GUARANTEED Departure dates

March 10 – March 17, 2006

April 21 – April 28 , 2006

May 12 – May 19, 2006

Jun 09 – Jun 16, 2006

Jun 30- Jul 07, 2006

Aug 25- Sep 01, 2006

Sep 15 – Sep 22 ,2006

Oct 06– Oct 13 2006

Nov 03 - Nov 10 2006

Christmas : Dec 22 – dec 29 2006

NEW YEAR : Dec 29 ’06 – Jan 05 ‘07

Maximum 15 participants.

PROGRAMME

Day1. Catania - Giardini Naxos or Taormina

Arrival in Catania airport and private transfer to Giardini or Taormina city . Check in at a charming four star hotel. Enjoy Free time. In the evening meet our Tour director .

Welcome dinner . Overnight ( BB, D)

Day 2. Etna – Taormina – Giardini Naxos

Half board at the hotel . Morning: breakfast in hotel. Excursion to Mt. Etna. Departure to Rifugio Sapienza, located 1.900 m. above sea level, where it will be possible to visit the small, inactive Silvestri craters. From Rifugio Sapienza, proceed by jeep up to 2.500 m. under the main active craters for an optional walking excursion accompanied by a volcanologic conductor. There visit the site of the last big eruption of 2002. Back to Rifugio Sapienza

Lunch in a typical farm house : Azienda Trinitŕ of Barons: Bonajuto

Departure for Taormina for a walk through the historical center of this beautiful town, famous for its Greek-Roman Amphitheatre and its enchanting view of the Ionic Sea and Mt. Etna. Taormina has been an exclusive Sicilian hotspot, since the beginning of the 19th century, and is where many noble and rich families of Northern Europe spent winter due to its mild climate. Nowadays, Taormina is famous for its "dolce vita" life style, its beautiful beach, and its shops

Back at the hotel. Dinner on your own . Overnight ( BB, L)

Day 3. Giardini Naxos – Siracusa – Noto – Caltagirone o Siracusa

Morning : Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Syracuse . Visit of Siracusa, which during the Greek Age was one of the more powerful cities on the island. Visit to the archaeological zone: the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Ear of Dyonisus and the Latomie. Walk through the historical center on the Ortigia Island to admire the Cathedral, the Aretusa fountain and the ancient streets. Time for shopping. Lunch on your own in Siracusa.

Afternoon : visit of Noto, a splendid baroc city

Departure to Caltagirone, is today considered the Capital of Sicilian ceramics, nicknamed the “Faenza of Sicily”. It belongs to the Province of Catania, but from a cultural and geographical point of view it belongs much more to the province of Ragusa and aspires to become an autonomous province itself. Its name is derived from the Arab (cal'at ghiran: castle of vases). You are free to wonder the town and visit the beautifully restored baroque buildings and ceramic shops. Check in at the hotel . Dinner and overnight ( BB, D)

Day 4. Piazza Armerina – Agrigento

Breakafst at the hotel . Departure to : Piazza Armerina, a small town in the south-central part of the Island, and visit to the Villa Romana del Casale, a Roman country villa of the 3rd century, famous for its precious mosaics. Lunch on your own.

Afternoon: Departure to Agrigento to visit the beautiful Valley of the Temples, one of the most representative sites of Greek Civilization in the Mediterranean area. Visit to the Temple of Hercules, the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Castor and Pollux and the wonderful Temple of Concord. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight (BB, D)

Optional Tour : valley of the Temples by night

Day 5. Selinunte – Marsala – Erice

Breakfast at the hotel . Departure to Selinunte on the southern coast towards Agrigento, to visit the archaeological area that is the biggest of Europe. Selinunte was one of the most important town of Western Sicily always fighting against Segesta for power.

Departure for Marsala, a town on the Western coast famous for its wine production.

Visit to Salt marshes , then transfer in a farm house to have our : Oil Tasting : visit an Olive Oil Frantoio followed by a lunch

Afternoon : Transfer to Erice, a nearby medieval town, located at the top of the homonymous mountain set 751 meters above the sea level and overlooking the whole Western region, the Mediterranean Sea and the Egadi Islands. Walking visit of its characteristic historical centre.

In the evening , Check in at our hotel : a splendid “Tonnara” . The exclusive hotel estate is situated near the Saracen sighting tower in which is now possible to visit the "Tunny-fishing" Museum

Dinner and overnight. ( BB ,L, D)

Day 6.Se gesta – Palermo and Monreale

Morning: breakfast in hotel. Departure to Segesta, ancient village in the Western part of Sicily , and its magnificent greek Theatre and Doric Temple , masterpieces of Greek architecture in Sicily

Transfer to Palermo for a full-day visit to this ancient town that has been a crossroads for civilization in the Mediterranean for ages and ages. Here, visit and seek out signs of its ancient "grandeur": the Norman Palace and the Palatine Chapel, the church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti, the Cathedral, Quattro Canti square, etc. Walk through the streets of the historical center, and visit to the town's popular Vucciria market. Lunch on your own in town.

Afternoon: Continue the visit of Palermo and transfer to Monreale, ancient village near Palermo, famous for its wonderful Norman Cathedral and the adjoining cloister, architectural masterpieces of King Roger II.

Optional excursion to Mondello and catacombs

Return to Palermo. Check in at our hotel. Time for a stroll through the city. Dinner and overnight ( BB , D)

Optional tour Palermo by night

Day 7.The Madonie Park and Cefalů - Palermo

Breakfast at the hotel . Transfer to Polizzi , a small village 70 kilometres away from Palermo, surrounded by cheerful countryside and green pastures. Polizzi lies in the Madonie Mountains' Natural Park. This internal region between the Northern Coast and Central Sicily has a wealth of ancient small villages, where many people still live according to the Sicilian traditions

Visit to Polizzi Generosa, the ancient village rich in historical and artistic attractions. Visit to the Park's Museum. During the walk through the town's medieval streets, guests will have a break for a sampling of typical sweetmeats. A special lunch in a nice farm house or typical restaurant

Afternoon : Departure to Cefalů , famous for its rich historical centre (the Norman Cathedral and the medieval quarter) as well as for its beautiful beach and blue sea. Guided walking visit and free time to do shopping .

Come back at the hotel. In Palermo

Farewell dinner at a Local Dinner in the elegant restaurant room "Le Absidi", where guests will enjoy superb and refined dishes based on typical recipes from local culinary traditions. Back to the hotel and overnight. (BB, L , D)

Day 8. Departure

Breakfast in hotel. Transfer to the airport in Palermo, assistance with check-in and departure to the USA

INDIVIDUAL PRICE x SICILY SICILY TOUR : € 1280 eur

Supp. Single € 240

Tour Includes:

• Guided /Escorted sightseeing and all ground transportation ( air conditioned ) as indicated, with an english speaking tour guide for the full tour

• Transportation by minibus or de luxe coach for the whole tour

• Airport transfers , including porterage at the airport & hotel for one piece of luggage

• Accommodations: 4*/3*sup. hotel in rooms with private bathroom with shower

• Meals as indicated 5 half board (breakfast + dinner) + 2 BB ( B= Breakfast / L= Lunch / D = Dinner)

• 3 special lunches in typical restaurants and farmhouses as per program

• Farewell dinner

• Visits and excursions as listed in the program, with helpful information about locations provided by our

• 1 guided visit to oil cellar + tasting

• Hotel tax , service charges & continental breakfast daily

Tour Does Not Include:

• International Airfare

• Drinks during meals

• Meals not specifically included

• Entrance fees to archaeological sites and museums ( to be paid on the spot locally)

• Tips and extras of any personal nature

• Optional excursions payable locally :

• OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS PAYABLE LOCALLY: Mondello and Catacombe €uro 16 . / Palermo by night : €uro 20,00 / va<lley of the Temples by night : €uro 20,00

Hotels during the tour:

Giardini: S. Alphio Garden 4* Or Taormina : Villa Riis 4* / Hotel Del Corso 3* sup / Villa Angela 4*

Caltagirone : Villa San Mauro 4**** or Siracusa : Hotel Lady Lusya 3* sup.

Agrigento : Colleverde 4* / Dioscuri 4*

Valderice : Tonnara di Bonagia 4* o Trapani : Hotel Crystal 4*

Palermo : Residenza d’Aragona 4**** / Politeama 4**** / Ai Cavalieri 4*