Day 1 Sunday, March 9th

Depart USA Check-in at USA airport for overnight flight to Palermo, Sicily.

Day 2 Monday, March 10th

Arrive in Palermo Arrive in Palermo and meet your guide. Transfer to your hotel and check in for 3 nights with breakfast and dinner included. After check in, you will have time to relax, have lunch and enjoy Palermo. Palermo, charming capital of Sicily will welcome you for the starting day of this unforgettable tour! Palermo was one of the richest cities in Europe from the 9th to the 12th centuries AD when Islamic culture, Byzantine magnificence and the vigorous world of medieval Europe were merging into a fascinating civilisation. Tonight, we will have dinner in the hotel.

Day 3 Tuesday, March 11th

Tour of Palermo After breakfast we will head out for Mass in the Church of Saint Mary of the Angels. After Mass we will spend a day exploring the best of Palermo. Well tour through Palermos colourful and bustling Ballar street market -all spiced with an evocative whiff of Africa. See the top attractions in the old town of the Sicilian capital of Palermo, including the Teatro Massimo, Cathedral, and Politeama Theater. Free time in the afternoon. Dinner in the Hotel.

Day 4 Wednesday, March 12th

Segesta Erice Trapani Salines After breakfast we will have Mass in Palermo, before boarding our bus to visit the magnificent Segesta one of the bestpreserved ancient Greek sites in existence will welcome you with its archaeological park and its famous solitary Temple in pure Doric style set in a stunning natural scenery! We will be fascinated by Erice, a small medieval village with ancient Greek origins, situated on a little hill, where it is possible to enjoy a fantastic view on the Egadi Islands. The visiting day will proceed with the whiteness of Trapani salt pans, whose Salt Museum set on in an antique mill, tells us the story of the ancient tradition of the harvest of this precious mineral. Back to Palermo with some free time before dinner.

Day 5 Thursday, March 13th

Mothia Selinunte In the morning we will take a short boat ride out to the tiny island of Mothia. With a history far transcending its diminutive size, it was one of the Mediterraneans most important Phoenician settlements. Our visit will take in Mozias unique museum and the ruins of a remarkable civilisation including its harbour. Back on the mainland, plunged in the suggestive Mediterranean landscape, Selinunte archaeological park will show us the glorious testimony of a mythical past, which will immerse you in the legendary Greek history. Continue to the town of Favara and check in to our hotel for breakfast and dinner.

Day 6 Friday, March 14th

Agrigento This morning will be dedicated to Agrigento defined by Pyndar the most beautiful city of mortals. Among hundreds of almond trees, the rests of the ancient Akragas rise. In the Valley of the Temples we will admire the Concordia Temple, the Heracles Temple, the Juno Temple and Castor and Pollux Temples which represent the most beautiful example of the Greek Civilization in Sicily. After Lunch we will travel back to the hotel for some free time to relax before dinner.

Day 7 Saturday, March 15th

Today we will travel across the island and will continue to Piazza Armerina, in the heart of Sicily, where Villa Romana del Casale, will fascinate us with its splendid Roman polychrome mosaics, Unesco World Heritage Site. After lunch we continue across the island and will check into our hotel in Catania for 3 nights and have dinner.

Day 8 Sunday, March 16th

Etna Taormina After breakfast we will visit the highest active volcano in Europe, Mount Etna, rises majestically on the entire east coast. We will reach the Crateri Silvestri, small volcanic cones now inactive, surrounded by ancient lava flows where we will enjoy an almost lunar landscape and a fantastic panorama of the Ionic Sea. In the afternoon you will be stunned by Taormina, small medieval village called the pearl of the Ionic Sea, famous for its typical picturesque narrow streets (where you can buy the best local handcraft such as jewels and ceramics) and its fascinating Greek Theatre, the antique Dome and Palazzo Corvaja. Back to our hotel for some free time before dinner.

Day 9 Monday, March 17th

Catania Riviera dei Ciclopi Acireale After breakfast we will travel to Catania. Unesco World Heritage Site, you can immediately recognize it with its original baroque style and its unique streets built with lava black stone! Its magnificent Cathedral the symbol of devotion to the patron Saint Agata where we will have Mass. Visit the famous Duomo Square where the Liotru statue (a black lava stone elephant statue) is set, symbol of the city. Not far from there we will reach the University Square and we will have a walk along the splendid baroque Via dei Crociferi, where we will admire the famous St. Benedict Monastery, Unesco World Heritage Site. We will continue walking along the precious historical city centre to discover the ancient Roman Amphitheatre, the Opera Massimo Bellini Theatre. We will have some free time for lunch and to explore the old city, before transferring to our hotel in Catania before dinner.

Day 10 Tuesday, March 18th

Cefal Palermo We cannot leave the island without visiting the charming Cefal, wonderful medieval town situated at the northern coast of Sicily. We will visit the famous Norman Dome, one of the most beautiful churches in Sicily for Mass with the elegant, annexed cloister and rich of precious Byzantine mosaics. After lunch we will reach Palermo and check into our hotel for another 2 nights.

Day 11 Wednesday, March 19th

Cattedrale di Monreale Visiting the Cattedrale di Monreale, located in Monreale near Palermo, Sicily, is a breathtaking experience that immerses visitors in the grandeur of Norman architecture and Byzantine artistry. This 12th-century cathedral is renowned for its stunning mosaics, which cover approximately 6,500 square meters of the interior, depicting biblical scenes in vibrant detail. The cathedral's golden mosaics, particularly the magnificent Christ Pantocrator in the apse, exemplify the fusion of Latin, Byzantine, and Islamic art, reflecting Sicily's diverse cultural history. The tranquil cloisters, with their beautifully carved columns and serene garden, offer a peaceful retreat and a chance to appreciate the craftsmanship of the medieval artisans. A visit to the Cattedrale di Monreale is not just a step back in time but a journey through the rich tapestry of Sicily's artistic and religious heritage. After our visit we will travel back to Palermo for lunch and free time before our final farewell dinner.

Day 12 Thursday, March 20th

Depart - Early morning departure for our return flight to the US.