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Mediterranean Gate
ITINERARY (7 nights/8 days):
Palermo (2 nights) Taormina (3 nights) Malta
(2 nights)
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If you are looking
for a small size, Collective Tour with guaranteed departures,
Escorted, English speaking only, 4 star properties, visit to the main Sicilian
and Maltese
Highlights, Limited to maximum 20 people
... this is the Tour you are looking for...
Rate from
Eur 1.580,00
per person in double/twin occupancy
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Read all the details on the
PDF file
You will find: rate,
departure dates, optional excursions, airport transfers package, pre-post
nights tour, conditions. |
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Day 1 (Saturday): Palermo
Welcome to the warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Sicily! Upon arrival
at Palermo airport please proceed through the Passport Control and collect
your luggage inside the customs area. Driver will transfer you to your
hotel. Tonight, after a brief introduction made by your Tour Director, enjoy
a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. (D)
Day 2 (Sunday): Monreale & Palermo
Breakfast at hotel. Our first stop will be Monreale to see where the
Arab-Norman art and architecture reached the pinnacle of its glory with the
Duomo, launched in 1174 by William II. It represents scenes from the Old and
New Testaments all in golden mosaics. Then on to Palermo to visit the
Palatine Chapel, which was the crowning architectural achievement of William
II’s grandfather, Roger II. We then continue by seeing: Piazza Pretoria and
Via Maqueda with its “four corners” converging Palermo at a quartet of
Baroque palaces left over from the heyday of Spanish rule dating back to
1560. This afternoon at leisure to explore the town on your own OPTIONAL
EXCURSION. (optional excursions details are available on
request) (BB)
Day 3 (Monday): Palermo/Cefalů/Polizzi Generosa/Taormina
Today depart for Cefalů, a charming coastal town home to a massive Norman
Cathedral with outstanding mosaics. Here we will visit the city center and
stroll down main street to reach the Cathedral. Afterwards, we drive across
the vast countryside of the Madonie Park showcasing Sicily’s great variety
of landscapes. The territory of the Madonie mountains is a paradise of earth
and sky, tucked away on the island. We soon arrive in Polizzi Generosa—a
lovely town nestled in the heart of the Madonie Natural Park in Palermo
province. Step back in time viewing the ancient masserie transformed into a
farmhouse, the flour mills evidencing the plentiful water supply of the
area, and the furnaces used today, as in the past, to make ceramics. Light
lunch at country trattoria to taste typical local dishes. This afternoon we
will continue to Taormina, the world famous resort town of Sicily. (BB L)
Day 4 (Tuesday): Taormina/Syracuse/Taormina
Today we leave for Syracuse. Upon arrival we will visit the magnificent
Archaeological Park where we will admire the 5th-century BC Greek Theatre,
the stone quarries, the Roman Amphitheatre and the Paradise Quarry. Later we
will walk through the island of Ortygia, the picturesque and densely built
original center of Syracuse. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. This
afternoon we drive back to Taormina. (BB L)
Day 5 (Wednesday): Taormina
Today at leisure to relax, shop, explore or OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS (optional excursions details are available on
request) (BB)
Day 6 (Thursday): Taormina/Catania airport/Malta
Time to say goodbye to Sicily. Today transfer to Catania airport to
independent flight (www.airmalta.com) /ferry to Malta. Upon arrival at Malta
airport/port a driver will transfer you to your hotel. (BB)
Day 7 (Friday) Malta, Valletta, Mosta Dome, Mdina Medieval City & Rabat Tour
Following breakfast, our first visit is Valletta, here we include the
Barraka Gardens which offer stunning views of the Grand Harbour and
magnificent fortifications, a walk down Triq Republikka where you can admire
numerous historical buildings built by the Knights of St. John including the
Aubereges, the Grand Masters Palace and the St. John's Co. Cathedral, the
church of the order and also home to Caravaggio's masterpiece "Beheading of
St. John" amongst other treasures. Our next stop will be to Mdina. Mdina is
a unique medieval city, built in the 9th century, the city was built on a
plateau in the centre of the island and from the high bastion walls you can
admire stunning views of the island. This medieval city is a maze of narrow
alleys and magnificent architecture, the only way to appreciate this special
city is to stroll through it and admire the living history. Free time will
be given for lunch. After lunch we continue by visiting the old town of
Rabat. Here we will make our way through the narrow streets to the centre
which is dominated by the imposing St. Paul's Church which overlooks the
piazza. Rabat, can claim the origins of Maltese Christianity. It was here in
AD60 that the Apostle St Paul is said to have stayed after being shipwrecked
on the Islands. We visit the St. Paul's Grotto which is said to be the
resting place of St. Paul during his visit to the islands. Our final stop is
one of Malta's most famous churches, Mosta Dome. The church’s dome is the
third largest unsupported in the world, exceeded in size only by St. Peter’s
in Rome and St. Sophia in Istanbul. Mosta Dome is also popular with visitors
as it was at this church where the World War II bomb pierced the dome during
a service, fell inside the church during a service and failed to explode,
this locals hailed as a miracle. Our tour ends here and we make our way back
to your hotel. (BB)
Day 8 (Saturday): Malta apt
Time to say goodbye to Malta while we are transferred to the airport for our
return flight or optional trip. (BB)
Meal Legend: BB Buffet Breakfast
L Lunch FC Farwell Cocktail D Dinner
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