Itinerary Expand all Palermo to Catania Day 1 Welcome to Palermo Make your own flights arrangements to Palermo, Sicily’s regional capital. It’s got a lively and bohemian feel to it and the ideal place to kick start six days on this glorious island. Check into your hotel for a rest, but this metropolis’ bars and restaurants will coax you out before long. Tonight you may wish to join your leader and fellow travellers and head out to familiarise yourself with the lively historic centre. Day 2 Take a Mafia tour. Tonight, you’ll taste the best of the city on a foodie exploration Get under the skin of Palermo with the help of a local guide. You’ll learn about the dark Mafia history (and the civil anti-mafia movement) as you walk beneath the domes and frescoed arches of the city. Tour complete, the afternoon is yours to explore Palermo. You’ll join a food tour tonight to sample some of the region’s celebrated street food around the port of La Cala and the nightlife area of La Vucciria. Try rascatura croquette washed down with a beer served from the carts and kiosks of street vendors. The evening ends at Piazza Fonderia, with ice cream from a legendary gelateria. Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 3 Travel to Cefalu for beach time. Then up to hilltop Taormina, then on to Taormina Bay Leave the city behind today. It’s an hour to Cefalu where there’s downtime to relax on the beach. Feeling restless? Wander through the Cefalu’s lanes and visit the beautiful Duomo. In the afternoon there’s a 90-minute drive to your hotel on Taormina Bay. Settle in, relax by the pool or take a walk to the nearby Isola Bella beach. Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Ride Taormina’s cable car, explore the historic centre or relax at the beach After breakfast, you’ll take the cable car to Taormina’s historic centre. Get to know the town in your own time, paying an optional visit to Teatro Greco, a spectacular horseshoe-shaped Greek theatre with vast and impressive views. There’s an opportunity to taste some of Sicily’s best cannoli pastries and granita desserts in Taormina’s cafes. Pull up a chair and enjoy a little people-watching – this is the type of town that seduces artists, tourists and the glitterati alike. Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 Discover the formidable Mount Etna by 4x4. Go wine tasting and travel to Catania Adventure levels are dialled up today. In a kitted out 4X4, you’ll head up the slopes of Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano. Off-roading over cold lava streams, it’s an exhilarating and memorable journey. You’ll hop out to talk to an incredible vantage point over the Bove Valley. Then you’ll visit a wine cellar for a tasting and feast on local dishes for lunch. In the late afternoon, it’s on to vibrant Catania, Sicily’s second-largest city for a tour. You’ll stay at Hotel Katane tonight, centrally located for easy access to the city hubbub. Enjoy an al fresco aperitivo, with views of Mount Etna. You can choose whether or not you’d like to join your fellow travellers for a final dinner in a local restaurant. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 6 Discover Syracuse, or return home – you decide Depending what time your flight departs, there’s an extra trip to Syracuse today that you can arrange when you book. It’s a dazzlingly beautiful place with a fascinating history, so well worth it if you can extend your time just a little more (surely those meetings can wait…?). Meals included: Breakfast
Italy No visa required for British passport holders. Please note in Italy it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times. For further Brexit travel advice please visit https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/brexit-advice-for-travellers
Hotels Two nights at 4-star hotel in Palermo. Plaza Opera Hotel or similar In the heart of Palermo, Hotel Plaza Opera has elegant rooms that blend antique paintings and furniture, with works by contemporary artists. There is a cosy lounge bar, and breakfast includes delicious local specialities and a selection of organic products. Two nights at 4-star hotel in Taormina. Hotel Villa Esperia or similar Hotel Villa Esperia is set in Mazzaro Bay, near the cable cars that whisk visitors to Taormina’s historic centre. The panoramic sea views from the hotel terrace and the large outdoor pool have guests lingering to enjoy the seascapes. Rooms at are spacious and some have balconies with sea views. Guests can choose from Italian, Continental or American breakfasts. One night at 4-star hotel in Catania. Hotel Katane Palace hotel or similar Katane Palace Hotel is located in the heart of historic Catania. The rooms have free Wi-Fi, free soft drinks in the minibar, and satellite TV. Breakfast is a generous buffet, including fresh fruit.
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