Self-Guided Tours
Sicilian Highlights
Travel Type: Self-drive Itinerary
Transportation: rental car
Dates : year round
Duration: 7 nights/8 days
Short description
A 7 nights itinerary conceived to see
the cannot-to-be-missed places
but going easy, with enough time to savour each place
Highlights
Taormina, a can't-miss place
Mount Etna, walking on the rock of lava flow, all around you a breathtaking panorama till the coasts of Calabria, is something unique and memorable
Visit the Valley of the Temples the biggest Greek archaeological area outside Greece
The late Baroque towns of the Val di Noto (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Palermo, an intimate and secret city hiding many of its beauties we will reveal to you
Sicily has always charmed and fascinated populations and great characters who conquered it, lived it and exploited it always leaving traces: Phoenicians, Greek, Romans, Arabs, Normans
Being object of desire between East and West she gave herself a little to both, leaving both happy.
Programma
First Day: Catania→ Taormina; Night in Taormina
Arrive at the airport of Catania, pick up your hired car and departure to Taormina. Accommodation in hotel. Visit the Greek theatre of Taormina, the view is really breathtaking, and spend time in the lovely historic centre.
Second Day: Taormina, Etna; Night in Taormina
Eastern Sicily is dominated by Mount Etna the highest active volcano in Europe (3340 meters). A giant who occasionally smokes, lights in fountains of lava and sometimes speaks in a voice made of roars and explosions.
Our suggestions :
- an half-day excursion by 4 wheel drive vehicle on the volcano Etna guided by a knowledgeable guide.
- an excursion, to the nice village of Castelmola.
- The Alcantara Gorges: deep incisions in volcanic rocks and cliffs, caused by the eruptions of the vulcano, the water choruses over grey stone, now covered by dense vegetation climbing through the numerous crags and crevices in the rock. People can reach the gorges with a lift, or can descend into the gorge on foot, where the river can be followed for about 150 meters through mysterious shadowy rocky bends along the walls of the rock-face. It’s impressive.
Third Day: Taormina → Siracusa, Ragusa; Night in Ragusa area
On your way to the Val di Noto area you should stop and dedicate an half day of your journey to Siracusa
Siracusa is located on the outskirts of the River Ciane nature reserve. Greek mythology has it that the river was created from the nymph Ciane, who was transformed into a natural spring because he tried to prevent the abduction of Proserpina. A young Anapo fell in love with the nymph Ciane and after transforming his girlfriend, he changed himself into the river that today, at the end of its path joins the Ciane, a flows into the Great Harbour of Syracuse.
We suggest to visit the Archaeological Park, the Greek Theatre and the Dionysus Ear and of course of the historic centre, Ortigia.
From Siracusa you will drive towards the Sicilian Baroque area: seven baroque towns part of world heritage defined by UNESCO. The Sicilian unique baroque style has imposed during a surge of rebuilding following the massive earthquake of 1693 in the Val di Noto area; it has a strong identity with its grinning grotesque masks and putti and a particular flamboyance.
Forth Day: Ragusa Ibla, Modica, Scicli ; Night in Ragusa area
During your stay in the Val di Noto area, we suggest to visit the small delicious village of Palazzolo Acreide, the elegant Noto where sit at the Café Sicilia to taste their excellent granite and pastries! Ragusa Ibla, definitely a jewel of architecture, Scicli and Modica where you can taste their famous ‘Azthec’ chocolate.
A few kilometers far there is also a small charming village of Arabic origin, Marzamemi, just a stop in a bar in the huge square where time seems to have been stopped.
Fifth Day: Ragusa → Agrigento ; Night in Agrigento
Today you will drive towards Agrigento. Visit the Valley of the Temples : the temples erected in the fifth century BC, following the ancient principle (Greek as well as Roman), face the East so that the rising sun would first illuminate the statue of the Divinity, as a font and principle of life.
All around you the south-western coast of Sicily, full of pristine and beautiful beaches: Eraclea Minoa is a jewel set among dazzling, white rocks, here can be found the remains of an ancient colony founded by Greek colonists from Selinunte. The Scala dei Turchi (The Stairs of the Turks) is formed by marl, a sedimentary rock with a characteristic white color.
Sixth Day: Agrigento → Palermo ; Night in Palermo
Drive towards Palermo and spend the day walking in the historical centre: the refined cathedral, the enormous renaissance fountain of piazza Pretoria, Porta Nuova, built in honour of Charles V, the red Arabic bulge domes of the church of San Cataldo, the baroque church of Santa Caterina. In the mishmash of artistic styles you observe while walking you will find it difficult to fall in love with one single style.
Seventh Day: Palermo ; Night in Palermo
One more day in Palermo. Visit the Capo food market and taste Sicilian street food. Visit the Cappella Palatinaor the Cathedral of Monreale.
Consider a walking tour with an ‘Addiopizzo’ activist, who will take you around the old town centre of Palermo, along a route of sites that are symbolic in the fight against the Mafia to discover how the city is now rebelling against the pizzo. This is a route to discover Palermo being aware you do not leave even a penny to Cosa Nostra.
Eighth Day: Palermo; Leaving
After breakfast, leave towards Palermo airport, drop-off your car and departure.
Date & Quote
Quote: on request
2 overnight stay in Taormina 4* hotel
2 overnight stay in Ragusa area 4* hotel
1 overnight stay in Agrigento 4* hotel
2 overnight stay in Palermo 4* hotel
7 breakfast in resort
7 days car rental Europcar Grp T (Peugeot 208 or similar) All Inclusive Insurance included
1 Dinner at the resort in Agrigento
1 Dinner at restaurant in Palermo
Not Including:
Meals and Drinks not specified
Everything not mentioned as included
Local city taxes to be paid on spot
Museum and archaeological sites entrance fees
Booking & Cancellation Policy
HOW TO BOOK
You can initiate a booking by sending an enquiry by e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephoning us directly 0039 091 583728, or sending an enquiry online at our website formwww.privatesicily.it . You will be contacted by a member of our staff within 48 hours (working days). We will send you a proposal and quote for the services required. Once we have receiced your written confirmation we will confirm all the service by issuing and sending via e-mail a pro-forma invoice. Please check this pro-forma invoice carefully as soon as you receive it and contact us immediately if there is any wrong information about you or the services confirmed.
GUARANTEED DEPARTURES
The tours marked as guaranteed departures will depart as scheduled with the minimum number of participants specified in each tour. We will confirm the tour 30 days before the scheduled day. We try to make every departure work and only cancel when absolutely necessary and we may decide to operate a tour with less than the normal minimum number of people.
If your tour is cancelled because the minimum size group is not met, you will have the option to either transfer to another tour or receive a full refund of the deposit paid.
PAYMENT
Usually to confirm your booking, we require a deposit of 30% of the total quote, and the balance is required 30 days before departure ; we will specify when different conditions apply in your pro-forma invoice.
CHANGES
Any changes to your confirmed booking, must be notified us in writing. Whilst we will endeavour to assist, we cannot guarantee we will be able to meet the requests. Changes in party size which result in a decrease in the overall cost of the booking will be treated as a partial cancellation and our normal cancellation charges will apply.
CANCELLATIONS
Any cancellation should be made in writing (by e-mail). Following penalties (% of total invoice) will be applied for cancellations made:
Up to 60 days 10%
from 59 to 31 days 30%
from 30 to 21 days 50%
from 20 to 01 days 100%
before arrival date
no show 100%
If different conditions apply, they will be specified in the booking process.