Sicily & Puglia | 9 Days

After breakfast at the hotel, the morning is dedicated to the discovery of Monreale where we will visit the imposing Arab-Norman cathedral defined as the eighth wonder of the world and the splendid Cloister, admirable masterpiece of art, sculpture and semi-precious stone inlay! Continuation to Palermo. The city lies at the foot of Monte Pellegrino on a promontory described by Goethe as the most beautiful he had ever seen. In Palermo, more than elsewhere in Sicily, the historical eras revealed by the different style architectures overlap. Its millenary history has given it an artistic heritage and architecture that ranges from the remains of the Punic walls to Art Nouveau villas, noble palaces and seventeenth-century squares, baroque churches and neoclassical theatres. Residence of emirs and kings, Palermo preserves monuments of the Arab-Norman period including the beautiful Cathedral, the Church of the Martorana, among the most fascinating Byzantine churches of the Middle Ages in Italy and the Palatine Chapel, the most elevated example from the point of historical-artistic view, of the coexistence of cultures, religions and ways of thinking that are apparently irreconcilable, since they were involved in the wise management of power by Ruggiero II, Byzantine, Muslim and Latinas. Along the way there is a stop for a typical lunch with local products. Later you will have way to admire the splendid Teatro Massimo and the controversial Fountain of Piazza Pretoria, adorned with sculptures sixteenth-century and located on the edge of the ancient Kalsa district. Overnight in Palermo.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast departure in the direction of Cefalù, a charming seaside village with a medieval appearance overlooking the Mediterranean and embellished by the Norman cathedral. Walk along the streets of centre and possibility, for those who wish, to visit the famous Mandralisca Museum. Stop for lunch at a renowned restaurant. The tour will continue to Catania where we will dedicate ourselves to visiting the historic centre of the city and its Baroque declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Countless are the hidden treasures of this charming city whose late Baroque architecture is made unique by the use of lava stone. We will go through the scenography Piazza del Duomo with the splendid Cathedral and the lava stone elephant (symbol of the city) and we will continue up to University Square. Walking through the streets of the centre we will visit the beautiful Via dei Crociferi, the Baroque heart of the city where it has headquarters is the Monastery of S. Benedetto, made known by Verga’s novel “Storia di una Capinera”. Stop in a bar of the historic centre to taste the typical granita with brioche. Overnight in Catania.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at the hotel, we will make a quick visit to the historic “pescheria” (ancient fish market) before setting off to discover Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe (3,350 m) and declared by UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Etna Park with its 59,000 hectares is unique for its extremely varied and rich flora and the species protected that populate it. Today vineyards, olive groves, pistachio groves, hazelnut groves and orchards surround the volcano testifying to an agricultural vocation of the territory widely spread and characterized by the presence of local varieties. The first glimpses of interesting landscapes can be seen arriving at Rifugio Sapienza. From there we will reach the Silvestri Craters, volcanic cones dating back to 1888 now inactive, surrounded by lava flows latest. The panorama that can be enjoyed through the multitude of craters is truly a spectacle one of a kind! During the morning we will be able to taste the local artisan honey and various typical products of the area. Stop for lunch at a delightful restaurant. Continuation to Taormina, famous for its natural landscape, marine beauties, its monuments history and its unforgettable panorama of the sea with a privileged view of Etna! Visit the charming Greco-Roman theatre from which you can enjoy a breath-taking view of the gulf of Naxos. Free time to stroll along the delightful medieval alleys of the centre and go shopping taking advantage of the countless shops that offer the best handicraft products of the whole island (lace, ceramics, coral jewels and splendid workings in lava stone, perfumes, sweets and much more…). The day will end with an overview of the splendid Cyclops Riviera. Return to the hotel in Catania. Overnight Catania.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast in hotel, transfer to the airport and direct flight – or with a layover – to Bari. Transfer, dinner and overnight in hotel. According to flights’ schedule, free time to discover Catania and its city centre, declared UNESCO World Heritage, or to enjoy the stunning Bari. Overnight in Bari.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, transfer to Matera and meeting with the local guide to start the visit of the city. famous for its “Sassi”, the ancient part of Matera where buildings alternate with caves and labyrinths dug into the rock. From the fascinating and complex history, fusion of different landscapes and cultures, the city is also famous for being the film set of great masterpieces, including “The passion of the Christ”, written and directed by Mel Gibson. Free lunch and in the afternoon departure for Bari, the capital of Puglia, which has always been an important transport route connection with the East. Several studies have testified that the peninsula where Bari Vecchia stands today is inhabited since prehistoric times, thanks to its geographical position and the possibility of finding food and water. In the characteristic and lively historic centre of Bari we can admire the wonderful Basilica of San Nicola with the its eighteenth-century crypt, the suggestive Cathedral of San Sabino with its imposing rose window, the castle Normanno Svevo, an imposing medieval fortress dating back to 1131 but, after his destruction of 1156, recovered for use by Frederick II, and the Murattian village or new village, a typical city century characterized by wide avenues, worked balconies and elegant decorations in wrought iron. Overnight in Bari.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast departure for Polignano a Mare, capital of ice cream and birthplace of the famous singer Italian Domenico Modugno, to whom a statue has been dedicated. Walk in the historic centre between narrow streets and small shops and transfer to Alberobello, the symbolic city of central Puglia. Accompanied by the local guide we will discover the only historic centre in the world made up entirely of Trulli, ancient circular buildings with inverted funnel-shaped roofs, UNESCO heritage and we will also visit the Trullo Sovereign, declared a national monument in 1923. Located in the northern part of Alberobello, it represents the only Trullo to have a raised floor, reachable from the inside via a masonry staircase. We will then continue to Ostuni where you can spend some free time in the charming historic centre of the “white city”, with an exceptional landscape and architectural heritage. In the evening transfer to the hotel in Lecce. Overnight in Lecce.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast and meeting with the guide, the morning will be dedicated to visiting Lecce, a symbolic city of the Apulian Baroque with its historic centre, which contains the major architectural beauties of the city, in a mixture of styles and eras: the Church of Santa Croce, the marvellous Piazza Sant’Oronzo, the heart button of the city with the Roman amphitheatre, the Cathedral with its particular bell tower. Along the way we can stop in one of the papier-mâché shops, pride of local craftsmanship, enjoy a wine aperitif in the square. After free lunch, in the afternoon, we will continue with the excursion to Gallipoli, the ancient Kalèpolis, also called “beautiful city”, which stands on an island connected to the mainland by a characteristic sixteenth-century bridge masonry. We will visit the historic centre with the majestic Cathedral of Sant’Agata, the Church of Purità and an ancient underground oil mill from 1600 AD housed in the basement of Palazzo Granafei. In the evening return to the hotel in Lecce for overnight.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, end of our services.

Meals Included:

Breakfast

Multilingual Tour leader and professional travel guide on day 1 – day 4

Local guides or audio-guides where necessary

Tours as per itinerary

8 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 4 Dinners

Transportation by air conditioned vehicle

One-way flight (direct or with stopover) Catania-Bari with up to 20 kilos of luggage per person

Optional privilege package which includes:

• Superior/deluxe rooms
• Private departure transfers
• City taxes as per program
• All entrance fees as per program

Additional: $568 per person (price based on twn/dbl room). Available to select at time of booking.

Arrival transfer Palermo Airport to hotel in Palermo

Private transfers from hotel in Catania to Catania airport

Private transfer Bari airport to hotel in Bari

1 Wine Aperitif in Lecce

Tasting of typical Sicilian products:

• Palermo on day 2
• Gastronomic surprise with tasting of local street food
• Catania on day 3
• Sicilian granita with brioche
• Etna on day 4 tasting of honey and typical products of the Etna area

Departure transfers

Meals not mentioned in the below itinerary

Passport or visa fees

City taxes (where compulsory)

Drinks with meals

Tips and extras in general

Any other items of personal nature

Entrance fees at monuments and museums:

• Monreale Cathedral – €4.00 per person
• Monreale Cloister – €6.00 per person
• Palermo Palatine Chapel – €12.00 per person
• Palermo Church of the Martorana – €2.00 per person
• Taormina Greek Theatre – €2.00 per person