• An island waiting to be discovered, rich in history, culture, and breathtaking natural landscapes. In addition to the magnificent beaches of Mondello, San Vito Lo Capo, Taormina, Cefalù, and Scala dei Turchi, Sicily is home to numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites that reflect its extraordinary cultural, artistic, and historical significance over the centuries. These fascinating places range from the ancient city of Agrigento, one of the most important centers of the ancient Mediterranean, to the Villa del Casale, which reveals the social life of the Roman era, to the charming baroque towns of the Val di Noto, Syracuse, and the rock necropolis of Pantalica. Also included are the Arab-Norman Palermo, the cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale, the stunning Aeolian Islands, the Mediterranean Diet, the tradition of the bush vine in Pantelleria, the Opera dei Pupi, and, of course, the monumental Etna, the quintessential symbol of Sicilian nature.

• An island waiting to be discovered, rich in history, culture, and breathtaking natural landscapes. In addition to the magnificent beaches of Mondello, San Vito Lo Capo, Taormina, Cefalù, and Scala dei Turchi, Sicily is home to numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites that reflect its extraordinary cultural, artistic, and historical significance over the centuries. These fascinating places range from the ancient city of Agrigento, one of the most important centers of the ancient Mediterranean, to the Villa del Casale, which reveals the social life of the Roman era, to the charming baroque towns of the Val di Noto, Syracuse, and the rock necropolis of Pantalica. Also included are the Arab-Norman Palermo, the cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale, the stunning Aeolian Islands, the Mediterranean Diet, the tradition of the bush vine in Pantelleria, the Opera dei Pupi, and, of course, the monumental Etna, the quintessential symbol of Sicilian nature.

DAY 1: ARRIVING ACIREALE AREA (KM 50)

• Arrival at Catania airport, handling of car rental formalities and departure for Acireale/Mascali in Riviera Taormina. Hotel accomodation. Free afternoon to explore the surroundings. Overnight in Acireale/Mascali.

DAY 2: ETNA & TAORMINA (KM 150)

• Breakfast in the hotel. This day you can decide to visit Etna & Taormina.

• Suggested itinerary: In the morning drive to Mt. Etna, the highest peak of Sicily and the most active volcano in Europe. The territory surrounding the volcano constitutes the “Park of Etna”, one of the largest protected areas in Italy: You will be astonished about the great variety of vegetation and landscapes that we will meet along the way before arriving at the “Silvestri Craters” (about 1.900 mt). From here on you will have the option to continue the excursion by jeep. We suggest you to make a stop at a local beekeeper to taste quality honey and have a wine tasting and to see how he is produced. In the afternoon visit of Taormina, situated on a plateau on the slopes of the steeply dropping Monte Tauro, dominating the Ionian coast from Capo Sant’Andrea to Capo Taormina. Possibility, to visit the Greek Roman theatre, the 2^nd largest classical theatre in Sicily. Re-entry in hotel. Overnight in Acireale/Mascali.

DAY 3: CATANIA & SYRACUSE (KM 140)

• After breakfast departure to Catania, a city lying on the slopes of Etna, rich in sumptuous and magnificent buildings.

• Suggested itinerary: We suggest you to visit the typical fish market (closed Sunday) and to stroll around the city center which, for its historical and typical baroque buildings, has been proclaimed, together with the other towns of the Val di Noto, a World Heritage Site 'HUMANITY' by UNESCO. After visiting the city, continue to Syracuse, one of the most interesting sites on the island, where you can visit the Archaeological Park, famous for its Roman amphitheater, the Greek theater and the ear of Dionysus. Continue your visit by going to the island of Ortigia, the oldest part of the city, characteristic for its narrow alleys, for its sea views and for the wonderful square with its splendid cathedral. On to Ragusa/Syracuse. Overnight. 

DAY 4: RAGUSA, MODICA & NOTO (KM 110)

• Breakfast in the hotel. This day you can decide to visit Modica and Noto.

• Suggested itinerary: Today it will be possible to discover the less known part of Sicily, dominated by the sumptuous and majestic Baroque style of the buildings, characterized by the numerous UNESCO sites and also known for the television series of "Il Commissario Montalbano". Start your visit from the historic center of the city of Ragusa, "Ibla", characterized by the numerous baroque churches and palaces, as well as by the characteristic domes that dominate the city. Ragusa has become part of the Unesco list, with 18 sites declared World Heritage Sites. Continue to Modica, a UNESCO World Heritage city especially known for its chocolate as well as for its wonderful buildings. We advise you to wander through the alleys, always moving upwards, once you reach the highest part of the hill you can admire a wonderful panorama of the city. Continue your tour by going to Noto, included by UNESCO in the list of World Heritage Sites in 2002. Return to the hotel and overnight in Ragusa/Syracuse area. 

DAY 5: AGRIGENTO (KM 267)

• Breakfast at hotel. Today you will drive to Agrigento to discover the wonderful and well-known Valley of the temples where you can admire the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Concordia (one of the best preserved Doric temples in the whole Greek world), the Temple of Hercules and the Temple of Castor and Pollux. Continue to Palermo where you will arrive in the late afternoon. Overnight in Palermo.

DAY 6: PALERMO & MONREALE (KM 25)

• Breakfast in the hotel. This day you can decide to visit Palermo & Monreale or stay in the beach in Mondello.

• Suggested itinerary: Start your visit to this city that never ceases to amaze and which is like an ancient treasure chest that preserves priceless treasures, some of which have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Start your walk on foot from the Cathedral (inside which the tombs of Emperor Frederick II and some Norman kings are kept), crossing a wonderful palm garden head towards the Royal Palace, also called Palazzo dei Normanni, seat of the Sicilian kings from the 11th to the 19th century; here you can admire some rooms in different styles and the Palatine Chapel, famous for its golden mosaics. Crossing Corso Vittorio Emanuele to the point where it meets Via Maqueda, it will be possible to admire the "Quattro Canti", an octagonal square whose four corners raise the convex facades of beautiful seventeenth-century buildings. Visit the popular "Il Capo" market, which looks like an Arab souk, where locals prefer to buy local food, in a mix of colors, flavors and smells and finally head to the Teatro Massimo. In the afternoon go to Monreale, a village 7 km away from Palermo, famous all over the world for its magnificent Cathedral in Arab-Norman style, part of the World Heritage Site (UNESCO), known for its 3,500 square meters of polychrome mosaics on golden background. Near the cathedral you can visit the cloister, with its 80 pairs of twin columns, each different from the others. Return to the hotel for overnight. We suggest you to discover the city with a tour in Ape, a typical local vehicle transport on three wheels, which will allow you, in a very folkloristic way, to admire many hidden corners of the ancient part of the city. Overnight in Palermo.

DAY 7: MARSALA, SEGESTA & SAN VITO LO CAPO/SCOPELLO (KM 130)

• Breakfast at hotel. Today you will drive to Segesta, one of the most beautiful archeological sites of Sicily, where you should visit the Doric temple whose majestic appearance and dominating position bestows great nobility to the landscape. If you have time you can drive for a swimming to San Vito Lo Capo / Scopello (I suggest you to eat local food PANI CUNSATU) drive to to Palermo. Overnight in Palermo.

DAY 8: DEPARTURE CATANIA/PALERMO AIRPORT (KM 200/KM 30)

• Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Catania or Palermo airport. Release of the car at the car rental desk. End of our services.

• 2 overnights in a 4-star hotel in Acireale/Mascali
• 2 overnights in a 4-star hotel in Ragusa/Syracuse
• 3 overnights in a 4-star hotel in Palermo
• Category C car and “PLATINUM insurance” included*

*Full coverage for damages and theft (no deductibles)

*Personal Injury insurance protection

*Road assistance Plus (refund for taxi up to € 120)

• City taxes (must to be paid on spot)
• Lunches and all the drinks at meals
• Porterages and personal expenses
• Anything not expressly indicated in “the rate includes”

• Local guide in Syracuse half day: € 190,00
• Local guide in Agrigento half day: € 190,00
• Local guide in Taormina half day: € 190,00
• Local guide in Palermo half day: € 240,00
• Tour escort, full day: € 270,00 (per day)
• On request possibility to have a pre/post tour

• Acireale/Mascali: Wave Hotel, Orizzonte/Kings House or similar (*)
• Ragusa/Syracuse: Mediterraneo Palace/Panorama or similar (*)
• Palermo: Astoria Palace, San Paolo Palace or similar (*) or B&B in Mondello (Villa Flora/Le Muse/Mondello Felix) or similar(*)

(*) It could happen and i n case of problems the hotels indicated may be replaced with others of the same category located in the same towns or up to 30 km distance where will be possible to realize the program. In case of hotels full booked we reserve to invert the tour and/or confirm the booking in a middle-class hotel   with a reduction of 5 euro per person per day. The name of the hotel will be sent to you 14 days before the arrival.

• Each rental day is a fraction of 24 hours, the vehicle must be returned on time or within the next 59 minutes.
• The pick-up and drop-off of the car at the airport will be during the opening hours of the company Noleggiare (Everyday from 08:00 to 22:30); after these hours the rental company will charge an extra fee. Please inquire before booking your flight.
• Norma Vacanze only deals with the intermediation between the customer and the car rental company. In the event of disputes with the rental company or accidents, the rules established in the contract signed at the airport between the customer and the rental company shall apply, without any involvement of Norma Vacanze.
• Each customer will be able to choose independently whether to follow the suggested itinerary or, instead, to create one according to its needs. However, it is essential to follow the program concerning the cities where to overnight
• The cars are subjected to availability and your category may not be available on all periods. In case the C category will not be available at the time of your booking, a superior category will be offered with a supplement that will be communicated before the confirmation of each reservation.
• Parking in hotel is not guaranteed, it will be possible in the surrounding area
• The rate includes Category C car rental for the duration of your stay with the "PLATINUM" insurance package.
• The drivers must have the credit card for the check in.
• Norma Vacanze is entitled to change the itinerary of the excursion if it considers it appropriate or due to force majeure.
• Norma Vacanze is not responsible for accidents, delays, damage or loss of luggage or personal belongings, nor for damages caused by third parties or others like floods, storms, landslides, earthquakes, political unrest, epidemy, terrorists attacks, strike

The rate does not include:

• City tax to be paid on spot
• Lunches and dinners where not mentioned
• Tips and extras of a personal nature
• Porterage service
• Gasoline
• Motorway tolls
• Parkings
• Tickets for plane, ship, train or bus to reach airport
• Entrance to monuments and archaeological parks
• Anything not expressly indicated in "the rate includes"
• Car must be delivery at the same airport or there will be an additional cost to be agreed with the rental company
• Each rental day is a fraction of 24 hours, the vehicle must be returned on time or within the next 59 minutes
• The pick-up and drop-off of the car at the airport will be during the opening hours of the company Noleggiare (everyday from 08:00 to 22:30); after these hours the rental company will charge an extra fee. Please inquire before booking your flight

Admission Fees

• In order to skip the queues in the museums or in the archeological parks we need to make the reservation in advance: Pre-bookings of entrance tickets are mandatory on the first day of the tour.
• Tickets are non-refundable

The rate includes:

• Category C car, unlimited mileage
• 22% VAT
• Airport, railway and automotive charges
• Motor TPL policy - auto civil liability
• Platinum Insurance - resets all deductibles for theft and damage. It also covers damage to glass and tyres and attempted theft. Personal Injury Insurance. Road assistance Plus.
• Additional driver

The rate does not include:

• Fuel
• Fines
• Re-notification fees
• Rental to leave in another airport
• Baby Seat
• Satellite Navigator
• Fuel recovery service, an extra charge of €30,00 will be applied if the car is returned with more than 5 litres of fuel missing
• There is a tolerance of 59 minutes, after which a full day will be charged
• At the time of booking, the car group is guaranteed, not the model

Insurance Platinum includes:

• With Platinum insurance, the amount of the deductible will not be charged. The "Platinum" package clears the deductibles provided for all damages, partial, attempted and total theft, including windows, tyres, damage to the roof, damage to the lower part of the vehicle. Damage to the interior and damage caused by vandalism, riots, etc. are excluded.

• Cancellations up to 120 days before departure with full refund.
• Cancellations from 119 to 15 days before departure, penalty of € 50 per person
• Cancellations from 14 to 8 days before departure, penalty of 30%
• Cancellations from 7 to 4 days before departure, penalty of 50%
• In case of cancellation within 3 days before departure, penalty of 100%
• There will be no refund for no shows or voluntary interruption of an already started trip