DAY 1: ACIREALE AREA
- Arrival at Catania airport, completion of car rental formalities and departure for Acireale/Mascali. Accommodation in hotel. Free afternoon to explore the surroundings. Overnight stay.
DAY 2: ETNA & TAORMINA
- Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, excursion to Mount Etna, the highest peak in Sicily and the most active volcano in Europe. The area surrounding the volcano forms the "Etna Park," one of the largest protected areas in Italy: You will be amazed by the great variety of vegetation and landscapes encountered along the route before reaching the "Silvestri Craters" (about 1,900 m). From here on, you will have the possibility to continue the excursion by jeep. We suggest making a stop at a local beekeeper to taste quality honey, enjoy a tasting, and see how it is produced. In the afternoon, visit Taormina, located on a plateau at the foot of Mount Tauro, overlooking the Ionian coast from Capo Sant'Andrea to Capo Taormina. Possibility to visit the Greco-Roman theater, the 2nd largest classical theater in Sicily. Return to the hotel. Overnight stay in the Acireale/Mascali area.
DAY 3: CATANIA & SYRACUSE
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After breakfast, departure for Catania, a city nestled on the slopes of Etna, rich in sumptuous and magnificent buildings.
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Suggested itinerary: It is recommended to visit the typical fish market (closed on Sundays) and stroll through the city center, which, for its historic and typically Baroque buildings, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with other cities in the Val di Noto. 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 the Roman amphitheater, the Greek theater, and the Ear of Dionysius. Continue your visit by going to the island of Ortigia, the oldest part of the city, characterized by its narrow alleys, sea views, and the wonderful square with its splendid cathedral. Continue to Ragusa/Syracuse. Overnight stay in the Ragusa/Syracuse area.
DAY 4: RAGUSA, MODICA & NOTO
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Breakfast at the hotel. On this day, you can decide to visit Modica and Noto.
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Suggested itinerary: Today you will be able to discover the lesser-known part of Sicily, dominated by the sumptuous and majestic Baroque style of the buildings, characterized by numerous UNESCO sites and also known for the TV series "Inspector Montalbano." Start your visit from the historic center of Ragusa, "Ibla," characterized by numerous Baroque churches and palaces, as well as the distinctive domes that dominate the city. Ragusa is included in the UNESCO list, with 18 sites declared World Heritage. Continue to Modica, a UNESCO World Heritage city, especially known for its chocolate and its wonderful buildings. We recommend wandering 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 World Heritage list in 2002. Return to the hotel and overnight stay in the Ragusa/Syracuse area.
DAY 5: AGRIGENTO
- Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will go to Agrigento to discover the wonderful and famous 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 entire Greek world), the Temple of Hercules, and the Temple of Castor and Pollux. Continue to Palermo, arriving in the late afternoon. Overnight stay in Palermo.
DAY 6: PALERMO & MONREALE
- Breakfast, start visiting this city that never ceases to amaze and is like an ancient treasure chest preserving priceless treasures, some of which have been declared UNESCO World Heritage.
- Suggested itinerary: Begin your walk on foot from the Cathedral (which houses the tombs of Emperor Frederick II and some Norman kings), crossing a wonderful palm garden head towards the Royal Palace, also called the Norman Palace, 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, you will be able to admire the Quattro Canti, an octagonal square whose four corners raise the convex facades of splendid 17th-century palaces. Visit the popular market "Il Capo," which resembles 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 town 7 km from Palermo, famous worldwide for its magnificent Arab-Norman style Cathedral, part of the UNESCO World Heritage, known for its 3,500 square meters of polychrome mosaics on a 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 stay. We suggest discovering the city with a ride on an Ape, a typical local three-wheeled means of transport, which will allow you, in a very folkloric way, to admire many hidden corners of the old part of the city. Overnight stay in Palermo.
DAY 7: MARSALA, SEGESTA & SAN VITO LO CAPO/SCOPELLO
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Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will go to Segesta, one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in Sicily, where you must visit the Doric temple, whose majestic appearance and dominant position give great nobility to the landscape. If you have time, you can swim at San Vito Lo Capo / Scopello (I recommend eating the local food PANI CUNSATU) and continue to Palermo. Overnight stay in Palermo.
DAY 8: DEPARTURE DAY
- Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Catania or Palermo airport. Return the car at the rental desk. End of our services.
- 2 overnight stays in a 4-star hotel in Acireale/Mascali
- 2 overnight stays in a 4-star hotel in Ragusa/Syracuse
- 3 overnight stays in a 4-star hotel in Palermo
- Category C car and "PLATINUM insurance" included*
*Full coverage for damage and theft (no deductibles)
*Personal accident insurance protection
*Plus roadside assistance (taxi reimbursement up to €120)
- Acireale/Mascali: Wave Hotel, Orizzonte/Kings House or similar (*)
- Ragusa/Syracuse: Mediterraneo Palace/Panorama or similar (*)
- Palermo: Palazzo Astoria, Palazzo San Paolo or similar (*) or B&B in Mondello (Villa Flora, Mondello Felix, Le Muse) or similar (*)
(*) In case of issues, the indicated hotels may be replaced with others of the same category located in the same cities or within a maximum distance of 30 km, where the program can be carried out. In case of full hotels, we reserve the right to reverse the tour and/or confirm the reservation in a mid-range hotel with a reduction of 5 euros per person per day. The name of the hotel will be sent to you 14 days before arrival.
- Each rental day is a fraction of 24 hours; the vehicle must be returned on time or within the following 59 minutes.
- Car pick-up and drop-off at the airport will take place during the opening hours of the rental company Noleggiare (every day from 08:00 to 22:30); after these hours, the rental company will apply an additional fee. Please inquire before booking your flight.
- The car must be returned to the same airport, or an additional cost must be agreed upon with the rental company.
- Norma Vacanze only acts as an intermediary between the customer and the rental company. In case of disputes with the renter or accidents, the rules established in the contract signed at the airport between the customer and the renter will apply, without any involvement of Norma Vacanze.
- Each customer can independently choose whether to follow the suggested itinerary or create one based on their needs. However, it is essential to follow the schedule related to the cities where overnight stays are planned.
- Cars are subject to availability, and your category may not be available at all times. If category C is not available at the time of booking, a higher category will be offered with an additional fee that will be communicated before confirming each reservation.
- Hotel parking is not guaranteed but can be found nearby.
- The rate includes the rental of a category C car for the duration of the stay with the "PLATINUM" insurance package.
- Drivers must have a credit card for check-in.
- Norma Vacanze reserves the right to modify the excursion itinerary if deemed appropriate or due to force majeure.
- Norma Vacanze is not responsible for accidents, delays, damage or loss of luggage or personal effects, nor for damages caused by third parties or others such as floods, storms, landslides, earthquakes, political unrest, epidemics, terrorist attacks, strikes, etc.
The rate does not include:
- Tourist tax to be paid locally
- Lunches and dinners unless mentioned
- Tips and personal extras
- Porter service
- Fuel
- Highway tolls
- Parking fees
- Tickets for planes, ships, trains, or buses to reach the airport
- Entrance fees to monuments and archaeological parks
- Anything not expressly indicated under "the rate includes".
- The car must be returned to the same airport, otherwise an additional cost must be agreed upon with the rental company.
- Each rental day is a fraction of 24 hours; the vehicle must be returned on time or within the following 59 minutes.
- Car pick-up and drop-off at the airport will take place during the opening hours of the rental company Noleggiare (every day from 08:00 to 22:30); after these hours, the rental company will apply an additional fee. Please inquire before booking your flight.
The rate includes:
- Category C car, unlimited mileage
- 22% VAT
- Airport, railway, and road taxes
- RCA policy - car liability insurance
- Platinum insurance - eliminates all deductibles for theft and damage. Also covers glass and tire damage and theft attempts. Personal accident insurance. Plus roadside assistance.
- Additional driver
The rate does not include:
- Fuel
- Fines
- Re-notification fees
- Rental to depart from another airport
- Child seat
- GPS navigator
- Fuel recovery service, a surcharge of €30.00 will be applied if the car is returned with more than 5 liters of fuel missing.
- There is a 59-minute tolerance, after which a full day will be charged.
- At the time of booking, the car category is guaranteed, not the model.
The Platinum insurance includes:
- With Platinum insurance, the deductible amount is not charged. The "Platinum" package eliminates the deductibles for all damages, partial, attempted, and total theft, including glass, tires, roof damage, and damage to the underside of the vehicle. Interior damage and those caused by vandalism, riots, etc., are excluded.
