Join us on this wonderful 12 day tour to Eastern Sicily, a land unbelievably rich in beauty, history, arts and culture. Accompanied by an experienced tour manger, visit ancient cities, explore hilltop villages and spectacular landscapes, walk among wonderful Greek and Roman ruins and climb magnificent Mt Etna as we travel from the Baroque city of Ragusa to historic Syracuse, beautiful Taormina and the delightful lava city of Catania. This is a wonderful holiday featuring easy grade walks and enjoyable excursions. The weather at this time of year is very pleasant and there is plenty of free time for relaxing, shopping and exploring at leisure.  

Your Tour Price Includes:

Itinerary


Day 1 - Catania / Ragusa
Fly from Dublin to Catania. On arrival transfer to your hotel in Ragusa. The wonderful Baroque centre of Ragusa is a must see, while the surrounding area is tranquil and very much part of traditional Sicily. Together with seven other cities in the Val di Noto it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 2 - Ragusa
After breakfast we will meet for our two hour guided city walking tour of beautiful Ragusa. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy at leisure.

Day 3 – Cava d’Ispica
After breakfast we will walk through the fantastic gorge of Cava d’Ispica, with its renowned Larderia, a series of 4th/5th century catacombs lined with burial chambers. We see the Grotte Cadute, a residential complex on several levels, where holes in the ceiling and steps cut in the walls below enabled the residents to move from one level to another with the aid of poles and ropes that could be pulled up in times of danger. Back to Ragusa. Free rest of day.

Day 4 – Vendicari – Noto/Modica
After breakfast enjoy a guided walk in the wilderness area of the protected Isla Vendicari Nature Reserve, a complex of coastal marshlands, home to large populations of migratory birds. We will follow paths through the salt fields to a medieval watchtower with views of the whole reserve. If you have binoculars with you, today is the day to bring them! After lunch we travel on to either Modica or Noto for free time to wander the baroque streets of these World Heritage sites before travelling to Syracuse for the night.

Day 5 – Syracuse
After breakfast take a guided tour of Syracuse. To walk here is a journey through history among Greek temples, Baroque buildings and courtyards, and Arab workshops and squares. Explore the Neapolis Archaeological Park with the Greek and Roman Theatre, the Latomie del Paradiso and the Orecchio di Dionisio. Also visit the huge underground burial chambers of the Catacombs of St John. After lunch, you are free to admire the Piazza (one of the most beautiful in all Italy) in front of the great Cathedral and visit the Jewish Baths. There is time to stroll around the peninsula past the imposing fortress, the Castello Maniace and for shopping in the bustling streets of the Old City.

Day 6 – Reserve of Pantalica and transfer to Giardini Naxos
After breakfast we check out of the hotel and the travel to the Reserve of Pantalica for a guided tour. Situated inland in the valley of Anapo, an extraordinary succession of gorges and canyons crossed by two rivers: the Anapo and Cavagrande. Here we see Pantalica, a Bronze Age settlement and the largest Necropolis in the Mediterranean, where thousands of tombs give a beehive appearance to the cliff-face. After lunch we travel to Giardini Naxos. Free rest of day.

Day 7 - Taormina
After breakfast we will have a two hour guided tour of the town of Taormina. This is a popular resort town perched high above the Ionian Sea with views towards Mt Etna. Free rest of day.

Day 8 - Free day.
Visit Isola Bella, not so much a “beautiful island” as a peninsula connected to Sicily. Being as there are no tides in the Med the shingle causeway is accessible all day. Visit the Public Gardens which one visitor described as a “copy of the Garden of Eden”. Walk the Corso Umberto, browse the designer shops and soak up the atmosphere.

Day 9 - Mt Etna
After breakfast we check out of our hotel for a visit to Mt Etna.  Travel up by coach and then cable car to the 2500 meter level of the volcano. If you choose to you can pay a supplement of €25 for an additional jeep tour of the mountain. You also have the option of taking the cable car up and walking back down. We will then transfer on to Catania and check in to our hotel. Free rest of evening.

Day 10 - Catania
After breakfast we will have a two hour guided city tour then free rest of the day.

Day 11 - Free day.
Free day or....this may be the best train ride in Europe. Go to the main train station and get the Metro to Borgo. This is the southern terminus for the Circumetnea.. After going through the suburbs it soon opens up into great views either side, with valleys and ridges on one side and, eventually, Etna on the other. Take the 2 hour journey to Randazzo, highly recommended as an unspoilt medieval town. Apparently the Etna eruptions never reached it, although it is close to the mountain. From the train station walk down the main road and go left into a maze of alleys and streets. You can then get the Circumetnea train to Riposto and catch the mainline back to Catania or return the same way, with Etna in the late afternoon sunshine on the left. A great experience and, like all Italian train trips, good value for money.

Day 12 - After breakfast we depart for the airport at 10.30 to check-in for our 13.20 Aer Lingus flight. We will arrive in Dublin at 16.15
 

Booking Information:

• Price includes airport taxes and charges. 1 standard piece of luggage included.
• Price based on twin share. Price based on twin share. If you are travelling alone and are willing to share a twin room with another group member of the same sex, we will do our best to accommodate this request although it cannot be guaranteed.
• Single supplement: €275.00
• Optional insurance available (terms and conditions apply)
• Non refundable/non transferable deposit of €295 per person per tour is required at time of booking (laser, cheque or credit card)
• Balance due 8 weeks prior to departure
• Flights, taxes, prices and itinerary subject to change