SICILY – 8 DAYS
AVAILABLE DATES - Monday 6th October – Monday 13th October 2008 AND
ITINERARY
Day 1 –Monday 6th October
Depart Heathrow Alitalia Flight AZ 205 at 0600hrs. Arrive Fiumicino International Airport, Rome 0930hrs (automatic luggage transfer)
Depart Fiumicino International Airport Alitalia Flight AZ 1789 at 1150hrs to arrive Palermo International Airport at 1300hrs.
Courier Assisted Coach Transfer to 4* Hotel Central Hotel (Hotel Grand Hotel Federico II or similar) for Welcome Drinks and Introductions. Afternoon at Leisure.
Hotel Grand Hotel Federico II 4* Hotel H/B including wine
Escorted Evening Walking Tour through Palermo’s Piazza’s and contrasting architectural styles – Renaissance, Palladio, Neo Classical, Art Deco
Day 2 – Tuesday 7th October
Escorted walk to Palermo Archaeological Museum (repository of a vast array of Phoenician, Sicel, Greek and Roman artifacts from across the Island) for Guided Tour and Iintroduction to Sicilian History. Afternoon Transfer to transfer to small, character traditional Hotel in the centre of the mediaeval town. Erice Hotel Elimo, Erica H/B.
Mediaeval Erice, is perched on a 2,500ft hilltop, complete with Norman Castle, fountains and cobbled streets. Originally an Elym village of Anatolian Colonists, occupied in turn by Pyrrhus, Carthaginians and Romans – evidence of its chequered history is still evident within its many Churches and Museums.
Day 3 – Wednesday 8th October
Full Day Escorted Coach Transfer to Agrigento via Segesta and Selinunte. Hotel Villa Athena, Agrigento H/B including wine
Segesta boasts a 5C Doric Temple (unfinished for political reasons) and Classical Theatre
Selinunte (Ancient Megara Hyblaea) includes a collection of ruined Greek Temples (Temples G, Jove, F, E and Juno, the latter now restored) and Acropolis (Temples, Houses, fortifications, multiple defensive gateways and small Museum).
The somewhat old fashioned décor of the Hotel Villa Athena is more than compensated by its superb position overlooking the Archaeological Site, the Temples of which are floodlit at night.
Day 4 – Thursday 9th October
Full Day at Agrigento with Tour Manager and Archaeological Site Guide. Ancient Akragas has a vast array of temples split over two separate Sites (including Juno, Herakles, Concordia, Jove and the Telamon Statues). The Nearby Museum houses a huge array of pottery (Greek and Roman), Sculpture and full size Telamon Statue Replicas.
Hotel Villa Athena, Agrigento B+B
Day 5 – Friday 10th October
Full Day Escorted Coach Transfer to Acireale via Piazza Armerina (famous Roman hunting lodge containing 36.000 square feet of intricate mosaics - including the world’s first bikini) and Morgantina (Sicel, Greek and Roman Settlements with Housing, Stoas, Area Sacra, Bronze Foundry, Theatre, Ekklesiasterion and oldest Macellum yet discovered).
Lunch included at local Restaurant EYEXEI adjacent to the Site of Morgantina.
Hotel Aloha D'Oro H/B Evening at leisure.
The Renaissance town of Acireale was originally named after the Consul Aquilius. The Roman Sulphur Thermae have been incorporated into the Baths of Santa Venere.
The Hotel Aloa D’Oro is deceivingly set on a busy main road but the extensive grounds extend down to the sea and meals consist of local, largely organic produce. Guest Rooms are set away from the main road.
Day 6 – Saturday 11th October
Full Day Escorted Coach Excursion to Syracusa, (once a city so powerful it rivalled Athens) via Castello Eurylao (Ancient Epipolae, scene of Demosthenes disastrous night attack). Walking Tour of Syracuse to visit the Theatre, Quarries (now so beautifully landscaped but once a place of unimagined cruelty) and Archaeological Museum. Free time to explore the original settlement on the island of Ortigia (now joined by two causeways to the mainland) and remains of Temple to Athena in the Duomo.
Hotel Aloha D'Oro H/B Evening at leisure.
Day 7 – Sunday 12th October
Full Day Escorted Coach Excursion to include a drive through the National Park of Mount Aetna en route to Giardini – Naxos and Taormina. Snow capped Mount Aetna, at 11,000ft, is Europe’s largest volcano. The area itself is highly fertile, with mile after mile of citrus groves as well as figs, almonds, grapes, olives, pistachio and eucalyptus. Giardini – Naxos, now a pleasant fishing port with beach, was the Site of the first Greek Cleruchy on Sicily and boasts a small museum and archaeological park largely ignored by Tourists. Taormina (Sicil Tauromenion) enjoys a spectacular location on a terrace of Monte Tauro. The City with its wonderful Greco-Romano Theatre, small archaeological museum and mediaeval streets, played a prominent role in both Syracusan and Roman Politics before becoming a playground for the European Jet Set and a Film Set for the ‘Godfather’ Movies.
Hotel Aloha D'Oro for specially arranged Farewell Dinner including wine.
Day 8 – Monday 13th October
Final Day Escorted Coach Transfer to Palermo Airport via Monreale.
Monreale Benedictine Abbey is world renowned for the mosaics of “Santa Maria la Nuova” Cathedral, Cloisters, Duomo and Arab, Byzantine and Norman Architecture.
Transfer to Palermo Airport for your Alitalia Flight to Heathrow via Rome.
Depart Palermo on Flight Nos AZ 1768 at 1700hrs to arrive Rome 1810hrs (automatic luggage transfer)
Depart Rome on Flight AZ210 at 2115hrs to arrive Heathrow Airport 2305hrs
Included –
Schedule Flights – Heathrow/Rome/Palermo
Coach Transfers, Taxes, Tolls, Parking and City Permits
Airport Assistance on departure from Heathrow, arrival and departure Palermo
Tour Manager throughout
Archaeological Guides at - Palermo Museum, Segesta, Selinunte, Agrigento, Epipolae (Castello Eurylao), Syracusa, Taormina
Entrance Fees to named Sites and Museums – Palermo, Segesta, Selinunte, Agrigento, Piazza Armerina, Morgantina, Epipolae (Castello Eurylao), Syracusa, Giardino-Naxos, Taormina.
Welcome Drinks Day 1 and Evening Meals Days 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
Lunch Day 5
Escorted Walking Tour 1st Night
Buffet Breakfast Days 2 - 8
Not Included –
UK Transfers
Flight supplement from Regional Airports
Public Transport and /or Taxi Fares in Sicily if chosen instead of walking Tours
Travel Insurance
Visas (non EEC Passport Holders)
Lunches – bar Day 5
Dinner Day 4
Drinks and Snacks
Gratuities
PRICES - Monday 6th October – Monday 13th October 2008
WITH FLIGHTS
£1,400.00 per person based on 2 people sharing a twin room
£190.00 per person Single Room Supplement
WITHOUT FLIGHTS
£1,242.00 per person based on 2 people sharing a twin room
£190.00 per person Single Room Supplement
BOOK ONLINE HERE
Terms & Conditions
PRICES - Monday 4th May to Monday 11th May 2009
WITH FLIGHTS
£1,540.00 - per person based on 2 people sharing a twin room
£209.00 - per person Single Room Supplement
WITHOUT FLIGHTS
£1,366.00 - per person based on 2 people sharing a twin room
£209.00 - per person Single Room Supplement
BOOK ONLINE 2009 Coming Soon
Terms & Conditions
