Explore Southern Sicily
What to expect
Overview
If you’ve ever written down “experience the best of Southern Sicily” on some sort of must-do list, this eight-day adventure will let you emphatically check that box. Featuring a Sicilian cooking class, ancient Roman mosaics, pristinely preserved Greek temples, Medieval towns, and so much more, the only thing this tour is missing (for now) is you.
What's Included
- Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
Your Hands-On Moment: Arancini Cooking Class, Syracuse
- Orientation walks in Syracuse and Palermo
- Visit to Ragusa
- Villa Romana del Casale Visit
- Valley of the Temples Guided Tour
- Monreale Cathedral Visit
Your Itinerary
Arrive at any time. Tonight, meet your CEO and fellow travellers at the welcome meeting, then opt to head out for dinner and enjoy your first Sicilian meal.
Travel to Syracuse, an enchanting city by the Ionian Sea that was once at the centre of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds. Take a cooking class on arrival and learn how to make Arancini — an iconic Sicilian specialty — to enjoy as a light lunch! Later, explore the old town's baroque piazzas and medieval side streets with a CEO-led orientation walk.
Enjoy a full free day in Syracuse. Opt to visit the impressive Parco Archeologico della Neapolis, or travel to nearby Noto, a UNESCO World Heritage listed city renowned for its baroque architecture built with a unique golden limestone.
Day 4 - Syracuse/Agrigento
Travel to the baroque city of Ragusa before heading to the medieval hilltop town of Piazza Armerina. Visit the world's most varied collection of Roman mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale. Known for their incredibly well-preserved state "in situ", or in their original location, observe ancient scenes of hunting, fishing and athletics depicted beautifully in mosaic tile. Continue to Agrigento.
Day 5 - Agrigento/Trapani
Take a guided tour of the Valley of the Temples, one of Sicily's best-known attractions. Learn the history of this magnificent site as you explore the ruins of its seven temples, nestled on a ridge below Agrigento. Continue to Trapani, stopping en route in Marsala to see some of Europe's oldest salt marshes.
Enjoy a free day to explore the charms of Trapani and its nearby towns. Opt to cruise the idyllic Egadi Islands, spend the day hiking at a nature reserve filled with local flora and fauna, or hop on a funicular to explore the walled town of Erice.
Travel to Monreale to visit the 11th century Monreale Cathedral, intricately decorated with thousands of gold mosaic tiles. Admire panoramic views of the Conca d'Oro (Golden Valley) and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Continue to Palermo and enjoy a CEO-led orientation walk upon arrival.