Specially designed for those enthusiasts of Archeology, this 15-day tour explores in depth the many sites left by the Greeks, the Romans and the Norman civilizations on this island. The tour, which is limited to a group of 16 persons, travels by minibus, and the departures are limited in order to offer a higher quality and better attention to details. See the detailed itinerary for a full description of the sites offered on this tour. Some of the highlights are the Doric Temple in Segesta, the medieval town of Erice, the Phoenician colony on the island of Mozia, the Acropolis in Selinunte, Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, the Greek colony of Akrai, the archeological museum and park of Syracuse, and the Baroque architecture of Ortigia, Noto and Modica. You will also have the chance to visit The “Bronzes of Riace” across the straits of Messina, the Greek Theatre of Taormina, the Aeolian islands of Vulcano, Lipari and Stromboli, the sand-tongues and ruins of Tindari, the archeological park of Solunto, the city of Palermo and much more.

Price per person in double occupancy.
Holidays and special events may affect rates.
Other USA gateway prices available.
Departures every Friday.

Services included:

• Roundtrip economy class air travel from selected city

• Arrival and departure transfers in Palermo by private car

• 14 nights accommodations at selected hotels
  Palermo: 4-star Astoria; Marsala: 4-star Delle Palme; Agrigento: 4-star Kore; S.M. Ganzaria: 3-star Pomara; Ragusa: 4-star Mediterraneo; Syracuse: 3-star Park; Giardini Naxos: 4-star Caesar Palace; Lipari: 3-star Gattopardo; Tusa 3-star L'atelier Sul Mare. (Or similar)

• Continental or buffet breakfast daily (hotel’s choice)

• Daily breakfast, 2 lunches and 13 dinners

• Ground transportation by deluxe air conditioned motor coach

• Fully escorted by English speaking tour escort

• Sightseeing tours as indicated in the itinerary, including local guides

• Porterage, entrance fees, tips, and beverages not included

Note: On days 10/11/12 the itinerary could be modified for technical or meteorological reasons.
Airport taxes and fuel surcharges are not included.

Day 1 - Friday - U.S.A.-PALERMO
Departure from USA by scheduled service. Enjoy a delicious Italian dinner with complimentary beverages followed by a movie including free headsets. Continental brunch will be served prior to arrival.

Day 2 - Saturday - PALERMO
Arrival at Palermo airport, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Welcome drink, dinner and overnight at the hotel in Palermo.

Day 3 - Sunday - SEGESTA/ERICE/MARSALA
After breakfast depart for Segesta to visit the Doric Temple constructed in the 5th century BC and the Greek theater. Visit of the medieval town of Erice. Lunch is on your own. Proceed for Trapani for wine tasting, visit the salt mines, the ancient windmills and the Salt Museum. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Marsala.

Day 4 - Monday - MOZIA/SELINUNTE/AGRIGENTO
Following breakfast we depart by boat to the island of Mozia, the most important Phoenician colony in Sicily. Continue to the Cusa quarry. Lunch on your own in Selinunte. Founded in 628 B.C. we will visit the Acropolis and proceed to Agrigento. Dinner at your hotel and a visit to the Temples, magnificently illuminated. Overnight at your hotel in Agrigento.

Day 5 - Tuesday - PIAZZA ARMERINA/CALTAGIRONE/S.M. GANZARIA
After breakfast visit to the Archaeological Museum and the famous Valley of the Temples. Lunch at a local restaurant. Proceed to Piazza Armerina and visit the famed Villa Romana del Casale with its 3,500 square meters of mosaics dating from the 4th century A.D. Continue to Caltagirone. This Baroque town is well known for its ceramics. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in San Michele di Ganzaria, a typical agricultural village.

Day 6 - Wednesday - PANTALICA/PALAZZOLO ACREIDE/SYRACUSE
Following breakfast we leave for Pantalica. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes to walk through beautiful mountains where an ancient civilization was born during the Bronze age. Proceed to Palazzolo Acreide, the ancient Greek colony of Akrai and visit the Theater. Lunch in a typical local restaurant along the river. Proceed to Syracuse. Visit the Archaeological Museum. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel in Syracuse.

Day 7 - Thursday - NOTO/MODICA/RAGUSA
After breakfast, today we tour Syracuse including the most famous Greek theater of Sicily, the legendary Dyonisius’ Ear, the Roman amphitheater, and the Latomie. Visit the island of Ortigia, historical center of Syracuse, as well as a treasure of Baroque style. Lunch on your own. Departure for Noto also famed for its Baroque style. Stop in Modica, known for its Baroque architecture. Continue to Ragusa. Dinner in a characteristic restaurant on the main street of Ragusa Ibla, the historical center, which takes on a special atmosphere in the evenings, due to the contrasts between the lights of the town and its peaceful surroundings. Overnight at your hotel in Ragusa.

Day 8 - Friday - RAGUSA/CATANIA/MT. ETNA/TAORMINA
Following breakfast, depart for Catania, enjoy an orientation tour of the city, and then, weather permitting, continue to Mt. Etna, the highest and most active volcano in Europe, with the possibility to climb to the top. Lunch on your own, then descend, and proceed to Taormina. Dinner and overnight at you hotel.

Day 9 - Saturday - TAORMINA/MESSINA/REGGIO CALABRIA/TAORMINA
Following breakfast, departure for a panoramic visit of Messina and depart for Reggio Calabria by hydrofoil or ferry. Visit the famous "Bronzes of Riace". Continue to Taormina. Free time for lunch on your own. Visit of the Greek Theater. Time at leisure. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 10 - Sunday - LIPARI/VULCANO/LIPARI
Following breakfast, departure for Milazzo. Depart by hydrofoil to reach Lipari, one of the Aeolian Islands. Visit of the village with the possibility of an excursion to the Archaeological Museum (optional). Lunch on your own. Continue to the island of Vulcano and visit the village. Return to Lipari. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Lipari.

Day 11 - Monday - LIPARI
After breakfast, free time to enjoy the village. Lunch on your own. After lunch, an optional excursion (to be paid locally) to Stromboli, an island supremely interesting for its live volcano and “Sciara” lava flows. Return to Lipari. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Lipari.

Day 12 - Tuesday - LIPARI/TINDARI/SANTO STEFANO/ CAMASTRA/TUSA
Following breakfast, the morning is yours to explore. Lunch is on your own. Embark for Milazzo, then proceed to Tusa, stopping en route in Tindari for a view of the sand tongues and the old town ruins and with a short stop in Santo Stefano di Camastra, famous for its ceramics. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Tusa.

Day 13 - Wednesday - TUSA/CASTLBUONO/CEFALÚ/SOLUNTO/PALERMO
Following breakfast depart for Castelbuono, a small village in the Sicilian inland. Visit of the Cathedral and the Castle built by the Ventimiglia family. Proceed to Cefalú and visit of the Cathedral. Lunch on your own. Continue to the archaeological park of Solunto. Proceed to Palermo. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Palermo.

Day 14 - Thursday - PALERMO
Breakfast at your hotel. In the morning visit the Archaeological Museum and enjoy a nice walk in the historical center of the town visiting the Martorana Church, S. Cataldo, the Praetoria Square and the Quattro Canti. Free time for lunch on your own. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner on your own. Overnight at your hotel in Palermo.

Day 15 - Friday - PALERMO
Breakfast at your hotel. In the morning visit the Palatine Chapel,the Cathedral, St. John of the Hermits and Monreale with its exquisite Cathedral and Cloister. Lunch on your own. In the afternoon, optional visit to the Catacombs and Mondello (to be paid locally). Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Palermo.

Day 16 - Saturday - PALERMO/U.S.A.
Following breakfast you will be transferred to the Palermo airport for you return flight to the USA.

*price per person in double occupancy; single supplement $670; weekend charges, airport taxes, fuel surcharges not included.

September 1,15,29, 2007
October 13, 2007

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