DAY 1: PALERMO
Arrival at Palermo airport. After picking up the car, reach Palermo. Free time to explore the city on your own.
Suggested itinerary: Start with the Teatro Massimo, the third largest opera house in Europe. Then enter the popular market "Il Capo," which resembles an African souk; at the end of the market, if you wish, you can taste the typical Sicilian "Arancina" in a bar, a local street food specialty. Continue the visit in the old part of the city with the Cathedral, the Royal Palace, and the Palatine Chapel. Overnight in Mondello/Palermo. Mondello is part of the municipality of Palermo and is 7 km from the center. Originally a fishing village, it has now been transformed by the tourism industry into a famous seaside resort, with elegant Art Nouveau villas from the early 20th century. Today Mondello is definitely the trendiest beach in the Sicilian capital, where locals and tourists come to swim on the beautiful sandy beach and in the evening to eat good fish in the numerous restaurants of the charming gulf. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.
DAY 2: MONREALE & CORLEONE OR SWIM IN MONDELLO
Breakfast at the hotel. On this day you can swim in the splendid Mondello or visit Monreale and Corleone.
Suggested itinerary: Drive to Monreale, famous for its Cathedral with polychrome mosaics on a gold background, depicting scenes from the Old and New Testament. Conclude the visit with the cloister, a place of incomparable beauty that, together with the Cathedral, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Reach Corleone, known as a symbol of mafia power, hometown of the boss of bosses Totò Riina. Today it is home to associations that carry out anti-mafia activities in properties confiscated from mafia bosses. Their activities are inspired by the ideas promoted by men like Placido Rizzotto, a Corleone native, trade unionist, and Italian politician killed by the mafia for his commitment to the peasant movement for land occupation. It is possible to visit the Laboratory of Legality, where paintings by Sicilian artist Gaetano Porcasi illustrate some key moments in the history of the mafia and anti-mafia. Return to Palermo. Overnight.
DAY 3: ERICE, SEGESTA & SWIM IN SAN VITO LO CAPO/SCOPELLO
Breakfast at the hotel. Today you can discover the evocative Erice, the Greek Erice, and swim at the splendid beach of San Vito lo Capo or Scopello.
Suggested itinerary: Reach Monte San Giuliano by car. Erice, the medieval town on the top of Monte San Giuliano. Here you can admire the Castle of Venus (outside) and the Cathedral. Meanwhile, we suggest stopping at a pastry shop to taste the typical almond pastries of Erice. Continue to San Vito Lo Capo for a swim on the splendid sandy beach. On the way back to Palermo, you can visit Segesta, one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in Sicily, where a visit to the Doric temple is a must, whose majestic appearance and dominant position give great nobility to the landscape. Overnight in Palermo.
DAY 4: AGRIGENTO & SWIM AT SCALA DEI TURCHI
Breakfast at the hotel. On this day you can swim at the beautiful and unique Scala dei Turchi and visit Agrigento.
Suggested itinerary: Departure for Agrigento where you will visit the Valley of the Temples, including 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. You will have time to reach the fantastic white sandy beach of Scala dei Turchi for a refreshing swim. Continue to Ragusa and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 5: CHIARAMONTE GULFI, VITTORIA, SCOGLITTI & SWIM IN PUNTA SECCA/MARINA DI RAGUSA
Breakfast at the hotel. On this day you can reach the beautiful sandy beach of Punta Secca or Marina di Ragusa for a swim and take the "Inspector Montalbano tour".
Suggested itinerary: Departure for Chiaramonte Gulfi, a beautiful ancient village called the "Balcony of Sicily" for its splendid panoramic position. Walking through the streets of the historic center, visit the beautiful church of Santa Maria La Nova (Piazza Duomo) and the church of San Giovanni. Chiaramonte Gulfi is famous for producing excellent DOP extra virgin olive oil and Nero d'Avola, Insolia, or Cerasuolo DOCG wines. Continuing towards Vittoria, the streets are rich with elegant Art Nouveau architecture mixed with Baroque and Neoclassical monuments, creating a harmonious balance. It is also famous for Cerasuolo di Vittoria - a local wine tasting can be done at a winery. Continue the "Inspector Montalbano Tour" heading towards Punta Secca, a hamlet of Santa Croce di Camerina, for a short stop to see the town, the beach, and Montalbano's house, and towards Scicli, a beautiful town known as "VIGATA," a fictional name created by the writer where the police station of "Vigata" is located. Return to the hotel. Overnight.
DAY 6: MODICA & RAGUSA “INSPECTOR MONTALBANO TOUR” or SWIM IN DONNALUCATA/MARINA DI MODICA
Breakfast at the hotel. On this day you can swim at the beautiful Marina di Modica/Donnalucata or visit Modica and Ragusa.
Suggested itinerary: Today you can discover the lesser-known part of Sicily, Modica, also famous for the TV series "Inspector Montalbano." Start your visit in Modica, a UNESCO World Heritage city, especially known for its chocolate and wonderful buildings. You will be free to visit the oldest pastry shop in Sicily (founded in 1880); during the tour in the workshop, you will witness the entire chocolate-making process. The visit is followed by a tasting of typical products, offered to guests in personal boxes (extra charge €20.00 per person). We recommend wandering through the alleys, always moving upwards; once you reach the highest part of the hill, you can admire a splendid panorama of the city. Continue to Ragusa to admire the historic center of Ragusa "Ibla," characterized by numerous churches and Baroque-style palaces, as well as the splendid domes dominating the city. Ragusa has been included in the UNESCO list, with 18 sites declared World Heritage. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 7: THE TOUR ENDS AFTER BREAKFAST
(*) The indicated hotels may be replaced with others of the same category. Accommodations are located in the indicated cities or in different cities where it will be possible to carry out the program.
The rate does not include:
Entrance tickets
THE RATE INCLUDES:
THE RATES DO NOT INCLUDE:
Gold insurance includes
Platinum Insurance (on request)