The Best of Sicily

The Best of Sicily

The carefully crafted itinerary includes a cable car ride up Mount Etna, one of the most active volcanoes in Europe, and a visit to the island’s vibrant capital Palermo. You’ll learn about Sicily’s Greek and Roman history at well-preserved archaeological sites and see the beautiful Monreale Cathedral, a masterpiece of medieval architecture.

With its unique style of Italian cuisine, Sicily is also known for its food, and you’ll have a chance to sample some delicious local specialities including Palermo’s famous street food, and granita, a refreshing semi-frozen dessert. What’s more, you’ll be staying in comfortable 4-star hotels, where you can soak up the Sicilian sun by the pool, relax with a drink, or dip your toes in the shimmering sea.

What's Included:

• Return flights from London
• 7 nights half-board in 4-star hotels
• 16 meals: 7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 7 dinners and welcome drink
• Travelsphere Holiday Director and Specialist Local Guide
• Overseas transfers, other transportation and porterage

Included Holiday Highlights:

• Discover Taormina on a guided tour and enjoy a tasting of granita
• Ascend Mount Etna by cable car
• Admire the mosaics at the Roman Villa Romana del Casale
• Explore the ancient Valley of the Temples
• Sicily's capital Palermo and Monreale Cathedral
• Palermo street food experience

Day 1 - 3: Hotel Caesar Palace

Hotel Caesar Palace is a modern and unique hotel located close to the beach, which can be reached with a complimentary shuttle bus.

Hotel facilities include a restaurant and a swimming pool. Bedrooms have private facilities, air-conditioning, mini-bar, hairdryer, tea/coffee-making facilities, safe and a TV.

Day 4 - 7: Mangia’s Himera Resort

Mangia’s Himera Resort is a typical Mediterranean style hotel with guest rooms spread over three floors. The hotel is situated 80 from Campofelice di Roccella beach. Hotel facilities include a wellness centre, restaurant & bar plus a seasonal swimming pool (typically open May-September). Bedrooms have private facilities, air-conditioning, mini bar, safe and a TV.

Day 1: UK - Catania

Your holiday begins with a flight to Catania. When you arrive, we’ll drive you to your first hotel in the picturesque coastal village of Giardini Naxos, close to Taormina. The hotel has an inviting pool and welcoming bar, and you have some free time to relax and settle in before we get together for a drink this evening.

Meals included: D

Day 2: Mount Etna

It's Sicily's most famous attraction, its name known the world over, and today you’re going to see Mount Etna up close. We’ll ascend Europe's tallest active volcano by cable car to an altitude of around 2,500 metres. You’ll then have some free time to take in the far-reaching views and explore the lava fields of this UNESCO-listed site at your own pace. After our descent, we’ll visit a traditional farm shop to learn about their delicious produce. We’ll try different flavours of honey, taste locally produced olive oil, olives and vegetable pâté and sample three different types of wine.

Meals included: B,D

Day 3: Taormina

We're off to Taormina today, a fascinating town which overlooks two sweeping bays. We’ve arranged for a Local Guide to show us around and one of the highlights will be a visit to the town’s magnificent Greco-Roman theatre, perched dramatically on a clifftop. As well as exploring this ancient site, you can take in panoramic views of the sea with Mount Etna looming large in the distance. Our tour will end with a tasting of granita. This semi-frozen dessert, which originated here, comes in many delicious flavours and is utterly refreshing. You’ll then have some time to yourselves to explore Taormina at leisure. Perhaps find an inviting restaurant for lunch or take a stroll through the pretty streets and piazzas.

Meals included: B,D

Day 4: Villa del Casale - Campofelice di Roccella

We're going to head to our next base today, Campofelice di Roccella, near Cefalu, but not before the chance to revel in some Roman history. Our journey takes us to the 4th century Villa Romana del Casale, close to the town of Piazza Armerina. Here, excavations have revealed one of the world's richest and most complex collections of Roman mosaics, as you view them, you'll be amazed by their excellent condition. We’ll stop for a light lunch at agriresort, Tenute Leano, with olive oil tasting.

We'll continue to our hotel and once you've unpacked, why not head out for a stroll and explore your surroundings.

Meals included: B,L,D

Day 5: Valley of the Temples & Agrigento

Our included excursion today takes us to Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples, a Hellenic archaeological site dramatically situated on a ridge overlooking the sea. Here, a Local Guide will point out all the must-see sights, which include the Temple of Concord, famed for its surprisingly well-preserved columns, and the Temple of Zeus, said to be the largest temple built by the Greeks. Those who are feeling energetic can also climb to the Temple of Juno for fabulous views over Agrigento and the sea.

After the tour, you will have some free time to enjoy lunch if you wish, and then the rest of the day is yours to relax at the hotel.

Meals included: B,D

Day 6: Campofelice di Roccella - at Leisure

How you spend today is entirely up to you. Relax by the pool or on the beach or maybe take a local shuttle to nearby Cefalù, a pretty fishing port. There's lots to discover here, including its winding medieval streets, sandy beaches and one of Sicily's finest Norman cathedrals. If you peer inside, you'll see some of the island's earliest and best-preserved mosaics, with the spectacular Christ Pantocrator above the altar, particularly memorable. The town’s pretty piazzas are also a lovely place to take the weight off your feet with a gelato or well-earned coffee.

Meals included: B,D

Day 7: Palermo & Monreale

Today we’ll visit Palermo, Sicily's vibrant capital, boasting a wealth of architecture ranging in style from Arabic to Art Nouveau. The city is famous for its street food tradition and we’re going to a local restaurant to enjoy a street food experience. You'll be able to sample a wide variety of seasonal dishes, such as deep-fried tuna, a cheese made from sheep's milk, and arancini, which are rice balls filled with ragu sauce. Also on the menu will be caponata, a sweet and sour dish made with aubergines and other vegetables, served in a tomato sauce. It promises to be a real treat for your tastebuds! After you've eaten you could take some time to explore the light-filled Capella Palatine Chapel, which proudly exhibits intricate Byzantine mosaics.

After a short drive, our next stop will be the beautiful Monreale Cathedral, one of the greatest examples of Norman architecture in the world. The pleasant yet unremarkable exterior of the cathedral offers no clue as to the exquisite golden paintings and spectacular mosaics you'll discover when you venture inside.

Meals included: B,L,D

Day 8: Catania - UK

After breakfast, relax and enjoy your final hours in Sicily before we drive you back to the airport in Catania for your return flight to the UK.

Meals included: B

Additional Information

Please note: For the 10th April departure 2025 we will be staying in Mangia's Himera Resort for the final four nights in Campofelice di Roccella. All other departures will be staying at Acacia Resort, Campofelice di Roccella for the final four nights.