DAY 1

• CATANIA TO TAORMINA

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• You’ve Arrived
• Meet your private English-speaking assistant outside of airport customs in the baggage claim area, where they will be holding a sign with your name on it. When you're ready to depart, they will bring you to your private vehicle and transfer you to your hotel in Taormina. Approximate travel duration is 1 hour.
• A welcome package with a city map, train tickets (if relevant), and any other touristic information that we deem you may find useful, will be provided to you on your first day in destination.
• With options galore, deciding on a restaurant during the course of your day can prove to be an added stress. To assist, within your final trip documents, you’ll receive a supplemental composition showcasing our top restaurant suggestions in Taormina, as selected by Kensington Tours Destination Experts.

DAY 2

• TAORMINA

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• A Healthy Dose of History
• With a private guide & driver, embark on a full day tour journeying toward the northeastern tip of Sicily to explore historic Messina, and the ancient archaeological site of Tindari. With settlement history dating as far back as the 8th century BC, the city of Messina is emblazoned with fingerprints of the past. Admire its stunning Church of San Francesco and the Fountain of Neptune, representing perseverance in the face of adversity in nature. Visit the National Museum, home to a rich collection of portraits and sculptures, including works by renowned late-16th century Baroque painter, Caravaggio. Admire Messina's City Hall, the Church of the Annunziata dei Catalani, and stroll through Piazza del Duomo, home to the city's main cathedral, its tower housing the world's largest astronomical clock. In the afternoon, continue along the northern coast of Sicily for a visit of the archaeological site of Tindari, ancient Tyndaris. A Greek colony founded in 396 BC, the site and its monumental ruins occupy a magnificent position, perched on a cliff high overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Witness ancient archways, the remains of a Roman domus, and an amphitheater. Conclude your day on arrival back to your hotel.

DAY 3

• TAORMINA

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• A Bird’s Eye View
• Meet your private driver for a transfer to a nearby helipad, the launch point for an unforgettable experience of flightseeing over Mt. Etna by private helicopter. On arrival, you'll meet your pilot and board a private 5-seater chopper, taking to the skies for 30 minutes of stunning aerial views over Sicily's famed volcano and over the surrounding coastline. Enjoy exclusive vantage points, and take in the beauty of Etna and Sicily from above. After your flight, your driver will transfer you back to your hotel.

DAY 4

• TAORMINA TO MILAZZO TO SALINA

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• A Change of Scenery
• Meet your private driver and vehicle for a transfer to the port of Milazzo. Approximate travel time is 1.5 hours.
• Board a ferry for direct service from Milazzo to the island of Salina. The voyage is approximately 1.5 hours.
• Spend some time at leisure at Capofaro today, a property designed for rest and recuperation. Enjoy the fresh water pool, surrounded by Malvasia vineyards, indulge your senses in the garden spa and if you feel active, try your hand at paddle tennis, yoga or pilates.
• Please let your advisor know if you would like to book any services during your leisure time at the hotel.

DAY 5

• SALINA

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• Sail the Seas
• Meet your driver for a transfer to port where you'll board a private yacht and set out for a day with a dedicated skipper, enjoying crystal clear waters as you circumnavigate the island of Salina. With a great knowledge of the local waters, your skipper will leisurely take you around the island, stopping at various points along the way for swimming breaks in the most beautiful island surroundings, including Pollara Bay, made famous in Massimo Troisi's renowned film Il Postino. You'll have an opportunity to disembark midday in the village of Lingua, enjoying some free time to explore and grab a bite before rejoining your cruise. Soft drinks and beer will be provided on board as you enjoy the vantage point of your boat, and the beautiful Mediterranean surroundings. Conclude your day with a private port transfer back to your hotel.

DAY 6

• SALINA TO MILAZZO TO PALERMO

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• Onward and Upward
• Board a hydrofoil for direct ferry service from Salina to Milazzo. The journey is approximately 1.5 hours.
• Meet your private driver and vehicle transfer to Palermo. En route, you'll be taken to the historic seaside town of Cefalu, where you'll have 3 hours to explore at your leisure. Be sure to take in the UNESCO-listed 12th century Cathedral of Cefalu, flanked by matching towers, resting peacefully in the imposing shadow of the Rocca di Cefalu. Afterward, rejoin your driver and continue onward to Palermo.

DAY 7

• PALERMO

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• Pound the Pavement
• Meet your private guide and depart on foot for a half-day walking tour of the fascinating city of Palermo. This diverse crossroads of Mediterranean and northern European civilization is a vibrant city whose unique culture has been forged and molded by three millennia of history emerging from three continents. The streets of old Palermo are a mixture of intriguing outdoor markets, subtle niches and long-forgotten secrets. You’ll be enchanted by Palermo’s wide boulevards, traditional Sicilian Old Quarter, and baroque palaces. You’ll see the city’s main sights, including Quattro Canti (the Four Corners), an extravagant baroque square ringed by four buildings with baroque sculptures that depict the four seasons, Spanish kings, and the patron saints of Palermo’s four old quarters. You’ll also see the 12th century Cathedral, which houses a pantheon of royal tombs, and visit Palermo’s food market, Il Capo, full of color and folklore. Here you'll enjoy some included samplings of typical Sicilian street food such as “pani ca meusa”, “panelle”, and “arancini”.

DAY 8

• PALERMO TO SCIACCA

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• Winding the Wind-Swept Shorelines
• Meet your private driver and vehicle for a transfer to Sciacca. Approximate travel time is 2 hours.
• With a private guide and driver, set out on a half-day tour of Sicily's southwestern coastline. You'll make your way to Eraclea Minoa, an ancient Greek village founded in the 6th century BC atop the ruins of the oldest village of Minoa. Discover impressive findings belonging to the different colonizations of the village, such a Paleochristian church, a Greek theater from 4th century BC, and some ruins of the ancient Greek settlement. From here, continue along the coast to Scala dei Turchi (Stair of the Turks). This impressive white cliff is made of a soft limestone and blinding white marl, eroded majestically over millennia offering the appearance of a staircase descending to the Mediterranean sea below. After spending some time at this spectacular site, continue toward Porto Empedocle, a coastal town which offers breathtaking views with a combination of an endless skyline and medieval buildings on the waterfront. Conclude your tour on arrival back to your hotel. *Please note: Scala Dei Turchi is currently closed by local authorities and the re-opening date is TBA. If the site is re-opened to visitors by the time of travel, admission will be payable on the spot.

DAY 9

• SCIACCA

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• Cross an Item off the Bucket List
• This morning, enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax at your hotel.
• Experience sunset in the stunning surroundings of an ancient UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Valley of the Temples. In the early evening, set out with your private driver to the famed Valley of the Temples where your private guide will be waiting for you. Despite it's name suggesting a low-lying position, the archaeological site (the largest in the world) finds itself atop a ridge outside of Agrigento. It's one of the most visited places on the island, with temples dating back to the 5th century BC. The main temples that you'll visit are the Temple of Juno, the remarkably well preserved 2,500-year-old Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Zeus and the Temple of the Dioscuri. These ancient monuments provide an incredible backdrop as the sun slips behind the horizon. Afterward, continue with a visit of nearby Kolymbetra Garden, originally an artificial lake set between sandstone cliffs in a river valley. Now, citrus trees blossom, pomegranates grow wild, and large wild olives grow as emerald as the surrounding leaves. The lake is now a pool that stands at the heart of the garden as a reminder of the lush past and fertile future of the area. Conclude with a return transfer to your hotel.

DAY 10

• SCIACCA TO SYRACUSE

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• The Journey Continues…
• Meet your private driver and vehicle for a transfer to Syracuse. Approximate travel time is 4 hours.
• Meet your private guide for a walking tour of ancient discoveries around Syracuse and Ortigia Island. Set out on foot toward Syracuse's archaeological site where you'll visit the undisputed main attraction, the massive, 2,500-year-old Greek theater that was built to accommodate up to 15,000 spectators. Nearby, the old stone quarries are host to the famous “Ear of Dionysius”, a slender arch cave cut into the rock face that is said to have been used by Dionysius the Tyrant as a prison for his most hated enemies. On Syracuse's Ortigia Island, you'll be lead through 2,500 years of history, encompassing Greek, Roman and Norman influences, with a bounty of understated Baroque architecture. Visit Ortigia's UNESCO-listed Cathedral of Syracuse, built upon the old 5th century BC Doric Temple of Athena, now boasting a stunning 18th century Baroque facade. See how some of the ancient columns were incorporated into the rebuilt structure, preserving its original brilliance.

DAY 11

• SYRACUSE

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• Vitamin Sea
• Embark on a full day of seafaring by private zodiac boat, cruising along the coast between Marzamemi, Vendicari and Portopalo. First, set out with your private driver for a transfer along the coast towards the small village of Marzamemi on Sicily’s southernmost tip. Here you'll meet up with your Guide-Skipper and board a private zodiac boat for a fun and leisurely experience at sea. While cruising, you'll make stops along the way at spectacular observation points to observe the beauty of the seabed, particularly as you cruise toward the Vendicari Nature Reserve. Bring your bathing suits as you'll even get a chance to swim in the Mediterranean. The town of Marzamemi is known for fresh seafood restaurants, so don't hesitate to mention it to your Skipper if you'd like to break for a meal in this picturesque town. Conclude your day with a return transfer back to your hotel.

DAY 12

• SYRACUSE TO CATANIA
• Until Next Time…
• Meet your private driver and vehicle for a transfer to Catania Airport. Approximate travel time is 45 minutes.

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