Sample Itinerary…

All tours are custom designed by our experts based on your travel dates and desired destinations, with your specific interests in mind. Please contact Plan-it Italy by phone or email, or complete the online form, to receive a no-obligation proposal, including a preliminary itinerary and estimated travel costs.

Ancient Sicily

Eternal Sicily has stood for centuries at the crossroads of Europe and Africa, playing host to the ancient Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and Spaniards. These cultures have left their mark on Sicily, one of the most fascinating places on earth.

Escape back in time to massive Greek temples surrounded by bright red poppies, open-air theaters atop Italian mountains, quaint fishing villages with expansive sea views, and isolated villages set in the wild. Excite your senses with some of the world’s most complex cuisine, food with a varied influence that has been passed down through the ages.

• Arrive at Palermo, Punta Raisi Airport, meet your escort and driver and transfer to a hotel in the heart of Palermo’s historic center. Meander to the main drag, which boasts the Teatro Massimo Opera House to tour the sumptuous interior. Spend your evening at leisure.

• A local guide arrives at your hotel on day two for a full day of sightseeing. Spend the morning with a visit to the Palatine Chapel, the Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti, the Cathedral of Palermo, and the Capuchin Catacombs. After lunch, follow your guide to Piazza Pretoria, La Martorana and San Cataldo, the back streets of the medieval center, and the Quattro Canti. A free evening can be spent in beautiful downtown Palermo.

• On day three depart for Bagheria for a visit to Villa Palagonia. Celebrated for the eccentricity of its grotesque sculptures, tour the grounds of this sumptuous villa. Continue to Villa Cattolica where the grandiose villa houses quite a bizarre art collection. Tour the villa grounds and its interior. In the afternoon, depart for the Tyrrhenian coast to the lovely seaside town of Cefalu. Wind your way through the medieval walkways to the sun drenched main piazza and visit its wonderful 13th-century Norman cathedral.

• Transfer on day four to Erice. Meet your local guide for an en route visit to Monreale where you can visit the cathedral and its beautiful cloister. Continue to the Doric temple of Segesta, set in an atmosphere of poetic isolation, plus a stop in the nearby Greek theater. Arrive in Erice at 2,500 feet above sea level to take pleasure in one of Italy’s most beautiful towns and spectacular views. Evening at leisure in Erice.

• Departure on day five shows you the fishing villages. Arrive at the medieval farmstead of Scopello, which has been transformed, into a quiet piazza, complete with two trattorias, two ceramic shops and an espresso bar. At the edge of Scopello starts the Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro with miles of uninterrupted natural coastline. Take a walk along one of the tails and take a dip in one of the tranquil coves. Return to Erice for a relaxing evening.

• On day six transfer to Agrigento. En route visit the ancient Greek site of Selinunte. Take a drive along the Mediterranean coast to the splendid isolation that is Selinunte’s archaeological site. Meet your local guide who will take you through the wonderfully positioned temples and acropolis. Arrive at your seaside hotel and enjoy a quiet evening in town.

• Transfer on day seven to Siracusa and meet your local guide for a stop in the Valley of the Temples. Once a flourishing Greek settlement, the remains of a string of Doric temples has kept the classical world alive within the beauty of a still valley of wild thyme, fennel, silvery olive groves and almond blossoms. Continue into the Erei Mountains and stop for a visit to Piazza Armerina. Meet your local guide for a tour of the ancient archeological complex of Villa Romana Del Casale and the world’s best preserved Roman mosaics. Arrive at your seaside hotel on Siracusa’s isle of Ortygia. Evening at leisure.

• Travels on day eight is to the Greek Archeological Park. Meet your local guide for a tour of Greek sites including their wonderful theater. Next stop is the Archeological Museum of Siracusa. After lunch, join your escort for a stroll through Ortygia’s center. Walk through medieval streets to the grandiose Piazza Archimede and visit the Tempio di Apollo plus the old guild’s quarter of Via Maestranza. Evening at leisure in Siracusa.

• On day nine transfer to Taormina. En route visit Mount Etna, then take a drive into the fertile lava land of this area. Visit the summit of this active volcano at 9,969 feet. Meet your Etna guide who will take you within 900 feet of the central crater. Transit to the summit is by a combination of mini- vans, cable cars and four-wheel drive vehicles. Late afternoon arrival at your hotel in Taormina center, then an evening at leisure.

• Spend day ten in Taormina. Meet your escort for a stroll along Corso Umberto. Continue to the Giardini Publici, one of Italy’s most beautiful parks, offering spectacular views of Mount Etna. Finish your walk at Taormina’s extraordinary Greek theater. After lunch, perhaps a funicular ride to Taormina’s beach or to the village of Castelmola, high above Taormina. Evening at leisure.

• It’s your day on the 11th day of this vacation to enjoy the wonders of Taormina.

• Transfer on day 12 to the Catania Airport. Arrivederci to Sicily.