DAYS 1 – 3

Arrive in Palermo on Day 2 and stroll through your hotel’s fragrant jasmine gardens or enjoy spectacular sunset views of the Mediterranean from your room. Wander Palermo’s streets, admiring the blending of styles that mark its progression from a significant medieval city to a model of Baroque architecture to today’s dynamic and vibrant distillation of old and new. Also visit the 12th-century Cathedral of Monreale and admire its beautiful display of mosaics. 

Villa Igiea Hilton, Palermo

DAYS 4 & 5

This morning, explore Segesta, built in 500 B.C. and one of the best-preserved Greek architectural sites in the world. Continue to the beautiful Phoenician and Hellenistic town of Erice, dedicated to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of fertility and love. Explore the ancient Greek city of Selinunte, one of the most progressive Greek cities in Sicily. Enjoy luxury accommodations in the new Rocco Forte’s Verdura Golf & Spa Resort. 

Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, Sciacca

DAY 6

Explore the classical city of Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples, erected in the 5th century B.C. as a testimony to the city’s prosperity. View the most complex collection of Roman mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale. Siracusa’s old town, the legendary Greek home of Archimedes, is situated on the island of Ortigia. Magnificent remnants of ancient Siracusa surround us as we take an expert-guided walk, discovering the rich history and tides of conquest that have shaped this city. 

Grand Hotel des Etrangers, Siracusa

DAYS 7 – 10

Explore Taormina’s meandering medieval streets and tiny secret passages to experience the charm of this romantic town. Visit the Greek Theatre and take in the majestic views of Mt. Etna, Sicily’s tallest peak and Europe’s tallest active volcano. Admire the mysterious bronze warriors at the National Archaeological Museum in Reggio Calabria, a small town surrounded by olive groves and citrus trees in mainland Italy. Depart from Catania on Day 10. 

San Domenico Palace Hotel, Taormina

Package price is per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement applies. Intra-tour air pricing is subject to change. International airfare is additional. Other restrictions may apply. Contact us for complete journey details.

DAYS 1 – 3

Arrive in Palermo on Day 2 and stroll through your hotel’s fragrant jasmine gardens or enjoy spectacular sunset views of the Mediterranean from your room. Wander Palermo’s streets, admiring the blending of styles that mark its progression from a significant medieval city to a model of Baroque architecture to today’s dynamic and vibrant distillation of old and new. Also visit the 12th-century Cathedral of Monreale and admire its beautiful display of mosaics. 
Villa Igiea Hilton, Palermo

DAYS 4 & 5

This morning, explore Segesta, built in 500 B.C. and one of the best-preserved Greek architectural sites in the world. Continue to the beautiful Phoenician and Hellenistic town of Erice, dedicated to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of fertility and love. Explore the ancient Greek city of Selinunte, one of the most progressive Greek cities in Sicily. Enjoy luxury accommodations in the new Rocco Forte’s Verdura Golf & Spa Resort. 
Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, Sciacca

DAY 6

Explore the classical city of Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples, erected in the 5th century B.C. as a testimony to the city’s prosperity. View the most complex collection of Roman mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale. Siracusa’s old town, the legendary Greek home of Archimedes, is situated on the island of Ortigia. Magnificent remnants of ancient Siracusa surround us as we take an expert-guided walk, discovering the rich history and tides of conquest that have shaped this city. 
Grand Hotel des Etrangers, Siracusa

DAYS 7 – 10

Explore Taormina’s meandering medieval streets and tiny secret passages to experience the charm of this romantic town. Visit the Greek Theatre and take in the majestic views of Mt. Etna, Sicily’s tallest peak and Europe’s tallest active volcano. Admire the mysterious bronze warriors at the National Archaeological Museum in Reggio Calabria, a small town surrounded by olive groves and citrus trees in mainland Italy. Depart from Catania on Day 10. 
San Domenico Palace Hotel, Taormina

Package price is per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement applies. Intra-tour air pricing is subject to change. International airfare is additional. Other restrictions may apply. Contact us for complete journey details.

Villa Igiea Hilton
Palermo, Sicily

For more than a century, the Villa Igiea Hilton, one of the most famous buildings in Sicily and in Italy, has stood on a privileged location overlooking the Sea of Palermo. Created by the family Florio, it marks a moment of architectural splendor in the cultural life of the people of Palermo. The hotel has a beautiful stone vaulted ceiling lounge and bar, where live piano is played until midnight. The restaurant Bella Epofue serves Sicilian and international dishes. Guests have at their disposal a magnificent swimming pool with sea water, a tennis court, water sports and the Jasmine Garden.

The 116 rooms and suites are spacious, each with a direct line telephone, color TV, mini bar, radio and adjustable air-conditioning. You will have a deluxe sea--view room.
Room Categories: Select – Deluxe Rooms; Grand – Senior Suite

Verdura Golf & Spa Resort
Sciacca, Sicily

Furnished in a fresh contemporary style that reflects the essence of Sicily, the guest rooms at Verdura Golf & Spa Resort provide an elegant and relaxing personal space. There are 203 in total, each with its own uninterrupted view across the sparkling Mediterranean Sea from a private terrace.

Set across 230 hectares of olive groves and countryside, the rooms are in two distinct types of building, Courtyard and Landscape, which are woven subtly into the landscape and offer a real sense of privacy and space. Natural materials such as stone, sand, wood and cane echo the traditional architecture of Sicily, and rooms make imaginative use of both outdoor and indoor space.

Created by Olga Polizzi, The Rocco Forte Collection’s Director of Design, the interiors are beautifully appointed and encapsulate The Art of Simple Luxury. She has used a rich palette of earth tones and bright printed fabrics to reflect the character of Sicily, with a design motif inspired by a classic Sicilian tile. Bedrooms feature four-poster wooden beds, polished concrete floors and artful Italian lighting, and are decorated with locally fired earthenware. The bathrooms are naturally lit with stone vanity tops, and some have outside courtyards with fig trees. Room Categories: Select – Sea-view Rooms

Grand Hotel des Etrangers
Siracusa, Sicily

The prestigious Grand Hotel Des Etrangers is located in the historical center, in the heart of Ortigia, and faces the sea. The hotel is close to the Spring of Arethusa and only 150 meters from the Cathedral.

The hotel has 70 rooms and 10 suites and a panoramic roof garden restaurant with breathtaking view on the coast. Room facilities include air conditioning, cable television, direct dial telephone, mini bar, hair dryer, safe deposit box and internet connection.

Room Categories: Select – Sea-view rooms; Grand – Sea-view Junior Suites

San Domenico Palace Hotel
Taormina, Sicily

The San Domenico, in the citadel’s historic heart, has hosted history’s luminaries amid the entrancing charms of its ancient surroundings. Built on the site of a 15th‐century monastery, the San Domenico Palace Hotel still conserves the original structure. It frames a scene of rare beauty, which sweeps from the ancient Greek Theatre to the peak of Mount Etna. To enhance your stay, the hotel features and services include an outdoor pool, fitness center, beauty salon, boutique shops, and a wonderful 1-acre Mediterranean garden. There’s also a choice of dining venues and a lounge.

Grand Hotel Deluxe sea-view rooms have a breathtaking view of the Bay of Taormina. Sea-view
Junior Suites offer an open space bedroom with sitting area and a large and comfortable terrace overlooking the stunning Taormina Bay. Room amenities include cable television, mini bar and a hair dryer. Room Categories: Select – Grand Hotel Sea-view Rooms; Grand – Junior Suites

Marta Luna

A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Marta speaks Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian and English. She’s an “insatiable traveler”, very interested in history, art and literature, and also paints as a hobby. She resides both in San Francisco and Italy.

Travel Dates: September 03, 2010