All Killer, No Filler
This is hands-down our favorite of all the tours we do.
8 UNESCO World Heritage sites, luxury boutique hotels, the Mediterranean sea, bright colors, Sicilian hospitality, the best and most varied cuisine in all of Italy, amazing artisans and great shopping….what more could you want?
This is a typical itinerary that is often 10 days/9 nights, allowing for a relaxed pace and not changing hotels often. Please remember that ALL of LovingItaly trips are CUSTOM-BUILT around your “wish list”, pace, interests and lots of little particulars that will make it a perfect fit for you.
Look through the hundreds of photos of past trips to get a look at what a trip feels like, then contact us to start planning your trip (see bottom of page).
Sicily 2022 Package tour | Sicily & Puglia Spring 2022 Tour | Sicily & Amalfi 2022 Tour
A presto!
To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything.”
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Colorful, intense, exotic and welcoming, Sicily is a treat for all the senses
Siracusa & Ortigia
UNESCO site #1: Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica, listed in 2005
Siracusa is one of the oldest cities in Europe, as its stunning Greek theater and archaeological ruins attest. Ortigia is the “island off the island” – a vibrant pedestrian-only zone of charming artisan shops, innovative restaurants and one of the most scenographic squares in all of Italy. Our favorite place to stay is a boutique small resort in the countryside. This is a perfect base for daytrips to Noto, Modica and the towns of the Cyclops coast.
Ortigia, Syracuse – One of the oldest cities in Italy
Noto Valley
UNESCO site #2: Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto, listed in 2002
Noto and Modica are the center of the flourishing Sicilian baroque architecture. The countryside is awash in almond and citrus groves, and the towns are lush reminders of Spain’s contribution to the island’s architecture.
Swordfish at sale in the local fish market
Agrigento & Piazza Armerina & Selinunte)
UNESCO site #3: Archaeological Area of Agrigento, listed in 1997
UNESCO site #4: Villa Romana del Casale, listed in 1997
The Agrigento Temple Valley is another of the incredible Unesco World Heritage sites that you see on this trip.
You’ll wake up in an incredible hotel – the only one with direct views over the remains of the Greek temples of the archaeological site.
The villa at Piazza Armerina was built in the 3rd C. for a wealthy Roman of the senatorial class.
Its 40,000 square feet of mosaic floor decoration are unique in the Roman world, and are absolutely breathtaking.
Selinunte is a sea town with haunting remains of the another important Greek city; a peaceful resort in the midst of a massive olive grove is just the spot to unwind after a few hectic days in Palermo.
Our favorite guide giving an informative tour of the Agrigento Temple Valley
Palermo
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE #5:
Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale, listed in 2015
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE #6:
Opera dei Pupi
The capital of Sicily and one of the most fascinating cities in the world. Like Rome, Constantinople and Jerusalem, it is a rich lasagna of layers of cultures and stories. Here the Arabs, Jews, Greeks and Christians lived in harmony in a dense maze of mosques and gardens that rivaled Cordoba and Cairo.
Modern Palermo and its crazy, multicultural chaos deserves at least two days – one for the city center, and another for hilltop cathedral of Monreale and lunch at the sea in Mondello bay.
Taormina
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE site #7: Mount Etna, listed in 2013
Taormina is high above the Ionian sea, and the Etna volcano looms in the background – it’s snow-covered peak reminds you just how high.
This is a relaxing town of elegant shops, restaurants and hotels. The Greco-Roman theater is one of the highlights of the ancient world, and it’s the perfect base for hands-on cooking lessons, a private yacht excursion, or a winery tour on the slopes of Mt Etna.
