FLY & DRIVE: Sicily & Calabria

Arrival at Palermo Airport. Arrival and check-in at the hotel in the Palermo area.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer by car to Palermo, beautifully situated at the foot of Monte Pellegrino and full of contrasts, it is the capital of the island. The architecture of the city showcases Arab, Norman, Baroque, and Art Nouveau influences. Walk through the historic center with the churches of Santa Caterina and La Martorana, Piazza Pretoria, Capella Palatina, and Palazzo dei Normanni, fortresses built even by the Saracens and later transformed into a royal residence for Frederick II. Transfer to Monreale, visit the majestic Cathedral with wonderful mosaics: the most notable Sicilian-Norman artwork. Departure and arrival at the hotel in the Catania area. Dinner at your own expense and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer by car to Mount Etna and visit the Silvestri craters; you can book a guided tour with an expert volcanologist of the highest craters and a jeep tour. In the afternoon, transfer to Taormina, visit the city center and the famous Greek Theatre, built around the 3rd century AD. The theatre, aside from its Greek origins, has many features of Roman art. Return to your hotel in the afternoon. Dinner at your own expense and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer by car to Siracusa, one of the main art cities in Europe, filled with landmarks and monuments. In fact, Siracusa was included by UNESCO in 2005 on the World Heritage list. The historic city mainly develops on the island of Ortigia; Siracusa is indeed called “the island within an island,” accessible via the Umbertino and Santa Lucia bridges. You will have the opportunity to visit the Baroque-style Syracuse Cathedral, built between 1728 and 1754, the 6th-century BC Temple of Apollo, and the Fountain of Aretusa, a water mirror on Ortigia island, which originated from the vent of one of the underground aquifers that characterize the entire area. Return to your hotel in the evening. Dinner at your own expense and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the port of Messina and drive to Villa San Giovanni. Transfer to Reggio Calabria where you can visit the Archaeological Museum, home to the Riace Bronzes, bronze statues found at the bottom of the sea in 1972 and recently restored. Enjoy a pleasant walk along the main street, Corso Garibaldi and Via Marina, defined by poet and writer Gabriele D’Annunzio as “the most beautiful kilometer in Italy.” Transfer by car to Scilla, a fishing village that evokes the mythical episodes of the Odyssey. Walk through the picturesque fishing district, where you will find Chianalea, directly by the sea and along the beautiful Marina Grande beach. Arrival later and check-in at the hotel in the Tropea area. Dinner at your own expense and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer by car to Pizzo Calabro and visit the Church of Piedigrotta, a church near the sea built into a rock wall. Visit the Murat Castle and stroll through the city center of Pizzo, where you can taste the famous “Tartufo,” a typical ice cream from the area, famous and exported worldwide. Transfer to the old town of Tropea, a typical medieval village overlooking the sea. Visit the Cathedral and the main street, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, which ends in a small square, from where you can enjoy the beautiful views of the Costa degli Dei. Transfer to the port of Villa San Giovanni and drive back to Sicily. Later, arrival and check-in at the hotel in the Palermo area. Dinner at your own expense and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer by car to Segesta, an ancient city founded by the first inhabitants of Sicily in the 12th century BC, then drive to Erice, a beautiful medieval town located on top of Mount San Giuliano, with its mysterious alleys, powerful defensive walls, and steep squares and streets. There is more to characterize Erice; from its panoramic points, you can admire Trapani and the Egadi islands, along with the colors of the sea and the salt pans. Visit Chiesa Matrice and the Balio Gardens. In the afternoon, return to the hotel. Dinner at your own expense and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Transfer by car to Palermo Airport. End of services.