Sicily: Culture through the Ages 2018

10 days
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USTOA

Small Group Tour
Travels through Sicily spend an idyllic ten days exploring the past - and the present - on one of the most beautiful islands in the world, steeped with multicultural traditions, filled with archaeological treasures, and rich with unique cuisine and fabulous wine.

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Dinner at a palatial venue
    • wine tastings & a wine-pairing lunch
    • a look at the history of the Mafia in Corleone
    • visits to the Sicilian Baroque UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Noto and Ragusa Ibla
    • traditional chocolate-making lesson in Modica
    • guided visits to antiquities in Siracusa
    • Taormina & more

What's this trip about?

    Travels through Sicily spend an idyllic ten days exploring the past - and the present - on one of the most beautiful islands in the world, steeped with multicultural traditions, filled with archaeological treasures, and rich with unique cuisine and fabulous wine.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityPalermo, Sicily
End CityTaormina, Italy

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural

Destinations

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • Guided excursion to hilltop Monreale and its Arab-inspired cathedral and Benedictine cloister depicting Sicily's Norman history Drive along Tauck's backroads, the Yellow Roads, for an insider look at the history of the Mafia at the Centro di Documentazione sulle Mafie e Movimento Antimafia (CIDMA) in Corleone, followed by a wine tasting and Sicilian lunch at a family-owned winery Visit to Palermo's grand Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, the largest opera house in Italy Visits to the Sicilian Baroque UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Noto and Ragusa Ibla A tour, lunch and tasting at a local winery A lesson in the art of chocolate in Modica, with chocolate-making traditions that have remained unchanged for centuries Airport transfers upon arrival and departure 20 meals (9 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 6 dinners); service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Palermo
Tour begins at 5:00 PM at the Grand Hotel Wagner. A transfer from the Palermo Airport to Grand Hotel Wagner, located in the city's historic medieval heart, is included. Please join us this evening at Villa Chiaramonte Bordonaro - a historic villa in the center of Palermo...
Day 2 Monreale & More of Palermo
Start the morning with an overview of Palermo on which you'll see vestiges of the Normans - such as the Palazzo Reale, the palace of the Norman kings - as well as 16th-century Renaissance masterpieces including the Porto Nuova, a triumphal arch constructed in 1535, and t...
Day 3 "The Godfather," a wine tasting & more in Corleone
Drive along the Yellow Roads of Sicily past olive, grape and prickly pear groves to Corleone, a name synonymous with the Mafia movie, The Godfather. Your guided visit to CIDMA, the documentation center dedicated to studying the Mafia, sheds light on the Anti-Mafia moveme...
Day 4 A day at leisure in Sciacca
Today, your day is free to enjoy the amenities of your Rocco Forte Hotel, the Verdura Golf & Spa Resort (some at additional cost) - including a 60-meter infinity swimming pool, golf on three Kyle Phillips courses, six clay tennis courts, running trails and world-clas...
Day 5 Temples in Agrigento & Baroque Ragusa Ibla
The Valley of the Temples at Agrigento must have been the favorite neighborhood of the gods if the number of temples there is any indication. Explore temples honoring deities the likes of Zeus, Hercules, Concord, Pollux and Castor in this amazing archaeological site with...
Day 6 Modica chocolate-making & Noto in the Baroque Valley
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the area of Sicily known as the Baroque Valley suffered a cataclysmic earthquake in 1693 that destroyed local villages including Modica and Noto. Not wanting to tempt fate, the residents decided to move the towns to a safer location and rebu...
Day 7 Ancient Siracusa, then & now
Join Tauck's local expert for a visit to the Neapolis Archaeological Park to discover some of the treasures the ancient Greeks - and then the Romans - left behind in Siracusa. Explore the 16,000-seat Greek theatre, one of the largest of its kind in the world and still in...
Day 8 Fiery Mt. Etna, a winery tour & Taormina on the sea
Hot-headed Mt. Etna, one of the world's most active volcanoes, made its debut thousands of years ago in the days of Greek mythology. You'll have a chance to see it this morning, hopefully before the clouds roll in! Wine tasting is on the menu during lunch and a tour at a...
Day 9 Taormina, a "Patch of Paradise" & the Teatro Greco
It was J. W. Goethe who described lovely Taormina as a "patch of paradise," and the Sicels, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Saracens, Arabs, Normans and Spaniards who chose to live here over the centuries obviously agreed with him - and each left their own stamp on its lands...
Day 10 Journey home
Tour ends: Taormina. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the NH Collection Taormina to Catania Airport for your flight home; allow three hours for flight check-in. MEALS : B PORTOFCALL : Taormina, Italy

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Dates & Availability

Price From $5,290
Price per day$529
Last Updated: 10/27/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Tauck Reviews & Ratings

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Other Tauck Reviews

K

Kurlyk40

May 2024

Written on

Great Scenery but Accommodations Lacking for cost

My husband and I booked the Yellowstone tour with Tauck expecting so much more with the accommodations, food, and tour director based on the price point. We were sa...

S

Susan

Jun 2023

Written on

Nine Tours and Done

Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done o...

C

Cougess

Jan 2023

Written on

Skip this cruise - not worth it

My husband and I went on the Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles Trip jn October 2022. This was our third Tauck cruise with Ponnant but our first post covid and the...

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Tauck

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It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.

In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.

Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.

Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.

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What they’re known for
Fun group tours and cruises that are culturally-focused and great for families and seniors on vacation.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
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Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
tauck-SY2018

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