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Best of Sicily 2010 - About this Tour

Tour Details | Departure Dates and Pricing

Details

Duration (with arrival/departure): 11
Tour Style: Regional
Destinations: Rome, Taormina, Syracuse, Agrigento, Palermo, Monte Cassino, Monreale, Mondello, Isle of Capri

Itinerary

Day 1 - Depart USA Overnight flight to Rome.

Day 2 - Arrive Rome (2 nights) Welcome to Rome, capital of Italy, and the Eternal City! The rest of the day is free to relax or explore on your own. This evening we enjoy a Welcome Drink with our Tour Director and fellow travelers. Afterwards, maybe enjoy an evening illuminations tour of the city or join the evening throng in cosmopolitan Piazza Navona with its centerpiece of Bernini’s magnificent fountain.

Hotel: Grand Hotel Tiberio (2 nights)

Day 3 - Rome sightseeing & at leisure A local guide introduces you to the grandeur of the city today. Your tour begins at St. Peter’s Basilica, mother church of the Catholic faith and built around the tomb of St Peter. Once inside, marvel at Michelangelo’s early masterpiece- the ‘Pieta’, as well as the splendid dome, completed after his death. Now cross the River Tiber to see one of the wonders of ancient Rome - the Colosseum, where gladiators, and sometimes martyrs, fought to the death against armed warriors or wild beasts. Your tour concludes with a view over the remains of the Roman Forum, once the bustling center of commerce, law and religion. This afternoon is free to shop, relax on the Via Veneto, or continue sightseeing? Perhaps visit the Catacombs, the Pantheon, or the Spanish Steps. This evening, why not try a typically Roman dinner in one of the many restaurants? (Buffet breakfast)

Day 4 - Rome – Capri – Sorrento – Bay of Naples Passing Monte Cassino, we drive to Naples where we cruise to the Isle of Capri. Our local guide takes us by funicular to Capri town to visit the famous gardens and admire the Faraglioni Rocks. Later we head for cliff-top Sorrento by boat and continue to our hotel. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Grand Hotel La Medusa

Day 5 - Bay of Naples – Taormina (Giardini Naxos) (3 nights) After visiting an inlaid wood workshop, we drive to Calabria via Salerno. Later we take the ferry across the Straits of Messina to Sicily and to the resort of Taormina for three nights. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Caesar Palace (3 nights)

Day 6 - Taormina orientation & at leisure Today we will discover a Hidden Treasure! But first we explore Taormina with our local guide, founded in 400 BC and beautifully located perched on the slopes of Mount Tauro, overlooking the sea. We see the Greek theater and the glorious subtropical terraced gardens before strolling along elegant Corso Umberto to the Piazza for splendid panoramic views across the bay to the Ionian Sea. Later, enjoy free time perhaps to shop for handmade lace on the Corso. (Buffet breakfast)

Day 7 - Syracuse excursion Today we leave for Syracuse, the ‘Greek city’ and birthplace of the mathematician Archimedes, where the local guide, using the audio system, shows us the archeological excavations including the Greek theater, the so-called Ear of Dionysius and the Roman amphitheater. In the afternoon we visit the Ortygia Island, the historical centre of Syracuse. Later we return to Taormina and enjoy a delicious dinner in a family run restaurant where we taste all the local specialties. (Buffet breakfast / 'Be My Guest' Dinner)

Day 8 - Taormina – Enna – Piazza Armerina – Agrigento This morning we leave Taormina and soon have views of the impressive fortress town of Enna. Then we visit Piazza Armerina where we find the 4th century Roman Villa of Casale which is renowned for its unique mosaics covering almost the entire floor. Later, on arrival in Agrigento, our local guide takes us to visit the Valley of the Temples, considered the finest Greek sanctuary in Sicily and rivaling those of Athens in their Grecian grandeur. We see the splendid Temple of Concord and the Temple of Juno overlooking the sea before continuing to our hotel. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Grand Hotel Dei Templi

Day 9 - Agrigento – Erice – Palermo (2 nights) This morning we drive to Erice, the only Sicilian town that has been inhabited since pre-history, and which lies 800 metres above sea level on a small peak near the coastal town of Trapani. The oldest structure in the town is the protective thick boundary wall which dates back to Punic times. Since then, the town has been home to the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Greeks and the Romans, the Arabs and the Normans who built the castle above the harbor. We enjoy wonderful views from the castle gardens before continuing to Palermo the vibrant Sicilian capital which was founded by the Phoenicians and later became part of the Roman Empire. (Buffet breakfast)

Hotel: Astoria Palace (2 nights)

Day 10 - Palermo sightseeing & at leisure Our morning guided sightseeing tour, using the audio equipment, takes us to Piazza Bellini and the cathedral. Later we stop to view the Conca d’Oro from Monreale where we visit the 12th century Norman Cathedral. Finally we visit the fishing village of Mondello before time at leisure. Tonight, we get together with our traveling companions and Tour Director for a festive Farewell Dinner with wine in a local restaurant to celebrate the end of our tour together. (Buffet breakfast / Farewell Dinner)

Day 11 - Palermo – USA Farewell to Sicily, our Tour Director and new-found friends as our Italian vacation comes to an end. There are airport transfers available, conditions apply. (Buffet breakfast)

Free airport transfers: Transfers on Day 2 at Catania Airport will operate at 9.30, 12.30 & 15.30. Passengers arriving later should make their own way to the first hotel. Return transfers on the last touring day will arrive at Palermo Airport at 06.30 and 08.30.

Whats Included

Sightseeing Highlights

Taormina Orientation tour includes the Corso Umberto.
Syracuse Visit its archeological excavations and visit Ortygia Island.
Piazza Armerina Visit the Roman Villa of Casale.
Enna View this town.
Agrigento Visit the Valley of the Temples.
Rome Guided visit of St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City. Sightseeing tour includes views of the Forum and Colosseum.
Erice Visit the castle gardens.
Palermo Sightseeing including Piazza Bellini and the cathedral.
Monreale View the Conca d'Oro and visit the Norman cathedral.
Mondello Visit the fishing village.
Monte Cassino View the Abbey
Isle of Capri Orientation includes a visit to some of the famous gardens. Funicular to Capri town.

Dining Highlights

9 hot buffet breakfasts.
3 three-course dinners.
‘Be My Guest’ speciality dinner with wine in a family run restaurant.
Farewell Dinner with wine in Palermo.

14 meals in total

First Class Travel Highlights

First Class hotel accommodation includes twin-bedded rooms with private facilities, all hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes included.
Touring by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and a washroom onboard.
The services of one of Trafalgar's top professional multi-lingual Tour Directors.
A qualified local city guide in Rome, Capri, Taormina, Syracuse, Agrigento and Palermo.
Airport transfers are provided on Day 2 and Day 11.
A stylish wallet, tour documents and a Welcome on Tour book.

Airport Transfers

London Gateways: Transfers can be expensive, particularly between the airport and your London hotel. But when you book your Trafalgar tour and take advantage of our land and air packages, we have included a FREE transfer to and from London’s airports and your Trafalgar London hotel. For passengers who have their own flight arrangements we offer you the opportunity to purchase inexpensive transfers to and from London’s Heathrow – Trafalgar has negotiated special rates for the Dot2Dot transfer from London’s Heathr
Important – Please Note: Passengers will only be entitled to transfers to and from London Airports providing the following conditions are met:
For included transfers: Your flights must be booked directly by Trafalgar no fewer than 21 days prior to departure. For chargeable transfers: Your Travel Agent provides detailed flight information to Trafalgar no fewer than 21 days prior to departure. Once transfers are booked they cannot be changed.
For London arrivals, you must stay at a London hotel booked by Trafalgar on the night of arrival and the night prior to your departure date.
Trafalgar only includes one inbound and one outbound transfer.
In the event of flight delays outside of Trafalgar’s control, the transfers will be deemed to be cancelled.
All transfers are based on group transfers. No refund is therefore available for missed transfers, or passengers not using this service.
In the event of unforeseen events (such as road or rail works, strikes or demonstrations), Trafalgar will not be responsible for delayed or cancelled transfers.
Heathrow Airport: National Express Dot2Dot will pick up and drop off in time to meet all flights to/from London’s Heathrow Airport. For guests arriving at the Dot2Dot desk after 22.00 hrs please make use of the courtesy phone to arrange your transfer to your Trafalgar hotel.
Gatwick Airport Passengers who have booked Trafalgar’s Land and Air packages arriving at London’s Gatwick Airport are provided with a Gatwick Express train voucher. The Gatwick Express train journey from Gatwick Airport to London’s Victoria Station takes 30 minutes. Guests then need to make their way from Victoria Station to their Trafalgar hotel.
European Gateways: With Trafalgar all passengers will receive complimentary arrival and departure transfers on the scheduled arrival and departure day of their tour at the times specified below. Please ensure your Travel Agent reserves your flight to co-ordinate with the transfer times shown.
Trafalgar Bonus - Passengers who book Trafalgar's Land+Air package and who arrive or depart outside of these specified times on the scheduled arrival and departure day of the tour will also be provided with a transfer.
Passengers arriving before or leaving after the scheduled tour days are not entitled to a transfer but may book and purchase one through Trafalgar providing that they also purchase the additional pre and/or post tour hotel night(s) from Trafalgar. Please ask for prices of transfers at the time of booking your extra night accommodation.
Land only passengers arriving or departing on the scheduled tour arrival or departure days but whose flights don't coincide with the listed transfer times below may also book and purchase these transfers. Flight details must be provided to Trafalgar not less than 21 days before the flight departure.
Click here to see scheduled transfer times.

Options

Child Prices: Apply to children under the age of 16.