Sicily tour package: the authentic Sicily in 7 nights/8 days

Welcome to Sicily!

This will be the day of your arrival to Catania. Check-in at the hotel and relax after your journey.

In the evening, meet your host and the rest of the group at the welcoming dinner. It will be a moment to get to know your new friends who you are going to share your adventure with, and chat in front of a tasty dinner with a view!

Exploring Castelmola and the coast of Taormina

In the morning, pick-up and transfer to Castelmola, a quaint hilltop village above Taormina, part of the circuit of the Most Beautiful Italian Villages. Visit the lovely town known for its jaw-dropping views of Taormina, Mt Etna, and the bay of Naxos. Don’t miss a taste of the almond wine, a local product invented here in 1907.

Then, we will drive to Giardini Naxos to embark on a fun 2-hr boat ride. Enjoy a dive in the crystal waters of the bay, and sail around Isola Bella, a rocky island known to be the most famous rocky beach of Taormina, also filmed in The White Lotus II.

Back in Taormina for lunch at your leisure. Free afternoon. We will share a pizza dinner in Taormina.

Opt-in: Those who are interested can join a 2-hour guided visit of Taormina in the afternoon to learn more about the place’s history and visit the Greek Theater.

A thrilling adventure on Mt Etna

After breakfast, pick up at the hotel and transfer to Piano Provenzana, the northern station of Mt Etna. We will walk on the ancient lava flows and will learn a lot about the old and modern eruptions, especially the one of 2002.

For lunch we will visit one of the best local wineries of Mt Etna. After meeting the local staff we will embark on an interesting visit of the estate, learning more about this challenging wine production. We will explore the fermentation area and the wine cellar before getting to taste 5 different wines paired with a selection of delicious food.

In the afternoon, on our way back to Taormina we will make a stop at the marvelous Alcantara Gorges to explore lava canyon carved by the cold waters of the river.

Dinner at your leisure in Taormina.

The Castle of Donnafugata and the Modican Chocolate

Check-out and transfer. Guided visit of the outstanding 1800s Castle of Donnafugata. We will visit the interiors, featuring beautiful rooms with ancient furniture, and we will have a relaxing stroll in the park to enjoy a visit to the Stone Labyrinth. Lunch at a local agriturismo.

In the afternoon, we will explore the baroque beauty of Modica. Here, we won’t miss a visit to a chocolate laboratory and a tasting of the famous Modican chocolate, renowned for its grainy texture, a result of its unique cold-working process.

Modica’s most overwhelming characteristic is undoubtedly its topography. The city is historically split in two: Modica Bassa, the elegant heart of town, lies at the bottom of the valley where rivers once ran, while Modica Alta is a maze of narrow streets, steps, and houses clinging to the cliffs.

Dinner at the hotel is included.

Cooking class in Ragusa-Ibla

Pick up at the hotel. Embark for a fun adventure in Ragusa Ibla. Nestled on a hilltop, we will start our day here visiting the old water mill, still in use.

Here the owners still produce flour from the ancient Sicilian grains. We will have the chance to try a cooking experience “from the garden to the plate”, picking with the cook the best vegetables in the garden to be used in the preparation of your tasty local lunch.

After lunch, we will take a digestive stroll through the baroque historic center of Ragusa Ibla. We will start the visit of this lovely town from the quiet garden, keeping some churches and overlooking the canyon of the Irminio river.

We will continue to unwind in the town until we reach the magnificent cathedral of Saint George, scenically located on top an impressive baroque staircase.

Exploring the baroque beauty of Noto

Check-out after breakfast. We will drive from Marina di Ragusa to Noto, the so-called “Stone Garden” and capital of the UNESCO-listed baroque towns of the Noto Valley. Crossing Porta Reale, we will step into Corso Vittorio Emanuele, lined with magnificent baroque architecture that has earned it the title of capital of the Sicilian late-baroque.

Huge churches and lavish noble palaces stand in harmonious succession, making once again the picture-perfect setting for your memories.

After some free time, for lunch we will shortly venture through the carob and olive groves of the Iblean countryside.

Right in the middle of it, we will stop at a typical agriturismo for our rich lunch, based on the authentic flavors of the Sicilian countryside.

After lunch, transfer to Syracuse and check in. Dinner at the hotel.

Syracuse, the ancient Greek capital of Sicily

After breakfast, it’s time to explore the ancient Greek capital of Sicily, Syracuse.

We will start with the absolutely mind-blowing Neapolis Archaeological Park, once the monumental heart of the city.

Here you will admire the largest Greek Theater of Sicily, the Roman Amphitheater, and the famous Ear of Dionysius. You will get to understand better not only the history but also the geology of this area.

Later, we will move to the bustling heart of Syracuse: Ortygia Island.

We will walk through the intricated alleys of the historic center, and we will visit the outstanding Cathedral of Saint Lucy, which still shows the Greek columns of the original temple dedicated to Athena.

Lunch at your leisure in Ortygia and a free afternoon. Farewell dinner at the hotel.

See you next time in Sicily!

Our Sicily tour package has come to an end. We hope to keep in touch and see you again next time!