Tour of Sicily: 3 Days (ST5)

Palermo, Messina, Catania, Taormina, Siracusa

Day 1:Taormina - Piazza - Armerina - Agrigento After the breakfast, we will drive through the center of Sicily to reach the famous Villa Romana del Casale at Piazza Armerina, one of the most important archaeological sites of Roman times covered by 3500 square meters of mosaics on the villa's floors, and some surviving wall paintings. Lunch on your own In the afternoon departure for Agrigento Agrigento Here we will visit the Valley of the Temples , the temples of Juno, of Concord and Hercules built during the fifth century BC and declared World Heritage by UNESCO. Dinner on your own and overnight (Agrigento). Day 2: Agrigento - Selinunte - Erice - Scopello After the breakfast departure to Selinunte the ancient “Selinus”. Here You will have about 2hours for a free visit of the site founded on 7th century B.C.. in a plan overlooking the Mediterranean sea: Temple G, F,E,D,C,A,B,O and the acropolis. On the acropolis were four large Doric temples, two of the sixth century, two of the fifth, and a small shrine. None of these has been securely attributed to specific deities, but are identified by letters (Temples A, C, D, and O; Shrine B). Defensive walls girded the acropolis, most of whose standing remains can be dated to the late sixth or early fifth centuries B.C. To the north of the city lay a small Archaic temple and altar. We will then drive you to the medieval town of Erice located at 751 m , perched on the mountain of the same name , covering a triangular plateau with a glorious wiew over the sea. Enclosed within defensible bastions and walls, the town is a veritable labyrinthof little cobbled streets and passages wide anough to accommodate only one person at a time. where we will make a beautiful walking tour and you can admire the 12 C Venus Castle , the main church Chiesa Matrice,and you can taste the famous marzipan. Lunch on your own in the afternoon we will drive to the Zingaro natural reserve Scopello a small hamlet on the sea dominated by its 18C Baglio (a large fortified building) which faces onto the central piazza near to the old tuna fischery can be reached on foot dinner on your own and overnight. Day 3: Scopello - Palermo After breakfast departure for Palermo the capital of Sicily where we wiil visit the Quattro Canti (four corners), the Pretoria Fountain, better known as the "fountain of shame", the Norman Cathedral and the Royal Palace adorn the historic center of Palermo. Then, we drive to Monreale, medieval town known for its Arab-Norman cathedral built in the twelfth century. Amazing, inside, is the complex of the mosaics with a golden background, culminating in the great apse with the figure of Christ Pantocrator, made between the twelfth and thirteenth century and depicting the cycle of Old and New Testament, which is the most comprehensive cycle of the Byzantine tradition. Of great interest are the porphyry sarcophagi of William I and II, the 16th century Chapel of St. Benedict and the 17th century Chapel of the Crucified, through which you access the rich Treasure of the Cathedral. Remarkable, finally, is the Benedictine Cloister, thirteenth century, within which there is a courtyard that contains an elegant fountain in Oriental style.
Conditions
Price included: Touring by air-conditioned deluxe motorcoach, van or limoEnglish-speaking DriverLocal guides are provided on request.
Price not included: Airfare, meals, optional trip insurance, transfers from airport to Palermo or Catania, hotel fees to the archeological area or monuments, tips to local guides, motorcoach driver or driver/escort , all not specified in "Price included".