Day 1: ARRIVAL
Arrival at Catania airport, optional rent a car and departure for Riviera Taormina. Hotel accomodation. Free afternoon to explore the surroundings. Overnight in hotel.
Day 2: SAVOCA & FORZA D’AGRO’ “GODFATHER TOUR” & TAORMINA
Breakfast in the hotel.
Suggested itinerary. Drive to Forza D'Agrò a charming village located on a hill overlooking Taormina and you will have a tour with an eye to the cinema visiting the villages made famous by the film The Godfather Walking along the narrow streets of this small town, in addition to the breathtaking views, it will be possible to admire the Durazzesco arch and the Cathedral, a place chosen to set one of the most romantic scenes of the Godfather's film, the wedding of Micheal Corleone. From the Panoramic Square you can enjoy an extraordinary view of the coast. After visiting this little gem, continue for Savoca. This village is famous because here have been shouted some of the famous parts of the movie “The Godfather”, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The buildings and the monuments of the movie are still here, like the famous Bar Vitelli, the same bar used to shoot In the afternoon drive to Taormina “the Pearl of the Mediterranean” and walk through Corso Umberto that represents the heart of the city where there are splendid ancient buildings, including the 15th century Palazzo Corvaja and the Greek-Roman theater, the 2nd largest classical theater in Sicily - Over the centuries, the city it has always been a popular destination. From the Greek-Roman Amphitheater you can in fact admire the bay of Giardini Naxos, Volcano Etna and the Calabrian coast. You can eat a Granita with brioche in Taormina or Letojanni. Drive to the hotel and overnight.
Day 3: ETNA, ALCANTARA GORGES & MOTTA CAMASTRA - CATANIA & ACIREALE WITH THE VILLA OF "MAFIOSO ALTOBELLO"
Breakfast in the hotel.
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). Continuing to the Alcantara Gorges, discover the wild nature and the distinctive volcanic walls (basalt columns) of the canyon, which are the main attraction of the botanical and geological park. You can also visit the village of Motta Camastra, which has been used as a filming location for some scenes—particularly those showing Michael Corleone walking under the protection of his bodyguards. Additionally, Castiglione di Sicilia, just 15 km away, has been recognized as one of Italy’s most beautiful villages ( winner of italian Borgo dei Borghi few years ago). Situated in the Etna wine district, it boasts several wine cellars in town.
On to Catania and visit to Piazza del Duomo and the Cathedral of Saint Agatha, the city's patron saint. Don't miss the Elephant Fountain, a symbol of Catania. Continue along Via Etnea, a lively main street full of shops, cafés, and historic buildings, offering an authentic and vibrant atmosphere. Proceed to Castello Ursino, the medieval castle that today houses museums and exhibitions showcasing Catania’s history. You should also visit the Fish Market (La Pescheria), a traditional market perfect for sampling local products and experiencing the authentic atmosphere. Continue to Acireale, famous for its stunning Baroque monuments. Visit the churches, palaces, and villas in Baroque style. Don’t miss the Cathedral of Acireale. In Acireale, you will find Villa La Limonaia at Via Carico 149, the villa of Don Altobello, the mafia boss from The Godfather Part III. Don Osvaldo Altobello is a central character in "The Godfather Part III." He is a mafia boss, leader of a criminal family in Palermo. His main role is to obstruct Michael Corleone's ambitions and to participate in the conspiracy that nearly destroys him. His alliance with other mafia families is crucial for the success of the plot, which results in the death of Mary Corleone and the near-assassination of Michael outside the Teatro Massimo in Palermo. In the film, Don Altobello dies on the stage of the Teatro Massimo, poisoned by Connie, Al Pacino’s sister, with Sicilian cannoli Overnight in hotel.
Day 4: ETNA & TAORMINA
Breakfast in the hotel.
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. Stop for a Granita & brioche in the streets of Taormina Re-entry in hotel. Overnight in hotel.
Day 5: CASTELBUONO, CEFALU' & BAGHERIA
Breakfast in the hotel Drive to Castelbuono, a charming medieval town that was formed in the 14C around the castle built by the Ventimiglia family, a massive square construction with square towers, which has undergone many alterations over the years. Here is also the heart of the Madonie regional park . We suggest you to seat at some local restaurant to taste special meat and mushrooms. On to Cefalù where you can start your day visiting the Piazza del Duomo which stretches out below the Cathedral with its splendid mosaics and which is surrounded by a range of splendid palazzi, walk through Corso Ruggero, the main street, lined with a wide range of boutiques and built over the ancient Roman decumanus street, and head then to the ancient lavatory. The film ‘Cinema Paradiso’ by Giuseppe Tornatore was shot in Cefalù. Drive to Palermo, and overnight.
Day 6: PALERMO & MONREALE
Breakfast in the hotel.
Suggested itinerary: Start of the tour of this wonderful city. First walk through the Cathedral (which contains the tombs of Emperor Frederick II and some Norman kings), through a beautiful palm garden, to the palace, also known as Palazzo Normanni, which from the 11th to the 19th century was the seat of the King of Sicily; here you can admire some of the different rooms and palatine churches famous for their golden mosaics. The visit to the Palatine Chapel and the Palazzo dei Normanni, two masterpieces of Arab-Norman art, will allow you to discover the history, legends, and myths of two UNESCO World Heritage sites in the city of Palermo. Optional street food in the “Antica Focacceria San Francesco”,famous for its owner who used to fight the mafia and rejected the request of the “Pizzo” [protection money]. For several years the Focacceria was protected and surveilled by the police. Here you will taste panelline, crocchette, arancinette, focaccina with milza, Milk-crocchetta, a piece of sfincione ( sicilian pizza), caponata, a portion of Pasta alla Norma or anelletti al forno and the famous cannolo siciliano .Finally, head to the Teatro Massimo, the third largest theatre in Europe, also famous in The Godfather for the murder of Al Pacino's daughter. Entrance ticket to the Teatro Massimo If you remember at the end of the movie, in which Tony Corleone triumphs singing Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana, in the role of Turiddu. Altobello dies on his stage, poisoned by Connie, while during a shootout, Michael is only injured, but Mary is killed as she was pleading with her father not to obstruct her love with the cousin You will have the opportunity to visit the interior of the theatre and relive the most beautiful and touching moments of the film. One arancina or cannolo siciliano during the street food in the bar in front the Cathedral.
In the afternoon there is the possibility of reaching the town of Monreale, 7 km from Palermo, known throughout the world for its magnificent Arab-Norman cathedral and part of the world heritage (UNESCO). Near the cathedral, you can visit the cloister, which has 80 pairs of double columns, each of which varies. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.
Day 7: CORLEONE, SAN GIUSEPPE JATO & PIANA DEGLI ALBANESI
Breakfast at hotel.
Suggested itinerary: In the morning, drive to Corleone the area where there was a large concentration of mafia activity in the past. After a walk in Corleone, known for its mafia history and as the hometown of Totò Riina, the boss of bosses, you can visit the very interesting Mafia and Anti-Mafia Museum, located in an old monastery. Discovering the history of the Mafia will drive to San Giuseppe Jato, another place where the mafia was very strong in the past, thanks to its alliance with the Corleone mafia. Here lived Giovanni Brusca, the man who murdered Judge Falcone in Capaci. In San Giuseppe Jato, the first urban park was created on land confiscated from the mafia and returned to the community ‘Parco Giuseppe Di Matteo. Finally, if you wish you will drive to Piana degli Albanesi, an ancient Albanian colony where people still speak Albanian today. Here, you can enjoy the delicious Sicilian cannolo famous in Sicily . At the end of the tour, you will return to your hotel in Palermo and overnight. One dinner or pizza in a Sicilian restaurant included with 3 corse menu (menù not a la carte) drinks excluded.
Day 8: DEPARTURE DAY
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Catania airport. Release of the car at the car rental desk (if booked). End of our services.
The rate does not include:
Admission Fees
