EASTERN SICILY AMONG ART AND CULTURE SOUTHERN ITALY - Sicily's best places and UNESCO sites

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean sea and fascinates visitors for its landscapes and its millenary history, thanks to the indelible marks left by the Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Arab, Norman and Spanish civilizations.

This tour will take you to discover the sicilian eighteenth-century cities, its villages rich in tradition, well-preserved archaeological sites and impressive landscapes.

Once arrived at the airport, you will reach your hotel by private transfer or, for the choice of a self-drive tour, you will go to the car rental department to pick up your car.

Our first stop is the world known town of Taormina, the pearl of Sicily.
Magical place of art, history and breathtaking landscapes. We will enjoy a tour through the picturesque alleys of the city, followed by a visit to the world famous Taormina Greek theatre dating back to the 3rd century BC. and which offers splendid views of the coast and of the Etna volcano, the highest active volcano in Europe.

The visit to the Etna Volcano is something unique and something not to be missed. We will arrive by car at 2,000 mt. and visit the Silvestri craters, then take a cable car up to 2,500 mt. and with a bus we reach 2,900 mt. We walk through several old lava flows to be rewarded with an impressive panoramic view of the volcanic landscape and admire the Sicilian sunset from 3,000 meters high.
We strongly recommend wearing a waterproof / windproof jacket and wearing long pants.

We will delight the evening with a dinner in one of Etna's most famous wineries tasting local specialties and excellent wine.

Enjoying the Taormina area we will take a day to visit the Alcantara Gorges, imposing and magnificent.
These gorges are a unique feature in the natural landscape in Italy, and are one of the must-see attractions in Sicily.
The Alcantara Gorges are real canyons made up of black lava walls up to 50 meters high and have the typical prismatic shape formed during cooling.

We will end the tour of this area with one of the most popular excursions in Sicily: the Godfather tour, on the Don Corleone path in the beautiful village of Savoca. We will visit the famous Bar Vitelli where Michael Corleone asked for Apollonia's hand (here you can taste the popular lemon granita) and the church of their wedding. We will see through the streets of Savoca a real old Sicily as Francis Ford Coppola thought for his most famous film.

We will enjoy the sunset with a delicious Sicilian dinner in Taormina.

A guided tour of Catania, perhaps the most eclectic and lively city in Sicily, will be our next appointment.
Starting from Piazza Duomo in the historic center we will admire the architecture of the Piazza with its Baroque buildings and the famous Elephant Fountain, one of the icons of the city. In Catania you should not miss a visit to the Pescheria, the central fish market, one of the largest in Italy, to appreciate the bright colours and associated smells, accompanied by the uninterrupted cries of the fishermen who sell fresh products.
A typical Sicilian Arancino will be our "aperitivo".

We will head south to Siracusa, a city with thousands years of history with its monuments back to the Greek period up to the Sicilian Baroque.

The peculiarity of Siracusa is that its historic center is located on the Ortigia island, small and easy to explore walking through its narrow streets which overlook charming churches, palaces and squares that offer a relaxing atmosphere of beauty.

To discover ancient Siracusa we will visit its archaeological area, the Neapolis Archeological Park, known for its spectacular ruins, and above all the Siracusa Greek theatre which dates back to at least the fifth century BC. and the Roman amphitheatre of Siracusa, built in the third century AD which, with its 140 meters in length is one of the most impressive that can be found.

A relaxing and regenerating moment is undoubtedly the visit of Marzamemi.
A typical fishing village in Sicily where you can still breathe the air of an ancient and traditional Sicily. The old town center is located on a small cape and organized around the charming Piazza Regina Margherita of Marzamemi. On the south side there is the small fishing port with the charming old Tonnara (tuna fishery). Narrow streets lead out of the main square, offering glimpses of the turquoise sea.

To understand the sense of beauty of the Sicilian Baroque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you must visit Noto, the Baroque capital of Sicily. A short walk is the best way to discover the eighteenth-century beauties, admiring the imposing churches and the wonderful façades and balconies of the noble palaces.

We continue towards the city of Ragusa, considered one of the most scenic cities in Sicily. Ragusa has become famous in recent years as one of the main filming locations for the italian TV series Commissario Montalbano. The city is divided into two parts, and the Ragusa Ibla is the one attractring more visitors. The historic district has a small size, facilitating the walking tours.

Another must-see in the area is the fascinating Donnafugata castle, located few chilometers out of Ragusa. The castle with its white façades and the Venetian Gothic loggia, gives people a warm and pleasant atmosphere. Combining architectural style and landscape style, this is a good example of eclecticism of that era. The place worth a visit thanks also to the unexpected surprises visitors will experience wandering in the spectacular garden with the only European stone labyrinth with special effects.

In fact, if you venture to the entrance of a small church, a statue of a bearded monk will try to hug you!

Returning to the Greek era of Sicily, we will reach the city of Agrigento and its iconic Valley of the Temples. The guide will allow us to discover and learn the history of this magnificent archaeological park, which is composed of eight temples (and various other ruins), built between 510 and 430 BC.

Sicily is famous for its mix of artistic and architectural beauties, as well as landscapes and that’s why our next stop is a place of extreme natural beauty, the magnificent Scala dei Turchi. This white cliff is set in the sea and the rock is made up of soft limestone and dense white marl. Nature is a great artist: over time, with the help of the water and the salty breeze, this material becomes soft and curved, creating terraces and smoothing every corner.
Just be careful not to slip, especially on wet rocks!
Along the beach near the Scala dei Turchi, you can enjoy swimming in the crystal clear water of the Mediterranean sea.

A last sicilian dinner in a typical restaurant will let us say “arrivederci” to the beautiful Mediterranean Island.

The next morning transfer to Catania for your flight.