DAY 1: ARRIVING ACIREALE AREA (KM 50)
DAY 2: ETNA & TAORMINA (KM 150)
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Breakfast in the hotel. This day you can decide to visit Etna & Taormina.
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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 2nd largest classical theatre in Sicily. Re-entry in hotel. Overnight in Acireale/Mascali.
DAY 3: CATANIA & SYRACUSE (KM 165)
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After breakfast departure to Catania, a city lying on the slopes of Etna, rich in sumptuous and magnificent buildings.
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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)
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Breakfast in the hotel. This day you can decide to visit Modica and Noto.
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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.
DAY 5: AGRIGENTO (KM 267)
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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 Marsala, where you will arrive in the late afternoon.
DAY 6: FAVIGNANA (KM 25)
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Breakfast in the hotel. This day we suggest you to visit the Island of Favignana.
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Suggested itinerary: Drive to Trapani/Marsala port and departure by boat to Favignana, with its butterfly shape, it is a fantastic destination for beach lovers and diving enthusiasts. Climb aboard the adorable Egadilandia, a tourist train that goes around the many coastal roads and streets of the island. Do not miss the former Stabilimento Florio (a canned tuna factory that has become a museum), the hard walk up the hill will lead to the ruins of the Castle of Santa Caterina and the suggestive Grotto of lovers. You can opt to rent a e-bike or a scooter in order to be able to visit the island on your own discovering Undergound gardens (Giardini ipogei, got from disused stone quarries), Crystal clear sea, heavenly beaches and breathtaking landscapes. Return to the hotel. Ovenight.
DAY 7: SEGESTA & SAN VITO LO CAPO/SCOPELLO (KM 130)
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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: PALERMO & MONREALE - DEPARTURE (KM 200/KM 30)
- After breakfast, 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.
- Suggested itinerary: 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. Drive to airport, rRelease of the car at the car rental desk. End of services
- Acireale/Mascali: Wave Hotel/Kings House or similar (*)
- Ragusa/Syracuse: Mediterraneo Palace/Panorama or similar (*)
- Marsala: Baglio Basile or similar (*)
- Palermo: Astoria Palace, San Paolo Palace or similar (*)
(*) The hotels indicated may be replaced with others of the same category. Accommodations are located in the indicated towns or in a different cities where will be possible to realize the program
- 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 "GOLD " insurance package; with extra charge possibility to book Platinum insurance
- 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
- Gold Plan Insurance -resets deductibles for theft and damage. It also covers damage to glass and tyres
- 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 Gold includes
- In Gold the amount of the deductible will not be charged. The "Gold" package clears the deductibles provided for damages and total theft and allows you to eliminate the deductible also for damages occurred to the parts of the vehicle not covered by the "Silver" package and the coverage of windows and tires is provided. Partial theft, attempted theft, 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.
Insurance Platinum on request
- If the customer purchases a "Platinum" package, the amount of the theft deductibles (also for partial theft and attempted theft) and damages (also for damage to the roof, the lower part of the vehicle and the interiors) will be zeroed and the PAI services (which guarantees the driver in the event of death, permanent disability and accidents, with a ceiling of up to € 100,000) and “Road Assistance Plus 24h road assistance (covers all towing costs in the event of an accident with fault and for any other event that occurred during the rental period)
