DAY 1

Arrive at Palermo airport, where you will be welcomed by a Sicilissimo Incoming representative.Bus transfer to the 4-star Fiesta Garden Beach hotel in Campofelice di Roccella, with a welcome cocktail (depending on the time of arrival, the cocktail may be offered the next day) followed by dinner and an overnight stay.

DAY 2

PALERMO – MONREALE – MONTEPELLEGRINO

After breakfast, the morning is dedicated to exploring 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 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.Visit one of the city's oldest churches, the "Palatine Chapel". Dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul, it is one of the finest treasures from the Arab-Norman period and lies within the "Palazzo dei Normanni", home to the Sicilian Parliament.Continue on to Monreale, which lies on the slopes above Palermo.Visit the Cathedral of William II of Sicily, the walls of which are totally covered with beautiful Byzantine-style mosaics depicting scenes from the Bible and the Gospel.Enjoy a "pizza" lunch in a local restaurant (includes a starter, 4 types of pizza and a dessert).Continue with a visit to 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.Admire the exterior of the Teatro Massimo, one of the most important operatic theatres in the world.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

"SECRET SICILY":CEFALÙ - CASTELBUONO - GIBILMANNA

After breakfast, set off for a visit to 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 towards Castelbuono, which was founded by the Byzantines. It lies within the Madonie Regional Natural Park, among Sicily's most beautiful mountains. Take a walk in the town centre, see the outside of the Castle of Ventimiglia and sample some local products.Lunch in a traditional restaurant with folk music and local wine included.After lunch, visit the Franciscan sanctuary of Gibilmanna, at the end of a beautifully scenic road on the slopes of the Pizzo d'Angelo. The sanctuary is 800 metres above sea level in the middle of a forest of ash and chestnut trees.Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

DAY 4

Free day at the hotel, with full board.(OPTIONAL:MINI-CRUISE TO THE AEOLIAN ISLANDS -LIPARI AND VULCANO OR SANTO STEFANO DI CAMASTRA).

DAY 5

SEGESTA - ERICE - MARSALA

Breakfast at the hotel.Set off for Segesta, an ancient city on the slopes of Mount Barbaro near the Gulf of Castellammare founded by the Elymians between the 12th and 11th century BC and later inhabited by other peoples who colonised the island until the Middle Ages.In this wild and mountainous location, you can admire the magnificent and isolated Doric Temple of Segesta, a genuine masterpiece in the Greek style.Lunch at a restaurant.Continue towards the western tip of Sicily for a nice stroll around Erice, a medieval town perched on Mount Erice which overlooks the sea, the Aegadian Islands and Trapani.The old town, surrounded by walls which enclose an utterly charming maze of winding streets, is dominated by the Castle of Venus (outside visit only), built on an ancient Roman temple dedicated to the goddess of love.Visit the main church.Continue towards the Selinunte region.Along the way, you will have the chance to taste the famous "Marsala" wine.Stop in Marsala and take a stroll through the town centre before settling in to a 3-star hotel in the Selinunte area for dinner and an overnight stay.Return to the hotel for lunch.

DAY 6

SELINUNTE - AGRIGENTO

After breakfast, set off for Selinunte, a Greek city that can be considered the birthplace of the Doric style in Sicily, founded in the mid-7th century BC and subsequently destroyed by the Carthaginians in 409 BC.Visit the Acropolis and the temples on the East Hill.Lunch.Visit the archaeological site of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, 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 the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

DAY 7

AEGADIAN ISLANDS:FAVIGNANA AND LEVANZO

After breakfast, take a public ferry from the port of Trapani (or Marsala) at around 9:30 am and sail to the largest of the Aegadian Islands:Favignana (stop of around 1.5 hours).Stroll through the village.Enjoy lunch on board (plate of pasta, fruit, water and local wine included).Leave for Levanzo.You will be able to swim from the boat if weather conditions allow (the captain's decision is final).Afterwards, stop at the port of Levanzo for about 45 minutes.Return to the port of Trapani at around 6:30 pm.Continue to the hotel by bus.Dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 8

Breakfast at the hotel.Bus transfer to the airport for the return flight to France.End of our tour.

Optional excursion on Day 4:

MINI-CRUISE TO THE AEOLIAN ISLANDS -LIPARI AND VULCANO

Bus transfer from the hotel to the port of Cefalù (or Milazzo/Capo d'Orlando) and boarding for Lipari (public boat).Departure from Cefalù at 7:45 am and arrival at around 10:15 am in Marina Lunga, the port of Lipari, a picturesque village with Mediterranean charm. Visit the citadel and the ruins of the Acropolis.Free time for shopping.At around 12:45 pm:Boat tour of the island of Lipari, including the pumice stone quarries and the southern coast of the island of Salina, passing through the strange rock formations of the Faraglioni between Lipari and Vulcano.Lunch in a restaurant in Lipari or Vulcano.Arrive in Vulcano at around 1:30 pm, disembark and visit the city centre.Visit the hot springs with their sulphur-rich water and mud baths (entrance fee of about €3.00 to be paid on-site), and the splendid black sand beaches where you can take a dip.Board the boat at around 4:00 pm and travel to the Grotta del Cavallo and the Piscina di Venere, a cave and pool which are among Vulcano's natural wonders.Arrive at the port of Cefalù at 7:00 pm.Transfer to the hotel.

SANTO STEFANO DI CAMASTRA

Half-day excursion (morning or afternoon)

After breakfast, set off for Santo Stefano di Camastra, a town renowned for its handmade pottery.It was founded in 1683 by Giuseppe Lanza, the Duke of Camastra, a year after a landslide had destroyed the ancient hamlet of Santo Stefano di Camastra, which dated back to the Middle Ages.Visit the town and a pottery company.Return to the hotel for lunch.