Itinerary
- Palermo
- Cefalu & Milazzo
- Lipari
- Taormina & Mt Etna
- Catania & Ortigia
- Ragusa
- Valley of the Temples
- Marsala
- Erice & Palermo
- Palermo
Day 1 – Arrive in Palermo
Palermo is Sicily’s vibrant capital and has a lot to offer. With its Arab-Norman history, UNESCO World Heritage sites, massive bombings during WWII & mafia links, it is an intriguing place to explore.
Take some time to walk around and explore the Marina & Fish Market, the Palermo Cathedral, the Norman Palace, the Palatine Chapel and the magnificent Teatro Massimo (Opera House) in Massimo Square.
Take an anti-Mafia walking tour to deepen your knowledge of past & present and learn about the courageous individuals who spoke out and resisted the Mafia.
Spend the evening strolling the lively streets. Why not taste some fresh local seafood or you can try a local arancina – very different from the arancino you find on the east coast!
Day 2 – Travel from Palermo to Cefalu to Milazzo
Travel to the charming coast town of Cefalù. Explore the town, visit the famous Cefalù Cathedral (worth the climb up the tower for the magnificent view) or relax on the beach with its charming blue & white umbrellas. Definitely a place for fresh seafood at a seaside restaurant and, if the weather is hot, indulge in one of the many flavours of fabulous granita (a refreshing & tasty semi-frozen, icy dessert).
Continue to Milazzo for overnight – gateway to the beautiful Aeolian Islands (tomorrow’s treat!)
Day 3 – Visit Lipari (Aeolian Islands)
There are 7 Islands in the Aeolian archipelago and visiting Lipari is easy and worthwhile. Rich in culture & history, they are recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Lipari is the largest and is easy to get to by ferry from Milazzo on the Sicilian mainland. You can wander the beautiful & colourful streets and there is an array of good food, shopping and bars on offer. Above the township is the historic old town where you will find Castle Rock, the cathedral and archaeological museum. There is also an old amphitheatre with the best view in the world over the beautiful blue Tyrrhenian Sea. Take a trip out of town for amazing views back over the town and out to sea where you can see the other volcanic islands forging skyward from the sea – quite spectacular.
Day 4 – Taormina & Mt Etna
Spending time in Taormina is so enjoyable. You can visit the Ancient Theatre of Taormina (a must), offering stunning views of the coast and Etna, or spend time wondering the tiled streets and soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the delicious food on offer. It’s even fun to fit in a bit of shopping here.
An easy day trip from Taormina is a trip up Mt Etna. This area has it’s own little microcosm because of the black volcanic soil, so different from everything else nearby. Wind your way up to the cable car area near the top. One cannot get right to the lip of the volcano as it is still active but you can take a cable car up a further 1000m where it is all black volcanic ash and you can see her smoking and hear her grumbling her discontent! Quite powerful to experience.
On the way down, a must is a stop at the incredible boutique winery and restaurant – Villa Grande. The vista from the terrace here is breathtaking so take time to linger here and treat yourself to a wine & food matching lunch. The wine is unique to the slopes of Mt Etna and this is a wonderful way to enjoy the afternoon.
Day 5 – Visit Catania & Ortigia
A must in Sicily is a visit to the vibrant food market in Catania. Make the time to do this and taste some of the products while there. There is certainly history in Catania (such as the very grand Roman Amphitehatre) and you can absorb yourself in that, but food is also important, so the markets are a ‘must-do’.
Continue on to Siracusa and cross the old bridge to the beautiful island of Ortigia. If you like white, this is place. The buildings are mostly white marble and limestone and, set again the beautiful blue of the sea, this is magic. The Greek style Cathedral is worth a visit, and you must stop in the Piazza del Duomo for yet another ‘granita’. Or perhaps linger over a long lunch sipping a luscious Nero d’Avola.
Day 6 – Ragusa
Exploring inland a little, visit the town of Ragusa Ibla with its beautiful baroque architecture and incredibly narrow streets. This town, and others in the area, were destroyed in the 1693 earthquake so were re-built in the baroque stye. Built on a hillside, walking around here is not only interesting but helps one work up an appetite for dinner and there is no shortage of superb, local, independent eateries. There is a beautiful garden in the old town – a great spot to sit to contemplate the beauty and history of this area. I would suggest staying in or near to the old town area of Ibla as this makes it easy to explore this beautiful town.
You may also wish to visit the nearby town of Modica, also built on a hillside, and taste its famous chocolate at the Cioccolato de Modica Sabadi shop.
Day 7 – Valley of the Temples; Agrigento
For those Classics buffs, travelling to Agrigento and the famous Valley of the Temples (a UNESCO World Heritage site) should be the next stop. Take a guided tour of the ruins here – the historians are passionate and really help one understand the history & architecture. This is the largest archaeological park in Europe and includes the remains of 7 temples, all built around the 5th Century BC. Some of the temples are in better condition than others but the layout of the site gives a good insight into these ancient times. There is also an amazing Archaeological Museum & the view back over Agrigento is spectacular.
Day 8 – Marsala
A less touristy area to visit is Marsala and, in my opinion, this is really worthwhile. It is obviously home to the famous Marsala fortified wine and the vineyards in the area are evidence of this. But there is more to this area. Founded by the Carthaginians (Phoenicians) it was also under Roman, Saracen & Norman influence. Three of the old Gates date back to the Norman times although the Porta di Mare was renamed Porta Garibaldi after Garibaldi landed here.
Day 9 – Erice & back to Palermo
Travelling back to Palermo from Marsala is quite spectacular. This coast has breathtaking views from the mountains overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea and you cannot miss picturesque. This mediaeval mountaintop town is quite special to wander through and, while there, you should visit the ancient ruins & savour the local “Genovesi Ericine” pastries.
Day 10 – Palermo
Having circumnavigated this beautiful isle, you can now depart with many cultural, epicurean and historical memories. Of course, there is plenty in Palermo to keep you there should you so desire, no matter the time of year.
Exploring Sicily with Bunnik Tours
Whether you are interested in ancient history, delicious cuisine, or simply relaxing on the beach, Sicily has it all. With so many amazing towns to explore, it's no wonder that Sicily is one of Italy's most popular destinations. Interested in doing this perfect Sicilian itinerary? Join us on our Treasures of Sicily short tour. The exclusion of airfares allows travellers the ultimate flexibility to your holiday — you can add more days or join tours together! If exploring greater Italy is more your style, consder our classic tour to Southern Italy, Sicily & Malta which includes 5 nights in the stunning Sicily. Contact our friendly Travel Specialists to start planning your Sicilian escape today!
