Sicily

Palermo is a melting pot of Arab, Norman, Greek, Spanish and Byzantine culture and traditions. We’ll take you to explore the old Palermo, the square of the Quattro Canti, Piazza Pretoria with its giant fountain known to locals as the Square of Shame, the 12th century Church of San Cataldo with its Moorish-style architecture, the Church of La Martorana decorated with beautiful Byzantine mosaics and the Cathedral of Palermo built on the site of a Muslim mosque.

Palermo is also a bustling city of lively markets, cafés and squares where we can easily try Sicilian cuisine and experience its famous street food culture to try some cannoli (a crunchy dessert filled with sweet ricotta) or granita (slushie).

We can take you for a day out to Cefalù to visit the impressive Cathedral located in a spectacular position under the cliff dominating over the medieval town. For beautiful views we can climb up to the Temple of Diana or go even further up to the ruins of the Norman castle, La Rocca, but you may also decide to just find a good spot by the port to enjoy some fresh fish or take a swim at one of its many beautiful white and sandy beaches.

West of Palermo is Monreale where we visit its stunning Cathedral and Cloisters with their spectacular mosaics. Then there’s Segesta, one of the finest surviving examples of Greek temples in Sicily, whose isolation gives it its mystical flair.

We’ll take a scenic drive up to the hilltop town of Erice which offers some of Sicily’s most impressive views of the coast of Trapani and the Egadi Islands.

From Erice, spy the salt pans of Trapani which we can explore together. The salt of the Mediterranean Sea is particularly rich around this area hence the development of the local industry of white gold. Throughout the drive we will see huge mounds of salt and the outlines of ancient windmills. Continuing on this route, we stop at Marsala for a wine tasting of Sicily’s famous fortified dry or sweet wine, Marsala.

Selinunte, once one of the most important Greek colonies in Sicily, is now a fascinating archaeological park that attracts visitors from around the world. The temples are notable for their monumental scale and architectural grandeur.

The Temple of Hera, in particular, is a masterpiece of ancient Greek architecture, with its massive columns, imposing facade, and commanding presence overlooking the surrounding landscape.

In Agrigento, you may be curious to see the famous white cliff made of soft limestone and dazzling white marl. The constant impact of the sea and wind through the millennia have slowly indented the surface to form lovely white terraces, hence the name Scala dei Turchi (Stair of the Turks) – and referring to Arabs and Turks whose ships found shelter in this bay.

Visiting the sun-worn ruins of the Valley of the Temples with our knowledgeable guide helps us gain insight into what made Akragas “the most beautiful of mortal cities”. The Temple of Hera (Juno) built at the very top of the hill enjoys dominating views over the landscape and coastline. Admire the city fortifications and Byzantine arcosolia, the Temples of Concordia, Herakles and Zeus and the Sanctuary of Chtonian Deities (Temple of Castor and Pollux).

On our way to/from Syracuse from/to Agrigento, we recommend stopping in some charming cities like Noto, the unquestioned capital of Sicilian Baroque. The city reveals its full splendour after its reconstruction following the catastrophic 1693 earthquake. If chocolate is your fancy, then we’ll visit Modica and one of the city’s oldest chocolate-makers.

Rising in the Hyblaean Mountains is Ragusa, with the historic centre, Ibla, known for its charming, narrow streets and winding alleys, lined with Baroque palaces, quaint shops, houses and cafes. Strolling through the cobblestone streets is a delight, with surprises around every corner.

Another extraordinary stop is a visit to Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina, the ruins of a Roman villa famous for its highly refined, well-preserved mosaics. This is one of the richest and largest collections of Roman mosaics in the world.

Stroll through quaint little alleys, elegant squares and the harbour of the little island of Ortigia, Syracuse’s historical centre where you will find the Duomo di Siracusa, a place of worship since ancient times.

Before the construction of the cathedral, it was the location of a Greek temple dedicated to Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare. The incorporation of ancient architectural elements into the cathedral's structure, including columns and capitals, serves as a physical reminder of its pagan past. Worth seeing are also the Cave of the Rope-Makers and the Ear of Dionysius, a limestone cave famous for its acoustics, in the Neapolis Archaeological Park of Syracuse.

Taormina is a small and picturesque town perched on a slope high above the Ionian Sea. The size and elegance of its cathedral and many of its buildings are evidence of the city’s moderate prosperity over the centuries. We will visit among others the Palace Corvaja, the Odeon, the Church of Santa Caterina, the square of the IX April, the cathedral and the Jewish quarter.

Certainly, a must, is the famous Greek theatre sitting on its beautiful scenic location with Mt. Etna and the bay of Naxos as its perfect backdrop.  The theatre of Taormina, initially built for dramatic and musical performances, was transformed in Roman times for games and gladiatorial battles.