to the beach, or just relax all day. The day is yours to enjoy!

Upon waking, prepare to travel from Palermo to Agrigento, which is about a 3 hour journey via motor coach. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch on your own before the exploring begins! Remarkable Agrigento is an historic delight, holding some of the largest and best-preserved ancient Greek buildings outside of Greece itself. Sicily’s star attraction, the Valley of the Temples, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Much of present-day Agrigento is modern, but the city has a number of medieval and Baroque buildings offering a taste of the Middle Ages. The impressive ruins and beautiful landscapes of Agrigento have long inspired poets, writers, and painters. Afterwards, enjoy dinner at your hotel later on in the evening.

After breakfast, depart to Siracusa, which is approximately 3 hours distance via motor coach. Enjoy a guided visit of Siracusa, the archaeological area that includes the famous Latomie of the Paradise and the Dyionisios “Ear”. Continue to the island of Ortigia, the small baroque old city center of Siracusa. Visit the Cathedral and the Arethuse fountain. (The stop in Siracusa includes a brief stop to visit the Commonwealth Cemeteries) You will have some time to get lunch and explore on your own before departing to Taormina, which is approximately 1 hour & 45 minutes via motor coach.

Enjoy one of two options on this morning. Either have a morning at your leisure to explore in Taormina or enjoy an optional morning cooking class. After breakfast, join Chef Massimo in Taormina, as he leads you through a guided market tour with the Chef Tour showcasing Sicily’s colorful foods. Visit the fruit and vegetable vendor to find out what is in season and the fishmonger to choose the best fresh catch of the day in Taormina’s historic fish market. Pick up the ingredients for your hands-on cooking class while learning about the local in-season products and Massimo’s family recipe and traditions. After the market tour, everyone returns to the kitchen and begins the cooking class, featuring Sicilian specialties. Each hands-on cooking class includes the preparation of a full Sicilian menu and typical Sicilian dessert. Lunch follows, featuring the foods prepared in class with local Sicilian wines and dessert (drinks included).

In the afternoon, experience a guided walking tour of Taormina. Taormina is a beautiful town situated on a rocky plateau with the Etna Volcano rising majestically in the background. The downtown center represents a variety of historical periods, from the early Greek settlements and the Roman age to the remains of Byzantine and Medieval constructions up to the 15th Century Catalan buildings and 17th Century Baroque churches and Palaces. Not to miss is a visit to the Greek Theatre and a stroll down the main street "Corso Umberto" with its art and designers’ shops, Baroque churches, and Palazzi. The rest of your day is at your leisure to explore and dine at a restaurant of your choosing.

Enjoy a free day to explore in beautiful Taormina. Either explore on your own or just relax and enjoy the atmosphere of being in Italy!

Experience one of the greatest and most beautiful tour destinations in Sicily, Mt Etna. This volcano is one of the world's largest and most active volcanoes and has been erupting for many years. This volcano has more than 400 craters, split all over the Catania county. To the ancient Greeks, Mt Etna was the realm of Vulcan, god of fire, and the home of the one-eyed monster known as the Cyclops. Mt Etna is a World Heritage Site and from 6,000 feet you can enjoy the best views, as you drive through the fertile slopes and villages that sit on the ancient volcanic eruptions. The tour includes a visit with an inclusive wine tasting and light lunch focusing on Sicilian wines at a local winery. Afterwards you will experience a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Prepare to be transferred to the Catania airport from your hotel for your flight back home. 

Grazie! (Thank you) for choosing Perillo Tours!