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Itinerary

Tour Itinerary

Countries Visited

Italy

Cities Visited

Modica , Monreale , Mt. Etna , Palermo , Ragusa , Siracusa , Taormina

  1. Day 1
    Day - Welcome to Palermo
    On arrival, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted to the Plaza Opéra, General Tours stylish boutique hotel in the heart of town. Later this afternoon, gather with your Trip Leader for a welcome cocktail and briefing. A guided walking tour ends with dinner at a nearby trattoria, owned and operated by the same family for five generations.  Meals D
     
  2. Day 2
    Day 2 - Exploring Palermo and Monreale
    Palermo is a fascinating city that resonates with the diverse cultures of the civilizations that ruled here long ago: Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Goths, Byzantines, Arabs and Normans. In the engaging company of General Tours native Sicilian guide, today’s walking tour includes the 12th-century Cathedral and the magnificent Palatine Chapel, commissioned in 1130 for the Norman Kings of Sicily. Exploring along the evocative cobbled streets of the old Kalsa District, you’ll discover a rich ensemble of architectural landmarks spanning centuries of Palermo’s history. Midday finds you in the colorful Vucciria Market where General Tours guide will help you to assemble a light Sicilian lunch, starting with arancini (stuffed rice balls) and finishing with sweet, delicious cannoli! After lunch visit the historic hill town of Monreale to tour the impressive Cathedral. Dating back to the 12th-century, it is heralded for its distinctive blend of Arab, Byzantine and Norman elements framed by traditional Romanesque architecture; inside, you’ll discover beautiful mosaics – golden depictions of scenes from the Old and New Testament. This evening is free, to enjoy as you wish.  Meals B+L
     
  3. Day 3
    Day 3 - Onward to Menfi
    After breakfast, depart for Corleone. Though just a small town of fewer than 12,000 residents, a number of Mafia bosses have hailed from here – including Tommy Gagliano, one-time boss of the Lucchese crime family. Fittingly, Corleone is now home to the International Centre for Documentation on the Mafia. With an expert docent guide from the Centre, you’ll delve into the history of the Sicilian Mafia and its influence across the globe. Of note, there are fascinating exhibits on the Anti-Mafia Movement, including the infamous Maxi Trial that took place in a bunker-courthouse in Palermo from 1986 to 1992.

    Your day ends in Menfi where you check in to Momentum Resort where you’ll enjoy a welcome cocktail and then sit down to a sumptuous, 4-course farm-to-table dinner accompanied by a selection of fine wines.  Meals B+L+D 
  4. Day 4
    Day 4 - Sicilian Food + Antiquity
    After a leisurely breakfast, enjoy a cooking class where you’ll learn how to make a delightful regional specialty that ends when you sit down to enjoy the delicious meal you’ve helped to prepare.
     
    Later this afternoon, choose between relaxing at your resort or a visit to Selinunte. Reaching its zenith in the 5th century BCE, this thriving ancient Greek city of Magna Graecia was attacked by an army of 100,000 Carthaginians. The siege lasted barely 10 days and since then, Selinunte has lain abandoned for nearly 2,500 years. Splendidly situated on a high plain overlooking the sea, this vast archaeological site is the largest in Europe and includes the impressive ruins of no less than seven temples built according to strict Doric order. This evening, you’ll enjoy a beachside dinner near Portopalo, an old Sicilian fishing village known for its fresh seafood.  Meals B+L+D
  5. Day 5
    Day 5 - Valley of the Temples
    This morning you’ll explore the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. Heralded for its ancient Greek temples and the pastoral beauty of the region, this is one of the world’s most significant archaeological sites. Among the standouts, the remarkably intact Temple of Concordia was erected around 430 BCE directly overlooking the Sacred Way that winds through the valley. Enjoy a midday cocktail and lunch on a terrace overlooking the Valley of Temples.
     
    Later this afternoon, depart into the Sicilian countryside to the charming hilltop town of Piazza Armerina to tour the magnificent Villa del Casale. Built by a 2nd-century Roman merchant who amassed a fortune importing wild beasts from Africa and selling them to the Circus in Rome, these ancient villa ruins are renowned for their finely preserved mosaics, among the best of the late Roman period.
     
    This evening finds you at Masseria della Volpe; General Tours enchanting countryside resort is set in a meticulously restored 19th-century manor, surrounded by olive groves and fruit orchards in the beautiful Val di Noto. This evening’s dinner features locally sourced produce from the nearby farms.  Meals B+L+D.
  6. Day 6
    Day 6 - Ragusa + Modica
    You’ll spend this morning exploring the town of Ragusa; also recognized by UNESCO for its Baroque landmarks, this World Heritage Site is set on a hilltop with commanding views of the Sicilian countryside. Enjoy a walking tour before stopping in a local shop where regional specialties make for a perfect light lunch: sample artisan cheeses and salumi accompanied by local wine or beer.
     
    In the afternoon visit Modica, remarkably situated at the bottom of a gorge! Badly damaged by the 1693 earthquake, the town was rebuilt in Sicilian Baroque style; with colorful stories and insights from your expert guide, your walking tour reveals grand homes dramatically ascending the steep sides of the gorge and magnificent churches with their domes, bell towers and beautifully embellished facades. You’ll take a break from sightseeing to sample the confections of Antica Dolceria Bonajuto, a chocolatier founded in 1880. Before returning to Masseria della Volpe, you’ll visit a local vineyard to taste a variety of Sicilian wines including dinner. The evening is yours to relax, enjoy and dine as you wish.  Meals B+L+D
  7. Day 7
    Day 7 - From the Baroque to the Ancient Greeks: Noto + Siracusa
    Like Modica and Ragusa, the ancient town of Noto is renowned for its excellent ensemble of Sicilian Baroque architecture. But what distinguishes this town and makes it so singularly captivating is the honey-colored stone that was locally quarried and used to build its many churches, palaces, and homes. Enhancing your tour will be a tasting of two Sicilian desserts… Cassata is a sponge cake moistened with liqueur and layered with ricotta cheese and candied fruit. Like the sorbet, granita is a frozen confection that used to be made of snow from Mt. Etna!
     
    Enjoy exploring Ortygia, an island that has been inhabited for 3,000 years. At the heart of this delightful town, the impressive Baroque-style Cathedral was built on the site of an ancient Greek temple dedicated to Athena; indeed, the old Doric columns of this millennia-old temple are still visible in one wall of the Cathedral. After a lunch of Sicilian specialties, you’ll visit the archaeological site of Siracusa, a city that once rivaled Athens as the most important center of the ancient world. Among the highlights here are the well-preserved Greek Theater that dates to at least the 5th century BCE, the large Roman Amphitheater, and the Ear of Dionysius - a natural cave famed for its remarkable acoustic properties.
     
    After sightseeing you’ll check in to Donna Carmela; General Tours stylish boutique resort is surrounded by landscaped grounds in the foothills that climb from the Ionian Sea to Mt. Etna. This evening’s dinner features traditional Sicilian dishes, prepared with modern flair, and accompanied by fine local wine.  Meals B+L+D
  8. Day 8
    Day 8 - Wines of Mt. Etna + Taormina
    Travel up the slopes of Mt. Etna to Rifugio Sapienza, an alpine clubhouse set at 6,000 feet with views of the volcano’s summit and the amazing twin craters that sit just below. Midday finds you at the Barone di Villagrande Estate where the noble Nicolisi family has been cultivating their vineyards and producing fine wines for 10 generations. Here on the eastern slopes of Mt. Etna overlooking the Ionian Sea, you’ll tour their estate and winery before sitting down to a 4-course lunch accompanied by a tasting of their finest vintages.
     
    Later this afternoon, you’ll enjoy a guided walking tour in Taormina, a favorite resort of the 19th-century European aristocracy. Stroll along the winding cobblestone streets, take in the exhilarating sea views, and visit the well-preserved Greco-Roman Theater, one of the island’s largest and most well-preserved sites of antiquity. After sightseeing, you’ll have some free time to wander and shop at your own pace here in Taormina – undoubtedly one of the most charming towns in the Mediterranean! This evening, enjoy congenial conversation over a home-cooked meal.
    Meals B+L+D
  9. Day 9
    Day 9 - Individual departures
    After breakfast, you’ll be escorted to the airport in Palermo or Catania for your onward journey.  Meals B
     
    *Guests can also depart from Palermo airport with a longer departure transfer at an additional cost.

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Inclusions

Health and Safety Protocols for Alexander Roberts Tours

Alexander+Roberts Tours is committed to your well-being and safety while you travel.

  • All Alexander+Roberts staff will maintain appropriate physical distancing at all times.
  • All high-touch surfaces in coaches and private cars – like door handles, railings, armrests, and window controls – will be sanitized each morning and regularly throughout the day.
  • Alexander+Roberts expert guides and drivers will wear face masks whenever in proximity to guests.
  • Alexander+Roberts staff have been trained on Extra Care procedures – and how to respond to issues that may arise as you travel.
  • Complimentary face masks and hand sanitizer will be available in all vehicles while touring.
More Space + Extra Care While Touring
  • Larger luxury motorcoaches so each traveler will have two seats to themselves while touring.
  • Private airport transfers with a spacious luxury vehicle when you come and go for every tour.
  • Regular and frequent sanitizing of all high-touch vehicle surfaces.
  • Prearranged entry for all sightseeing minimizes standing in line with other travelers.
  • Whisper Headsets for groups of 5 or more allow for proper physical distancing while sightseeing, except for certain nature activities in remote areas like the Amazon.
More Space + Extra Care While Dining
  • Alexander+Roberts carefully selects restaurants to avoid crowded high-capacity venues; Alexander+Roberts emphasizes fine farm-to-table dining with attentive and efficient service – and the choice to dine al fresco whenever available.
  • No large-group dining; enjoy more spacious dining settings and smaller, well-spaced tables for included meals.
  • Restaurant staff will follow the guidance of local health authorities and WHO protocols which may include facial coverings.
Extra Care at Luxury Hotels
  • Alexander+Roberts hotels are always selected for their outstanding locations, evocative ambiance, impeccable service – and cleanliness.
  • Alexander+Roberts partners include the most respected luxury brands – like Belmond, Four Seasons, Park Hyatt, Kempinski and JW Marriott; they are now leading the industry with their sophisticated hygiene standards and protocols to ensure the well-being of all their guests.
  • Hotels will be continuously and rigorously vetted to ensure that they are following established WHO guidelines including social distancing and sanitizing procedures of guestrooms and public spaces.
  • Hotel breakfasts will usually feature à la carte service and group seating will be replaced by smaller, appropriately distanced tables.
And Always... Alexander+Roberts Distinctive Style

In a Small Group of Never More than 16 Guests or on a Privately Guided Tour for just your traveling party, their experienced guides have the flexibility to adjust your sightseeing based upon local conditions – to avoid times of heaviest traffic and crowding, for example. Alexander+Roberts can dine in smaller authentic restaurants, minimize the time waiting in lines, and leave a lighter footprint. You'll learn the history and stories behind the world's most iconic landmarks, immerse more deeply in the wonders of the natural world, and delight in genuine cultural engagement not possible in a larger group. It's travel without a crowd.

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Questions & Answers

Question: How many suitcases can I take with me on my trip?

Each person is allowed one "check-in," and one "carry-on." Remember to take all valuables with you as "carry-on", because electronic equipment, cameras, laptops, jewelry, business documents and money are not covered by the airlines' liability, so always carry them aboard with you.

Question: Is Airfare Included in the Price?

Airfare from your point of origin to and from the trip is not included in the land price.

Alexander Roberts Tours Customer Reviews

Overall Rating
4
Accommodations
4
Itinerary
4.2
Professional Staff
4.4
Repeat with Operator
3.8
Value for Money
3.8

Ratings based off 105 reviews about Alexander Roberts Tours - currently showing 1 reviews with comments only

Our tour guide was the best! He was knowledgeable about the country, always early, courteous and made us feel welcome in his country. Our tour had a side trip that was incredible due to our guide's particular experiences, The pick of our guide for our trip was absolutely perfect. Thank you for making our trip so wonderful.

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