Day 0
Leave the U.S. for Italy, arriving the next day in Sicily at Catania airport (Fontanarossa)
Day 1-2
We take a bus from the airport to the resort town of Taormina. We will stroll through the pedestrian friendly streets lined with boutiques and ablaze with luscious, semi tropical plants and flowers. Worthy of our time is the Greek theater high above the sea and then a cable car ride back down to the shoreline where our hotel is located.
Day 3-4
Today we travel by train to the seaside town of Cefalu’, situated on the north coast of Sicily. Here we will have the opportunity to explore the picturesque harbor, meander through the medieval streets and marvel at the imposing Norman cathedral. Splendid views reward the hiker who climbs La Rocca and what better way to follow such an effort than a dip in the sea at the beach. A picnic dinner at sunset along the rocky shore will culminate our stay in this charming village.
Day 5-6
These two days will be spent in the regional capital of Sicily and busy port city of Palermo. A local guide will give us a walking tour of the historic neighborhoods, markets and important sites, including the Teatro Massimo and Palazzo Reale. We will also take a short bus ride to visit the Norman cathedral and cloisters of Monreale with the exquisite 12th century golden mosaics.
Day 7-8
Towering over the west of Sicily at 751m above the sea Erice is a wonderfully preserved Medieval town offering breathtaking views and a palpable sense of history. Originally an Elymian city (the Elymians were around before the Greeks set foot in Sicily) Erice, or Eryx as it was first called, was a town of vast importance and renown and is said to have attracted the likes Hercules and Aeneas.
Day 9-10
A regional bus from Erice to Agrigento awards us views of the countryside of Sicily in route to the location for our two day stay where we will explore the Valley of the Temples and meander the streets of the village of Agrigento. Our lodging is a beautiful B&B overlooking the temples and the sea.
Day 11-12
We will pick up our rental car and head east towards the once powerful Greek city-state of Siracusa, stopping along the way at the town of Caltagirone. This region is known for its ceramics and a must see is the museum displaying ceramics dating back centuries B.C. We will meet my friends Fabio Tangorra and his wife, Allessandra, both ceramic artists. Lunch will be at one of their favorite restaurants and our visit ends with a tour of their studio. In late afternoon we will arrive at our quaint B&B located right on Piazza Minerva on the island of Ortygia. The next morning we will meet our guide for a walking tour of the ancient, historical areas of Siracusa.
Day 13-14
Today we head by train to Catania, an ancient port city on Sicily's east coast, located at the foot of the active volcano, Mt. Etna. We will meander through the historic center with its wide central square of the Piazza del Duomo and the whimsical Fontana dell'Elefante statue. The next day we will have a ride on the narrow gauge railroad, the Circumetnea with stops at vineyards and villages along the way and views of the landscapes around the Mt Etna. In he evening we will gather for an arrivederci dinner and toast our amazing days spent in Sicily together
Day 00
Today we transfer to the Catania airport for flights home, arriving in US the same day.
Leave the U.S. for Italy, arriving the next day in Sicily at Catania airport (Fontanarossa)
Day 1-2
We take a bus from the airport to the resort town of Taormina. We will stroll through the pedestrian friendly streets lined with boutiques and ablaze with luscious, semi tropical plants and flowers. Worthy of our time is the Greek theater high above the sea and then a cable car ride back down to the shoreline where our hotel is located.
Day 3-4
Today we travel by train to the seaside town of Cefalu’, situated on the north coast of Sicily. Here we will have the opportunity to explore the picturesque harbor, meander through the medieval streets and marvel at the imposing Norman cathedral. Splendid views reward the hiker who climbs La Rocca and what better way to follow such an effort than a dip in the sea at the beach. A picnic dinner at sunset along the rocky shore will culminate our stay in this charming village.
Day 5-6
These two days will be spent in the regional capital of Sicily and busy port city of Palermo. A local guide will give us a walking tour of the historic neighborhoods, markets and important sites, including the Teatro Massimo and Palazzo Reale. We will also take a short bus ride to visit the Norman cathedral and cloisters of Monreale with the exquisite 12th century golden mosaics.
Day 7-8
Towering over the west of Sicily at 751m above the sea Erice is a wonderfully preserved Medieval town offering breathtaking views and a palpable sense of history. Originally an Elymian city (the Elymians were around before the Greeks set foot in Sicily) Erice, or Eryx as it was first called, was a town of vast importance and renown and is said to have attracted the likes Hercules and Aeneas.
Day 9-10
A regional bus from Erice to Agrigento awards us views of the countryside of Sicily in route to the location for our two day stay where we will explore the Valley of the Temples and meander the streets of the village of Agrigento. Our lodging is a beautiful B&B overlooking the temples and the sea.
Day 11-12
We will pick up our rental car and head east towards the once powerful Greek city-state of Siracusa, stopping along the way at the town of Caltagirone. This region is known for its ceramics and a must see is the museum displaying ceramics dating back centuries B.C. We will meet my friends Fabio Tangorra and his wife, Allessandra, both ceramic artists. Lunch will be at one of their favorite restaurants and our visit ends with a tour of their studio. In late afternoon we will arrive at our quaint B&B located right on Piazza Minerva on the island of Ortygia. The next morning we will meet our guide for a walking tour of the ancient, historical areas of Siracusa.
Day 13-14
Today we head by train to Catania, an ancient port city on Sicily's east coast, located at the foot of the active volcano, Mt. Etna. We will meander through the historic center with its wide central square of the Piazza del Duomo and the whimsical Fontana dell'Elefante statue. The next day we will have a ride on the narrow gauge railroad, the Circumetnea with stops at vineyards and villages along the way and views of the landscapes around the Mt Etna. In he evening we will gather for an arrivederci dinner and toast our amazing days spent in Sicily together
Day 00
Today we transfer to the Catania airport for flights home, arriving in US the same day.