Treasures of western lands…

Arrival to Palermo (or Trapani) airport and collection of the rental car. In the afternoon, continue to Erice, the ancient city of Elimian whose historic center preserves the charm of an ancient medieval village animated by typical craft shops (finely decorated ceramics, hand-woven colorful carpets, traditional almond-based cakes and fruit candied). *** We suggest a lunch in a typical restaurant and a typical pastry tasting based on Sicilian cannoli and almond paste. Accommodation in hotel in Trapani area and overnight.

Breakfast at hotel. Departure for San Vito lo Capo and time at disposal for sun bathing in its beautiful sandy beach. In the afternoon visit of the stunning Zingaro Nature Reserve, to the west of Palermo, just after Castellammare del Golfo. It stretches along the coast for 7 kilometres with its rugged, rocky and spectacular coastline. At the end visit of the lovely little village of Scopello. Return to hotel. Free dinner and overnight.
Our suggestions: excursion af the Zingaro Nature Reserve by tourist boat to admire the most spectacular bays and inlets otherwise unreachable by land (suppl. € 35,00 p.p.).

Breakfast at hotel. Departure to visit Segesta’s ancient Greek doric temple. The archaeological site, about seventy kilometres southwest of Palermo, reflects the presence of several ancient civilizations, beginning with the Elymians. Continue to Monreale, located on a hill of the mountain overlooking Palermo, and visit of its Cathedral is a precious testimony of Arab-Norman and Byzantine mosaic tradition. Accommodation at hotel in Palermo/Cefalù area and overnight.

Breakfast at hotel. Departure to Palermo, the capital of Sicily with many fine examples of Arab-Norman architecture, such as the Palatine Chapel in Palermo, which was the crowning architectural achievement of William II’s grandfather, Roger II.  You’ll enjoy a walking tour around Piazza Pretoria and Via Maqueda with its “four corners” converging Palermo at a quartet of Baroque palaces left over from the heyday of Spanish rule dating back to 1560. Then you’ll visit the Cathedral constructed in various architectural styles throughout the Roman, Norman, Arabic, and Islamic dominations.  Enjoy a light lunch at ‘Antica Focacceria San Francesco’, tasting the typical street food (‘Panelle’, ‘Pani ca meusa’, ‘Focaccia schietta o maritata’), and some of the oldest  recipes of Palermo’s traditional cuisine. Worth a walk through the suggestive street market of Ballarò. Return to hotel. Free dinner and overnight. In the afternoon, continue to Cefalù, a charming coastal town which boasts a massive Norman Cathedral with outstanding mosaics. Return to hotel. Free dinner and overnight.

Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, excursion through the interior of Sicily to reach Piazza Armerina. Here you will tour the remains of the famous Villa Romana del Casale, one of the most sumptuous villas of the late Roman Empire whose floor mosaics comprise the most vital and colorful manifestation of Roman figurative art in Europe. In the afternoon, you’ll discover Agrigento, whose history dates back to 580 BC. Visit of the Valley of the Temples, a magnificent cluster of Greek ruins overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Accommodation at hotel. Free dinner and overnight.

Breakfast at hotel. Visit of the archaeological park of Selinunte, the largest in the Mediterranean, with the remains of acropolis and the seven temples. You can admire the ruins of the temples of the eastern hill and the acropolis, where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the sea. Continue to Marsala, renowned for its wine production. Marsala is also the city where Garibaldi and his “thousand” landed in 1860 to begin the unification of Italy. Worth a visit are also the suggestive still working salt-pans of the lagoon of the Stagnone, a few miles north of Marsala, characterized by a unique landscape and a flourishing variety of wildlife. Don’t miss a visit and a wine tasting at the famous Florio wine cellars! Accommodation at hotel. Free dinner and overnight.

In the morning, departure from Marsala or Trapani by hydrofoil to make a full day excursion to Favignana. Here in the month of June the ancient though bloody ritual of the ‘mattanza’ of the tuna is perpetuated. At the end, return to the hotel and overnight.

Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, departure from Trapani for an exciting minicruise by tourist boat to Favignana, the main of the Egadi Islands, and Levanzo.
Program: Departure from Trapani at 09:30 am, navigation to Favignana whose arrival is scheduled at 10.20 am, stop at the port with free time available to visit the town and go shopping, take a swim in the beautiful beach in front of the harbor, go around the island by train or rent a bicycle, visit the enchanting “Florio” Tuna Museum. Departure from Favignana at 12:30, it begins to coast the island stopping in the most beautiful and picturesque coves, where you can swim. The lunch will be followed by a typical antipasto, penne alla pesto alla trapanese, bread, water, wine and seasonal fruit. After lunch we will head for Levanzo where we will stop in the port of about an hour, useful to visit the small fishing village and enjoy the excellent granite or the famous artisan ice cream. Departing from Levanzo we will coast the Faraglione di Levanzo, the most beautiful coves, like Cala Fredda and Cala Minnola, where we will make another stop for a dip in the sea. Lastly, the route will be made for the return to the port of Trapani, whose arrival is expected at about 5:45 pm. At the end, return to the hotel and overnight.

*Excursion with supplement of € 25.00 p.p.

Breakfast at hotel. Today you will discover Mothya, the most important island of the Oriented Natural Reserve of the Stagnone Laguna. Because of its strategic position in the Mediterranean Sea, the Carthaginians wanted it to become one of their own trading ports. The remains of its civilization and prosperous trade have been brought back to light by a long sequence of archaeological excavations, especially by means of Joseph Whitaker, who previously bought the island. Today in his house you find the museum that collects the finds brought to light during several sequence of excavations. Great pride of the island is the famous is the famous Giovinetto of Mothia. In the afternoon, visit of Trapani, which preserves some important Baroque buildings such as the Cathedral and the Sanctuary dell’Annunziata. The local craftsmanship was expressed at the highest levels in the processing of coral; precious works, true masterpieces, are now exhibited in the National Museum Pepoli. At the end, return to the hotel, free dinner and overnight.

Breakfast at hotel. Time at leisure until drop-off of the car at Palermo (or Trapani) airport. End of our service.

Car hire group B (Opel Corsa, Citroen C1 or similar – basic formula) with unlimited mileage and basic insurances; accommodation at 4 star hotel on standard dblb; 8 BB arrangement; RT hydrofoil Trapani (or Marsala)/Favignana and v.v.; VAT.

Flights; meals; tour escort; local guides; drinks; entrance fees; city tax (to be paid on the spot); facultative insurances for car rental; drop-off tax in case of release of the car tips; extra; all not mentioned as included.

Half board (dinners at hotels or restaurants) € 200,00 p.p. (drinks excluded) or Soft Half board (only 5 dinners at hotels or restaurants) € 110,00 p.p. (drinks excluded); accommodation on sglb room € 215,00.