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2015 Tour of Sicily and Malta First Itinerary 30th March 2014

Agrigento Vulcano

Day 1 Sat 25 Apr - Meet in Rome Days 2-3 26-27 Apr Fly to Palermo. 2 nights will be spent in Palermo visiting a variety of palaces and museums, especially the Zisa and the Palatine Chapel with Norman Monreale to view on our departure. There is also the Mercato della Vuccina, the world famous market and the Puppet Theatre which are worthy of a visit. Days 4-6 28-30 Apr Travel to Milazza before boarding a hydrofoil to the Aeolian Islands. 3 nights on Lipari and visit Vulcano and Stomboli. You can swim in many coves and sample Malvasi wines. Walk 1 the summit of Vulcano. Walk 2 Stromboli Days 7-9 1–3 May. Return to Milazza and drive to Taormina for 3 night stay. Spend time in this beautiful town, exploring the medieval streets especially Corso Umberto for a “passeggiata” or evening stroll, through the gardens, along the beaches perhaps to tiny Isola Bella. Walk 3 will be 5 kms around Etna, depending on weather and volcanic conditions. The Greek Theatre on its promontory is incredible, offering a view behind the stage, of Mt. Etna rising above the coastal plain Days 10-13 4-7 May. Spend four nights in Ragusa, in the centre of this fascinating town, half built anew on the ridge after an earthquake in 1693 and the lower half rebuilt within the ruins. You can cross the Viaduct, one of the tallest in Europe and explore the town. From here we will also travel to the Baroque town of Modica, famous for chocolate, on to Scicli and Noto, famous for ice cream and also both fascinating Baroque towns with abandoned churches such as the Chiese de San Mateo in Scicli and the magnificent Cattedrale di San Nicolo in Noto. Its main street, Corso Vittorio Emanuele is beautiful as the setting sun hits the pink sandstone. During this time we will visit the magnificent Greek ruins at Agrigento and the fine Roman moziacs at Villa Romana dei Casale. Walk 4 the valley of Agrigento. Walk 5 Scicli Ragusa Malta Days 14-16 8-10 May Three nights in Siracusa. The city, linked to the island of Ortygia by a causeway, is a fascinating blend, chiefly of Arabic and Greco/Romano architecture. Founded in 733BC with a Greek Theatre, Roman Amphitheatres and stone quarries plus an excellent museum. Walk 6 Natural Reserve di Vendicari Walk 7 Necropoli di Pantalica Days 17-19 11-13 May We will transfer to Malta either by hydrofoil from Pozzallo. Stay three nights in Valletta and visit the ancient temples of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temple complex, the old capital at Ir Rabat, the Hal Saflieni Hyrogeum plus the delights of Valletta itself with a fine collection of gardens, museums and churches. To enter Valletta by boat is an incredible experience. Walk 8 along the Dingli Cliffs in the south west of the island or alternatively, with time permitting there may be a visit to Walk 9 the island of Comino, a circuit of this beautiful island where you can swim in the Blue Lagoon. Day 20 14 May Leave Malta from the International Airport, south of the city of Valletta for Roma. Day 21 15 May Tour ends in Rome at 1000.

Villa Romana dei Casale Mud bathing on Vulcano Valetta