Tour of Sicily: 2 Nights / 3 Days (2) (ST6)

Messina, Catania, Taormina, Giardini Naxos, Palermo, Trapani, Milazzo, Napoli, Siracusa, Ragusa, Porto Empedocle, Reggio Calabria

Day 1: Taormina - Messina - Cefalù After breakfast, we will drive along the Ionian Sea as soon as we arrive in Messina we will visit the Cathedral of Messina and admire the whole beautiful Duomo Square with the largest astronomical and mechanical clock in the world, housed in the free-standing campanile. We will then drive you to Cefalu’ along the Tyrrhenian sea where you can admire the beautiful Aeolian Islands. We will Visit the charming fishing town of Cefalù with its medieval pebble-streets and outstanding Arab-Norman Cathedral. The most important monument in the town: it was planned as the burial place of Roger II and his family. It shows a very interesting combination of different styles: Arabic, Byzantine, Romanesque and Baroque. The façade is flanked by two massive bell-towers and preceeded by a portico from the 15 th century. Lunch and Dinner on your and overnight.
Day 2: Cefalù - Palermo After breakfast departure for Palermo the capital of Sicily where we wiil visit the Quattro Canti ("four corners", the Pretoria Fountain, better known as the "fountain of shame", the Norman Cathedral and the Royal Palace adorn the historic center of Palermo. Then, we drive to Monreale, medieval town known for its Arab-Norman cathedral built in the twelfth century. Amazing, inside, is the complex of the mosaics with a golden background, culminating in the great apse with the figure of Christ Pantocrator, made between the twelfth and thirteenth century and depicting the cycle of Old and New Testament, which is the most comprehensive cycle of the Byzantine tradition. Of great interest are the porphyry sarcophagi of William I and II, the 16th century Chapel of St. Benedict and the 17th century Chapel of the Crucified, through which you access the rich Treasure of the Cathedral. Remarkable, finally, is the Benedictine Cloister, thirteenth century, within which there is a courtyard that contains an elegant fountain in Oriental style.
Day 3: Palermo - Segesta - Erice -Trapani After breakfast Departure for the province of Trapani. After a scenic drive uphill and across the countryside, we will reach Segesta. We will Visit the beautiful Greek temple from the 5th Century BC, perfectly preserved and in Doric style. We will then drive you to the medieval town of Erice located at 751 m , perched on the mountain of the same name , covering a triangular plateau with a glorious wiew over the sea.
Enclosed within defensible bastions and walls, the town is a veritable labyrinthof little cobbled streets and passages wide anough to accommodate only one person at a time. where we will make a beautiful walking tour and you can admire the 12 C Venus Castle, Chiesa Matrice the main church ,and you can taste the famous marzipan. Lunch on your own .After lunch we drive to Trapani on the Salt Way Road we tour the historic salt flats works, where the ancient tradition of harvesting salt from the sea is still practiced. We then return to Palermo. Dinner on your own and overnight.

Conditions
Price included: Touring by air-conditioned deluxe motorcoach, van or limo, english-speaking driver, Local guides are provided on request.
Price not included: Airfare, meals, optional trip insurance, transfers from airport to Palermo or Catania, hotel fees to the archeological area or monuments, tips to local guides, motorcoach driver or driver/escort , all not specified in "Price included".