Arrival at the airport, transfer to the hotel in the Catania area (half-board)

Visit Syracuse, once the most powerful Greek city in Sicily, which was founded in 734 BC. Cicero once hailed it as the most beautiful city of Magna Graecia. Visit to the Archaeological Park with the Greek Theatre, the altar of Hieron, the Roman amphitheatre and the Latomien underground quarries with the so-called “Ear of Dionysius”. Afterwards walk through the old town on the peninsula Ortygia – we visit the cathedral, which emerged from the remains of the Greek Athena temple, and the Arethusa spring. In the afternoon excursion to the enchanting Val di Noto to Noto, which with its churches and palaces of golden sandstone is considered the baroque jewel of Sicily. After the devastating earthquake of 1693, the town was rebuilt uniformly in the Sicilian Baroque. Spectacular aristocratic palaces and streets stretch across the hillside to the Cathedral of San Nicolo.

Drive to Piazza Armerina (UNESCO World Heritage): Visit to the Villa Romana del Casale, one of the most beautiful patrician villas from the Roman Empire (ca. 320 A.D.), whose floor mosaics (more than 3500 sqm) are of exceptional quality and conservation status. In the afternoon we explore in Agrigento the UNESCO World Heritage “Valley of the Temples”, among others the temples of Hera Lakinia, Concordia, Zeus and Heracles. Agrigento, the Greek Akragas, was the last of the Greek colonies founded in Sicily, experienced in the 5th century. Bc its heyday and was then one of the largest Greek cities on the Mediterranean. The Doric temples bear witness to the cultural heyday of the Greek colony of Magna Graecia. In the temple valley we will take an aperitif with a view of the temples. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Today we travel to the west coast of Sicily in the area of Marsala and Trapani, where we visit the salt pans with the characteristic windmills and salt basins, as well as to Erice, a beautiful medieval town, which is situated in a spectacular location on the 750 m high Monte Erice. We then visit the magnificent temple in Segesta, one of the best preserved in Sicily, which was built around 420 BC on Mount Barbaro. Power struggles within Sicily left him unfinished. In the evening we finally reach our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

Today you visit the bustling capital Palermo – already Goethe was thrilled by the location of this lively harbour metropolis in the “Golden Shell” with the “most beautiful foothills in the world”. Magnificent palaces and impressive monuments still tell of the culture of the Arabs, Normans and Hohenstaufen (Swabians). The imposing cathedral will inspire you just as much as the Norman Palace with its Cappella Palatina as a worldwide unique work of art. Further west of Palermo you will discover the wonderful Benedictine Cathedral Monreale, the largest sacral building of its era. As a sign of triumph over Islam, the magnificent gold mosaics in the cathedral there are reminiscent of a biblical picture book. A stroll through the colourful Bazar streets in the old Arab Jewish quarter of Palermo, the “Arab” market of Ballara with its hundreds of fruit and vegetable stalls, will take you to Palazzo Conte Federico. The palace of Count Federico, whose family can be traced back to the Staufer Emperor Frederick II, has been inhabited for centuries. Visiting this historic building is a unique experience.

At lunchtime we eat the Palermitian street food: Arancina, Panelle, Crocchette and other typical delicacies from Sicily.

Then we make a Passeggiata in the center and try “La Brioche col Gelato” – ice cream with brioche!

Visit the small, charming town of Cefalu! Against the backdrop of the mighty head of the rock, the imposing Norman Cathedral rises majestically with precious gold mosaics of Byzantine masters. Stroll through the picturesque old town with its typically narrow, Arabic-looking alleyways.

Today we continue to the idyllic and unique Natural Park Madonie: Birds and crickets give a beautiful concert here! First, visit the village of Castelbuono, which was built around a castell. Here you can try the cakes “Manna” and “Mannettino”, which are typical for this area. It is a typical cake of the village, made with manna (Manna is a sweetener obtained from a tree – the manna ash). We show you that the manna of the Bible really exists, this tree was broken by the Israelites to Sicily and is planted today only in Castelbuono.

Through cork oak forests you follow the famous mountain rally route Targa Florio to a rustic Sicilian farm. Away from the usual tourist trails, you can experience the production of ricotta with a shepherd in the mountains and spend relaxing hours with a delicious lunch with numerous typical Sicilian specialties.

A magnificent highlight: the highest, still active volcano in Europe – Mount Etna or “Mongibello”, as the Sicilians affectionately call their “mountain of mountains”! Through vineyards, barren mountain landscapes and cold lava flows, you can take the bus to the volcano to Etna Nord; here a geologist will show the volcano. Your journey will take you to the enchanting town of Taormina – impressively situated on a terrace of Monte Tauro, it was already praised by Goethe as the “Pearl of Sicily”. Experience an unforgettable panorama of the picturesque coastal and volcanic scenery during a city tour from the Greco-Roman open-air theatre and then stroll over the picturesque Corso Umberto.

Transfer to the airport and return journey