Sicily Discovery (6340)

9 Day Tour from Sorrento Area to Rome

2019 Tour Details View 2020 Tour Details »

Mountains and hills over the sea, archaeological sites, an active volcano, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, exquisite food, blue skies, and breathtaking views…this is Sicily. Starting from Rome, you will travel through the south of Italy to reach Villa San Giovanni where you will cross the sapphire-blue waters by ferry to reach Messina.

On this affordable Sicily tour, visit some fantastic historic sights. At Casale, visit the Roman Villa – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally an extravagant residence of a powerful Roman family in the 4th century AD, its mosaics on the floors and walls are well-preserved today.

Agrigento, founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century BC, is a treasure trove of fascinating remains. Visit its Valley of the Temples, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, to see vestiges from the classical Greek period. Visit the Doric Temple of Concord, one of the finest examples of Greek civilization – and the Temple of Juno Lacinia, which was severely damaged by fire near the end of the 5th century BC. Also visit Selinunte, an ancient Greek city on the southwestern coast of Sicily that was at the apex of its power before 409 BC. Here, see the remains of the Acropolis, with its temples and fortifications.

Visit the heights of Mount Etna – Europe’s largest active volcano. Enjoy a guided tour of Trapani, set on a harbor that was once a powerful trading network; explore Erice, a medieval hilltop town with cobbled streets, fortifications, and ancient churches; and visit Marsala, known throughout the world for its wine. In Palermo, your sightseeing tour includes Cappella Palatina (Palatine Chapel), built in the 1100s, with byzantine mosaics depicting famous scenes from The Bible. This tour through Sicily is designed for the value-minded traveler as the best way to explore the beautiful features of this magnificent, yet charming island!

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Sicily Discovery map

 Tour Highlights

MOUNT ETNA
Excursion
PIAZZA ARMERINA
Visit the Roman Villa
AGRIGENTO
Guided visit of the Ancient Temples
SELINUNTE
Visit the Acropolis
MARSALA
Visit a local salt mill
TRAPANI
Guided sightseeing
ERICE
Visit by cable car
PALERMO
Guided sightseeing, visit the Cappella Palatina
NAPLES
Guided sightseeing

Headsets throughout the tour.

Notes:

April 18 Departure – Easter
December 29 Departures – New Year's in Taormina

The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be seen or visited on this vacation:

  • Archeological area of Agrigento
  • Historic Centre of Naples
  • Mount Etna
  • Villa Romana del Casale (Piazza Armerina)

Transportation:

Transportation:
Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi; ferry Villa San Giovanni-Messina; overnight ferry Palermo-Naples in 2-berth cabins; cable car to Erice

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

Buffet breakfasts daily except day 8; 4 dinners

 Itinerary

Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.

Day 1 SORRENTO AREA, ITALY

Check into your hotel in the Sorrento area (nearest airport is Naples). Spend the rest of your day getting acquainted with this beautiful resort town.

DinnerDinner

Day 2 SORRENTO AREA–VILLA SAN GIOVANNI–FERRY CROSSING–TAORMINA AREA

Today, travel through the rustic mountainous scenery of Italy’s southernmost region, Calabria, before boarding the FERRY for a 45-minute crossing to Sicily. Continue to the Taormina area.

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 3 TAORMINA AREA. EXCURSION TO MOUNT ETNA

Enjoy a visit to the heights of MOUNT ETNA with the option of a jeep or cable-car ride for a better view of Europe’s largest active volcano (subject to weather conditions). Descend to Taormina, magnificently situated on a 700-foot plateau overlooking the Ionian Sea. The heart of Taormina is Piazza Nove Aprile, a paved square with unrivaled views of the sea and Mount Etna. Take a stroll along the Corso Umberto, and maybe taste a refreshing granita or a sumptuous cannolo.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 4 TAORMINA AREA–PIAZZA ARMERINA–AGRIGENTO

Drive to Piazza Armerina, a maze of steep streets positively overflowing with the colorful atmosphere of Sicilian life. At nearby Casale, visit the ROMAN VILLA, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous for its mosaics, including the whimsical “Bikini Girls.” On to Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples, one of Italy’s archaeological jewels. Visit the DORIC TEMPLE OF CONCORD, one of the finest examples of Greek civilization existing today, and the hilltop TEMPLE OF JUNO LACINIA.

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 5 AGRIGENTO–SELINUNTE–MARSALA

Leave for Selinunte, one of the most striking and interesting sites in Sicily. At the apex of its power before 409 BC, the city exceeded 30,000 people, excluding slaves. Here, you will see the remains of the ACROPOLIS with its temples and fortifications. On the western coast of Sicily, stop in Marsala, known for its celebrated Marsala wine. Here, you will visit a local SALT MILL and learn how this local product is extracted and refined.

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 6 MARSALA–TRAPANI–ERICE–PALERMO

Two Sicilian treats are on the agenda today. First, visit enchanting Trapani with a Local Guide, set on a harbor that was once at the heart of a powerful trading network stretching from Carthage to Venice. The city center stretches along the port and was built in primarily baroque style. Next is the medieval hilltop town of Erice, reached by CABLE CAR. Situated about 2,500 feet above sea level, it immediately impresses with its defensive walls and castle, affording breathtaking views over the Trapani Gulf and Egadi Islands. On clear days, see all the way to the African coast. Continue to Palermo.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 7 PALERMO (EMBARKATION)–OVERNIGHT FERRY CROSSING TO NAPLES

A full day to enjoy this busy and colorful city full of interesting squares and marketplaces, churches, and palazzos in every style—from Moorish to baroque. Join the included sightseeing tour to learn more, and visit the magnificent CAPPELLA PALATINA. This evening, embark for an overnight FERRY crossing from Palermo to Naples.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 8 NAPLES (DISEMBARKATION)–ROME

Get to know Naples with a Local Guide. You'll discover a multifaced city, which is elegant and decadent, while at the same time, lively, fascinating, and colorful. Later, return to Rome, the “Eternal City.”

Day 9 ROME

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Breakfast Breakfast

 Accommodations

Sorrento Area
Taormina Area
Agrigento
Marsala
Palermo
Rome

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 USD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 USD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 USD)
$$$$ (Over $150)


Taormina Area
Palermo
Rome

Taormina Area

Sicilian Dinner and Folklore

Sicilian Dinner and Folklore

Taste a delicious Sicilian style dinner enjoying some folk music and entertainment

Price Range: $$

Palermo

Splendors of Palermo with Dinner

Splendors of Palermo with Dinner

Explore the wonders of Palermo, capital of Sicily, on this fascinating orientation tour with a delicious dinner of fresh, locally-caught fish.

Price Range: $$

The Soul of Palermo

The Soul of Palermo

Explore the wonders of Palermo, capital of Sicily, on this fascinating orientation tour of the city¿s historic district, and free time to try local delicacies at the thousand-year-old Ballarò Street Market.

Price Range: $

Rome

Arrivederci, Roma - Farewell Dinner

Arrivederci, Roma - Farewell Dinner

Immerse yourself in "la dolce vita" as you enjoy a memorable Italian dinner with wine.

Price Range: $$

 Know Before You Go

These Know Before You Go travel tips are designed with you in mind, with helpful hints to help you prepare for and enjoy your escorted vacation. They are your guide to getting ready and contain general information on travel documentation, customs, and the country/countries you will be visiting, including budgeting, transportation, climate, languages, and much more. With Globus, you benefit from our experience.



* The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price includes a limited time promotional offer(s) – please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Cosmos).

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