Itinerary
- Day 1
Catania
You'll arrive at Catania airport and pick up your rental car, then drive to Hotel Villa Neri Resort & Spa near Linguaglossa in the Etna region. After settling in, the afternoon is yours to relax at the hotel's Petra Spa, which has a jacuzzi, hammam, sauna, experience showers, an ice fountain, and quiet relaxation areas.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Access to Petra Spa at Hotel Villa Neri Resort & Spa (jacuzzi, hammam, sauna, experience showers, ice fountain, relaxation area)
Landmarks Mount Etna - Day 2
Etna and Taormina
Following breakfast at the hotel, you'll drive to Mount Etna and explore the Etna Park area, walking through diverse vegetation and landscapes. At the Silvestri Craters around 1,900 m elevation, you can hike or take a jeep or cable car higher up. In the afternoon, head to Taormina on its high plateau for views over the Ionian coast and an optional visit to the ancient Greek-Roman theatre, the second largest classical theatre in Sicily. The evening wraps up with a gourmet candlelit dinner back at the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Gourmet candlelit dinner at hotel (beverages not included))
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Mount Etna and Etna Park
- Visit to Silvestri Craters (approximately 1,900 m)
- Gourmet candlelit dinner at hotel
Optional Activities
- Jeep excursion from Silvestri Craters to higher altitudes
- Cable car ride from Silvestri Craters to higher altitudes
- Visit to the Greek-Roman Theatre in Taormina
Landmarks Mount Etna Silvestri Craters Greek-Roman Theatre of Taormina Taormina - Day 3
Alcantara Gorge and Castiglione di Sicilia
After breakfast, you'll explore Alcantara Gorge with its striking volcanic basalt columns, walking through the self-guided tour that shows ancient lava flows and small waterfalls with cold river water. Then you'll visit Castiglione di Sicilia, a charming village recognized as one of Italy's most beautiful in the Etna wine region. Stop at a local beekeeper to taste honey and learn about regional production, then continue to Patria winery for wine tasting in a 1,000-year-old lava cave (Arena Pàlici) used for winemaking. In Motta Camastra, you'll see the Alcantara Valley and Arab castle ruins from the Arab-Norman period. Back at the hotel, you'll participate in a Sicilian cooking course preparing a 3-course menu with wine tasting from the Neri family.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Sicilian cooking course (3-course menu: appetizer, main course, dessert) with wine tasting from Neri family wines)
Included Activities
- Self-guided exploration of Alcantara Gorge with lava formations and waterfalls
- Visit to local beekeeper with honey tasting
- Wine tasting at Patria winery including tour of Arena Pàlici lava cave and barrel storage
- Sicilian cooking course (3-course menu) at hotel with wine tasting from Neri family
Optional Activities
- Guided naturalist excursion in Alcantara Gorge
- Detailed exploration of Castiglione di Sicilia village
Landmarks Alcantara Gorge Castiglione di Sicilia Motta Camastra Arena Pàlici - Day 4
Syracuse and Noto
Starting with breakfast overlooking Mount Etna, you'll drive to Syracuse to see one of Sicily's most important archaeological sites, including the Roman Amphitheatre, Greek Theatre, the Ear of Dionysius, and the Cordari Cave in the Archaeological Park. Then you'll explore Ortigia Island with its cathedral and narrow streets before continuing to Noto, a UNESCO World Heritage baroque site. Walking through the city gate, you'll wander the center admiring nobles' palaces with ornate balconies, decorated churches, the cathedral with its stairs, and the theatre. An optional pastry tasting is available at Caffè Sicilia, operated by one of Italy's most famous pastry chefs.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Archaeological Park in Syracuse with Roman Amphitheatre, Greek Theatre, Ear of Dionysius, and Cordari Cave
- Exploration of Ortigia Island including cathedral and historic streets
- Walking tour of Noto (UNESCO World Heritage site) including palaces, churches, cathedral, and theatre
Optional Activities
- Pastry tasting at Caffè Sicilia in Noto
Landmarks Archaeological Park of Syracuse Greek Theatre of Syracuse Roman Amphitheatre of Syracuse Ear of Dionysius Ortigia Island Syracuse Cathedral Noto Noto Cathedral Caffè Sicilia 
- Day 5
Agrigento, Mazara del Vallo, and Marsala
Beginning with breakfast, you'll drive to Agrigento and walk through the Valley of the Temples, seeing the Juno Temple, Concordia Temple (one of the best-preserved Doric temples in the Greek world), Heracles Temple, and Castor-Pollux Temple. Next you'll explore the Kolymbethra Garden with Mediterranean flora and fauna. The drive continues southwest to Mazara del Vallo on the coast near Tunisia, where you'll wander medina-like streets with colorful paintings and ceramic-decorated houses, then enjoy turquoise waters and beaches including Tonnarella, plus optional visits to Capo Feto nature reserve and Gorghi Tondi wetlands. You'll arrive at Hotel Baglio Oneto dei Principi di San Lorenzo in Marsala for a 2-course candlelit dinner with fruit or dessert, including half a liter of water and a quarter liter of wine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Candlelit dinner (2-course plus fruit or dessert, 1/2 liter water and 1/4 liter wine included))
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Valley of the Temples in Agrigento
- Visit to Juno Temple, Concordia Temple, Heracles Temple, and Castor-Pollux Temple
- Exploration of Kolymbethra archaeological garden
- Walking tour of Mazara del Vallo old town
- Candlelit dinner at Hotel Baglio Oneto dei Principi di San Lorenzo (2-course plus fruit or dessert with 1/2 liter water and 1/4 liter wine)
Optional Activities
- Visit to Capo Feto nature reserve
- Visit to Gorghi Tondi wetlands and WWF nature reserve
Landmarks Valley of the Temples Juno Temple Concordia Temple Heracles Temple Castor-Pollux Temple Kolymbethra Garden Mazara del Vallo Tonnarella Beach Capo Feto Gorghi Tondi 
- Day 6
Marsala Salt Flats, Erice, Segesta, and Marsala Wine
After hotel breakfast, you'll visit Marsala's salt museum to see traditional sea salt production in shallow evaporation basins and enjoy Grillo wine among the salt flats. Then you'll head to medieval Erice perched on a hilltop near Trapani with defensive walls and sea views, stopping at Pasticceria Maria Grammatico to taste traditional monastery desserts like Amaretti and almond-based treats. Next you'll drive to Segesta to see the majestic Doric temple dominating the landscape. Finally, you'll tour Cantine Florio winery in Marsala to learn wine production from harvest through bottling, see wooden barrel aging areas, and taste select wines.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Marsala salt museum with sea salt production viewing and Grillo wine tasting
- Exploration of medieval Erice town with defensive walls
- Tasting of traditional monastery desserts at Pasticceria Maria Grammatico
- Visit to Segesta archaeological site with Doric temple viewing
- Wine cellar tour at Cantine Florio in Marsala with explanation of wine production and wine tasting
Landmarks Marsala Salt Flats Erice Venus Castle Church of Matrice Balio Garden Pasticceria Maria Grammatico Segesta Segesta Doric Temple Cantine Florio - Day 7
Palermo and Monreale
After breakfast, you'll head to Palermo, Sicily's capital with multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites. You'll visit the cathedral with tombs of Emperor Frederick II and Norman kings, the beautiful palm garden, and the royal palace (Palazzo dei Normanni), former seat of Sicilian kings from the 11th to 19th centuries featuring rooms in various styles and the famous golden mosaics of the Palatine Chapel. You'll cross to the octagonal Quattro Canti square with baroque facades, then browse Il Capo market resembling an Arab souk where locals shop. The Teatro Massimo opera house from the 19th century comes next. In the afternoon, you'll drive to Monreale (7 km from Palermo) to see a magnificent Arab-Norman cathedral with approximately 3,500 square meters of gold-background mosaics and a cloister with 80 pairs of unique twin columns. An optional 3-wheeled Ape vehicle city tour is available.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Palermo Cathedral with tombs of Emperor Frederick II and Norman kings
- Visit to Palm Garden
- Visit to Royal Palace (Palazzo dei Normanni) with rooms in various styles
- Visit to Palatine Chapel with golden mosaics
- Walking tour of Quattro Canti square
- Visit to Il Capo market
- Visit to Teatro Massimo opera house
- Tasting of Sicilian arancina in Palermo
- Visit to Monreale Cathedral (Arab-Norman style, UNESCO World Heritage)
- Exploration of Monreale Cathedral cloister with 80 pairs of twin columns and approximately 3,500 square meters of gold-background mosaics
Optional Activities
- 3-wheeled Ape vehicle city tour in Palermo
Landmarks Palermo Cathedral Mondello Palm Garden Palazzo dei Normanni Palatine Chapel Quattro Canti Il Capo Market Teatro Massimo Monreale Cathedral 
- Day 8
Departure
You'll have breakfast at the hotel, then check out. After driving to Catania airport and returning your rental car, you'll depart on your individual flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
