Western Sicily

WESTERN SICILY
Palermo – Agrigento – Piazza Armerina – Erice – Marsala
6 days / 5 nights
Daily departures. Price on request

ITINERARY:

Day 2  Palermo walking tour, shared tour / 3 hours

Breakfast at hotel.
The largest city in Sicily: Palermo has a whole host of cultural and historical treasures, eight of which are UNESCO sites. Take this small group walking tour to see the best the city has to offer and try a tasty local delicacy.
Our knowledgeable guide will accompany you to the must-see attractions of Palermo’s historic center on a three-hour small group tour.
This tour takes in all eight of Palermo’s eight UNESCO World Heritage sites. Wander through the city looking up at the stunning Norman-Arab and Baroque architecture, stopping off at Piazza Pretoria (Praetorian Square). However, that’s not what the locals call it – it’s affectionately known as the Square of Shame as all of its statues are nude! You’ll also find the Town Hall in said square, housed inside the Praetorian Palace. The building, which dates back to the 14th century and was renovated in the 19th, is open to the public so you may even see Palermo’s mayor.
Known as the Palazzo dei Normanni in its native Italian, the Sicilian Royal Palace is the oldest royal residence in Europe, which you will admire from the outside. It was built in the 11th century when the Normans conquered Sicily, but it is now home to the Regional Parliament of Sicily. In the 12th century, the stunning Palatine Chapel was added, adorned with gold mosaics.
Among the several stops on this walking tour of Palermo, you may explore from the outside the city’s religious significance off at the Martorana Church, which was called the most beautiful monument in the world by an Arab traveler who visited in the 12th century. The trip is then rounded off with a visit inside the Cathedral of Palermo, which has been reconverted to a Christian place of worship after a period under Islamic and Norman rule. All of that walking and admiring history and culture is fun but it can surely work up an appetite, so we’ll stop off at a traditional local shop to try a Sicilian cannolo. Delicious!

Includes: multilingual guide (EN/IT)
Not included: Entrance fees; Tips & Gratuities ; Hotel Pick-up and drop-off

Day 3    “Agrigento Valley of the Temples and Villa Romana del Casale” – full day shared tour / 11 hours

Breakfast at hotel.
Follow in the footsteps of the Greeks and Romans on a day trip where your transport is taken care of for you. Discover some of the finest Roman mosaics in the world at the Villa Romana del Casale. Learn all about the Valley of the Temples archaeological site with a licensed local guide.
Meet your driver in central Palermo and be taken straight to Piazza Armerina, where you will explore the Villa Romana del Casale independently (entrance fees not included). Marvel at the luxurious 4th-century villa, home to an influential Roman family. Take your time to examine its exquisite mosaic flooring. Continue to Agrigento for a guided tour of the magnificent Valley of Temples (entrance fees not included), built by the Greeks in the 5th century BC. See the ruins of temples, necropolises, houses, streets, and everything else you’d expect to find in an ancient city. Finally, return to the meeting point in Palermo.
Note: The visit to the Roman Villa will be independent. Entrance fees are not included
Included: Transportation via air-conditioned vehicle; Multilingual driver; Guided tour of the Valley of the Temples (Archaeological Museum not included)
Not included: Meals and beverages; Gratuities and tips; Admission fees payable on the spot:  Roman Villa of Casale (approx. 10,00€ per person); Valley of Temples (approx. 10,00€ per person); Hotel Pick-up and drop-off.

Day 4      Palermo

Breakfast at hotel.
Free day at leisure to continue visiting Palermo on your own. We suggest taking an optional ($) half day tour to  “Monreale & Cefalu”.

Day 5    “Erice and Marsala day trip from Palermo with lunch” – full day shared tour / 8 hours”

Breakfast at hotel.

Escape from the city for a day and get to know another side of Sicily with this guided semi-private group tour from Palermo. You’ll head for the medieval hilltop town of Erice where lunch awaits. Then, there’s a panoramic drive along the Marsala Salt Route.
Palermo is one of Italy’s most fascinating cities but after a few days there you may want to try something quieter. To get to know another side of Sicily, why not take a full day small group tour to the hilltop town of Erice with your own driver? You’ll also get to experience one of the island’s most scenic routes along the west coast to Marsala.
The medieval hilltop village of Erice is a must on any Sicilian itinerary, and it’s the first stop on this small-group tour. Wander through its stunning cobbled streets soaking up the magical atmosphere. Find the viewpoints that look out over the nearby city of Trapani and all the way out to the Egadi Islands off the island’s west coast. As well as free time in Erice, there’ll be a stop for a traditional Sicilian granita. Delicious!
The Sicilian granita is not the only delicacy you’ll be sampling on your full day group tour from Palermo. Jump back in the minivan from Erice and you will head for the town of Marsala. You may know the name from a sweet, dessert wine, but it’s not the only product the town is famed for. It also makes excellent olive oil! We’ll stop off for a full Sicilian lunch at a local frestaurant, where you will get to taste all the best local wines and olive oils from the area.
It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. That’s certainly true of the final part of your day trip from Palermo. You’ll take the Marsala salt route, a 30km journey which has been designated a natural and cultural site landscape, connecting land and sea. See windmills, basins and salt pyramids and feel the salt in the air when you wind the windows down or leave your vehicle. Much of the windmills and basins are still in use today!

Included: Transportation IN/OUT Palermo by luxury Mercedes Minivan or Minibus / English speaking driver/tour leader / Visit of Erice with granita tasting/ Visit of Marsala saline (exterior) / Typical Sicilian lunch /     Water bottle
Not included: Gratuities and tips;
Not included: Entrance fees; Tips & Gratuities ; Hotel Pick-up and drop-off.

Day 6      Palermo – departure

After breakfast, transfer from hotel to Palermo airport or extend your stay in Sicily (Catania, Syracuse, Taormina, etc) . End of services