Description:
Day 1 - Tuesday: PALERMO
Independent arrival at the hotel in the charming city of Palermo. We will have a meet and greet with our tour leader and group; dinner and overnight in the hotel.
Day 2 - Wednesday: PALERMO - MONREALE - MARSALA
We will begin our 9 day tour visiting Monreale and its proclaimed Eighth Wonder of the World, the Norman Cathedral and its splendid Arab-Norman styled Cloister. We will then return to visti the capital of Sicily, Palermo with a view of Mt Pellegrino, the world-famed Arab-Norman Cathedral, Martorana Church, Cappella Palatina and the Pretoria Square. To enhance your experience in Sicily, we will make a stop for food tasting in Antica Focacceria San Francesco. After free lunch, there will be time for another walk in the city center, admiring attractions such as the Teatro Massimo. Then, we will head to Marsala, where a visit to a prestigious wine cellar and wine tasting will wait for you. Dinner and a night’s accommodation.
Day 3 – Thursday: MARSALA SALT ROAD - SELINUNTE – AGRIGENTO
Our escorted tour of Sicily will commence in Marsala and then by driving along the well-known Salt Road, giving you an outline of the Stagnone Island. Depart to Selinunte to visit the largest World Heritage Site Archaeological Park in the whole of Mediterranean! Free time for lunch, then we will transfer to Agrigento and visit another famous archaeological park - the Valley of the Temples of the ancient Akragas ruins. Accommodation and dinner at Agrigento hotel.
Day 4 - Friday: PIAZZA ARMERINA - RAGUSA
After breakfast, we will visit the Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina, famous for being house to incredible roman mosaics. After free time for lunch, we will depart to Ragusa Ibla and visit the historical centre, the Cathedral in the beautiful square of the Dome and the “Giardino Ibleo”. We’ll conclude the day with a tasting of local products. Slowly, we will make our way to Catania for dinner and overnight in a hotel.
Please, note that the Tour Escort will be present until the evening of Day 4. From the Day 5, the tour will be semi-independent.
Day 5 - Saturday: CATANIA - BARI
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport and direct flight (or stopover) to Bari. In Bari, transfer to the hotel, dinner and overnight. Depending on the flight time, you can have free time to explore Catania or Bari.
Day 6 - Sunday: MATERA - BARI
After breakfast, transfer to Matera, where a professional guide will accompany you to discover this city, famous above all for its "Sassi": it is the oldest part of the city caverns and labyrinths carved literally in the rock alternate with houses. Free time for lunch, while in the afternoon you will return to Bari, where you will visit the city and its characteristic historical center, with the Cathedral of San Nicola and you will have the chance to stroll the streets of Bari Vecchia and admire the Norman Swabian Castle. Dinner and overnight at the hotel..
Day 7 - Monday:
The first stop of the day, after the departure from Bari, will be Polignano a Mare, with its beautiful old town nestled on the bay, where you can have a walk and enjoy the view. Next, you will move to Alberobello, which with its typical houses, the Trulli, has become a symbol of this corner of Puglia. Accompanied by a local guide, you will visit this characteristic center, unique in the world, with a visit to the Sovereign Trullo. The day will continue towards Ostuni, the white city, where you can walk in the enchanting old town. Transfer to Lecce, dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 8- Tuesday: LECCE -GALLIPOLI
The first part of the day will be dedicated to the visit of Lecce: a local guide will show you the wonders of the historic center of the capital of Salento, from the Church of Santa Croce, to Piazza di Sant'Oronzo. There will also be a stop at a papier-mâché workshop and a wine-based aperitif. After free lunch, in the afternoon we will proceed to Gallipoli, where you can visit the historic city center and admire the imposing Cathedral of Sant'Agata, the Church of Purity and an ancient hypogeum mill from 1600 AD. located in the basement of Palazzo Granafei. Return to the hotel in Lecce, dinner and overnight.
Day 9 - Wednesday:
After breakfast, end of our services.
Other tours in Italy...
Discover the south of Italy with our 8-day tour of Sicily and the Aeolian Islands or the 5-day tour of Sicily from Catania to Palermo. If you are curious to discover North Italy instead, check out of vacation packages in Milan, Venice and lakes.
