PRIVATE DAILY TOURS FROM CEFALU AND TAORMINA
28.12. (date of arrival and departure can change according to your needs)
Arrival at Airport Palermo and transfer to B&B/Hotel in Cefalu - Tour of Cefalu
(1,5 h driving for Cefalu')
Visit of the historical center in Cefalù with local guide
Overnight in Cefalù
29.12 Castelbuono in the Madonie Park
(30 min. driving for Castelbuono)
An excursion highly recommended and not be missed: a special itinerary to discover and taste the beauty of the old and characteristic towns in the Madonie Park, like Castelbuono http://www.prolococastelbuono.it with its medieval castle and church “Matrice Vecchia” and finally tasting of the typical pastries on the main square Piazza Margherita.
Premium wine tasting in the “S.Anastasia” winery in Castelbuono http://abbaziasantanastasia.com/it. Cooking lesson and lunch or dinner.
Overnight in Cefalù
30.12 Segesta & Erice and Marsala
( 2 h driving for Segesta)
Departure to Segesta and visit the lonely temple (€6 entrance each person) of the 5th century b.c.
Visit Erice with its cobbled streets and the famous pastry shops.
In the afternoon visit of the “Florio” winery http://www.duca.it/cantineflorio.
Visit Marsala on the Western coast , famous for its wine production. Visit to Salt marshes.
Overnight in Cefalù
31.12 Transfer to B&B/Hotel in Taormina" - Taormina day Tour
(2,5 h driving for Taormina)
We drive along the north coast of the island towards Messina to reach Taormina. Visit of the Greek Theatre (€8 entrance each person) and the Cathedral.
Overnight in Taormina
01.01.2014 Free time in Taormina
Overnight in Taormina
02.01 Etna
(1 h driving to reach Mount Etna)
Driving to mount Etna (UNESCO Heritage Site) through several Sicilian towns (Santa Venerina, Zafferana).
We visit some old lava flows on the way. During the ascent different kinds of vegetation can be noted.
We will reach 2.000 meters. Visit the “Silvestri” craters (last century eruption) and the latest new lava flows and craters from 2001/2003, enjoy the desert moon atmosphere, probably with snow! If you want, you can reach 3000 meters by cable car (€ 15,00 each person).
On the way, we will also stop and visit a local family farm where it is possible to taste local Etna wine, a selection of natural honey (orange, lemon, eucalyptus, strawberry...), almond pastries, olives, extra virgin olive oil.
Overnight in Taormina
03.01 Siracusa and Noto day Tour
(2 h driving to reach Siracusa)
Driving to the beautiful town of Syracuse. More than any other modern city in Sicily, Syracuse manifests a visible continuity from its ancient Greek past, both historical and mythological.
We’ll meet the local guide and visit the archaeological area of Neapolis with its Greek theatre, the Roman amphitheatre and Latomia del Paradiso (with its Dionysius Hear) and the "Ara of Hyeron"(€ 10 entrance each person).
Later on we will arrive at the ’Ortigia Island’, the heart of the city . Duomo was built above a Greek Temple, which holds more than 2.500 years of history. It is possible to visit one of the more charming spot of Ortigia, the "Arethusa fountain" with its Papyrus plants, overlooking the Ionic sea.
In the afternoon drive to Noto (UNESCO Heritage Site), the wonderful antique town was built in 1703 is entered by the Porta Reale and from there we follow Corso Vittorio Emanuele along which we can admire numerous 18th century beautiful palaces of incredible architectural value. The streets all leading to Corso Vittorio Emanuele have also many beautiful buildings including the Duomo, the Museo Civico.
Overnight in Taormina
04.01 Piazza Armerina and Caltagirone day Tour - Transfer to B&B/Hotel in Cefalù
(2 h driving to reach Piazza Armerina)
Villa Romana del Casale (UNESCO Heritage Site), it’s worth the journey to Sicily for its 3,500sq m of splendid 4th-century ad Roman mosaic floors, the most extensive in the world, and protected for posterity by a providential mud-slide in the early Middle Ages (€ 14 entrance each person).
In the afternoon continue to the history of Caltagirone; it’s town full of generations of craftsmen and artists who interpreted in original way the capability of the ceramics to create shapes and colors, ductile instrument so to give substance to the creative fantasy.
05.01 Palermo and Monreale
(1 h driving to reach Palermo)
The sightseeing of the biggest and most interesting historical centres of Europe, with local guide, includes the majestic arab-norman Cathedral, the Massimo theatre, the crossroads “Quattro Canti”, the Fontain Piazza Pretoria and the Martorana Church. If the time allows it, it’s possible to visit the Catacombs (€ 3 entrance each person) and the typical street market called “il Capo”.
The Cathedral of Monreale will not be missed.
Lunch in a typical place called “Focacceria San Francesco” http://www.anticafocacceria.it.
06.01 Free time in Cefalù
07.01 Transfer to Palermo Airport – end of our service
