Western Sicily Charms

We will be pleased to welcome you at the airport and transferring. privately, to your first accommodation in Palermo. Rest of the day at leisure.

Day 2 – Palermo & Monreale

Today’s walk takes us along the main tourist attractions of Palermo and the charming hilltop town of Monreale. The stroll in Palermo city center includes the Arab-Normann style Cathedral, the Quattro Canti (four corners), known as the city theatre, Piazza Pretoria with its beautiful mannerist fountain, the Royal Chapel , inside the Royal Palace and the Vucciria, the iconic outdoor market. Monreale itself is a nice town with a great view of the Golden Valley, so named for the numerous citrus orchards that dot the valley. In Monreale we can admire the sumptuous cathedral already listed among the Unesco sites. Overnight stay in Palermo.

Day 3 – Cefalù & The Madonie Region

Our destination this morning, is  the charming territory of Madonie Nature Park, the highest mountains in Sicily second only to Mount Etna. This region  is a stunning green territory where the flora plays a leading role. Beautifully set on a chestnut forest and idyllic rural landscape, Castelbuono is the most picturesque town of this area. The enormous castle – once owned by a rich local family, feudal lords of several towns in the area – dominates the village and its valley. Later we get to the stunning and ancient seaside resort of Cefalù, the most important center of this region. Wedged between a tall rocky outcrop and the sea, Cefalù has a maze of picturesque narrow cobbled streets and a scenic beach with a little port lined with tiny fishing boats.  It is an important town not only for the beauty of the coastal landscape but also for the magnificent Norman-Arab-Byzantine cathedral decorated with sumptuous mosaics, one of the greatest churches of Southern Europe. Overnight stay in Cefalù.

Day 4 – Piazza Armerina & Agrigento

Today, our southbound journey to the finest archaeological settlement of the Greek era in Sicily, Agrigento, crosses the real heart of Sicily. But doing a short detour to see the mosaics of Piazza Armerina is a pure luxury we can’t miss. The renovated (2013) Villa Romana, located a few kilometers outside the town, is one of the largest Roman dwellings of its kind to have survived antiquity and one of the most important archaeological discoveries of last century with its fine figurative mosaics describing hunting scenes and depictions of daily life. Later in the afternoon we reach Agrigento where, after an orientation walk around the Valle dei Templi, we spend the night.

Day 5 – Selinunte & The Wine Road

We start the morning with a guided tour of the archaeological area known as the Valley of the Temples, Unesco world heritage site since 1998. You will be transported into another world, the stunning archaeological remains of 8 Greek temples, set in stunning scenery with a couple of unusual sights, are of outstanding beauty and no wonder if Unesco is using the temple of Concordia as its logo. After a walking  along the nature site of Torre Salsa characterized by its layers of limestone and clay, we continue our journey to Selinunte, the largest and most impressive archaeological site in Europe.  Surrounded by a splendid landscape, the view from the Acropolis, with the Greek Temples, countryside and the turquoise sea, is unbelievable and second to none. The south west is also one of the most productive wine areas of the region and right here on this lovely and romantic countryside, located on the vineyards owned by a prominent wine producing family, there’s the country hotel where we’ll spend the night.

Day 6 – Erice & The Salt Road

Today’s journey, first takes us to the ancient Phoenician town of Mazara.  Its historic Saraceni’s Quarter, dating the Arab dominationis, is a labyrinth of narrow streets which resembles the North African kasbah. The town, lined by Norman walls only 200 km north away from the Tunisia’s coast,  has the largest fishing fleet in Italy and offers a mixture of art and history of which the world famous “Dancing Satyr”, dated between 4th and1st century BC and hosted in the local museum, is a magnificent example. We continue crossing Marsala, best known worldwide for its sweet dessert wine, where we have a guided wine tasting at one of most popular cellars of the town. Just a few minutes from the city lies the Stagnone of Marsala (lagoon).  The peculiar environment of this wetland, suitable for migratory birds, and the stunning views of the salt marshes with majestic windmills, make this unusual landscape, truly unique.  In the afternoon  we move to the hilltop Erice, already in the circuit of the most beautiful villages in Italy. You will love the unique old atmosphere of its cobbled streets full of typical little shops, restaurants and cafes where tasting the delicious local specialties like mandorla pastry and cookies. Overnight stay in Erice.

Day 7 – Segesta & The Zingaro Reserve

This morning we head to the Zingaro Reserve through the Moorish village of Scopello,  a pretty tiny village set on a plateau above sea level particularly renowned for its sea stacks and the old “Tonnara”, the place where tuna fish used to be brought for canning. Very close to what you can find in a postcard, the Zingaro Reserve is undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful spots on the Sicilian coast It’s very hard to describe the emotions you can feel in this magic place where a luxuriant vegetation grows wildly and spontaneously on a large network of walking paths interspersed with impressive rocky outcrops overlooking a number of unspoilt beaches and grottoes in a turquoise seas. Next stage today is Segesta. Here, you can easily imagine what it was like to live in Sicily in ancient times. The ancient temple as well as the hilltop amphitheater is just stunning not only for the structures themselves, but even for the beautiful setting, in an elevated position, with wonderful views of both the sea and the surrounding countryside that leave you speechless. The day ends either in Trapani or Palermo according to the schedule flight for tomorrow.

Day 8 – Homeward Bound

The western Sicily adventure concludes after breakfast and check out hotel.  Goodbye!

PRICE

It  is calculated per person  and on BB basis and double room occupancy according to the number of participants, as follows:

2 pax  – 3 pax –  4/5 pax –  6/8 pax  – 9+

With more participants than two people the price lowers gradually. Over 14 years old, same price as adults. (it is applied a 20% off to guys aged 12-14, who travel with at least two full paying adults).

PRICE INQUIRY

 We are Sicily specialist based “on the site” and know our homeland intimately. Our prices are much more affordable than others offered by operators outside Sicily.  For exact price calculation, please, send us inquiry via e-mail  

INCLUSIONS

• seven night accommodations with en-suite facilities
• six days with tour escort and private car
• breakfast each day
• airport-tour area, private round trip transfer
• a tour rep to oversee your tour
• travel guidance pre/post tour activities

EXCLUSIONS

• airfare
• insurance*
• lunch and dinners
• tips and personal purchases such us laundry, phone calls, frigobar items, etc..
• anyting not specifically included in “INCLUSIONS”

INSURANCE*

We strongly recommend you to be covered by a good travel insurance. Customers should be in possession of own their travel insurance, with protection for the full duration of the vacation, in respect of medical expenses, injury, death, repatriation as well as cancellation and curtailment. This is mandatory for all clients who travel with us, except the case you sign a declaration which releases Easy Sicily of any responsibility.