Hidden Sicily & Aeolian Islands small group tour, from Catania – 9 days escorted tour

Independent arrival at the hotel in the charming Catania (optional private transfer on request). Welcome drinks and dinner at the hotel and overnight.

After a buffet breakfast, time to start the journey to Syracuse: Visit the World Heritage Site “Neapolis”. The visit of this archaeological area includes the famous Greek theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Latomie of Paradise and the “Dionysios Ear”. Continue to the island of Ortigia, the small baroque old city centre of Siracusa; Visit of the beautiful Cathedral, which is built upon the site of the Doric Temple of Minerva, the legendary Arethusa’s Fountain, and the Temple of Apollo. We will enjoy a “street food” light lunch in the centre of Ortigia. Afternoon is at your disposal to stroll through the streets of the centre and go shopping.
Return to your hotel in Catania. Free evening at your disposal to experience the city and its nightlife and to dine in one of the typical restaurants in the city centre. Overnigh

After a buffet breakfast, check out and engage in a guided walking tour in Catania. Stroll through the city centre with your professional guide, who will charm you with the history of the city. Then, visit the famous fish market “A PISCARIA,” one of the largest fish markets in Sicily. As old as the city itself, it’s a great way to experience the abundant fishing and seafood culture of Sicily, with a very special and authentic atmosphere.
Depart to Ragusa, renowned for its cheese production; therefore, we will not miss a tasting of artisan cheeses and Sicilian specialties (light lunch). We will visit the enchanting historical centre “Ibla”, with its stunning baroque palaces and churches; together with the other seven cities in the Val di Noto, Ragusa is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We will continue to the reserved hotel where we will have time at your disposal to relax at
the swimming pool or the Spa. Dinner in the hotel and Overnight

After a buffet breakfast, check out and departure to Agrigento, a hillside town famous for its magnificent Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Valley, including the Temple of Concordia, which is in almost perfectly preserved condition, and the temples of Juno and Heracles. Free time is at your disposal for lunch.
In the afternoon, we’ll proceed to Marsala, a city on the western coast famous for producing sweet Sicilian wine. Arrival at Baglio Donnafranca, a perfectly restored nineteenth-century baglio, which rises in the Marsala countryside, on the hills in front of the Stagnone Reserve and the Egadi Islands. The baglio was a property of Florio. Here we will have the opportunity to visit the cellar and learn all about winemaking. At the end of the tour, we will enjoy a wine tasting/light dinner at sunset. Overnight.

After a buffet breakfast, check-out and departure to Erice, via the spectacular “Salt Route”, a road flanked by the salt pans, windmills, and the “salt houses” where they still extract the sea salt as the Phoenicians. Arrival in Erice, placed on the top of a hill overlooking the city of Trapani and the Egadi Islands: walk through its tiny and characteristic streets, the winding lanes, inner courtyards, and stop for marzipan and biscuit tasting.
Continue to Palermo, the capital of Sicily. There will be free time for lunch, and then we’ll visit the Cathedral, one of the most important architectural monuments. We will continue our visit by walking along Corso Vittorio Emanuele to reach “I Quattro Canti di Città” Piazza Pretoria, Piazza Bellini, and the Church of Santa Caterina.
Accommodation at the hotel and free time at disposal for shopping and dinner. Overnight.

After a buffet breakfast, check out and depart to visit the town of Monreale, situated on a hill a few kilometres from Palermo in a panoramic position. Visit of the Cathedral, one of the most beautiful monuments in the world with its Moorish architecture, housing magnificent mosaics representing a complete cycle of the Old and New Testaments in Arab-Norman style. Continue to Cefalù, a former fishing village, now a charming coastal town. Enjoy a walk to the city centre and down main street to reach the Arab-Norman Cathedral and the medieval washhouse built in the rock. Free time is available to explore the town, shop, and have lunch on your own. Proceed to Taormina through the coastal road passing through Messina from where we’ll have the chance to admire the suggestive scenery of the Strait of Messina. Accommodation at your hotel and free time for dinner are at your disposal. Overnight.

After a buffet breakfast, time to get to Mount Etna, the highest active Volcano in Europe. We will reach a height of 1800 metres to visit the Sylvester Craters and enjoy a spectacular panorama over the Ionian Sea. Stop at a local winery on the eastern slopes of Etna and visit a prestigious cellar. We can taste different local wines accompanied by local cheese and cold cuts. In the afternoon, back to Taormina, a charming city called “the pearl of the Ionian Sea”: enjoy time at leisure for shopping or walking through its tiny streets. It is possible to visit the Greek-Roman Theatre on your own. Free time for dinner and overnight.

After buffet breakfast, check-out and departure to Milazzo. Boarding at the port of Milazzo for Lipari by hydrofoil. Arrival on the island of Lipari, the largest of the Aeolian archipelago. Transfer to the hotel and have free time visiting the delightful village of Lipari. Lunch on your own; in the afternoon, take a taxi tour of the island of Lipari. Free time for dinner and overnight at the hotel

After a buffet breakfast, a free morning at your disposal and lunch at your own. In the late morning, we will depart by boat to Panarea / Stromboli. The first stop is Panarea, where it will be possible to visit the small village and have a pleasant walk along the streets among the white Aeolian-style houses. Then continue with the boat to Stromboli, the island, defined as the wildest island because it seems to preserve its bond with nature, particularly with the volcano, called by the locals “Iddu”; free time to visit. Once you return to the boat, you will continue until you reach the “Sciara del fuoco”, a ridge of the crater from where the lava descends. From the boat, it will also be possible to witness the evocative eruptions of the volcano that follow one another at intervals of about fifteen minutes. Return to Lipari in the evening—free time for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast buffet at the hotel, depart by boat for Salina. After stopping in the center of S. Marina, continue by boat to circumnavigate the island and swim in Pollara, the beach of the famous film “Il Postino”. Free time for lunch. Continue to Lingua, where there is a salt lake from where the salt was extracted in ancient times (hence the name of the island). Return to Lipari in the afternoon. Accommodation at the hotel and free time at disposal for shopping and dinner.Overnight

After breakfast in the hotel, transfer to the port of Lipari, and boarding on the hydrofoil for Milazzo. Following transfer to Catania, arrival at the hotel and accommodation. Lunch on your own; afternoon at your disposal for a free visit of the historic center of Catania. Overnight in Hotel

Breakfast in the hotel and end of services. Private transfers or excursions/extensions are available.

The itinerary may be modified for organizational reasons or due to force majeure. Aeolian Islands’ excursions are subject to confirmation in accordance with weather conditions.

NB: Please note the company is not responsible for any disruption due to weather and sea conditions concerning all hydrofoil and ferry crossings among the islands