Compare Taormina by Alexander+Roberts vs Grand Tour of Sicily by Viandando Luxury Travel

: Day 1 – Welcome to Taormina, Sicily

Upon arrival at the airport or cruise ship terminal, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted by private car to your choice of hotel. Spectacularly set on the side of a mountain overlooking the clear waters of the Gulf of Naxos, Taormina is an ancient town that has evolved into one of the region’s finest resorts. The balance of this day is yours to explore at your own pace through the town’s ancient cobblestone streets, now home to charming boutiques, cafes, galleries and restaurants.

: Day 2 – Privately Guided Sightseeing

This morning after breakfast, your private guide will be waiting to show you the highlights of the town he loves and knows so well. Founded in the 4th century BC, Taormina grew into an important city of the ancient Greek world and later continued to prosper during the Roman Empire. When Sicily was conquered by Norman invaders in the 11th century, Taormina fell into quiet obscurity. By the early 1900’s, however, Taormina had found new life as a popular destination for northern Europeans on their Grand Tour of the Continent. Among the highlights you’ll explore today are Taormina’s handsome medieval quarter and the splendidly preserved Greek Theater with its fine views of Mt. Etna and the Sicilian coastline. Built into a hillside, this ancient theater has nearly perfect acoustics and still used today for concerts and other cultural performances. After sightseeing, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you wish.  Meals B

: Day 3 – At Leisure in Taormina

This entire day is free to explore at your own pace. You might wish to take a stroll along the Corso Umberto. This lively main street through Taormina is lined with popular shops and eateries. You can also explore the town’s charming people-filled squares including the Piazza IX Aprile with its fine views of the sea or the Piazza Vittoria Emanuele with its distinctive mix of Arab, Norman and Catalan-Gothic architecture. At the Piazza Del Duomo, you can admire the 600-year-old Church of San Nicola and a Baroque fountain with an imposing centaur – the symbol of Taormina.  Meals B

: Day 4 – Depart Taormina

After breakfast, your private car and driver will take you to the airport or cruise ship terminal for your onward journey.  Meals B

Day 1: Arrival at Palermo Airport and Private Transfer to your Accommodation

Arrival at Palermo International airport and private transfer to your accommodation. Rest of the day at your leisure for resting and relaxing.

Day 2: Guided tour of Palermo

This morning enjoy a private guided tour of the amazing historical city center of Palermo and discover some of its great beauties as the Palace of the Normans which houses the superb Capella Palatina, a gorgeous, gleaming example of some of the world’s most beautiful Byzantine mosaics, the Cathedral with its Norman tombs and the jewel-encrusted crown of Catherine of Aragon, the red-domed San Giovanni degli Eremiti building and the Teatro Massimo. Lunch and afternoon at your leisure.

Day 3: Food Tour of Palermo

Enjoy our Palermo street food tour. A relaxing 4hr walk with a young licensed guide to enjoy the markets of Palermo city center and taste the best local street food. This tour has been designed with the specific purpose of giving travelers the chance to live a 100% Sicilian Experience…a tasty one! The uniqueness of Palermitan street food doesn’t simply lie in its variety and rich flavours, but also in the ability that every dish has to tell a historical chapter of the Sicilian capital. Vendors have been carefully selected based on the quality of food and the authenticity of the location. The summer tour goes through that tricky part of the city center where travelers need the help of a local expert to enjoy and understand better the Palermitan culture. Capo market gets a different dress if you see it with the eyes of a local. Vucciria market might simply look the ruin of an old elegant city center…unless you experience it with us!

Guided Tour of Monreale Cathedral

In the afternoon your driver will be taking you to Monreale where you will enjoy a guided visit of its world-renowned cathedral, a dazzling mixture of arab, Byzantine and Norman artistic styles framed by traditional Romanesque architecture. Return to Palermo and overnight stay.

Day 4: Leisure Time in Erice and Visit of the Saltpans

Following breakfast and check out, your private driver will take you to Erice, a wonderfully preserved medieval town offering the most breath-taking views. Lunch at your leisure. Next discover the scenic wonders of the Nature Reserve of Saline di Trapani e Paceco, across the picturesque coastal road with views on the windmills and the salt pans and piles. Stop at the dock with boats sailing to Motya, and enjoy a visit to the Ettore Infersa Salt Museum, where the traditional method of extraction and processing of the salt (still used today) is on show, or walk arround salt pans. Next continue to your accommodation, the Verdura Resort in Sciacca. Overnight stay.

Day 5: Guided Visit of Selinunte and Wine Tasting and Lunch at Ulmo Winery

This morning your private driver will take you to Selinunte and enjoy a private guided tour of one of the largest and most impressive archaeological sites in the Mediterranean. Then continue to Sambuca di Sicilia to visit the Ulmo Estate, one of the most prestigious wineries of the entire Sicily. The visit will be followed by wine tasting and a light lunch. After lunch continue return to your accommodation and rest of the day for resting and relaxing.

Day 6: Transfer to Agrigento and Guided Tour of The Valle Dei Templi

Following breakfast and check out your private driver will take you to Agrigento where you will take a private guided tour of the famous Valle dei Templi which consists of eight temples built between about 510 BC and 430 BC. Overnight in Agrigento.

Day 7: Transfer to Ragusa Ibla with a Stop in Piazza Armerina

Following breakfast and check out your private driver will meet you at your hotel and take you to Piazza Armerina, most famous for the truly astonishing classical mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale, a Unesco World Heritage Site due to its containing the most complex and large collection of Roman mosaics in the world – there are 3535 square metres of them. Enjoy a guided tour of this splendid site and then continue to Ragusa. Check into your accommodation and overnight stay.

Day 8: Guided Tour of Ragusa and Visit of The Aromi Farm

This morning your driver will take you to Ragusa Ibla and enjoy a guided visit of its amazing historic center and discover some of its treasures such as the Hyblean Gardens, the Basilica di San Giorgio and the Church of Santa Maria delle Scale, just to mention a few. Lunch at your leisure. In the afternoon visit “Gli Aromi Farm” where the owner Enri­co will meet you. This farm cultivates autochthon plants and aromatic herbs. It also holds an impor­tant leadership position in sales and marketing, focusing on local species of the Sicilian coast and in particular of the Iblean area. The farm produces more than 120 different varieties of plants and herbs using old traditional methods of manual cultivation. You will sample the different varieties of herbs and see how they are used alongside other local products in Sicilian cooking for lunch. Overnight in Ragusa.

Day 9: Private Transfer to Siracusa with a Stop In Noto

Following breakfast and check out private chauffeured transfer to Siracusa. On your way there you will stop Noto and spend some time at your leisure in this amazing city considered to be the apotheosis of Baroque architecture. Continue to Siracusa and check into your accommodation. Lunch at your leisure.

Private Guided Tour Of Siracusa

After lunch enjoy a private guided visit of Siracusa’s archaeological park and then continue with a walk through its historical center for admiring the Fountain Arethusa, the Cathedral, the Archimede Square and the ruins of the Apollo’s temple.

Day 10: Private Guided Tour of Siracusa

After lunch enjoy a private guided visit of Siracusa’s archaeological park and then continue with a walk through its historical center for admiring the Fountain Arethusa, the Cathedral, the Archimede Square and the ruins of the Apollo’s temple.

Day 11: Full Day Tour of Mount Etna

Today visit the spectacular Mount Etna on a 4X4 vehicle. A Land Rover will get you far enough off the beaten track to see some fascinating aspects of this great volcano that the ordinary tourist won’t see, and the knowledgeable guide who will accompany you will give you some great insights. The tour also includes a visit to a winery of the area followed by wine tasting and a light lunch. Return to Siracusa and overnight stay.

Day 12: Private Transfer to Taormina

Following breakfast and check out your private driver will take you to Taormina, a chic resort town with gorgeous medieval churches, a stunning Greek theatre and amazing views over the Gulf of Naxos and Mount Etna. Check into your accommodation and rest of the day at your leisure for resting and relaxing.

Day 13: Godfather Tour

Today enjoy an introduction to the real Sicily, exploring the towns of Savoca and Forza D’Agrò with your English speaking driver. Depart for Fiumefreddo and visit the Castello degli Schiavi, the location where the movie “The Godfather” was filmed, with the owner Barone Platania. Then drive to Savoca, enjoy a walking tour of the town, admiring “The Godfather” set with the typical streets and the famous Bar Vitelli. You will take a walk on the panoramic promenade to the famous church of Sant’Nicolò or better called Santa Lucia which was used in “The Godfather” movie for the marriage of Michael Corleone and Apollonia Vitelli. A taste of lemon granita is a must! You then drive to the next charming medieval village of Forza D’Agrò, which is without a doubt one of the best examples of a typical village of the Province of Messina. It still conserves its medieval street layout and on all sides of the town you can behold the most incredible views. Finally, your journey finishes at the medieval village of Castelmola (just above Taormina) to take a pleasant walk in the town before returning to your hotel.

Day 14: Day at Your Leisure in Taormina

Day at your leisure in Taormina for resting and relaxing.

Day 15: Fly Back Home

Following breakfast check out and private transfer to Catania Airport to take your domestic flight back home.