AUTHENTIC TOUR OF SICILY | Departure: April 22

Meeting at the "Eleftherios Venizelos" airport and flight to Catania. Arrival and departure for the beautiful and cosmopolitan Taormina (Tavromenion), overlooking the Ionian Sea. A place of artists, bohemians and writers, a place of inspiration and revelry, the ancient colony of Naxos exerts an irresistible attraction on the visitor. Passing through Porta Messina, we will see Palazzo Corvaia, which was the seat of the first Sicilian Parliament (1410), the ancient Greek theater, with a panoramic view of the sea and Etna, and through Corso Umberto, we will end up in the central square Piazza Nove Aprile with the church of St. Augustine. Departure for Etna, the largest and highest active volcano in Europe (3,350 m.). Although its eruptions can sometimes be very destructive, it is generally not considered particularly dangerous and thousands of residents live on the slopes of the volcano and the surrounding areas. The fertile soil is suitable for extensive agricultural activities. In June 2013, UNESCO announced the inclusion of Etna in the list of World Heritage Sites. Transfer and check-in at our hotel in Catania. Overnight.

Breakfast buffet at the hotel. Today we will tour Syracuse. We will take a guided tour of the archaeological park of Neapolis, where we will see the Altar of Hiero, the “Ear of Dionysus” in the Quarries of Paradise, the ancient theater, the Nymphaeum and the Roman amphitheater. This is followed by a visit to the historic center of the city, located on the islet of Ortygia, where we will admire the Temple of Apollo, Archimedes Square with the Fountain of Artemis, the Cathedral – conversion of the ancient Temple of Athena into a Christian church –, the Basilica of Santa Lucia with Caravaggio’s masterpiece “The Burial of Santa Lucia”, and we will end up at the Fountain of Arethusa with the papyri in the water. Free time. Return to our hotel late in the afternoon. Overnight.

Breakfast buffet at the hotel. Departure for Agra (Agrigento), one of the richest and most prominent Greek colonies of Magna Graecia. We will begin our tour of the amazing archaeological site of the "Valley of the Temples", we will see the Temple of Lacinian Hera and we will continue with the well-preserved Temple of Omonia, Hercules of Olympian Zeus, the Dioscuri and Hephaestus. Late in the afternoon, arrival in the capital and administrative headquarters of the autonomous region of Sicily: Palermo, which is located at the foot of Mount Pelegrino. Transfer and check-in at the hotel. Time at your disposal for a first acquaintance with the city. Overnight stay.

Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Today we will get to know beautiful Palermo. Our tour will begin at the Royal Palace – seat of the Norman kings of Sicily and today of its Parliament – ​​and will continue with the Cathedral, Piazza Pretoria with the “Fountain of Shame” and the Senate Palace, the Martorana Church with the famous Byzantine mosaics, the Massimo Theater and the square with the Garibaldi Polythea. Return to the hotel at noon and free afternoon. Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for the picturesque Kefalos, with the Piazza Duomo, the Cathedral (12th-15th century) and the Byzantine mosaics. Then, we will get to know Catania, the second largest city in Sicily after Palermo, located on the eastern coast of the island in the Ionian Sea. In the historic center of the city we will see the Piazza del Duomo or otherwise the Elephant Fountain, a sculpture made of black lava from Etna, the Cathedral of Saint Agatha, patron saint of the city and the Castello Ursino of the 13th century. which houses the Civico museum. Free time until the time when we will be transferred to the airport for our return flight to Athens.