UNESCO was established in London in 1945, as common will – in cooperation with the UN, to contribute to the maintenance of peace, equality of peoples and respect for Human Rights, through the channels of Culture, Education, Science and Communication.
With more than forty sites, currently Italy is the country that has the largest number of sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as evidence to the increasing awareness that, the countless artistic, architectural and natural treasures in Italy, must be protected and transmitted to future generations.
Sicily hosts  the following UNESCO sites:

Archaeological Area of Agrigento (1997)
Villa Romana del Casale (1997)
Isole Eolie (Aeolian Islands) (2000)
Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (South-Eastern Sicily) (2002)
Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica (2005)
Mount Etna (2013)
Arab-Norman Palermo and the cathedral churches of Cefalù’ and Monreale (2016)
Two more sites have been submitted in the Tentative List:
Mothia Island and Lilibeo: The Phoenician-Punic Civilization in Italy (2006)
Taormina and Isola Bella (2006)

For all those discerning travellers, this is a tour not to be missed!

ITINERARY & PROGRAM, overview

10 days – 9 nights

Day 1: Welcome to Sicily! Cefalù

    • Arrival at Palermo International Airport and meet & greet your driver-escort.
    • Let’s begin this increbible journey visiting the little seafaring center of Cefalù, a Medieval village and its beautiful Norman Cathedral.
  • Return to Palermo. Check-in and accommodation at your luxury hotel.

Day 2: Monreale and Palermo, the capital of Sicily

  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Full-day guided visit of the Cathedral of Monreale ounded by William II in 1172 which houses the largest mosaic decoration (over 6,000 square meters) of the entire production of the Mediterranean basin, performed by Byzantine workers, with vetero stories and new Testamentaries and the Christ Pantocrator in the apse. You will also visit the nearby Cloister of the Benedict Monastery.
  • Back to Palermo, the Capital of Sicily,  we will admire its most important treasures among which the Norman Palace (or Royal Palace) and the Palatine Chapel, the Arab-Norman Cathedral, the Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti and the Church known as La Martorana.
  • Lunch and dinner are at leisure.
  • Overnight stay at your luxury accommodation.

Day 3: Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples

  • Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
  • We will drive south towards Agrigento. Today the focus of our walking tour is the magnificent Valley of the Temples, a charming destination where Arts, Culture and Nature coexist in a magical atmosphere stuck in a mythological time. Temples here rise surrounded by countryside, almond trees and flowers, pictured in an immortal scenario in this dreamlike corner of Mediterranean.
  • Lunch and dinner are at leisure.
  • Overnight stay at Villa Athena, 5 stars.

Day 4: from Piazza Armerina to Caltagirone and Siracusa

  • Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
  • Departure to Piazza Armerina to visit the famous Roman Villa del Casale and its magnificent mosaic floors.
  • Proceed to Caltagirone, famous for its thousand-year-old tradition of craftmanship in ceramics and terracotta.
  • Drive to Syracuse, check-in and overnight stay at the 5 starred Ortea Palace.

Day 5: Syracuse, the white town

  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Guided visit of the ancient Neapolis, the archaeological park, seat of the most interesting remains of Graeco-Roman heritage of Syracuse.
  • Enjoy the walking tour of the Baroque-style historical Centre located in the island of Ortigia to visit the Cathedral, former a great temple devoted to Athena, the Fountain of Arethusa planted with papyrus, the Jewish Quarter, strolling all around the narrow streets.
  • Overnight stay at the Ortea Palace, 5 stars.

Day 6: The Baroque valley: Ragusa – Modica – Scicli

  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Depart for the so-called Baroque valley. First stop is Ragusa and its baroque old town, Ragusa Ibla.
  • Continue to Modica. Its 100 spectacular churches and baroque monuments are not the only attractions you can visit. The town has a long tradition in the production of chocolate whose methodology is still very close to that implemented by the Aztecs.
  • End with a visit of Scicli and an amazing Mediterranean nursery garden in its countryside enjoying a multisensorial itinerary of unknown flavors and forgotten fragrances.
  • Return to Syracuse and overnight stay at the Ortea Palace, 5 stars.

Day 7: Noto and Palazzolo Acreide

  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Head to Noto, also known as “stone garden”, capital of the baroque district for a walking tour among the amazing Baroque detailes of the façades of the noble palazzos.
  • Drive through southern farmland to reach the town of Palazzolo Acreide, founded by Syracuse in 664 BC to visit its archaeological area, with its small but well-preserved theater in a beautiful natural setting.
  • Return to Syracuse and overnight stay at the Ortea Palace, 5 stars.

Day 8: from Syracuse to Catania and Mt Etna

  • Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
  • This morning’s walking tour of the historical center of Catania will introduce you to ornate Sicilian baroque with visits to the opulent Benedictine Monastery, the Teatro Massimo Bellini, the opera house named for beloved composer and native son, Vincenzo Bellini, and Via Crociferi, symbol of the baroque in Catania, boasting some of the most beautiful eighteenth-century churches of the city.
  • Mount Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe, a world of its own which despite its intense activity with eruptions and lava flows, blesses the area with a very fertile land for agriculture, especially for wines. For being of the most exciting wine destinations in the world, we will visit a top boutique winery with lunch and wine pairing.
  • Proceed to Taormina, check-in and accommodation at your luxury accommodation.
  • Dinner is at leisure.

Day 9: Taormina

  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Although Taormina is not listed yet as a UNESCO site, thanks to its great beauty patrimony has gained the title of “pearl of the Mediterranean sea” so to seduced innumerable poets and writers, attracted illustrious travelers, host internationally renowned celebrities.
  • Lunch and dinner are at leisure.
  • Overnight stay at your luxury accommodation.

Day 10: Arrivederci!

  • Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
  • Private transfer to Catania Airport for departure.

Please, note the detailed program is available upon request by email to info@isolabella.it

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FEATURES

General info
UNESCO World Heritage Tresures of Sicily is a private escorted trip designed to provide customised luxury services and let participants enjoy their Sicilian experience at best. Accommodation provided is luxury, strategically located. When provided, the food is always typically local, with a blend of regional delicacies and top quality wines. Transportation is top quality. Your driver/guide or your driver/escort and your local guides are qualified, knowledgeble but pleasant and happy to meet any specific need and interest.

Departures
This tour is available all year round upon request.

Prices
Quote per person is given upon request with details of inclusions/exclusions.

Flights
We prefer you to take care of your flights according to your needs.

Adds-on
We would be happy to assist you in case of any pre and post nights in Sicily, Amalfi Coast, Rome or any other Italian city and Malta. Do not hesitate to ask for info.

Reservation & Payment
A deposit of 30% per person is required at the time of reservation. Final payment of the tour is due 60 days prior to the beginning of the tour.

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