Granted, there are many ways to visit Italy but experiencing the real authentic Italy can be rare. If boarding a bus at dawn each day, seeing tourist attractions and returning home exhausted is not what you are looking for, then this Italy travel itinerary is for you.
In other words, you may want to experience the “real” Italy and to live its lifestyle on a fully guided tour with me – an Italian speaking citizen of Italy plus local English speaking guides for an even greater experience – all at a pace that’s naturally relaxing.
Plus, group size is small for this trip – 20 people adding to this unique experience!
Watch this video for trip highlights:
Tuesday – U.S.A. Departure and travel to Italy Departure from your U.S.A. city, flying overnight to Italy
Wednesday - Catania Sicily arrival in Italy. After luggage delivery and immigration formalities, your private motorcoach takes you to the hotel in Catania. Check-in and begin to get a taste of the beautiful and unique atmosphere of Catania and enjoy a “meet and greet” group dinner at the hotel.
Thursday – Catania Breakfast at the hotel. Following a leisurely breakfast, we will depart around 10am; you will discover the beauties of this city with a guided English-speaking tour (duration 3 hours and a half).
The city of Catania is the undisputed capital of Sicilian Baroque. It sits at the foot of Mount Etna, Europe’s highest volcano with many incredibly characteristic points like the ancient food and fish markets among them. You will soon feel at home in Catania.
We’ll take some time to relax before visiting a local winery (25 minutes from the center of Catania) and learn all the hidden secrets which makes wine, near the volcano, so special. A tour of the Winery and local dinner included, will end your day.
Friday – After a delicious Mediterranean breakfast at the hotel we will depart by private bus, at around 10am to visit Syracuse Sicily or Siracusa (55 minutes’ drive from Catania), as it is known in Italian, which is one of the most beautiful places in Sicily and, as many say, in the whole of Italy.
A historical town with an important past, Siracusa has a beautiful city center with a breathtaking Duomo. Visiting Syracuse , always with your private English-speaking guide, means taking a trip back in history, discovering a thousand-year-old city whose origins lie in the remote past, but which remains eternally splendid in our eyes. We will also visit the beautiful island of Ortigia, a territory of Siracusa.
Saturday – Following a delicious breakfast and cappuccino, you will today experience the most famous town of this part of Eastern Sicily, only 55 minutes from Catania) – Taormina by private bus. Your private English-speaking guide will show you the main attractions of this worldwide famous town, including the Roman- Greek Theatre (skip the line tickets included). Idyllically perched on a rocky promontory high above the sea, Taormina has been the most popular tourist destination in Sicily for a couple hundred years. Beautifully restored medieval buildings, breathtaking views around every corner and a giddy network of winding streets strewn with shops, bars and restaurants make for a perfect holiday spot. A marvelous location and unique natural beauty have earned this city the nickname of Pearl of the Ionian Sea. We’ll enjoy a group Lunch in a characteristic restaurant in Taormina, around 1pm, included in the cost of the program. After our day in Taormina, our private bus will bring you back to your hotel.
Sunday – We’ll spend a lovely day with a tour of Mount Etna and a visit to Agritourismo, Scilio. Today’s experience will leave you a long-lasting memory of one of the most famous areas of Sicily, Europe, and the World: Mount Etna. Your private English-speaking guide will bring you to guided volcano visit and will show you the marvels of this unique place.
Group lunch will be served with the typical extraordinary local products, at Agritourismo Scilio at the foot of Mount Etna where a tour of the local vineyards and wine tasting will complete your day’s sensorial experience!
After we savor another delicious Mediterranean breakfast at our hotel, we say our goodbyes to Catania and move on to the seaside city of Cefalu.’
On our way, we will be visiting the town of Piazza Armerina, where we will enjoy lunch together. Situated deep in the Sicilian hinterland, 721 meters above sea level, stands Piazza Armerina. However, it is not the town that most people come to see, but the famous Villa Romana del Casale, now a UNESCO Heritage site.
We will check into our beautiful seaside hotel in Cefalu’ which is also a short walk to the city center with its shops, trattorias, Norman Cathedral and more where you immediately become part of the city. Enjoy the afternoon exploring and at your leisure. We’ll have a group dinner at the hotel. .
Tuesday – Cefalu’ Breakfast at the Hotel. At around 10am, you will enjoy a private English-speaking local guide who will illustrate the most important aspects of this town, though an exciting half day walking Tour of the city.
Later in the afternoon, enjoy a local cooking class, where your culinary skills will be brought to the next level. A group dinner with foods represented in the class will follow.
Wednesday – We will visit Sant Stefano di Camastra, a lovely little village (30 minutes from Cefalu’) in the Park of Nebrodi Mountains, best known for its refined and historical tradition of beautiful ceramics production. A walk through its streets is a walk among colorful shops rich in true masterpieces: the most traditional and picturesque mosaics, tiles, shingles… all realized with local wonderful ceramics. You will have the pleasure of tasting the local products, on the Terrace overlooking the view of Sant Stefano di Camastra before returning to Cefau’ for the rest of the day.
Thursday – Cefalu’ Enjoy the bountiful breakfast in the morning and spend the day at your leisure, relaxing shopping, visiting, enjoying this wonderful island and whatever was left behind which you wanted to see, on your own. We’ll meet in the evening for our last group dinner at the hotel.
We’ll have time to say our goodbyes to new friends, wonderful experiences and to the beautiful island of Sicily and all it offers – only to promise to return again. Our private transfer to Palermo airport awaits as we prepare for our departure back home.
9 Hotel nights at two exquisite hotels –
Five nights at the Five Star Palazzo San Giorgio in the beautiful heart of Catania
Four nights at the exquisite Four star Hotel Victoria Palace situated on the sea and a short walk to the city center of Cefalu, Sicily.
Private transfers to and from airports to the Hotels in Catania & Palermo.
Dedicated comfortable motorcoach for the entire itinerary as described above.
Private guided walking tour with local English-speaking guides of Siracusa, Catania, Taormina, Santo Stefano di Camastra, Piazza Armerina & Cefalu’.
Entrance fee to visit the Greek Amphitheatre in Taormina, with private guided visit and skip the line tickets.
Piazza Armerina entrance fee to visit Villa Romana del Casale, English-speaking tour guide.
Visit to the Agriturismo located at the bottom of the Volcano.
Etna mountain private English-speaking guided excursion.
Etna Urban Winery wine tasting and tour event with English speaking guide.
Breakfast each morning.
4 Dinners: 30 April meet and greet in Catania, 01 May Etna Urban Winery , 06 May Cooking Class in Cefalu’, 08 May last evening at the Hotel Victoria Palace in Cefalu’.
3 Lunches: 03 May in Taormina , 04 May Etna Agriturismo, 05 May in Piazza Armerina.
1 tasting of local products in Santo Stefano di Camastra.
Complete Land Package – airfare is separate:
4300.00 per person, double occupancy
4800.00 per person, single occupancy
If interested in travel insurance, learn more here: https://www.travelexinsurance.com/
Pace of the trip.
This is not a trip where we will be up at dawn, looking at tourist attractions all day and returning at night exhausted. We will fully experience authentic Italy at a pace allowing us to absorb the beauty, culture, food and people while enjoying the Italian lifestyle. Time traveling on the motorcoach is kept to a minimum.
Experiencing Italy requires walking.
With that being said, Italians walk, and we will be walking a lot. Streets in Italy are not smooth and paved, escalators do not exist, may times there are steps.
We will not be taking taxis. In fact, they are rarely available. Experiencing another country as Italy requires living and moving about like a local.
If you are not a fan of walking this likely is not the trip for you.
The “Authentic Italy” excursions are a rich and lasting experience in the lives of those who experience it by gaining a new perspective on life and on living well.
It is all part of whole health longevity!
Photo Credits: Giovanni D’Anca
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