Discover the warm and rustic vibe of traveling in the south

Eternal crossroads of the Mediterranean, Sicily has carved out its own distinct personality over the centuries.
Join our Sicily Beach and Culture Tour, you will be surprised from this island seductively beautiful and perfectly placed in the heart of the Mediterranean. Sicily has been luring passersby since the time of legends. The land of the Cyclops has been praised by poets from Homer to Virgil and prized by the many ancient cultures. 
The gorgeous island of Sicily continues to seduce travellers with its dazzling diversity of landscapes and cultural treasures.

The Sicilian way of life is fascinating. Being the biggest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily has acted as a gateway to travellers for many centuries. This mix of cultures has left behind a medley of architectural styles, a colourful variety of cuisine and an array of unique traditions.

Sicily Beach and Culture Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Catania Airport – Fontane Bianche

Our representative will be waiting for you at Catania airport. Private transfer bus to the resort. Room check-in and time for leisure to enjoy resort and beach facilities before dinner. (D)

Day 2: Syracuse City Tour

After breakfast, you will meet the English-speaking tour guide for a day tour in Syracuse. The past comes to life in Syracuse – a city packed with classical heritage as well as flamboyant Sicilian baroque architecture. You will visit the Greek theatre, go into the Ear of Dionysius and explore Ortygia island, the heart of the old town and location of baroque gems such as the cathedral. More than any other city, Syracuse encapsulates Sicily’s timeless beauty. Cicero described the Syracuse as “the most beautiful city ever built by the Greeks”.

It’s difficult to imagine now, but in its heyday Syracuse was one the largest city in the ancient world, bigger even than Athens and Corinth.

The ancient origins of Syracuse extend far back into the mists of time, when it was founded by the Corinthians in the 8th century BC. Today, ancient Greek ruins rise out of lush citrus orchards, almost three millennia later, and they constitute the Parco Archeologico della Neapolis, one of Sicily’s greatest archaeological sites.

Across the water from the mainland, Ortygia remains Syracuse’s most beautiful corner, a deeply atmospheric quarter with an ever-growing legion of fans enamoured with its beautiful streetscapes and attractive dining, drinking and shopping options. Impossibly perched on the rocky island of Ortygia jutting into the Mediterranean is a truly spectacular place, the landscape of the Sicilian city is one of magnificent palaces and churches, winding alleys and wonderful art. From Caravaggio’s final masterpiece to jaw-dropping scenery and a culinary tradition that’s second to none, Syracuse is a city whose glorious past lives on today in its vibrant streets. Back to the resort for dinner. Lunch not included. (B,D)

Day 3: Day at leisure

Enjoy resort and beach facilities. Full board at the buffet restaurant. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Noto, Villa del Tellaro and Marzamemi

After breakfast, along with the English-speaking tou guide, you will enjoy a true Sicilian travel experience.

Noto, the ‘stone garden’ of Sicily and Unesco’s World Heritage, will disclose itself in the full splendor of its reconstruction, happened after the devastating earthquake in 1693. Noto is an architectural jewel, a baroque treasure so gorgeous you might mistake it for a film set. Located less than 40km southwest of Syracuse, the town is home to one of Sicily’s most beautiful historic centres. Dashing at any time of the day, it’s especially hypnotic in the early evening, when the red-gold buildings seem to glow with a soft inner light.

Tour will allow to admire the rich baroque architecture of Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata which amazes travelers with its beautifully wrought-iron balconies supported by a swirling pantomime of grotesque figures through a crescendo of lions, jellyfish, hippocampus and horses. Inside, the richly brocaded walls and frescoed ceilings offer an idea of the sumptuous lifestyle of Sicilian nobles, as brought to life in the Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa novel “Il Gattopardo” (The Leopard).

Villa Romana del Tellaro and Marzamemi

Contimuing from Noto, in the tranquil Sicilian countryside, lies Villa Romana del Tellaro, a rich suburban residence of the late Roman imperial age, equipped with mosaics similar to the better known ones of Piazza Armerina, including mosaic medallions with laurel wreaths in the peristyle, a painting inspired by the Iliad, hunting scenes, and much more. The ‘hunting scene’ mosaic reminds a similar artwork in the Roman Villa del Casale in Piazza Armerina.

Just a few kilometres up the coast from Sicily’s southernmost point is one of Sicily’s prettiest seaside villages: Marzamemi. You will enjoy lunch and the rest of the afternoon in this quaint fishing village, where they can see the small and characteristic houses of the fishermen which border the main square around the 18th century tonnara – the town’s famous tuna production factory.

It was the Arabs of the 10th century who put Marzamemi on the map. They not only gave the village its poetic name, Mars? al-hamam but also built the original tonnara (tuna processing plant), which was to become one of the most important on the island. Although the tonnara itself is no longer in function, Marzamemi continues its artisanal fishing and processing activities, producing all manner of delicacies, including canned tuna, dried tuna roe (bottarga), marinated anchovies, tuna salamis and much more. (B,D)

Day 5: Day at leisure

Enjoy resort and beach facilities. Full board at the buffet restaurant. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Taormina

After breakfast, the English-speaking tour guide will escort you to Taormina. About an hour and a half north of Syracuse is a small town considered one of the jewels of Sicily. Perched on a cliff at 200 meters high, Taormina offers an incredible view of the sea and the Etna volcano.

Founded in the 4th century BC, Taormina enjoyed great prosperity under the Greek and later under the Romans. Taormina’s past is Sicily’s history in a microcosm: Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Swabians, the French and the Spanish all came, saw, conquered and left thei footprint. Its reincarnation as a tourist destination dates to the 18th century, when northern Europeans discovered it on the Grand Tour.

Goethe, Alexander Dumas, Johannes Brahms, D.H. Lawrence, Oscar Wilde, Truman Capote, John Steinbeck, Francis Ford Coppola, Leonard Bergman, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, Elisabeth Taylor and Woody Allen have all sojourned in Taormina, the pearl of the Mediterranean.

Beautifully restored mediaeval buildings, breathtaking views around every corner and a giddy network of winding streets strewn with shops, bars and restaurants make for a perfect holiday spot. The main attraction is, without doubt, the Greek-Roman theatre. Now home to all manner of events, including plays, fashion shows, concerts, and cinema festivals, the Teatro Greco, as its name suggests, started its life in the 3rd Century BC. Taormina is centrered around its main thoroughfare, Corso Umberto I. At the beginning of this charming street is perhaps the greatest symbol of Taormina’s long varied history: Palazzo Corvaja. Its architecture is a sublime mix of Arab, Norman and Gothic and includes battlements, mullioned windows and shady courtyards.  (B,D)

Day 7: Day at leisure

Enjoy resort and beach facilities. Full board at the buffet restaurant. (B,L,D)

Day 8: Fontane Bianche/Catania Airport

After breakfasf, transfer by private bus to Catania airport. End of our service.

The Accommodation

The 4-star resort lies along one of the most beautiful coast of all Sicily. Just half an hour from Syracuse, the hotel is only 200 mt from the pristine beach. Rooms features air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, TV, safe and bright furnishing. Umbrella and bedsuns are available by the beach and by the swimming pool. A buffet restaurant serves Italian and Sicilian cuisine.

Included:
Private RT airport transfer
Private bus transportation
English-speaking tour guide
7 nights accomodation, shared room
Half Board meal plan on D2, D4, D6
Full Board meal plan on D3, D5
Drink and snack included
Guided tour in Syracuse, Noto,Tellaro, Marzamemi, Taormina
Entrance fees as per programme
Beach facilities (1 umbrella+2 sunbeds per room, from the third row)
Insurance

Not included:
Hotel city tax
Extras, drinks and personal expenses
Gratuities and porterage