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1Day 1 Catania / Siracusa
Meals included: lunch, dinner
Meet with the guide at Catania airport and departure for Syracuse. Visit the island of Ortigia where you can admire the Temple of Minerva, transformed into a Christian Cathedral, and the legendary Arethusa Fountain, Piazza Duomo (one of the most beautiful squares in Italy, surrounded by numerous Baroque palaces) and the Duomo. Lunch at a in Ortigia. In the afternoon, continue the visit of this city, which in the past was the fiercest rival of Athens and Rome, preserving important testimonies of its past splendor: the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Latomie, and the Ear of Dionysius. Proceed to Noto, the most beautiful of all, “the stone garden,” where the highest conception of Baroque urban planning is expressed. Also built from scratch after the earthquake of 1693, it is rich in Baroque jewels: the Duomo, Palazzo Ducezio, the Episcopal Palace, those of the Landolina and Villadorata families, and the Church of San Domenico. Transfer to Modica. Check-in to the reserved rooms, dinner, and overnight stay at the hotel.
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2Day 2 Ragusa Ibla / Modica / Scicli
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning dedicated to visiting Ragusa Ibla, the ancient heart of Ragusa, a late Baroque gem with charming glimpses and enchanting alleys. Reborn on the structure of the original medieval village, the highlights include the Church of St. George by R. Gagliardi, the churches of Santa Maria dell’Itria (exterior), the Immaculate (exterior), Purgatory, St. James (exterior), and St. Joseph (exterior). Ragusa Ibla is the location of the imaginary “Vigata” by writer Camilleri and the TV series “Inspector Montalbano.” Proceed to Modica. Visit Modica, another marvelous treasure of Sicilian Baroque art, rebuilt on a hexagonal plan according to purely Baroque aesthetic criteria. Visit the exterior of Palazzo San Domenico, Santa Maria, the house of Salvatore Quasimodo, the Cathedral of St. Peter, and walk through the rupestrian district of Sbalzo and the ‘corpo di terra’ district. Finally, visit St. George. Stop at a famous pastry shop to taste the famous Modica chocolate. Lunch. In the afternoon, visit Scicli. Pleasantly situated, surrounded by hills that seem to protect it, the city has almost entirely preserved its Baroque layout. Numerous are the palaces with splendidly sculpted balconies and beautiful portals, and the succession of churches and oratories with beautiful facades rich in statues and sculptures is incredible. The heart of the city is the wide and scenic Piazza Italia, surrounded by beautiful 18th-century palaces, the Matrice, and the imposing limestone rock on which stands the ancient church of St. Matthew. In Scicli, you will also find Palazzo Iacono, the “Montelusa” police station of Inspector Montalbano. Return to the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay.
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3Day 3 Ispica / Palazzolo Acreide / Zona Acireale
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, visit Ispica, a city of ancient origins located in the southern part of Cava Ispica, a river valley rich in rock settlements from different eras. Visit the historic center of the city (Basilica of S. Maria Maggiore which houses valuable paintings by Olivio Sozzi), the Sinatra loggia, the Church of SS. Annunziata (rich in 18th and 19th-century stuccoes and significant paintings), and the Bruno di Belmonte palace, designed by E. Basile. Lunch. In the afternoon, visit Palazzolo Acreide. Set in the splendid scenery of the Iblei mountains, in the Syracusan hinterland, this picturesque town reveals itself to travelers as a treasure trove of discoveries and a crossroads of civilizations, characterized by its unique urban structure, rich in testimonies of different eras. Listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy and a UNESCO World Heritage site, this extraordinary place full of history offers the charm of an ancient site well integrated with more recent architectures. Visit the historic center of the city which includes the baroque churches of San Sebastiano and San Paolo, Piazza del Popolo, the clock tower district, and the superb and sumptuous facade of the Church of SS. Annunziata, a grand representation of local baroque. Transfer to a hotel in the Acireale area. Check-in to the reserved rooms, dinner, and overnight stay at the hotel.
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4Day 4 Taormina / Catania
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, visit Taormina, the pearl of Sicily, whose beauty is known worldwide. You will admire the impressive Greco-Roman Theatre, the ancient Cathedral, Palazzo Corvaja, the former Church of San Francesco di Paola, and Piazza IX Aprile, offering breathtaking views. Free time for shopping and strolling through the characteristic streets of the center, rich in craft and souvenir shops. Proceed to Catania. Lunch. In the afternoon, visit Catania, an enormous “baroque showcase” whose historic center is divided by the elegant Via Etnea. The visit will include Palazzo Biscari (exterior), the Elephant Fountain and the Cathedral, Via Crociferi, the Town Hall (exterior), Palazzo dei Chierici (exterior), and the Benedictine Monastery (exterior). Transfer to Catania airport.
EASTERN SICILY, BETWEEN VOLCANIC LANDSCAPES AND CULINARY DELIGHTS
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TOUR ON REQUEST
4 days (3 nights)
Italy
quote on request
