DEC. 30^TH /WEDNESDAY  PALERMO

Independent arrival al the Hotel Cristal Palace in Palermo. Enjoy a welcome cocktail. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

DEC 31^th  /THURSDAY  PALERMO - MONREALE - (MONTE PELLEGRINO/CATACOMBS/CAPO MARKET OPTIONAL) - PALERMO

After buffet breakfast morning  visit of the Capital of Sicily, one of the richest towns in the island for history and art: the Cathedral, the “Palatina” Chapel, and panoramic tour of the town (the “Quattro Canti”, the Opera House, the Pretoria Square). Continue to Monreale to admire the Cathedral with its splendid 12th century mosaics and the cloister of the Benedictines monastery with Moorish architecture. Lunch in your Hotel. Afternoon at leisure or optional excursion to Monte Pellegrino to arrive at the shrine of Santa Rosalia, the patron saint of the city. From the viewpoint enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the Conca d’Oro. Visit the Catacombs of Cappuccini, a haunting experience, where in a maze of corridors are held about 8,000 bodies embalmed . End the afternoon, with a walk to the discover of one of the most colorful historical markets of Palermo: “The Capo Market”. Dinner in Hotel. The remainder of the night is at leisure to enjoy the celebrations and performances that will take place in the nearby Piazza Politeama in Palermo, just a few steps’ away from your Hotel. Overnight

JAN 1st  /FRIDAY PALERMO - CEFALU’ - CAPO D’ORLANDO - TAORMINA - CATANIA

After a buffet breakfast, depart to Cefalù, a charming coastal town, a former fishing village, which is also home to a breathtaking Norman Cathedral with dazzling mosaics. Take a stroll to the city center and down main street to reach the Cathedral and the medieval wash-house built in the rock. Proceed to Capo d’Orlando along the Tyrrhenian coast and stop for lunch. Continue to Taormina called “the pearl of the Ionic Sea”, founded in 400 BC and beautifully located overlooking the sea and the peak of Mount Etna. Enjoy time at leisure to shop for handmade lace, coral jewels, ceramics, home-made sweets and preserves down “Corso Umberto” or simply walk through the tiny streets. Possibility
to visit the fascinating Roman - Greek theatre. Proceed to Catania. Accommodation, dinner and overnight at the Hotel Katane.

JAN 02^nd  /SATURDAY  CATANIA - MONTE ETNA with lunch in a farmhouse - CATANIA

After a buffet breakfast, weather conditions permitting, excursion to Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Across fascinating landscape, we will reach a height of 2000 metres, where we will enjoy a fantastic panorama of the Ionic Sea. Lunch in a farmhouse on the slopes of Etna and wine tasting of local production. Back to Catania, the town known for its original baroque style and for its streets built with black lava stone from mount Etna. Walking tour through Via Etnea, the Baroque street “Via Crociferi”, the Piazza Duomo with the Cathedral and the “Liotru” statue, symbol of the city, the roman Amphitheatre, the Opera House (external visit), the University, and the noble Palace of Biscari (external visit). Dinner and overnight in your Hotel.

JAN 03^nd  /SUNDAY CATANIA - SIRACUSA - NOTO - RAGUSA

After a buffet breakfast, depart to Syracuse to visit the most beautiful Greek colony of Sicily. Visit of the archaeological area including the famous Latomie of the Paradise, the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre and the Dyonisios “Ear”. Visit the island of Ortigia, the small baroque old city centre of Siracusa, built by the Aragonians: here you can admire the Cathedral and the “Fontana Aretusa”. Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, depart to Noto, one of the most beautiful cities in Sicily renowned for the harmony and unity of its Baroque style and today declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Proceed to Ragusa, a city that is divided into two parts: the upper part built after the earthquake in 1693 and the lower part that is called Ragusa Ibla, one of the most important testimony of the Baroque architecture. Enjoy an aperitif in a nice bar in the main square by the Dome, “Basilica di San Giorgio”. Accommodation, dinner and overnight at Hotel Mediterraneo.

JAN 02^nd  /WEDNESDAY  AGRIGENTO – PIAZZA ARMERINA – SIRACUSA

After a buffet breakfast, depart  to Piazza Armerina and visit of the worldwide famous Villa romana del Casale famed for its well preserved mosaics. Continue to Syracuse. Accommodation and lunch at the Jolly Hotel Siracusa. In the afternoon visit of the archaeological area including the famous Latomie of the Paradise and the Dyonisios “Ear” as well as visit of the island of Ortigia, singular treasure of the baroque style. Dinner and overnight  in at Jolly Hotel Siracusa.

JAN. 03^rd   /THURSDAY  SIRACUSA – MONTE ETNA - TAORMINA - MESSINA

After a buffet breakfast, depart to Mount Etna the highest active volcano of Europe, and weather conditions permitting, excursion till 1800 meters. Continue to Taormina: lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon visit the Greek Theater and enjoy time at leisure for shopping or walking through the tiny streets. Continue to Messina: dinner and overnight at Jolly hotel Messina situated in front of the Straight

JAN. 04th   /FRIDAY  MESSINA – REGGIO CALABRIA- CAPO D’ORLANDO - CEFALU’-PALERMO

After a buffet breakfast, sea conditions permitting, embark to Reggio Calabria and visit the famous “Bronzi di riace”. Drive along the Thyrrenian coast. Stop in Capo d’Orlando for lunch. Continue to Cefalù, a pleasant resort well known for its beautiful Norman Cathedral and medieval wash-house built in the rock. Continue to Palermo. Dinner and overnight at Jolly hotel Palermo.

JAN. 05^th  /SATURDAY PALERMO

After a buffet breakfast, end of the Tour 

OPERATING DATES:

December   30 Wednesday  (New year Special departure Refer to the special rates )

RATES PER PERSON:

Euro 715 in double room

Euro 895 in single room

Euro 680 3rd Person in trp/b  room

SPECIAL GALA DINNER IN A PRESTIGIOUS MANSION/HOTEL   DE CHARME - OPTIONAL:

€ 200,00 per person - rate includes new year’s dinner (beverages included) - subject to availability and restrictions

ENTRANCE FEES ARE NOT INCLUDED

RATE INCLUDES:

-         Accommodation in 4 stars Hotels

-         Welcome cocktail

-          Full board basis (dinner on first day till breakfast on last day)

-          Bus GT or minivan with driver/guide for groups with less than 15 pax.

-          Tour escort

-          Local guides where necessary

-          Porterage at hotels

-          Aperitif in Ragusa

-          Wine tasting on Mt Etna

RATE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

-          Transfers in/out - Entrance fees -Drinks

-          Everything which is not clearly specified under “rate includes”

PALERMO

CRISTAL PALACE (4 stars) or similar
Via Roma, 477 a/d   90139 PALERMO
Tel: 091 6112580 Fax: 091 6112589

CATANIA   

KATANE PALACE (4 stars) or similar
Via Finocchiaro Aprile, 110
95129 CATANIA (CT)
Tel: 095 7476111 Fax: 095 507315

RAGUSA

MEDITERRANEO PALACE (4 stars) or similar
Via Roma, 189   97100 RAGUSA
Tel: 0932 621944 Fax: 0932 623799
AGRIGENTO

AGRIGENTO

DELLA VALLE (4 stars) or similar
Via Ugo La Malfa, 3    92100 AGRIGENTO Tel: 0922 26966 Fax: 0922 26412

PRE /POST TOUR ACCOMODATION:

Euro  85  p.p. in DBL/B room  B/B

Euro 110   in Single Bed

Supplement Superior Room  Euro  40  per

TRANSFER APT Palermo /Hotel or viceversa

One way Group transfer (only available on Saturdays )

Euro 25 p.p PrivateTransfer (no waiting stay) Euro  65  per car

SPOKEN LAGUAGES:

English, Italian and Spanish