SARDINIA AND SICILY

DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN PALERMO

Arrival at Palermo airport. Private transfer to Palermo city centre and check-in at your hotel, located in the very heart of the town. Afternoon at your disposal to relax at your hotel or to discover the beauty of Palermo on your own. Welcome dinner in a typical restaurant in the city center, that will offer you some specialties based on the great Sicilian tradition. Overnight at your hotel.

DO NOT MISS

 

• The restaurant "Ristorantino Palazzo Sambuca", where you will have the possibility of having wonderful fish dishes for dinner.

DAY 2 - MONREALE, CEFALU’, MADONIE

In the morning enjoy a visit to Monreale , an interesting example of Arabian-Norman architecture and art. Take a stroll in Monreale beautiful city center and admire its main monuments and sights. Afterwards, private transfer to Cefalù, a beautiful center with several artistic architectural masterpieces. Visit of Cefalù on your own and dinner at leisure. Afterwards, transfer to the National Park of Madonie, that includes some of the highest mountains in Sicily and that presents a very-well preserved environment. In the late afternoon, transfer back to Palermo. Dinner on own and overnight in Palermo.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

 

• Monreale with the Dome, the Royal Palace and the monastery, three magnificent examples of Arabian-Norman art.


• Cefalù with its important Cathedral, begun in 1131 in Sicilian Romanesque style, and with the Osterio Magno palace, built by will of a Norman emperor.


• The estensive remains of the Saracenic castle in Cefalù

ESSENCE SPECIALS

 

• The Madonie park: as well as being a nature reserve, the park is an inhabited area with dozens of little villages, small towns and castles many of which trace their origins to medieval times. The wild mountainous slopes are inhabited by wolves, wildcats and eagles as well as being a habitat to the fir tree.

DO NOT MISS

 

• Osteria del Duomo in Cefalù, where to try special fish-based products

DAY 3 - SELINUNTE, SEGESTA AND MENFI

Buffet breakfast at your hotel. In the early morning visit to Selinunte, an archeological site with a vast acropolis and necropolis, that well represent the influence of the Greek culture over Sicily Before lunch transfer to Menfi, where you are going to visit a prestigious vineyard and to enjoy a wine tasting of the local wines such as Syrah, Nero d’Avola, Mascarò, Grecanico and so on, accompanied by a light lunch. After the visit, transfer to Segesta and visit of the archeological area. Transfer back to Palermo, dinner on own and overnight.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

 

• Selinunte archeological park, with the remains of three temples in Doric order.


• The well-preserved Doric temple in Segesta, built sometime in the late 5th century BC, unusual for being a Hellenic temple in a city not mainly populated by Greeks, together with the hellenic theatre

ESSENCE SPECIALS

 

• Special wine tasting in Menfi with light lunch included.

DAY 4 - ARRIVAL IN CAGLIARI

Check-out and transfer to Palermo airport. Flight from Palermo to Cagliari, arrival at Cagliari airport and check in at your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure, dinner on own and overnight in Cagliari.

DAY 5 - CAGLIARI AND ARGIOLAS

In the morning, meet your private guide for a Cagliari guided walking tour. Enjoy the tour and discover the beauty of the city visiting its main attractions and highlights. Lunch on own in Cagliari. In the afternoon, transfer to a prestigious winery for a wine tasting where you will try the best Sardinian wines such as the Cannonau and the Vermentino. Transfer back to Cagliari, dinner on own and overnight.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

 

• Cagliari city center, full important traces of the Sardinian kingdom, with the Cathedral, built in the 12th century, the National Picture Gallery that presents late-Gothic masterpieces, and the Palazzo Regio, the residence of Italian kings and queens

ESSENCE SPECIALS

 

• A visit and a wine tasting at Argiolas winery, one of the most famous wineries in Sardinia

DAY 6 - CARLOFORTE AND THE TONNARE

In the morning, transfer to Carloforte, a fishing resort town located on Saint Peter’s Island. The village was founded by coral fishermen in 18th century who settled in the island and colonized it, fishing tuna and coral. During the visit, you will admire Carloforte main sights and stop in the famous tonnare, buildings where tuna fished were killed and prepared according to several religious rites: you will discover the history of the local population in the small Carloforte museum. In the afternoon, transfer back to Cagliari, rest of the day at leisure. Dinner on own and overnight in Cagliari.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

 

• A local church (Chiesa dei Novelli Innocenti) whose foundations date back to the early 14th century was apparently built in honor of hundreds of children-crusaders who may have perished in a shipwreck just off the island on their way to North Africa during a gale


• Excellent beaches, both rocky and sandy, line the coast of the island. Some of the cliff-top views are nothing short of spectacular. On the other side of the island from Carloforte is a functioning lighthouse.

DAY 7-BREAKFAST AND CHECK-OUT

Check-out and private transfer to Cagliari airport.

OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR THE TOUR: 3*, 4*, 5* HOTELS, VILLAS AND HISTORICAL RESIDENCES, ALL THE TOURS CAN BE PERSONALIZED AND TAILOR MADE

PRICE: ON REQUEST AT INFO@ESSENCEOFITALY.IT