Sicily - Jewel of the Mediterranean

Our nationwide shared chauffeur service collects you from home for your flight to Catania. On arrival we’ll transfer to Noto, staying three nights in locally-rated 4-star Villa Favorita Noto, Relais, an 18th-century former summer residence surrounded by citrus, olive and almond groves. A welcome table with snacks and drinks await, following your late flight arrival.

Today we’ll visit Syracuse and Ortigia, with guided walking tours of Ortigia town and Syracuse Archaeological Park. At the archaeological park, we’ll discover the Greek theatre and Roman amphitheatre with our guide. The small island of Ortigia, home to narrow medieval lanes and baroque piazzas, is a joy to explore. In the afternoon, we hop on a harbour cruise and view Ortigia from the sea.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Today we explore the lovely baroque towns of Noto and Ragusa. We’ll wander along Noto’s elegant Corso Vittorio Emanuele, with honey-stoned palazzi and churches. Walk straight onto the real-life set of the TV series ‘Inspector Montalbano’, filmed in and around enchanting Ragusa with a guided tour.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

We’ll spend some time in the pretty beach town of Cefalù on our way to Palermo. Wander its narrow lanes, or perhaps treat yourself to a gelato to enjoy by the sandy beach. We arrive later in Palermo for two nights, staying in locally rated 4-star Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

This morning, we’ll take a guided tour of bustling Palermo, including a stop at the Palatine Chapel and the cathedral. We’ll then travel to Monreale to visit the magnificent cathedral, famed for its Byzantine mosaics.

Meals: Breakfast

We’ll drive past Trapani’s ancient salt pans today, before heading to Erice for lunch at leisure. We then visit Maria Grammatico’s bakery where her famous pasticcini (soft almond biscuits) are made. We’ll leave with a tasting from the bakery to take away, before heading to Selinunte for our guided tour of this fascinating Greek archaeological site. In the evening, we check into our hotel in Agrigento - locally-rated 4-star Baia di Ulisse, Agrigento, overlooking the sea.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

We start our day with one of the highlights - a guided visit of the nearby Valle dei Templi, a collection of classic Greek temples scattered across a valley of almond trees. We stop at the private estate of Geracello for a delicious lunch of local produce among the olive groves. We’ll head east to Piazza Armerina, for a guided tour of the Roman villa reveals an incredible floor mosaic. We then continue to Giardini Naxos. Check in for three nights at locally-rated 4-star Sant Alphio Garden Hotel & Spa, Giardini Naxos.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Our walking tour shows us the sights of the cliffside town of Taormina. You have the rest of the afternoon free.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

This morning we take a drive to the slopes of Etna. After a short walk, there’ll be free time to explore this fascinating area with your tour manager and on your own. Be sure to bring a camera - on a clear day, the views from here are spectacular. Later, we visit a local winery for a cellar visit and included wine-paired lunch.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

We transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. On arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.

Meals: Breakfast