Description:
Day 1: Palermo
Independent arrival at the hotel in the charming city of Palermo. You will have a meet and greet with your tour leader and group; dinner and overnight in the hotel.
Day 2: Monreale - Palermo
After breakfast in the hotel, begin your day visiting Monreale and its proclaimed Eighth Wonder of the World, the Norman Cathedral and its splendid Arab-Norman styled Cloister. You 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. You will also have a stop for a food surprise in a local bakery. After free time for lunch (NOT included), keep visiting the city centre. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Day 3: Marsala - Salt Road - Agrigento
After breakfast, visit the colorful Marsala, a Mediterranean modern city, divided between sea and land. Here you will join the visit of a wine cellar (wine tasting and lunch will be included). No trip to Sicily is complete without a visit to the ancient Greek city in Agrigento. Visit another famous archaeological park - the Valley of the Temples of the ancient Akragas ruins. Accommodation and dinner at Agrigento hotel.
Day 4: Piazza Armerina - Ragusa Ibla - Catania
After breakfast, depart for Piazza Armerina, a UNESCO site internationally renowned. History is alive at the Villa Romana del Casale in the Piazza Armerina and you will relish the mosaics that show pictures of hunting and mythological scenes. Here you will enjoy some free time for lunch (NOT included). In the afternoon, you will wander through the Ibleo Garden and churches while visiting the city of Ragusa. You will be enchanted by its historical center, Ragusa "Ibla", and the Cathedral in the beautiful square of the Dome and the “Giardino Ibleo”. You will conclude the day with a tasting of local products. Slowly, make your 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: 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: 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: Bari - Polignano a Mare - Alberobello - Ostuni - Lecce
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: Lecce - Gallipoli - Lecce
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: Lecce
After breakfast, end of our services.
Other eXPeriences 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.
