Sicily : Self Drive Tour 8 days from Catania

Sicily : Self Drive Tour 8 days from Catania 

The tours has been enriched with a  wine tasting at a unique location on the slopes of Etna Mt, a cooking class near Ragusa and 2 traditional lunches. The tickets to visit the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento are also included. 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Itinerary

Day 1 - Catania, Arriving. Drive to Taormina 

Arrival at Catania airport, handling of car rental formalities and departure for Riviera Taormina. Hotel accomodation. Free afternoon to explore the surroundings. Overnight in Taormina

Day 2 - Etna Mt. - Taormina with lunch

Breakfast in the hotel. This day you can decide to visit Etna & Taormina.

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 onyou will have the option to continue the excursion by jeep. We include for you a well deserved stop at a local beekeeper to taste quality honey and have a wine tasting followed by a traditional lunch . In the afternoon visit of Taormina, situated on a plateau on the slopes of the steeply droppingMonte 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. Re-entry in hotel. 

Overnight in Taormina

Day 3 - Taormina - Catania - Syracuse

After breakfast departure to Catania, a city lying on the slopes of Etna, rich in sumptuous and magnificent buildings.

Suggested itinerary: We suggest you to visit the typical fish market (closed Sunday) and to stroll around the city center which, for its historical and typical baroque buildings, has been proclaimed, together with the other towns of the Val di Noto, a World Heritage Site 'HUMANITY' by UNESCO. After visiting the city, continue to Syracuse, one of the most interesting sites on the island, where you can visit the Archaeological Park, famous for its Roman amphitheater, the Greek theater and the ear of Dionysus. Continue your visit by going to the island of Ortigia, the oldest part of the city, characteristic for its narrow alleys, for its sea views and for the wonderful square with its splendid cathedral. On to Ragusa/Syracuse and overnight

Overnight in Syracuse / Ragusa area 

Day 4 - Ragusa - Modica and Noto with lunch and cooking class  

Breakfast in the hotel. This day you can decide to visit Modica and Noto.

Suggested itinerary: Today it will be possible to discover the less known part of Sicily, dominated by the sumptuous and majestic Baroque styleof the buildings, characterized by the numerous UNESCO sites and also known for the television series of "Il Commissario Montalbano". Start your visit from the historic center of the city of Ragusa, "Ibla", characterized by the numerous baroque churches and palaces, as well as by the characteristic domes that dominate the city. Ragusa has become part of the Unesco list, with 18 sites declared World Heritage Sites. 

After visiting Ragusa, drive 10km towards the peaceful Ragusa countryside. In this unique and peaceful context, you will reach an ancient farmhouse where the local family will be waiting for you for a cooking class with the typical products of this land, followed by an outdoor lunch. In case of delays, only lunch can be held.

In the afternoon Continue to Modica, a UNESCO World Heritage city especially known for its chocolate as well as for its wonderful buildings. We advise you to wander through the alleys, always moving upwards, once you reach the highest part of the hill you can admire a wonderful panorama of the city. Continue your tour by going to Noto, included by UNESCO in the list of World Heritage Sites in 2002. Return to the hotel and overnight

Overnight in Syracuse/Ragusa area

Day 5 - Syracuse - Agrigento - Palermo 

Breakfast at hotel. Today you will drive to Agrigento to discover the wonderful and well-known Valley of the temples where you can admire the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Concordia (one of the best preserved Doric temples in the whole Greek world), the Temple of Hercules and the
Temple of Castor and Pollux. The entrance ticket is included .  Continue to Palermo where you will arrive in the late afternoon. 

Overnight in Syracuse

Day 6 - Palermo, Monreale 

Breakfast in the hotel. This day you can decide to visit Palermo & Monreale or stay in the beach in Mondello.

Suggested itinerary: Start your visit to this city that never ceases to amaze and which is like an ancient treasure chest that preserves priceless treasures, some of which have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Start your walk on foot from the Cathedral (inside which the tombs of Emperor Frederick II and some Norman kings are kept), crossing a wonderful palm garden head towards the Royal Palace, also calledPalazzo dei Normanni, seat of the Sicilian kings from the 11th to the 19th century; here you can admire some rooms in different styles and the Palatine Chapel, famous for its golden mosaics. Crossing Corso Vittorio Emanuele to the point where it meets Via Maqueda, it will be possible to admire the four city songs, an octagonal square whose four corners raise the convex facades of beautiful seventeenth-century buildings.
Visit the popular "Il Capo" market, which looks like an Arab souk, where locals prefer to buy local food, in a mix of colors, flavors and smells andfinally head to the Teatro Massimo. In the afternoon go to Monreale, a village 7 km away from Palermo, famous all over the world for its
magnificent Cathedral in Arab-Norman style, part of the World Heritage Site (UNESCO), known for its 3,500 square meters of polychrome
mosaics on golden background. Near the cathedral you can visit the cloister, with its 80 pairs of twin columns, each different from the others.
Return to the hotel for overnight. We suggest you to discover the city with a tour in Ape, a typical local vehicle transport on three wheels,
which will allow you, in a very folkloristic way, to admire many hidden corners of the ancient part of the city. 

Overnight in Palermo

Day 7 - Palermo - Marsala - Segesta - San Vito Lo Capo

Breakfast at hotel. Today you will drive towards the western part of Sicily. The first advised stop would be Marsala, the world known city famous for its liquorous wine. After Marsala, we suggest a stop at  Segesta, one of the most beautiful archeological sites of Sicily, where you should visit the Doric
temple whose majestic appearance and dominating position bestows great nobility to the landscape. If you have time you can drive for a
swimming to San Vito Lo Capo / Scopello (I suggest you to eat local food PANI CUNSATU) drive to to Palermo. 

Overnight in Palermo

Day 8 - Palermo,Departure 

Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Catania or Palermo airport. Release of the car at the car rental desk. End of our services. 

________________________________________________________________________________________________

• 7 nights accommodation in double room a selected 4* Hotel  ( 2 nights in Taormina, 3 nights in Palermo,  2 nights in Ragusa-Siracusa area ) 

• Daily Buffet breakfast 

• Category C car and “GOLD insurance” included ( like Opel Corsa or similar)
  

• Daily Breakfast

• Visit of a Winery and Wine Tasting at Mt. Etna 

• 2 Traditional lunches 

• 1 Cooking class 

• Restaurant suggestion 
  

• Valley of the Temples entrance ticket 

Not Included : 

International flights 

All what not mentioned under "what's included"

Beverages, Meals where not specified 

City tax where required

Entrance Tickets 

Supplement  : 

Local guide in Syracuse half day
Local guide in Agrigento half day
Local guide in Taormina half day
Local guide in Palermo half day

On request possibility to have a pre/post tour
Upgrading for the car rental category on request

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Notes: 

Possibility to extend the tour with pre and post night

Minimum 1 participant 

Guaranteed departures

The tour is suitable for couples, family, solo traveler and senior 

Each rental day is a fraction of 24 hours, the vehicle must be returned on time or within the next 59 minutes

A valid international driving license and a credit card as guarantee are required when picking up the car.