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Low
Season Itinerary - 2009 / 2010 (scroll down for high season
2010 itinerary)
Low Season departure dates in 2010:
Jan.23, Feb.27 Mar 13, 20, 27
Winter
Itinerary : 14 Nov 2009 - 27 Mar 2010
Day
1- SATURDAY PALERMO
Independent arrival al the Hotel Cristal Palace in Palermo. Enjoy a
welcome cocktail. Dinner and overnight in your hotel.
Day 2 - SUNDAY PALERMO - CEFALŮ - CAPO D’ORLANDO - TAORMINA - CATANIA
After a buffet breakfast, depart to Cefalů, a charming coastal town, a
former fishing village, which is also home to a breathtaking Norman
Cathedral with dazzling mosaics. Take a stroll to the city centre and down
main street to reach the Cathedral and the medieval wash-house built
in the rock. Proceed to Capo d’Orlando along the Tyrrhenian coast and
stop for lunch. Continue to Taormina called “the pearl of the Ionic Sea”,
founded in 400 BC and beautifully located overlooking the sea and the
peak of Mount Etna. Enjoy time at leisure to shop for handmade lace,
coral jewels, ceramics, home-made sweets and preserves down “Corso
Umberto” or simply walk through the tiny streets. Possibility to visit the
fascinating Roman - Greek theatre. Proceed to Catania. Accommodation,
dinner and overnight at the Hotel Katane Palace.
Day 3 MONDAY CATANIA - MONTE ETNA with lunch in a farmhouse - CATANIA
After a buffet breakfast, weather conditions permitting, excursion to
Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Across fascinating
landscape, we will reach a height of 2000 metres, where we will enjoy
a fantastic panorama of the Ionic Sea. Lunch in a farmhouse on the
slopes of Etna and wine tasting of local production. Back to
Catania, the town known for its original baroque style and for its streets built
with black lava stone from mount Etna. Walking tour through Via
Etnea, the Baroque street “Via Crociferi”, the Piazza Duomo with the Cathedral
and the “Liotru” statue, symbol of the city, the roman Amphitheatre,
the Opera House (external visit), the University, and the noble Palace of
Biscari (external visit). Dinner and overnight in your Hotel.
Day 4 TUESDAY CATANIA - SIRACUSA - NOTO - RAGUSA
After a buffet breakfast, depart to Syracuse to visit the most beautiful
Greek colony of Sicily. Visit of the archaeological area including the famous
Latomie of the Paradise, the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre
and the Dyonisios “Ear”. Visit the island of Ortigia, the small baroque old
city centre of Siracusa, built by the Aragonians: here you can admire the
Cathedral and the “Fontana Aretusa”. Lunch in a local restaurant. In the
afternoon, depart to Noto, one of the most beautiful cities in Sicily renowned
for the harmony and unity of its Baroque style and today declared a World
Heritage Site by UNESCO. Proceed to Ragusa, a city that is divided into
two parts: the upper part built after the earthquake in 1693 and the lower
part that is called Ragusa Ibla, one of the most important testimony of the
Baroque architecture. Enjoy an aperitif in a nice bar in the main square by
the Dome, “Basilica di San Giorgio”. Accommodation, dinner and overnight
at Hotel Mediterraneo Palace.
Day 5 WEDNESDAY RAGUSA - PIAZZA ARMERINA - AGRIGENTO
After a buffet breakfast, depart to Piazza Armerina and visit the worldwide known Villa Romana del Casale: it is the richest, largest and
most complex collection of late Roman mosaics in the world. Continue
to Agrigento. Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit of the
Valley of the Temples including the Temple of Juno, Concord,
Heracles, Zeus, Castor & Pollux that represent the most beautiful example of the
Greek Civilization in Sicily. Dinner at Hotel Della Valle. After dinner
enjoy an unforgettable panoramic tour of the Valley of the Temples
illuminated. Overnight in Agrigento.
Day 6 THURSDAY AGRIGENTO - SELINUNTE - ERICE - SEGESTA - PALERMO
After a buffet breakfast, depart to the Archaeological park of
Selinunte, the largest in the Mediterranean area with the impressive
Temples and Acropolis. Proceed to Erice, a medieval town full of myth,
history and art which sits on top of Mt. Erice, overlooking the city of
Trapani and the salt-works below and the Egadi Islands. Lunch in a
local restaurant. Proceed to Segesta to visit the Doric Temple which
keeps in its stones the weight of a long history, surrounded by a unique
landscape. Proceed to Palermo. Accommodation, dinner and overnight
at Hotel Cristal Palace.
Day 7 FRIDAY PALERMO - MONREALE - (MONTE PELLEGRINO/CATACOMBS/
CAPO MARKET OPTIONAL) - PALERMO
After a buffet breakfast. morning visit of the Capital of Sicily, one of
the richest towns in the island for history and art: the Cathedral, the
“Palatina” Chapel, and panoramic tour of the town (the “Quattro
Canti”, the Opera House, the Pretoria Square). Continue to Monreale
to admire the Cathedral with its splendid 12th century mosaics and
the cloister of the Benedictines monastery with Moorish architecture.
Lunch in your Hotel. Afternoon at leisure or optional excursion to Monte
Pellegrino, the most famous mountain in Palermo, to arrive at the shrine
of Santa Rosalia, the patron saint of the city; from the viewpoint enjoy
a breathtaking panorama of the Conca d’Oro. Visit the Catacombs of
Cappuccini, a haunting experience, where in a maze of corridors are held
about 8,000 bodies embalmed. End the afternoon, with a walk to the
discover of one of the most colorful historical markets of Palermo: “The
Capo Market” immersed in an explosion of vegetables, and fruits. Dinner
and overnight in your Hotel.
Day 8 SATURDAY PALERMO
After a buffet breakfast, end of the Tour.
Winter tour - Price per person in Euro ($ rate varies
depending the exchange):
E 695,00 in double room / Single supplement: E 190,00
3rd pax in triple room: E 660,00
Pre and post our
accommodation in Palermo for winter tour:
Hotel Cristal Palace - Palermo: Euro 42 per person based on double
/ Euro 67 per person based on single / Euro 41 per person in
triple room
Tour conducted in
English and Spanish
Hotels used on the Winter tour:
Cristal Palace or similar in Palermo / Katane Palace or
similar in Catania/ Hotel Mediterrraneo Place or similar in Ragusa/
Hotel Della Valle or similar in Agrigento
Summer
Itinerary : Departures Every Saturday
from 3 Apr - 30 Oct 2010
1st day SATURDAYPALERMO
Independent arrival at Grande Albergo Sole in Palermo. Enjoy a
welcome cocktail. Dinner and overnight in your hotel.
2nd day SUNDAY PALERMO - CEFALŮ - CAPO
D’ORLANDO - TAORMINA - CATANIA
After a buffet breakfast, depart to Cefalů, a charming coastal
town, a former fishing village, which is also home to a
breathtaking Norman Cathedral with dazzling mosaics. Take a
stroll to the city center and down main street to reach the
Cathedral and the medieval wash-house built in the rock. Proceed
to Capo d’Orlando along the Tyrrhenian coast and stop for lunch.
Continue to Taormina called “the pearl of the Ionic Sea”,
founded in 400 BC and beautifully located overlooking the sea
and the peak of Mount Etna. Enjoy time at leisure to shop for
handmade lace, coral jewels, ceramics, home-made sweets and
preserves down “Corso Umberto” or simply walk through the tiny
streets. Possibility to visit the fascinating Roman - Greek
theatre. Proceed to Catania.
Accommodation, dinner and overnight at the Hotel Katane Palace.
3rd day MONDAY CATANIA - MONTE ETNA with lunch
in a farmhouse - CATANIA
After a buffet breakfast, weather conditions permitting,
excursion to Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe.
Across fascinating landscape, we will reach a height of 2000
metres, where we will enjoy a fantastic panorama of the Ionic
Sea. Lunch in a farmhouse on the slopes of Etna and wine tasting
of local production. Back to Catania, the town known for its
original baroque style and for its streets built with black lava
stone from mount Etna. Walking tour through Via Etnea, the
Baroque street “Via Crociferi”, the Piazza Duomo with the
Cathedral and the “Liotru” statue, symbol of the city, the roman
Amphitheatre, the Opera House (external visit), the University,
and the noble Palace of Biscari (external visit). Dinner and
overnight in your Hotel.
4th day TUESDAY CATANIA - SIRACUSA - NOTO -
RAGUSA
After a buffet breakfast, depart to Syracuse to visit the most
beautiful Greek colony of Sicily. Visit of the archaeological
area including the famous Latomie of the Paradise, the Greek
Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre and the Dyonisios “Ear”. Visit
the island of Ortigia, the small baroque old city centre of
Siracusa, built by the Aragonians: here you can admire the
Cathedral and the “Fontana Aretusa”. Lunch in a local
restaurant. In the afternoon, depart to Noto, one of the most
beautiful cities in Sicily renowned for the harmony and unity of
its
Baroque style and today declared a World Heritage Site by
UNESCO. Proceed to Ragusa, a city that is divided into two
parts: the upper part built after the earthquake in 1693 and the
lower part that is called Ragusa Ibla, one of the most important
testimony of the Baroque architecture. Enjoy an aperitif in a
nice bar in the main square by the Dome, “Basilica di San
Giorgio”. Accommodation, dinner and overnight at Hotel
Mediterraneo Palace.
5th day WEDNESDAY RAGUSA - MODICA - PIAZZA
ARMERINA - AGRIGENTO
After a buffet breakfast, stop in Modica, one of the most
picturesque cities in the province and of all Sicily, mainly to
the appearance late Baroque, rich of important churches such as
San Giorgio and San Pietro.
Stop in a chocolate shop to have a taste of the famous Modica’s
chocolate still made the same way the ancient Aztecs made
chocolate in Mexico. Depart to Piazza Armerina and visit the
worldwide known Villa Romana
del Casale: it is the richest, largest and most complex
collection of late Roman mosaics in the world Lunch in a local
restaurant. Continue to Agrigento: visit of the Valley of the
Temples including the Temple of Juno, Concord, Heracles, Zeus,
Castor & Pollux that represent the most beautiful example of the
Greek Civilization in Sicily. Dinner at Hotel Della Valle. After
dinner enjoy an unforgettable panoramic tour of the Valley of
the Temples illuminated. Overnight in Agrigento.
6th day THURSDAY AGRIGENTO - SELINUNTE with
lunch in a farmhouse - SEGESTA - PALERMO
After a buffet breakfast, depart to the Archaeological park of
Selinunte, the largest in the Mediterranean area with the
impressive Temples and Acropolis. After the visit stop in a
local farmhouse (famous for olive oil
production) where before lunch it will be possible to have a
wine and oil tasting of local production. Proceed to Segesta to
visit the Doric Temple which keeps in its stones the weight of a
long history, surrounded by a unique landscape. Proceed to
Palermo. Accommodation, dinner and overnight at Grande Albergo
Sole.
7th day FRIDAY PALERMO - MONREALE - (ERICE
OPTIONAL) - PALERMO
After a buffet breakfast. morning visit of the Capital of
Sicily, one of the richest towns in the island for history and
art: the Cathedral, the “Palatina” Chapel, and panoramic tour of
the town (the “Quattro Canti”, the Opera House, the Pretoria
Square). We will continue to Monreale to admire the Cathedral
with its splendid 12th century mosaics and the cloister of the
Benedictines monastery with Moorish architecture. Lunch in your
Hotel. Afternoon at leisure or optional excursion to Erice, a
medieval town full of myth, history and art which sits on top of
Mt. Erice, overlooking the city of Trapani and the Egadi
Islands. Panoramic tour of the salt-woks of Trapani. Dinner and
overnight in your Hotel.
8th day SATURDAY PALERMO
After a buffet breakfast, end of the Tour.
Summer tour - Price per person in Euro ($ rate varies
depending the exchange):
E 845,00 in double room / Single supplement: E 190,00
3rd pax in triple room: E 810,00
Hotels used for
the Summer tour:
Grande Albergo Sole or similar in Palermo / Katane Palace or
similar in Catania/ Hotel Mediterrraneo Place or similar in Ragusa/
Hotel Della Valle or similar in Agrigento
Pre and post our
accommodation in Palermo for summer tour:
Hotel Albergo Sole ****:
26Jun-3Sep'10: Euro 77 per person based on double / Euro
109 per person based on single / Euro 69 per person based on
triple
1Apr-25Jun/4Sep-31Oct'10: Euro 85 per person based on double /
Euro 118 per person based on single / Euro 71 per person based on
triple
Tour (Winter and Summer) Includes:
-
7 nights
first class accommodation with daily breakfast at first
class (4star) hotels with porterage at the hotels
-
Welcome
cocktail
-
Full board
(dinner on first day till breakfast on last day - in between
3 meals per day)
-
Transportation
by modern air-conditioned motor-coach or minivan
-
Professional
English speaking guide throughout the tour
-
Wine tasting
on Mt Etna, Aperitif in Ragusa
-
Wine tasting
in Selinunte and Chocolate tasting in Modica (for summer
tour only)
-
Land taxes
and service charges\
-
Porterage at
hotels
Rates do not
include:
-
Transfers,
entrance fees (approximately E 55 per person), drinks, everything which is not clearly
specified under rate includes
Transfers from Apt Palermo to Hotel or vice-versa:
(only valid in connection with the escorted tour and on
Saturdays only)
Euro 30 per person (min 2 passengers), supplement for 1passenger:
Euro 19
Supplement for transfer services performed from 10 pm to 8 am:: 20%
Private transfer Palermo airport to hotel or v.v.:
Euro 73 per car (max 3 passengers) |
