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Enchantment Awaits on this Tour of Sicily

DAY 1 - Arrival in Palermo

Overnight accommodation in San Vito Lo Capo

Welcome to Italy! At Palermo Airport, you will be met by an English-speaking driver who will accompany you to the 4* Hotel in San Vito Lo Capo. The hotel is right on the coast and about an hour plus from Palermo, Sicily’s flamboyant and feisty capital: the crossroads of civilizations for thousands of years!

A very laid-back, relaxing, chilled-out few days await you close to this bustling metropolis. You can now settle into your lovely hotel and take advantage of all the facilities, or just take in the sea views.

About San Vito Lo Capo

An old Sicilian man once told me that the history of Sicily and the spirit of the Sicilians are found in the wild places of the island.

Many, many centuries ago, most of the island was indeed a wild place, where journeys between towns meant surviving the bandits of the interior. It was in these wild places that the indomitable spirit of the Sicilians was forged. Few still exist, but the wild nature reserve and the coast of Baia Santa Margherita, near San Vito Lo Capo, help you understand the very soul of Sicily.

Just getting here on the winding road through enchanting landscapes is a beautiful experience, and it culminates in the pretty village of San Vito Lo Capo. Here the little white fisherman's cottages run down lanes to the ivory sands of the beach and look out upon indigo blue seas. Behind it all towers Monte Monaco, a gentle giant benignly looking out for his little corner of Sicily.

DAY 2 – FREE DAY: to enjoy the wonderful sandy beaches

A full day for you to take in the views, relax on the beach, and start enjoying some good old Italian food.

In the evening, your driver will pick you up and accompany you to one of the lovely Italian restaurants in the picturesque little village itself, still mainly untouched by tourism.

Before your dinner, enjoy a stroll through the streets. The most striking building is the fortress-church of the Santuario di San Vito, dedicated to the town's patron saint.

Visit the fascinating marine museum, the Museo del Mare, with exhibits including archaeological finds from local shipwrecks.

Once you are done with the sights, turn your attention to a great dinner.

DAY 3 – WILD Sicily by BOAT
Overnight  in San Vito or Terrasini.

Just relax in San Vito Lo Capo or take an optional half-day boat tour, which will take you all around this amazing coastal area to some of the bays that are so difficult to reach otherwise. It would be a small boat, exclusively for you.

In my view, this is definitely worth doing; the bays are spectacular, the view of Sicily from the sea is unforgettable, and the water is the bluest I have ever seen.

DAY 4 - TRANSFER to TAORMINA
Overnight accommodation in Taormina.

After breakfast and checkout from your hotel in San Vito Lo Capo, you will be met by your private driver, who will accompany you to a 4* hotel in Taormina, which is spectacularly perched on the side of a mountain.

This pleasant, 300-kilometer drive of about 3 to 4 hours will take you along the top of the northern Sicilian coast, passing close by many of its famous resorts.

The smaller, northern islands are dotted in the nearby sea, and your friendly driver will be happy to give you a running commentary on the most famous places.

Arriving in Taormina, you can lose yourself in the street cafes and explore the small boutiques, with the amazing backdrop of the well-known Theater of Taormina, an ancient Greek-Roman theater still used today.

Near the theater, cliffs drop to the sea, forming coves with sandy beaches. A narrow stretch of sand connects to Isola Bella, a tiny island and nature reserve.

Our voucher will give you access to the best places to eat, etc.

Overnight accommodation in Taormina

DAY 5 – Guided “MOUNT ETNA” WALKING TOUR 

After a short transfer to the Etna National Park, we'll enjoy a leisurely trek through deserts of ash and lava. We'll walk along lava-covered paths, offering a unique bird's-eye view of the surrounding area and allowing you to explore Europe’s highest active volcano.

Your guide will give you lots of insights into past and present happenings, and you'll marvel at the lava flows and extinct craters.

At the end of the tour, you will be accompanied back to Taormina in plenty of time for that well-earned aperitvo and some intensive ‘people-watching."

Overnight accommodation in Taormina

Day 6 - SICILIAN COOKING CLASS & LUNCH IN A CELLAR 

Breakfast at the hotel and a private transfer to a wine cellar in Castiglione di Sicilia Enjoy a morning of Sicilian gastronomic tradition with Mount Etna as the backdrop.

You will cook traditional Sicilian dishes, like Sicilian fried orange balls (we call them "Arancino") in three flavors: pistachio, meat, and butter.

Then you will taste the dishes you have prepared during the course, along with some other local specialties. A guided tour of the cellar and vineyards is also included, as are wine tastings.

In the afternoon, take a break in Castiglione di Sicilia, a tiny village (in Italian, we call it a Borgo) of around 3000 inhabitants. The village is located on the northern slopes of Mount Etna, in the shadow of the valley of the river Alcantara. Here you will find testimony to the various cultures that have left their mark on the area (Greeks, Normans, Romans, Arabs, and Swabians).

We suggest you visit the fortress and the Cannizzo, a watchtower at one end of the village. Also deserving of a visit is the church of Santa Domenica, near Castiglione, perhaps the most important Byzantine cube-style building present in Sicily.

Overnight in an agriturismo near Castiglione di Sicilia

DAY 7 - TREKKING Along The ALCANTARA RIVER

Breakfast at the agriturismo and private transfer to the Alcantara River. Here you will experience a 2-hour trek, visiting the gorges and canyons formed over the millennia by the waters of the river.

The excursion to the Alcantara River will allow you to discover all the various aspects of this very particular river.

Walking down the tiny paths along the cultivated fields, the so-called "delizi", you will reach the river. Admire the Gurne, natural pools created by the running water, small lakes, and waterfalls surrounded by beautiful vegetation. We'll also see the ruins of Francavilla Castle.

In the afternoon, private transfer to Taormina.

Check in at the hotel and enjoy leisure time at your discretion.

Overnight in Taromina

DAY 8 - VISIT CASTELMOLA

Breakfast at the hotel and private transfer to the beautiful medieval village of Castelmola.

Castelmola is perched precariously on a mountaintop above the community of Taormina and is missed by many visitors to Sicily. This quaint mountain top community offers unparalleled views of Mount Etna, Taormina, the Bay of Giardini Naxos, and the Strait of Messina. Following the remains of the castle walls will take you to the very top of Mount Tauro above the village.

Back down in the village itself there are a number of interesting cafes, shops, churches, restaurants, and narrow alleys to discover. With no traffic inside the center of Castelmola you can stroll with ease through the historic heart of this ancient community.

We strongly recommend to have lunch in the Turrisi bar, one of those unique places, as well as "Focus " cited among the seven most particular bars in the world. Today, the Turrisi bar certainly represents one of the places of worship in Sicily, a must-see place where you can taste the typical Mediterranean flavors in the company of sculptures that represent the fertility and manhood of man.

In the afternoon transfer to Catania. Check-in at the hotel and leisure time to explore this bustling city at your disposal.

Overnight in Catania.

Day 9 - Transfer to the Airport

Sadly, today you leave Sicily but the good news is that Sicily will never leave you and I am sure your heart will lead you back. 

After breakfast your driver will transfer you to Catania or Palermo airport -whichever one you are flying out from.

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