A Sicilian Odyssey

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A Sicilian Odyssey



Tour Description:

Discover cultural footprints forever present... Over the centuries, the island of Sicily was colonized by the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Muslims, Normans and assorted others before becoming part of Spain, then the Bourbon Kingdom, and finally part of Italy. And today...
Vestiges of the ancient Greeks and Romans entice in Agrigento and Taormina... the presence of the Normans lingers in Palermo... a distinctive style of Sicilian architecture began in the Baroque Valley centuries ago and flourishes today... Byzantine and Arab art mingle with Italian influences... taste impressive wines from grapes grown in volcanic soil... all for a taste of the authentic Sicily.  Join us for an odyssey through time as you discover a history book of experiences, authentically engaging and always enlightening, as you become a part of Sicily's extended family.

Map for A Sicilian Odyssey
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Dates & Pricing

Friday 29 Aug 25 — Sunday 07 Sep 25Starting at $9,490Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 01 Sep 25 — Wednesday 10 Sep 25Starting at $9,490Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 08 Sep 25 — Wednesday 17 Sep 25Starting at $9,490Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 03 Oct 25 — Sunday 12 Oct 25Starting at $9,490Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 10 Oct 25 — Sunday 19 Oct 25Starting at $9,490Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 13 Oct 25 — Wednesday 22 Oct 25Starting at $9,490Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 24 Oct 25 — Sunday 02 Nov 25Starting at $8,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 27 Oct 25 — Wednesday 05 Nov 25Starting at $8,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 31 Oct 25 — Sunday 09 Nov 25Starting at $8,490Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 03 Nov 25 — Wednesday 12 Nov 25Starting at $8,490Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 10 Apr 26 — Sunday 19 Apr 26Starting at $9,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 13 Apr 26 — Wednesday 22 Apr 26Starting at $9,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 20 Apr 26 — Wednesday 29 Apr 26Starting at $9,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 24 Apr 26 — Sunday 03 May 26Starting at $9,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 01 May 26 — Sunday 10 May 26Starting at $9,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 04 May 26 — Wednesday 13 May 26Starting at $9,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 08 May 26 — Sunday 17 May 26Starting at $9,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 15 May 26 — Sunday 24 May 26Starting at $9,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 18 May 26 — Wednesday 27 May 26Starting at $9,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 25 May 26 — Wednesday 03 Jun 26Starting at $9,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 29 May 26 — Sunday 07 Jun 26Starting at $9,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 08 Jun 26 — Wednesday 17 Jun 26Starting at $9,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 24 Aug 26 — Wednesday 02 Sep 26Starting at $9,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 02 Sep 26 — Friday 11 Sep 26Starting at $9,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 07 Sep 26 — Wednesday 16 Sep 26Starting at $9,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 11 Sep 26 — Sunday 20 Sep 26Starting at $9,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 16 Sep 26 — Friday 25 Sep 26Starting at $9,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 21 Sep 26 — Wednesday 30 Sep 26Starting at $9,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 25 Sep 26 — Sunday 04 Oct 26Starting at $9,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 30 Sep 26 — Friday 09 Oct 26Starting at $9,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Wednesday 14 Oct 26 — Friday 23 Oct 26Starting at $9,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Monday 19 Oct 26 — Wednesday 28 Oct 26Starting at $9,990Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Friday 23 Oct 26 — Sunday 01 Nov 26Starting at $9,590Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Check Mark Icon Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.


Destination & Sightseeing

Discover cultural footprints forever present... Over the centuries, the island of Sicily was colonized by the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Muslims, Normans and assorted others before becoming part of Spain, then the Bourbon Kingdom, and finally part of Italy. And today... Vestiges of the ancient Greeks and Romans entice in Agrigento and Taormina... the presence of the Normans lingers in Palermo... a distinctive style of Sicilian architecture began in the Baroque Valley centuries ago and flourishes today... Byzantine and Arab art mingle with Italian influences... taste impressive wines from grapes grown in volcanic soil... all for a taste of the authentic Sicily.  Join us for an odyssey through time as you discover a history book of experiences, authentically engaging and always enlightening, as you become a part of Sicily's extended family.

Highlights
TAUCK EXCLUSIVES – Private lunch at a Baron's palazzo in Siracusa with a wine tasting from the family vineyard and dinner and an art tour with the son of a baroness at their private villa in Palermo
Visit to Palermo's grand Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, the largest opera house in Italy
Visits to the Sicilian Baroque UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Noto and Ragusa Ibla
Enjoy a wine tasting at a local winery

ITINERARY

Arrive Catania / Siracusa
Tour begins: 6:00 PM. A transfer is included from Catania – Fontanarossa Airport to the Grand Hotel Ortigia, a century-old landmark hotel ideally located in the historic heart of Siracusa on the island of Ortigia. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner at the hotel tonight.

Mythical Siracusa
Walk in the footsteps of ancient Greek explorers who settled on this historic island in 734 BC, building a city of archaeological splendors, economic prosperity and political power that rivaled Athens as the most important city in the world until it fell to the Romans in 212 BC. Your locally guided walking tour today reveals some of its treasured Greek and Roman sites as you explore Neapolis Archaeological Park, including the 16,000-seat Greek Theatre (Teatro Greco), the Ear of Dionysius (Orecchio de Dioniso), and the 3rd-century Roman amphitheater. Back in Ortigia, visit the Theatre of Apollo and the Baroque Duomo. Lunch today is a noble affair when you dine at the family palazzo of the Barone Pietro di Beneventano, and taste wines from the family vineyard. Free time this afternoon offers you an opportunity to see more of the city or walk back to the hotel with your Tauck Director, where the remainder of the day is at leisure.

Baroque gems of Noto and Ragusa Ibla
Drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Noto this morning where a walking tour along the elegant Corso Vittorio Emmanuele promenade showcases the city's Baroque buildings, golden-hued palazzi and churches among them, rebuilt after a devastating 17th-century earthquake. View from the outside the Basilica di San Salvatore and the Duomo di Noto as well as the ornate Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, before exploring on your own. A tour of a local herb farm later introduces you to the freshly picked aromatic spices that add true regional flavor to today's family-style tasting lunch. This afternoon, drive to the lovely Baroque town of Ragusa Ibla, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where a walking tour introduces its ancient labyrinthine lanes and the main Piazza. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of the Arezzo, the "noble" family of Ragusa Ibla, before dinner this evening.

A day in Piazza Armerina
This morning, travel to the nearby town of Piazza Armerina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been called an "art city," woven into the fabric of Sicily. The mosaics you will see here are considered among the most beautiful and best preserved of their kind anywhere in the world. Your artful discoveries begin when you step inside the Roman Villa del Casale, dating back to 320 to 350 BC when it was built for a Roman official. Look down at the floors as you tour the villa; the mosaics, both figurative and geometric, tell eloquent tales of Homeric poems and myths, nature and scenes from aristocratic life. After lunch, return to Ragusa for dinner in a wine cellar located in the medieval crypt underneath an old church, featuring 400 labels of the best Sicilian and international wines.

Explore the Greek temples of Agrigento & afternoon at the resort
This morning, depart for a visit to Agrigento and the amazing Greek temples. The Valley of the Temples at Agrigento, dating back to 581 BC, must have been the favorite neighborhood of the gods if the number of temples there is any indication – the site is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Built on a hillside facing the sea, explore temples honoring deities the likes of Zeus, Hercules, Concord, Pollux and Castor with a local guide in this amazing archaeological site. Visit the temples of Zeus, Concord and Hercules, the Temple of Juno and more. Arrive at the resort mid-afternoon; the remainder of the day is free to enjoy the resort's amenities as you please. 

Morning at leisure and on to Palermo
The morning is free to spend as you please. Enjoy a wine tasting en route to your Palermo hotel for a two-night stay. This evening, join the son of a baroness for an exclusive private dinner and tour of his family's art collection in their historic city-center villa, designed by Ernesto Basile, the architect of Teatro Massimo.

Life in Palermo, Past and Present
Start your day with a guided visit to the Palazzo dei Normanni, the seat of the kings of Sicily during the reign of the Normans and the main seat of power for Sicilian rulers for centuries. A UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the Palatine Chapel in the heart of the palace, the palazzo dates back to the 9th century and boasts multicultural touches that were added later. These include the spectacular mosaics of precious stones, many glittering in gold, you will see in the royal apartments and chapel, which also features inlaid carved marble floors and a painted wooden ceiling. A walking tour of historic Palermo is followed by lunch at a local restaurant and a guided visit to Teatro Massimo, the largest opera house in Italy and the setting where the final scenes of the movie, Godfather Part III, were filmed. The remainder of the day is free to spend as you please.

Seaside village of Cefalù and Teatro Greco
Drive to Cefalù for a guided tour of its Norman cathedral, constructed in 1240, before driving by the Madonie Mountains. Then, it's on to Taormina on a scenic drive that views the Aeolian Islands dotting the seascapes. A guided uphill walking tour of Taormina takes you to the Teatro Greco built in 3 BC by the Greeks and remodeled by the Romans. Your evening is at leisure.

Taormina & an optional adventure to Mt. Etna
If you're craving a deeper connection with Sicily's wild side, today's adventure offers a thrilling ascent aboard a 4x4 Range Rover to Europe's largest volcano - Mt. Etna. Your expert Naturalist guide leads the way as you traverse winding mountain roads, gradually climbing to nearly 6,000 feet above sea level. At Rifugio Sapienza, where the road ends and the volcano's upper reaches begin, you'll set out on a guided hike across lava-sculpted terrain—stark, otherworldly, and humbling in its beauty. There's time built in for a rest stop and to simply soak in the majesty of your surroundings.Following your return, enjoy free time to explore Taormina at your leisure before coming together with your fellow travelers for a farewell reception and dinner at the hotel—celebrating the unforgettable journey you've shared through Sicily's soul-stirring landscapes.

Journey home
Tour ends: Taormina. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from your hotel to Catania – Fontanarossa Airport (a 45-60 minute drive). Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport.

Check Mark Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.

FAQ Tauck Travel Frequently Asked Questions FAQ for Tauck tours. Includes Tauck Guest Protection Plan.

People have asked, What's the relationship between Pavlus and Tauck. It's simple, Pavlus Travel is the Worlds largest seller of Tauck tours. We enjoy a close working relationship. Another question, Are Tauck tours worth the money? They sure are. Yes, Tauck is a bit more expensive. Everything is taken care for you on your tours. Tauck tour directors are all employees of Tauck unlike virtually every other escorted European Tour Company. We highly recommend Tauck verses any other tour company. There are two other questions asked often of our staff, What is the Tauck guest protection plan and what is the Tauck cancellation policy? Our staff will be pleased to provide complete answers to you. We always welcome questions on any travel topic.