Athens, Peninsula and Sicily End Palermo | 10 Days

We will enjoy the city tour with a local guide which includes the Presidential Palace, the Panathinaikos stadium where the first modern Olympic games were held, the national library, the bustling squares of the center; the new neighborhoods that emerged after the 2004 Olympic games. The tour will finish at the Acropolis site (entry not included). In the evening we include a transfer to the Plaka area, which is full of small Greek bars and where you will be able to enjoy the rich folklore of this country.

Meals Included:

Breakfast

We travel to the Peloponnese region. We make a brief stop next to the Corinth Channel, an impressive work of art from the end of the nineteenth century. We continue through the mountains towards Tripoli, capital of the Arcadia region. Stop in this active city and time for a stroll around the area of the Plaza Areos with its cafes and restaurants. We continue our route to Olympia where we will visit the archaeological site (entrance and visit with a local guide included). The first Olympic Games were held here in 776 B.C., where athletes from all over Greece and its colonies participated. Highlights include the Temple of Zeus, the stadium, the gymnasium, and the arena. We continue to Patras, the third most populous city in Greece, a lively port city with a remarkable medieval fortress. Its cathedral is the largest church in Greece and next to it, the small church of St. Andrew is a place of pilgrimage. Dinner included.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, we will cross over the Rio-Antirrio bridge, an impressive cable-stayed bridge which connects the Peloponnese with the Greek continent. We travel across the Central Greece regions and the Epyrus. Igoumenitsa, arrival at this coastal city; free time for a walk before taking the modern ferry (expected departure time at 14:00h) on which we will cross the Ionian Sea towards Italy. Arrival at Brindisi by the end of the day (arrival time expected at 21:00h).

Meals Included:

Breakfast

Today we will visit two spectacular and authentic towns. Alberobello, charming town famous for its unique conical-shaped houses known as “trulli”. These unique structures, with their stacked stone roofs, are a World Heritage Site and are considered an outstanding example of Italian rural architecture. After that we continue to Matera, located in the Basilicata region, known for its ancient historic center with its “Sassi di Matera”, a complex of ancient houses and buildings carved into the rock that date back thousands of years. It is a World Heritage Site and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited human settlements in the world. Time for a walk and lunch. In the afternoon we continue through Basilicata and Campania, admiring their beautiful mountain landscapes. Naples, arrival in the evening. Free time afterwards.

Meals Included:

Breakfast

Free time to have a walk in Naples before boarding. Boat trip to the Island of Capri included. You may take a boat to the Blue Grotto or the cable car to Capri city. We will get on board again and continue to Sorrento, a charming, touristic town at the base of a cliff. Free time to stroll around. We will continue to the Gulf of Salerno. Sojourn in Salerno.

Meals Included:

Breakfast

We travel to the south of ¨the boot¨. Attractive southern Italian scenery as we cross the Cilento National Park. We arrive in Paola, on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea, we visit the sanctuary of St Francis of Paola and we have free time for lunch in its pretty historic centre. We go on our way to Villa San Giovanni where we take a short ferry crossing to the island of Sicily. Arrival in Messina where we will have time for a stroll and to visit the cathedral before continuing to Taormina. Dinner included.

Note: Accommodation in the “region of Taormina”, the accommodation may sometimes be in Messina.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Dinner

At the foot of the Etna volcano, the beautiful city of Taormina was defined by Churchill as the most beautiful place on earth. Time to stroll through the old town full of life, its Greek theater dominating unforgettable landscapes. After that we continue our route towards the center of the island. Caltagirone, a city declared a World Heritage Site for its great Baroque legacy. We include a ride on a tourist train to listen to the explanations of the city and learn about its main points. The city is the center of ceramics in Sicily, as witnessed by its numerous shops and workshops and some of its emblematic places, the best known, the staircase of 142 steps, each decorated with different tiles. After lunch time we continue to the Villa Romana Del Casale (admission included), a World Heritage Site. Villas, in the Roman Empire, were the symbol of agrarian exploitation. El Casale not only it has the architectural configuration of the 4th century been preserved, but, due to their abundance and quality, the mosaics that adorn almost all the rooms are the most beautiful in the Roman world. Crossing the mountainous center of the island we continue to Palermo, arriving at the end of the day.

Meals Included:

Breakfast

Today with a local guide we will have a city tour of Palermo. We will admire the cathedral with its mix of styles and its royal tombs inside (admission included); the Norman Palace (the former royal palace), its fountains, its markets and gardens. During the visit we will also go to Monreale, its cathedral (admission included) has been declared a World Heritage Site for its impressive golden mosaics that cover the interior. Free time in the afternoon.

Note: Sometimes, if the number of travelers is very limited, the visit may not be private but rather carried out with a regular excursion provided by local companies.

Meals Included:

Breakfast

After breakfast, end of our services.

Meals Included:

Breakfast

English speaking tours in Athens and Palermo

Touring as per itinerary

9 Buffet Breakfasts, 2 Dinners

Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle

Arrival transfer

Ticket admission: Archaeological site of Olympia with guided tour, Casale Roman Villa , Cathedrals of Palermo and Monreale

Basic travel insurance

Excursion: Monreale in Palermo

Train: Caltagirone

Ferry: Igumenitsa (GR) – Brindisi (IT), Naples – Capri – Sorrento, San Giovanni – Messina in Sicily

Passport or visa fees

Other meals, snacks and drinks

Departure transfer

Pre and post tour accommodation

Any other items of personal nature