THE WONDERS OF SICILY
+ Optional Rome Add-on
“To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the key to everything!''
~ Goethe
SICILY HIGHLIGHTS
8 DAYS/7 NIGHTS FROM $4,570 PER PERSON –
LIMITED TO 12 GUESTS
(includes in-Sicily group transportation, all very highly ranked 3-star and 4-star hotels,
all group tours, escort for entire tour, and much more . . .)
LIMITED TO 12 GUESTS
(includes in-Sicily group transportation, all very highly ranked 3-star and 4-star hotels,
all group tours, escort for entire tour, and much more . . .)
Taormina & Mt. Etna
November 4-7, 2025
Taormina is situated on Sicily's north-eastern coast at an elevation of about 700 feet. The views from there are fabulous – including the beautiful Mediterranean coastline and Mt. Etna! Our hotel is in the historic city center, only a short walk from Corso Umberto – Taormina's main street (pedestrians only), full of wonderful cafés, restaurants, and shops to visit during your leisure time.
Our tour of Taormina includes the magnificent Ancient Greek Odeon (theater) and the 12th-14th century Palazzo Corvaja. During our exclusive cooking class with a local chef, we'll shop for fresh seasonal ingredients at the Taormina market, make traditional appetizers plus first and second courses, and sample the dishes we’ve prepared over lunch, paired with local wines.
We'll also visit nearby Mt. Etna – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and Europe’s largest. Its fertile volcanic soils support extensive agriculture, with vineyards and orchards spread across the lower slopes of the mountain. So after our tour, we'll have a group lunch with wine tasting right there on Mt. Etna.
November 4-7, 2025
Taormina is situated on Sicily's north-eastern coast at an elevation of about 700 feet. The views from there are fabulous – including the beautiful Mediterranean coastline and Mt. Etna! Our hotel is in the historic city center, only a short walk from Corso Umberto – Taormina's main street (pedestrians only), full of wonderful cafés, restaurants, and shops to visit during your leisure time.
Our tour of Taormina includes the magnificent Ancient Greek Odeon (theater) and the 12th-14th century Palazzo Corvaja. During our exclusive cooking class with a local chef, we'll shop for fresh seasonal ingredients at the Taormina market, make traditional appetizers plus first and second courses, and sample the dishes we’ve prepared over lunch, paired with local wines.
We'll also visit nearby Mt. Etna – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and Europe’s largest. Its fertile volcanic soils support extensive agriculture, with vineyards and orchards spread across the lower slopes of the mountain. So after our tour, we'll have a group lunch with wine tasting right there on Mt. Etna.
(Click photos to enlarge.)
Piazza Armerina & Agrigento
November 7-8
Transferring from Taormina to Agrigento, we'll pause at Piazza Armerina for a private guided tour of the 4th-century C.E. Villa Romana del Casale, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. This villa is famous for the richness and quality of the mosaics that decorate almost every room.
Then, on to Agrigento, founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C.E. We'll be here to visit the Valley of the Temples. With the remains of seven Doric temples, it's one of the most outstanding examples of ancient Greek art and architecture of Magna Graecia and is yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site
November 7-8
Transferring from Taormina to Agrigento, we'll pause at Piazza Armerina for a private guided tour of the 4th-century C.E. Villa Romana del Casale, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. This villa is famous for the richness and quality of the mosaics that decorate almost every room.
Then, on to Agrigento, founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C.E. We'll be here to visit the Valley of the Temples. With the remains of seven Doric temples, it's one of the most outstanding examples of ancient Greek art and architecture of Magna Graecia and is yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site
(Click photos to enlarge.)
Palermo
November 8-11
Palermo was founded by the Phoenicians in the 8th century B.C.E. and subsequently ruled by Carthage, ancient Greek colonists, ancient Rome, the medieval Arab Emirate, French Normans and Angevins, Spaniards, and so on, and so on . . . And these cultures have all left their imprint on Sicily's capital city.
We probably can't recapture all 28 centuries of history and culture in 3½ days, so we'll do our best to give you some in-depth tastings. Highlights of our time in Palermo will include a walking tour of the city's historic city center, including the Quattro Canti, the Port of Palermo, the Mercato di Ballarò, and street food.
We'll also visit dazzling aristocratic palaces, Palermo Cathedral (begun by the Normans in 1185), and the Palatine Chapel (a mixture of Byzantine, Norman, and Fatimid Arabic architectural styles, highlighting the tricultural state of Sicily during the 12th century). Indeed, the Palatine Chapel, yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Palermo's artistic gems, with magnificent mosaics and Arabic-style decorations that are among the most beautiful in the world.
November 8-11
Palermo was founded by the Phoenicians in the 8th century B.C.E. and subsequently ruled by Carthage, ancient Greek colonists, ancient Rome, the medieval Arab Emirate, French Normans and Angevins, Spaniards, and so on, and so on . . . And these cultures have all left their imprint on Sicily's capital city.
We probably can't recapture all 28 centuries of history and culture in 3½ days, so we'll do our best to give you some in-depth tastings. Highlights of our time in Palermo will include a walking tour of the city's historic city center, including the Quattro Canti, the Port of Palermo, the Mercato di Ballarò, and street food.
We'll also visit dazzling aristocratic palaces, Palermo Cathedral (begun by the Normans in 1185), and the Palatine Chapel (a mixture of Byzantine, Norman, and Fatimid Arabic architectural styles, highlighting the tricultural state of Sicily during the 12th century). Indeed, the Palatine Chapel, yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Palermo's artistic gems, with magnificent mosaics and Arabic-style decorations that are among the most beautiful in the world.
(Click photos to enlarge.)
ROME
An Optional Add-on
4 DAYS/3 NIGHTS FROM $2,290 PER PERSON –
LIMITED TO 10 GUESTS
LIMITED TO 10 GUESTS
Rome
November 11-14
Rome has consistently been one of the Western World's most important cities since its legendary founding in 753 B.C.E. Rome was the capital of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire; capital of the Papal States from the 8th century until 1870); and from 1871 to the present day, capital of the Italian nation. Rome's historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its rich and unique heritage can be seen today as we visit its major archeological sites, outstanding museums, and historical buildings.
We'll be staying in a lovely, centrally situated hotel, and our first day there, we'll enjoy a get-acquainted walking tour of Campo de' Fiori, the Trevi Fountain, and Piazza Navona. We'll visit some of ancient Rome's most important and famous ancient treasures, including the Imperial Forum, the Colosseum, and the Pantheon.
No visit to Rome would be complete without a visit to Vatican City. We'll have a guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica, one of the most lavishly decorated religious structures of all time. And of course, you'll see Michelangelo's Pietà. From St. Peter's, we'll head next door to the Vatican Museums for an exclusive after-hours tour. During regular hours the museum is packed and noisy. When we'll be there, there will be few other people and lots of quiet for enjoying the masterpieces of Raphael and, in the Sistine Chapel, the astounding work of Michelangelo.
We'll also visit the Borghese Gallery in the 17th-century villa of Cardinal Scipione Borghese. It's filled with masterpieces by Caravaggio, Raphael, Bernini, Titian, Canova, and more.
November 11-14
Rome has consistently been one of the Western World's most important cities since its legendary founding in 753 B.C.E. Rome was the capital of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire; capital of the Papal States from the 8th century until 1870); and from 1871 to the present day, capital of the Italian nation. Rome's historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its rich and unique heritage can be seen today as we visit its major archeological sites, outstanding museums, and historical buildings.
We'll be staying in a lovely, centrally situated hotel, and our first day there, we'll enjoy a get-acquainted walking tour of Campo de' Fiori, the Trevi Fountain, and Piazza Navona. We'll visit some of ancient Rome's most important and famous ancient treasures, including the Imperial Forum, the Colosseum, and the Pantheon.
No visit to Rome would be complete without a visit to Vatican City. We'll have a guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica, one of the most lavishly decorated religious structures of all time. And of course, you'll see Michelangelo's Pietà. From St. Peter's, we'll head next door to the Vatican Museums for an exclusive after-hours tour. During regular hours the museum is packed and noisy. When we'll be there, there will be few other people and lots of quiet for enjoying the masterpieces of Raphael and, in the Sistine Chapel, the astounding work of Michelangelo.
We'll also visit the Borghese Gallery in the 17th-century villa of Cardinal Scipione Borghese. It's filled with masterpieces by Caravaggio, Raphael, Bernini, Titian, Canova, and more.
(Click photos to enlarge.)
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Dan Lesnick is as good as it gets for small, expert led tours in Italy. We travelled with Dan twice and each time experienced tours that were above our expectations in choice of accommodations, selection of sites to see, and expert guidance on history, language, art, culture and cuisine.
Nashville, TN |
N.b. All guided tours, events, and transportation
on Italy Adagio tours are private unless stated otherwise.
on Italy Adagio tours are private unless stated otherwise.
