Sicilian archaeology

Sicily is both modern and alluringly ancient. As the largest isle in the Mediterranean, Sicily has been a center of commerce and cultural exchange for millennia -- from neolithic peoples to the Phoenicians, from ancient Greek colonies to Roman rule. On this immersive journey through Sicily, you'll unearth Sicily's ancient roots with an English-speaking archeologist guide -- gaining insight into the patchwork of cultures that threaded through Sicily.

Sicily_Map_SIT

Day-by-Day Details:

Day 1 - SIRACUSA'S STONE STREETS

» Arrival at Catania Airport and transfer to Siracusa. Check-in to your 4- or 5- star accommodation.

» Introduction to Siracusa. Private walking tour with your acheologist-guide of Ortygia (the historic city center), whose seafront houses Greek ruins, medieval stone walls and stunning Baroque sanctuaries.

» Welcome dinner at a historic home near the Neapolis Archeological Park. You’ll meet a family of olive oil producers, enjoying a tasting of emerald-green extra-virgin oil followed by a family-style feast featuring Sicilian specialties.

Day 2 - GREEK & ROMAN RUINS

» Guided visit through the Neapolis Archeological Park, where you’ll view the remains of a Greek Theater and Roman arena. Your tour also uncovers the limestone quarry that supplied stone to this ancient port city.

» Guided exploration of the Catacomb of Saint John -- catacombs depicting the rites of Sicily's early Christian community.

» Transfer to Noto via private driver with time in the city center for a leisurely lunch.

» Stroll through the baroque jewel of Noto, called the “Garden of Stone” for its hand-carved Baroque palaces and piazzas.

» Return to Siracusa in time for dinner. Overnight in Siracusa.

Day 3 - PRE-HISTORY & FARM LUNCH

» Guided nature walk through the UNESCO World Heritage site of Pantalica, containing over 5,000 tombs cut into limestone between the 13 ^th and the 7 ^th century B.C.E.

» Lunch at a Sicilian family farm near the Pantalica ruins.

» In the afternoon, tour the epic ruins of the Greek colony of Akrai and the charming hilltop village of Palazzolo Acreide.

» Dinner on own and overnight in your elegant hotel in Siracusa

Day 4 - VILLA ROMANA - SICILY'S POMPEI

» Guided visit to the Archeological Museum of Aidone, which displays sculptures excavated from the ancient Greek colony of Morgantina – settled in 450 B.C.E.

» Group lunch in the scenic hillsides outside of Aidone.

» Guided tour of Villa Romana del Casale, a Roman noble home (300-325 C.E.) buried in a mudslide. It houses a vast array of ancient mosaics and preserved architectural details.

» Transfer by private driver to your 4* or 5* hotel in Agrigento – located in Southern Sicily.

» Group dinner, featuring regional flavors, in scenic Agrigento. Overnight in Agrigento.

Day 5 - VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES (AGRIGENTO)

» Guided tour with archeologist through the extraordinary Valley of the Temples -- exploring the Temple of Juno, Temple of Concordia, Temple of Heracles and Temple of Zeus.

» Visit to the Archeological Museum of Agrigento: where you’ll view first-hand the remarkable 2,500-year-old artifacts unearthed in this Ancient Greek colony.

» Authentic family-style lunch at a farm outside the village of Sant’Angelo Muxaro.

» Visit to the paleolithic Necropolis of Sant’Angelo Muxaro whose – once the capital of the Sican kingdom (1000-500 B.C.E). You'll discover a cluster of monumental tombs on the town's craggy slopes.

» Authentic group dinner and overnight in Agrigento.

Day 6 - HELLENISTIC RUINS & RUSTIC LUNCH

» Transfer via private driver to Palermo – located on Sicily’s stunning northwestern coast.

» Guided visit to the antiquarian sites of “Monte Jato” – including hand-painted pottery (1000 B.C.E.) and the 35-tiered Greek Theater.

» Family-style Sicilian lunch at a rustic farm in the countryside.

» Tour the Sicani-Greek site of “Monte Jato” located atop a hill (852 meters above sea level). Here, you’ll uncover Greek-Hellenistic remains, including historical homes with and ancient open-air buildings.

» Transfer via private driver to Palermo and check-in to your 4- or 5- star hotel.

» Group dinner and overnight in Palermo’s vibrant city center.

Day 7 - PALERMO: NEXUS OF CULTURES

» Private guided tour of Palermo’s old town, strolling meandering stone streets and uncovering Arab-Norman architectural marvels.

» Visit a lively open-air food market, savoring a lunch of traditional Sicilian street food – famous throughout Italy for fresh ingredients and bold flavors.

» After your authentic lunch among the locals, we’ll explore to the Chiaramonte Palace – a fortified castle in use during the Spanish Inquisition.

» Groups dinner and overnight in Palermo’s extraordinary city center.

Day 8 - SEASIDE SICILIAN RUINS

» Explore the Solunto Archeological Park, uncovering the ruins of a Hellenistic-Roman city and its earlier North African roots. Along both sides of the cobblestone Agorà Street, you’ll observe ancient buildings with exquisite architectural details – spanning mosaics, wall paintings, and Pompeian-style panels.

» Transfer to the town of Caccamo and enjoy an aperitivo (toast/appetizers) with a local butcher who crafts the delicacies from Sicily’s fertile mountains.

» Lunch at a local restaurant overlooking a medieval castle.

» Guided walk through the medieval hamlet of Caccamo – overlooking Sicily’s rugged coast and verdant valleys. The village vaunts narrow stone streets, hand-hewn churches and a medieval fortress.

» Group dinner and overnight in Palermo.

Day 9 - MONREALE & SEGESTA

» Guided visit to Sicily's Norman jewel: the gold-domed Cathedral of Monreale. Here, you’ll also relish cloisters adorned by hand-sculpted columns and brilliant Byzantine mosaics.

» Behind-the-scenes visit to a small-batch winery. At the vineyard, you’ll meet with the winemakers and enjoy a private tasting in the aging cellars – paired with lunch.

» Tour of the archeological site of Segesta, one of the three cities founded by the Elymians (600 BCE). Here, we’ll admire an ancient theatre and a freestanding Doric temple.

» Group dinner and overnight in Palermo.

Day 10 - ERICE & TRAPANI'S SALT COAST

» Guided outing to the island of Mozia – once inhabited by Phoenicians. During your excursion, you’ll admire the scenic windmills used here to craft sea salt—created according to centuries-old, techniques.

» Enjoy a tasting of artisanal Sicilian sea salt along the glittering Trapani coast.

» Group lunch by Sicily’s scenic seaside.

» Guided tour, unearthing the fortress of Erice – framed by huge stones walls dating back to the ages of the Phoenicians.

» Arriveserci group dinner at a noble palace in the historic heart of Palermo.

» Overnight in Palermo.

Day 11 - ARRIVEDERCI, SICILY

» Private transfer to Palermo airport and departure from Sicily.

Dates: Flexible. Fill out form to the right to request availability.

Price: From $600 per person / per day. Cost will vary according to the grade of the hotels, type of rooms selected, season and the number of meals included.

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