Echoes Events :: Your Sicilian Travel & Events Company

Day 1 Catania

Welcome to Sicily.  You will be met on arrival at the Hotel by your Tour Director.  At 3pm we will begin our tour of Sicily with a visit to some of Catania’s fascinating palaces, monuments and scenic sites.  We will return to our hotel in the late afternoon.  Cocktails and dinner will be in one of the regions finest restaurants celebrating local specialties where we will introduce you to the true taste of Sicily. (D)

Day 2 Taormina/Castelmola/the Riviera of the Cyclops

Our morning will see us visiting Taormina.  A guided city tour will take us to the famous Greek/Roman Theatre with Mt Etna as its backdrop. Often called the Pearl of the Mediterranean, Taormina overlooks one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world.  Lunch in Castelmola (Taormina’s old Acropolis) will give you the opportunity to take a stroll along the narrow streets of this picturesque town and enjoy the breathtaking panoramic views.  On our return to Catania we will stop along the Riviera of the Cyclops and enjoy the Baroque cities of Acireale, Acitrezza and Acicastello.(L)

Day 3 Mt Etna Volcano

Excursion to Mt Etna National Park.  Today you will enjoy the unique experience of visiting Europe’s largest active volcano and one of the great mountains of the world.  Our Volcanologist will take you to the top craters and provide you with commentary on the uniqueness of this site.  If this seems a little strenuous you are welcome to wait in the huts near the 4 wheel-drives and enjoy a hot cup of coffee.  The tour will be followed by lunch in a trattoria specializing in the local cuisine.  We will conclude the day excursion with a visit to the Lava Museum.  The evening will be free allowing you to explore Catania’s cafes and restaurants. (L)

Day 4 Syracuse

Today we will travel to Syracuse where our tour will take us to the Necropolis Archeological Zone and with the help of our expert guide we will be able to explore the city’s antiquities set in a beautiful parklands.  Lunch at a typical restaurant on the island of Ortygia, the ancient heart of Syracuse will be followed by a walking tour of the old city. As you walk around this island city you may wish to take the opportunity to visit the Papyrus workshops as Syracuse is the only place outside of Egypt where these reed plants grow. Free night in Catania. (L)

Day 5 Caltagirone

A UNESCO World Heritage Site this wonderful city has celebrated the art of Ceramic making since antiquity.  We will visit a local traditional Sicilian ceramics workshop.  The afternoon and evening will provide us with the opportunity to explore the uniqueness of the local architecture featuring the ceramics as part of local government buildings, staircases, walls and apartment balconies. (D)

Day 6 Piazza Armerina/Palermo

Today we will visit the Roman Villa del Casale, one of the most fascinating attractions in archeologically rich Sicily.  Our specialist guide will escort us through this amazing nobleman’s home of the 3rd century AD.  Better preserved than any other Roman villa of its period, Villa del Casale has every one of its rooms decorated with astonishingly beautiful mosaics described by experts as ‘the most exceptional Roman mosaics in the world’.  Through the mosaics you will be able to visualize scenes of daily life in the 3rd century AD.  We will drive to the hilltop city of Morgantina, savor a well earned lunch of local specialties and then continue our journey to Palermo. (L)

Day 7 Palermo

This morning, a walking tour of Palermo city centre,where we will be introduced to its markets, parks, theatres and the rich historical background of Sicily’s capital city. We will visit the famous Vucciaria Market and explore the narrow streets of old Palermo.  After lunch we will meet our guide for a tour of Palermo’s Cathedral, Cappella Palatina and La Zizza Palace.  The name La Zizza derives from the Arabic word Aziz “Splendid Flower’.  Built for the Holy Roman Emperor, it’s architecture is a grand fusion of east and west.  Dinner in a restaurant specializing in local dishes.  (D)

Day 8 Monreale/Mondello

Free morning.  After lunch we will travel to Monreale where we will meet our local guide and visit the Cathedral famous for its remarkable interior of gold mosaics featuring the Byzantine style Christ figure.  We will also visit the Benedictine Cloister next to the Cathedral which with its Moorish architecture will give you a sense of being in Morocco or the south of Spain.  We then make our way to the seaside village of Mondello for a stroll along the beach and our farewell dinner and drinks in a wonderful local restaurant. (D)

Day 9 Check out

Echoes will provide transfers to Palermo’s International Airport by VIP Mini Bus (Conditions Apply) – NB Palermo International Airport is approximately 32 kms from Palermo City Centre by motorway.  It will take approximately 45- 50 minutes travelling time.

Costs

For the latest pricing on all our trips and events please contact us directly.

Fitness level

Our trips are not physically challenging, however we do spend a lot of time walking through many wonderful towns, cities, museums, etc. A generally good level of fitness is suggested.
Included meals

A minimum of 2 meals a day are included in the cost of your tour (generally breakfast and dinner), however a complete list of included meals is available in the online itinerary.

Transportation to Sicily

Flights to Sicily are not included in your tour costs.

There are two international airports on the island of Sicily, one in Palermo and the other in Catania. Both these airports accommodate local and international flights making flying a popular choice with travellers from Europe. Travellers from other destinations such as Australia can fly to mainland airports then take a domestic flight to either Palermo or Catania.

Eurorail offers train services that connect Sicily to many parts of Europe via the major Italian cities of Rome, Genoa or Milan. Daily, there are several ferry crossings from various ports in Italy and Sicily. There are also ferry services that connect to the Greek Islands and other ports in Europe.

What should I wear?

When travelling around Sicily it’s a good idea to wear comfortable shoes as our tours will involve quite a bit of walking. Italians don’t usually wear running or exercise shoes outside the gym; however we do advise you bring along flat comfortable walking shoes. Women should not wear shorts, or even sleeveless blouses, when they enter Italian churches. (In Italy, men rarely wear short pants.) You may notice that, in general, Italians dress slightly more formally than Australians or North Europeans. Topless bathing is permitted on some Italian beaches however most of the topless sunbathers in Sicily are foreigners.

Etiquette when dining out or shopping in local stores

In restaurants, it’s best to order from a written menu, where prices are indicated, instead of ordering from a “verbal” menu that a waiter has described. This isn’t always practical because some restaurants (especially better ones) change menus daily and don’t bother writing them out. Remember that a nominal “cover” charge is usually included in the price. In stores where the price of the merchandise is not clearly marked feel free to ask how much an item costs. Simply point to it and ask “Quanto costa?”

Where’s the best shopping?

When shopping for speciality items such as ceramics, craft items or gifts such as medieval-style marionettes, we would suggest you purchase these items in shops that specialize in the manufacture of these objects. This will ensure you get value for money and support the local economy at the same time. That said there are some shops at Taormina and Monreale which retail the products of various manufacturers and offer a good choice of items.

The speciality guideline also applies to fashion items (leather, purses, ties, scarves). A leather shop, even if it is not large, will offer a better choice and quality of merchandise than a department store. In fact, specialty shops are the norm in Italy, whatever you’re looking for, and the prices are usually good.

Safety issues

Sicily, like any other country in the world, has its fair share of petty thieving and purse snatching. Travellers are always recommended to have travel insurance as this will be of great aid if they happen to be the unlucky victim.

Echoes Events makes the safety and comfort of its clients its first priority in planning and design any of its activities. Travelers on our tours can rest assured that every step will be taken to ensure that they have a safe holiday supported by expert staff.