New Years,Escorted Tours
After breakfast, depart to Syracuse to visit the most beautiful and greatest Greek Colony in Sicily and a World Heritage Site! The visit will start with the Archaeological Park of Neapolis with its Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Latomie of Paradise and the Ear of Dionysius. Afterwards, we continue on and visit of the splendid Ortigia, a small Island, which is the historical centre of Syracuse. In Ortigia you will admire the beautiful Cathedral, which dominates the Square with its authoritative presence. The façade is a powerful Sicilian Baroque composition but it gives no hint that this building was once a Doric Temple! From Piazza Duomo you will reach a wide terrace on the Waterfront surrounding the famous Arethusa’s Fountain, which was one of the most famous fresh water sources of the Greek World. Enjoy lunch in a typical restaurant before departing to Noto, the Capital of Sicilian Baroque, famous for its fine buildings of the early 18th Century and declared a UESCO World Heritage Site. Inspired by Baroque ideals of 'Open City', Noto is a rare masterpiece and the clearest example of Theatrical tastes in 18th Century architecture whose local Limestone has been burnt Gold by the Sun. Noto's Baroque is a game of elegant curves, floral weaves, perspective views, Palaces and Gardens, Capitals and ornaments that adorn the façades of Churches and Monasteries. Enjoy some free time for a walk along the Town. Transfer to Catania for your overnight stay. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
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After breakfast, depart to Piazza Armerina to visit the famous Villa Romana del Casale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to admire the splendid polychrome mosaics! This majestic Villa belonged to a member of the Roman Senatorial Aristocracy and hosts prestigious mosaics representing Mythological and historical episodes and scenes of hunting and entertainments. You will love it! After a delicious lunch in a local Farmhouse, the tour continues towards Caltagirone. This lovely Town is known for its colourful ceramics as well as for its Nativity Scenes. It is also known in fact as the 'City of Cribs' since during Christmas the streets of the Old Town are animated by beautiful figurines and handmade artistic cribs. Among the many Ancient and Modern Statues housed in Churches, Museums and Public Squares, you will admire the largest crib in Italy. It has over 300 animated characters in pottery dressed with traditional fabric clothes, Mountains, water streams and Ancient houses, all in human size and in motion. Furthermore, the historic City centre houses the typical Christmas Markets selling local food, Wine and pottery, which will make you experience the magical atmosphere of Christmas! Transfer to the hotel in Agrigento for dinner and your overnight stay. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, the tour continues in Agrigento visiting the famous Valley of the Temples, a World Heritage Site. As one of the most prosperous of the Ancient Greek Cities on the Island, Agrigento presents a remarkable series of Doric Temples of the 5th Century. Among hundreds of Almond Trees, you will admire the rest of the Ancient Akragas. You will see the 'Temple of Hera', the 'Temple of Concordia' and the 'Temple of Heracles'. Afterwards, we continue on to visit the charming and well known Town of Marsala, where Garibaldi went ashore in May 1860. You will walk through the streets of the centre where you overlook Ancient Noble Palaces, Monuments and impressive Baroque Churches. Afterwards, enjoy an exclusive Guided Tour inside the historic Florio Cellars. The visit starts in front of the majestic giant vats, built at the end of the 19th Century and still used for the refinement of Marsala Wine and it continues inside the 3 fascinating Barrel Chambers. After a thirty minute tour through the Barrel Vaults, you will reach the Avant Garde tasting rooms named Donna Franca and Duca Enrico. Here, you will enjoy a delicious light lunch and a memorable Wine tasting experience! The tour will continue visiting the popular Salt Road. Here, the Salt Marshes have given rise to one of the oldest salt extracting industries in the world! Between Trapani and Marsala, the Salt Road is now protected for its interesting Birdlife and also as an important Site of Industrial Archaeology. Transfer to Palermo for your overnight stay. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Enjoy breakfast at the Hotel. Today, the morning will be spent visiting Monreale, its huge Norman Cathedral, proclaimed the Eighth Wonder of the World and its splendid Cloister in Arab-Norman style, admirable masterpieces of art, sculptures and semi-precious stones marquetry! Later, you will discover the stunning Palermo, one of the richest Towns on the Island and known for its history and art. Palermo stands on a Bay dominated by Mount Pellegrino. While the Baroque predominates, there is a profusion of different architectural styles reflecting the City's multicultural past. Enjoy a visit of the wonderful eclectic Cathedral, the astonishing Martorana Church and the amazing Cappella Palatina, an admirable example from a historical and a artistic point of view and proof of how different cultures and religions can coexist. During the day, you will have a stop to enjoy a typical lunch with local food. Along the path, you will admire the famous Teatro Massimo and the debated fountain in Pretoria Square, adorned with 16th Century sculptures. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Tonight, you will greet the arrival of the New Year in the wonderful City of Palermo, which will be decorated for the occasion with lights and colours. The Town celebrates this event with music and Concerts in the Main Squares of the City Centre. This evening, there is an optional New Year's Eve Dinner (On Request). Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
We will welcome the first day of the New Year visiting the famous Seaside village Cefalù and then the lovely inland Town on the Madonie, Castelbuono! After breakfast transfer to Cefalù, a charming Medieval Town situated at the Northern Coast of Sicily. Visit of its stunning Norman Dome and enjoy some free time to stroll through the Town or to visit the famous and well known Mandralisca Museum. For lunch we will move towards Castelbuono, where you will taste the famous Fiasconaro Panettoni, which has revisited in a Sicilian key the typical Dessert of the Milanese Christmas Tradition. Ingredients are carefully selected among the PGI and PDO local products such as the Bronte Pistachios, the PGI Sicilian Red Oranges, the delicious Modican Chocolate, Avola Almonds and the precious Manna (sweet sap extracted from Ash Trees). In the afternoon, you will have time to visit the famous Ventimiglia Castle and its charming Chapel and to have a walk around to enjoy the local Christmas Markets, Concerts and Exhibitions. Transfer to Catania for your overnight stay. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning after a short visit of the famous 'Pescheria', the Ancient Fish Market in Catania, the tour will continue with an excursion to the Mount Etna, the highest (3,350 metres) Volcano in Europe and one of the largest and most active in the world, nowadays a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its Regional Park protects 59,000 hectares of unique geology, flora and fauna, Villages and Farms and traditional methods of Forestry, Beekeeping, Wine Manufacture, Stonework and Carpentry. Views of stunning landscapes will amaze you heading to Rifugio Sapienza. You will reach the 'Crateri Silvestri', small Volcanic cones that are now inactive, surrounded by Ancient lava flows. The view beyond the Mountain's hundreds of subsidiary cones and craters, can extend across the whole of Sicily, the Aeolian Islands and Calabria. The spectacle is unique! You will have the chance to enjoy the local homemade honey and some typical products of the area. The tour continues towards Taormina, where you will have lunch in a lovely restaurant in the historic centre of the City. Taormina is a charming Town renowned for its magnificent position above the sea commanding a celebrated view of Etna. Visit of Taormina's fascinating Greek Theatre, which will leave you breathless for its commanding view on Giardini Naxos Bay and the Etna Mountain! Enjoy some free time for a nice walk among the picturesque Medieval typical narrow streets, to go shopping and looking around the local handicrafts. The day will end with an overview of the beautiful Riviera dei Ciclopi. Transfer back to Catania for dinner on your own and overnight stay. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, our tour ends. Independently transfer to the Airport for your departure and your onward journey. Meals: Breakfast
Tour Prices are per person twin share in Australian Dollars. Conditions apply and group tours are subject to change and availability. Prices are subject to currency fluctuations. (ds)
