Old World Sicily & Malta

from 

AU$4,669

per person
 
Duration: 14 Days
Tour Provider: Collette
Deal Code: DTCISF9

 

 

Description

Explore Sicily and Malta – two island paradises nestled amongst the deep blue waves of the Mediterranean. Sample specialities in Palermo’s colourful food market. Meet a countess in her medieval palace. Taste award-winning olive oil and learn about the Slow Food movement at a local farm. Explore Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples (UNESCO) with a guide at twilight. Spend three nights in Taormina, perched above the Ionian Sea. See Mount Etna from a different perspective on an off-road excursion. Engage with Malta’s dynamic past on a leisurely 3-night stay. Discover how ancient traditions blend into modern society as you travel along timeless Italian and Maltese towns.


Your guided holiday includes:

  • 13 nights accommodation
  • A total of 22 meals; 13 breakfasts, 2 lunches & 7 dinners

**Tour departs on 23 Feb 22, 16 Mar 22, 30 Mar 22 & 06 Apr 22


It’s your choice:

  • Take a panoramic tour of Palermo and head to Monreale Cathedral OR visit a WWII air raid shelter & Palermo’s historic city centre.
  • Visit the private home of a modern day Knight of Malta OR tour the masterpieces of Valletta’s Cathedral from Mattia Preti to Caravaggio.

Must see inclusions:

  • Spend 3 nights in Taormina and explore it’s iconic Greek theatre.
  • Immerse yourself in ancient history and visit the valley of the temples at dusk.
  • Pass by Baroque architecture and wrought iron balconies on a winding walking tour of Ragusa.

Culinary inclusions:

  • Sample Sicilian street food during a walking tour of Palermo’s Ballaro Market.
  • Taste award winning olive oil and learn about the Slow Food movement at a local farm.
  •  Delve into the history of Marsala wine during a visit to a local cellar.

Cultural experiences:

  • Visit a medieval palace and enjoy hors d’oeuvres with a countess.
  • Ascend the sides of Mount Etna on off-road vehicles.
  • Soak up the Island ambience of Malta with a 3 night stay in St. Julian’s.


Itinerary Overview

Day 1 / Palermo, Italy - Tour Begins

Start your journey in Palermo (UNESCO), Sicily’s welcoming capital city. Uncover the island’s deeply rooted heritage, teeming with Arab-Norman architectural masterpieces and delicate Classical designs. Come to know your fellow travelers over a welcome dinner. Accommodation: Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa Meals: Dinner

Day 2 / Palermo

Decide how you explore because it’s your choice! Tour Palermo and head to Monreale Cathedral, ascending on foot to see the gold Byzantine mosaics -OR- descend into a WWII air raid shelter before exploring the historic city center with a guide. No matter how you spend your morning, you’ll spend your afternoon tasting your way through Ballarò Market’s olives, spices, and other local produce. End your day at a medieval palace, where a countess guides you through her family’s home, joining you for an aperitif and hors d’oeuvres. Accommodation: Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 / Palermo - Impact Moment - Trapani

Experience an impact moment with Addiopizzo, an anti-Mafia nonprofit that supports locals who refuse to pay the Mafia’s protection fees. Visit Capaci and Cinisi, the site of two terrorist acts led by the Mafia, and pay tribute to fallen activists. Chat with locals for a personal perspective and learn how they overcame the Mafia’s reign. As the day draws to a close, settle into Trapani for two nights and watch the sunset fade against the crashing waves and whirling windmills. Accommodation: I Mulini Resort Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 4 / Trapani - Isle of Mozia - Marsala - Optional Excursion

Venture to the isle of Mozia, once a great trading port for the Phoenician, Greek and Roman civilizations. On the way, sail next to a submerged Roman road, once traversed on foot. Explore Mozia with a guide, visiting the ruins of its ancient port, and a museum featuring impressive Greek statuary. Then continue to Marsala, heading down into a cellar for a taste of its renowned wine. The remainder of the day is yours. Perhaps you will join an optional tour to Erice to visit Maria Grammatico’s famous bakery for a hands-on pastry-making class. Accommodation: I Mulini Resort Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 / Trapani - Gibellina - Agrigento - Valley of the Temples - Agrigento

Begin in Gibellina, a humble countryside village. See how this town rebuilt itself after an earthquake, transforming ruins into a sprawling piece of contemporary art. Head to an award-winning olive grove and learn about the Slow Food movement, which supports local cultures and preserves traditions. Try their unique olive oil at lunch before departing for Agrigento, where ancient roots and medieval buildings blend into modernity. Wander through the Valley of the Temples (UNESCO) with a guide at dusk. Accommodation: Baia di Ulisse Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6 / Agrigento - Piazza Armerina - Taormina

Venture deep into Sicily’s countryside to Piazza Armerina, home of the ancient Villa Romana del Casale (UNESCO), and explore the site with an expert insider for a locally guided tour of its impressive mosaics. In the afternoon, journey along the Ionian Coast to Taormina, a seaside hub of ancient Greek theaters and hilly walkways. Settle into your new home for the next three nights before enjoying Sicilian food at dinner, surrounded by local musicians. Accommodation: Hotel Villa Diodoro Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 7 / Taormina

Discover Taormina with a local guide, leading you to the city’s Duomo, public gardens, and the well-preserved Greek theater. Walk in the footsteps of ancient attendees and take in an unparalleled viewpoint of the adjacent ocean. Spend the afternoon on your own. Perhaps you’ll grab a bite to eat at a sidewalk café, or peruse the local boutiques for handcrafted souvenirs. Accommodation: Hotel Villa Diodoro Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 / Taormina - Mount Etna - Taormina

See Sicily’s wilder side on an off-road adventure to Mount Etna. Stare up at the iconic peak as your vehicle climbs along the sides of Europe’s largest active volcano. Spend the day exploring this legendary giant, passing by lava formations and basalt rocks. Accommodation: Hotel Villa Diodoro Meals: Breakfast

Day 9 / Taormina - Ragusa

Make your way to Ragusa (UNESCO), an ancient city perched upon a hill. Meander through its Baroque neighborhood with an expert guide, passing by winding lanes, cobblestone streets, and wrought iron balconies. Make the most of a free afternoon to explore on your own. As the sun sets, retreat to your countryside resort just outside the city. Accommodation: Poggio del Sole Hotel Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 10 / Ragusa - Optional Excursion

The entire day is yours. With free time, you might choose to relax in the countryside and enjoy the resort’s amenities. Or, perhaps you will join an optional tour to the picture-perfect towns of Scicli and Modica, where you’ll enjoy a savory brunch at a ricotta farm before continuing to an Aztec chocolate shop for some sweet samples. Accommodation: Poggio del Sole Hotel Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 11 / Ragusa - Pozzallo - Ferry to Malta - Three Cities - St. Julian’s

Grab your bags* and hop on a ferry in Pozzallo. Say goodbye to Italy and venture to the island paradise of Malta, one of the smallest countries in the world. Start your exploration in Three Cities, a conglomeration of three fortified cities of medieval heritage. Once the setting of battles by the Knights of Malta, this area preserves endless layers of the past. Connect with the heart of the neighborhood at a Band Club, where locals gather to learn and play instruments together. Enjoy some light snacks as the musical Maltese culture drifts softly around you. Your day ends in St. Julian’s, your home for the next three nights. Accommodation: The George Urban Boutique Hotel Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 12 / St. Julian’s - Optional Excursion

The day is yours to experience the island of Malta however you please. Soak up the sunshine, relax on the beach, or even explore the colorful harbor on foot. Perhaps you’ll join an optional excursion to a temple complex older than Stonehenge, followed by an intimate look at Mdina – the “Silent City.” Accommodation: The George Urban Boutique Hotel Meals: Breakfast

Day 13 / St. Julian’s - Valletta - St. Julian’s

Your adventure continues in Valletta, the capital of Malta. Discover this fortified city on a guided walking tour. You’ll take in the picturesque Barrakka Gardens overlooking the harbor, featuring a charming blend of natural beauty and terraced arches. Then it’s your choice! Visit the private home of a modern-day Knight of Malta -OR- tour the masterpieces of Valletta’s Cathedral featuring Mattia Preti and Caravaggio. As the day draws to a close, enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers as you recount memories of the Mediterranean islands. Accommodation: The George Urban Boutique Hotel Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 14 / St. Julian’s - Tour Ends

Say goodbye to Malta and the Mediterranean as your tour comes to a close today. Meals: Breakfast

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Terms & Conditions

Prices listed are per person in Australian Dollars, based on twin occupancy, including all discounts unless otherwise stated. The offer is subject to availability at time of booking and shown on the lowest inside category available at the time. Fares are capacity controlled and are subject to change at any time without notice. Prices/Offers are correct as at 09 December 2020 and can be withdrawn without notice. Hotels may charge resort fees not included in this package, payable direct upon check in. Visas are not included. Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge.