DAY 1

Arrive at Palermo airport, where you will be welcomed by our local representative.Bus transfer to the hotel for a welcome cocktail followed by dinner and an overnight stay.

DAY 2

PALERMO - MONREALE - MONTEPELLEGRINO

Breakfast at the hotel.A day dedicated to visiting Palermo.Starting from the old town, tour the city and admire the "Quattro Canti", the intersection of two roads that separate Palermo into four districts.Visit the "Martorana or Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio" (currently being renovated), a Greek Orthodox church housed in a splendid Norman building constructed by the admiral Giorgio d'Antiochia in 1143. The interior, which is decorated in a mixture of Byzantine and Baroque styles, contains beautiful mosaics.Visit the city's cathedral, dedicated to the "Assumption of the Virgin Mary".This impressive building was erected on the site of an ancient basilica which had already been converted into a mosque by the Arabs, and reflects the different architectural styles present in Sicily from the 12th to the 19th century.The relics of Saint Rosalia, the patron saint of the city, lie in a chapel inside the church.Continue on to Monreale, which lies on the slopes above Palermo.Visit the Cathedral of William II of Sicily, the walls of which are decorated with mosaics on a gold background dating from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Explore the Benedictine cloister, built by William II of Sicily, with its 228 columns inlaid with mosaics, carvings and magnificently decorated capitals.Enjoy a "pizza" lunch in a local restaurant.Visit the Capuchin Catacombs, which house the mummified and well-dressed bodies of 8,000 Palermo residents in the traditional Baroque style of a "grand and macabre parade".Visit the "Capo" (or "Vucciria") market, where even today the colours bring to mind the city's ancient Arab markets.Via a panoramic road with magnificent views of Palermo, continue on towards Mount Pellegrino, the city's sacred mountain.Here lies the sanctuary dedicated to Saint Rosalia, a place of pilgrimage since the 17th century, which demonstrates the devotion of the people through the characteristic ex-votos of the faithful who have received graces.Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

DAY 3

CEFALÙ - CASTELBUONO

Breakfast at the hotel.Set off for Cefalù, a picturesque medieval town by the sea.Explore the city centre with its narrow streets, the architecture of the Osterio Magno, a former palace of the king, and the medieval wash house from the Arab-Norman era, carved into the rock.In Piazza del Duomo, you can see several interesting buildings such as the Convent of Santa Caterina, now the town hall, and the 18th-century Palazzo Vescovile.In the same square, the cathedral is one of the largest buildings from the Norman period. Its huge apse is completely covered by a majestic depiction of Christ "Almighty".Continue on to Castelbuono, founded by the Byzantines (within the Madonie Regional Natural Park).Take a stroll around the city centre and see the outside of the medieval castle of the Ventimiglia family.Sample the local produce.Lunch in a traditional restaurant with folk music.Continue to the Agrigento region for dinner and an overnight stay.

DAY 4

AGRIGENTO - SANT'ANGELO MUXARO

Breakfast at the hotel.In the morning, set off for the village of Sant'Angelo Muxaro where you will meet a local guide from the village.Take a scenic stroll with the locals and chat about the history of the place and the local customs.Wander through the narrow streets.The following activities are planned: a cheese tasting session and a stop in one of the oldest bakeries in town to taste "pani cunzato" (a special type of sandwich) and biscottini alle mandorle (almond biscuits, a Sicilian speciality).Free time in the village square.This walk will be followed by a buffet lunch consisting of traditional products, water and local wine.Continue the day with a visit to the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento.Set off for Agrigento and visit the archaeological site of the Valley of the Temples, an incredibly beautiful and harmonious architectural complex that lives on to this day thanks to the craftsmanship of the Greeks.Visit the religious quarter of the ancient city, known as Akragas, to admire the remains of the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Concordia (one of the best preserved temples from all antiquity), and the ruins of the Temple of Hercules.During the visit, you can also admire the magnificent Temple of Olympian Zeus and one of its colossal "telamons" or atlantes (sculpted column supports) as well as the ruins of the Temple of Castor and Pollux.Return to your hotel in the Catania/Syracuse area.Settle in to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

DAY 5

SYRACUSE - NOTO

Breakfast at the hotel.Set off for Syracuse, an ancient Greek colony and home of the great Archimedes.Visit the mainland area of the city, including the ancient Greek Neapolis, the remains of which are part of the archaeological park.There you can find the majestic Greek theatre from the 5th century BC, the Roman amphitheatre, the Latomie del Paradiso and the ancient caves, including the legendary man-made grotto known as the "Ear of Dionysus".Continue with a visit to the historic centre of the city, situated on the small peninsula of Ortigia. See the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, the Piazza del Duomo, a splendid little square full of archbishops' palaces, and also the cathedral, built on the site of an ancient Doric temple dedicated to Athena and remodelled with a beautiful Baroque facade.During your visit, stroll through the old Spanish quarter's picturesque tangle of ancient streets, with opulent palaces, Baroque churches and magnificent wrought iron balconies.Lunch.Set off for Noto, one of the island's most beautiful Baroque cities.The ancient city was completely destroyed by a major earthquake in 1693 and gave way to a city built from the 18th century onward in a baroque style with Roman and Spanish influences.Stroll around the city to discover its most beautiful churches, such as San Francesco, the Cathedral and San Carlo, as well as the facades of palaces which once belonged to the aristocracy. A particular highlight is Palazzo Nicolaci, which represents the crowning achievement of local artists.Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

DAY 6

ETNA – TAORMINA

Breakfast at the hotel.Depart for an excursion to Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe.Take the bus up to 1,800 metres and tour the inactive Silvestri craters.You also have the option of climbing up to 2,900 metres above sea level (funicular + 4x4) with an additional fee of around €60.50 to be paid on-site.Lunch.In the afternoon, depart for Taormina, an ancient Greek city perched on the slopes of Mount Tauro and today a sophisticated and cosmopolitan tourist destination.Rising above the "ocean", the city is crowned by the snow-capped summit of Mount Etna.Free time to explore the Greek-Roman theatre, a place of tragedies and gladiatorial battles whose ramparts offer a fabulous view of the coast up to Calabria and Mount Etna.Return to the hotel in ​​Catania/Taormina or Milazzo for dinner and an overnight stay.

DAY 7

MINI-CRUISE TO THE AEOLIAN ISLANDS:LIPARI AND VULCANO

After breakfast, set off for the port of Milazzo.Board a public ferry for Lipari and visit the island, once the trading hub for obsidian, a volcanic glass, and today the world's largest producer of pumice.Lunch in a restaurant in Lipari or Vulcano.Take a public ferry to the island of Vulcano, which is surrounded by sulphur-rich waters due to various volcanic phenomena that generate fumaroles, underwater bubbles, mud volcanoes and the like.Visit the small village, where you have the option of bathing in the famous healing mud (with the entrance fee to be paid on-site).Return to Milazzo by boat.Continue by bus towards the Palermo or Catania area.Settle in to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

DAY 8

Breakfast at the hotel.Transfer to the airport with check-in assistance.End of our tour.