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Sicily Hiking Tour
offered by supplier M09945 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 8
day(s)
Group Size: 4
- 12
people
Destination(s):
Italy
Specialty Categories:
Hiking & Trekking
Season: April - October
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: Yes
Minimum Per Person Price: 2700 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 3000 US Dollar (USD)
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Situated in the middle of the Mediterranean, Sicily has been at the crossroads of history since prehistoric times, a meeting place of the East and the West, the North and the South. It has been fought over and colonized since the first millennium BC by such peoples as the Phoenicians and Greeks, the Romans, the Moors, the Normans, the Spaniards and, most recently, by the Americans and the Germans. The natural beauty of the island reflects the diversity and complexity of its history.
The largest island in the Mediterranean, it is a land of sea and sun, an island of astonishing natural richness and contrasts: from the dreamlike panorama of the Aeolian Islands to the steaming lava flows on mighty snow-capped Etna; from the solitary magnificence of Greek temples of Agrigento and Selinute to the Baroque splendors of Palermo and Noto; from the forgotten villages of the interior to Sicily's most elegant resort Taormina. And then there are the Sicilians themselves, a unique people who have charmed and appalled visitors for centuries. Charmed with their warmth and sensuality appalled by their flagrant disregard for reason, moderation and in some case, even the law.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: The morning will start with a guided walking tour of the historic centre of Palermo, through the famous markets of Vuccirea and Il Capo (a labyrinth of extraordinary stalls, which dates from the Moorish occupation in the 9th century) to visit some of the treasures of Palermo's rich past including the Cathedral, Palazzo Reale and Piazza Pretoria, before having lunch. After lunch we leave the color and chaos of Palermo to drive into the green heart of the island, the Madonie Mountains. The medieval village of Gangi, situated 1000 meters above sea level, will be our base for the next two nights. The village was founded by the Cretans around 1200 BC. Our hotel is a converted Benedictine abbey dating from the 14th century.
(L), (D)
Day 2: Today we explore the glorious country-side of the Madonie National Park. Our walk takes us along a high ridge with 360 views over the mountains that surround. The rolling green hills are covered with wildflowers and flocks of sheep, and are dotted with ancient castles. We have a picnic lunch al fresco and then continue to Sperlinga, a tiny hill-top village dominated by a mighty Norman castle dating from the 11th century. Minibuses transfer us back to our hotel, where we have a tasting of Sicilian wines before dinner.
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Day 3: After breakfast, take a two-hour drive through the dramatic Nebrodie Mountains to Santo Stefano di Camastra, famous for its brightly colored pottery. After lunch we continue on to the port of Milazzo, where we board a ferry for the one-hour trip to the legendary Aeolian Islands, one of the loveliest archipelagos in the Mediterranean. Our first stop is Vulcano, which was named after Vulcan, Jupiter's son and the god of fire and metal-working. We will walk from the port up to the rim of the volcano. From here you can simply relax and enjoy the magnificent views of the sea and the surrounding islands. We re-board the ferry for the short hop to the neighboring island of Lipari, our base for the next three nights. Our hotel is an 18th century palace in the heart of Lipari, surrounded by lush gardens.
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Day 4: After breakfast, you have time to explore the town, including its 16th century castle, which houses the archaeological museum with the most extensive Neolithic collection in Europe. After lunch we board our boat to explore the nearby island of Panarea, the smallest island of the archipelago, and the prettiest. Panarea is the most exclusive of the Aeolian Islands, where the rich and famous have their hideaways and come to enjoy “il dolce far niente”, literally the sweetness of doing nothing. We disembark and walk to the Bronze Age village at Punta Milazzese, one of the region's most important archaeological sites. Tonight we leave you free for dinner, to choose one of Lipari's excellent restaurants.
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Day 5: After breakfast our walk takes us along an old Roman road, through olive groves and caper plantations to Terme di San Calogero. This is the site of ancient hot springs that date back to at least 1500 BC. You can see the remains of the Roman baths and a Greek tholos or burial tomb on the site of the current-day spa. The waters are supposedly good for gout, rheumatism and skin complaints. Our walk continues along a cliff-top path to the tiny whitewashed village of Pianoconte, where we have lunch before returning to Lipari. Dinner tonight is at one of Sicily's gastronomic institutions, a long-standing favorite on the island, that has been serving outstanding fish specialties since 1910.
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Day 6: This morning we return to the Sicilian mainland. From the port of Milazzo we drive around the north-east corner of the Sicily to the medieval town of Taormina, our base for the next two days. Situated on cliffs overlooking the Ionian Sea, dominating two sweeping bays, with the smoking blue massif of Mount Etna in the distance, it is little wonder that Taormina is one of the most celebrated towns in Sicily. It has attracted famous visitors since the beginning of the last century. Although, its narrow streets buzz with its visitors, much of its hill-village charm remains. After settling into the hotel, we walk up behind the town to an ancient sanctuary, visiting a twelfth century castle along the way. The village at the top is famous for its almond wine, served icy cold, a perfect excuse to sit on a terrace and enjoy the extraordinary view across the Ionian Sea. In the evening before dinner we take a guided visit to the town's famous Greek theatre.
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Day 7: Today, as the finale of our tour, we visit probably Sicily's best known icon, Mount Etna, and walk around the beautiful forests that surround the volcano. Etna is 3,300 meters high and is the largest volcano in the Europe. Its very fertile slopes are filled with orange and lemon groves, as well as fruit and nut orchards. The beginning of the walk passes through pine forests and vineyards as well as passing over several lava flows. As we climb higher both the landscape carved by rivers of lava and the vegetation change. We pass through thick oak, beech and chestnut forests. On our return to Taormina, there is time for some last minute shopping before meeting for our farewell dinner at one of Taormina’s finest restaurants.
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Day 8: Departure.
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Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Italy
Hiking & Trekking
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