Malta and Sicily Mediterranean Tour

Sunday Palermo - Monreale - Cefalu
Breakfast at the hotel, today's tour will be dedicated to the city of Palermo, the capital of Sicily, rich in history and art. We include visit to the Cathedral, the Palazzo dei Normanni including the Palatina Chapel, Quattro Cianti, the Opera House and Pretoria Square. We continue to Monreale to admire the Cathedral with its splendid 12th century mosaics, and the cloister of the Benedectine monastery with Moorish and Norman architecture. After lunch our tour continues to Cefalu. During our stop here you can visit the Norman Dome, rich of byzantine mosaics and wander around the narrow streets and quaint alleys. Our tour comes to an end when we return to Palermo for our overnight stay.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included

Monday
Selinunte - Erice - Agrigento
Breakfast at the Hotel. Today we will be visiting beautiful area of Trapani, which is renowned for its vineyards, famous all around the world. Medieval town of Erice, which is located on a high plateau and commands magnificent views of the region. A stop at a local pastry shop is included to taste typical marzipan and almond pastries and biscuits, these recipies have been passed down many generations. You will also have free time to explore this delightful medieval town. In the afternoon we will drive to Selinunte to visit the archaeological park, the largest in the Mediterranean area. After lunch we will continue with our tour down the west side until we reach Agrigento. Here we will check-in to our hotel for one night and dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included

Tuesday
Agrigento - Piazza Armerina After breakfast we depart for our tour of Agrigento. Here we will be visiting the wonderful Valley of the Temples, some of the main temples include; Concordia Temple, Ercole Temple, Giunone Temple, Castore and Polluce Temples which represent the most beautiful examples of Greek Civilization in Sicily. After lunch we include a visit to Piazza Armerina, in the heart of Sicily, where we will tour the magnificent Roman "Villa del Casale", famous for its beautiful mosaics. Our tour ends on the east coast for an overnight stay and dinner at our hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included

Wednesday
Siracusa - Catania
Breakfast at hotel. In the morning we will be visiting Siracusa, the most beautiful Greek colony of Sicily; in particular we will visit the famous Arethusa Fountain, and the archaeological area with its marvellous Greek theatre and Ear of Dionisios. In the afternoon the tour will go on to Catania, the town known for its original baroque style and for its streets paved with black lava stone the from Mount Etna. Walk along Via Etnea, the Baroque main street, Via Crociferi, Piazza Duomo with the Cathedral and "Liotru" statue, Roman Amphitheatre, the Opera House and the princely Biscari Palace. Return to the hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included

Thursday
Etna - Taormina
Breakfast at hotel. Today's tour includes probably two of Sicily's more famous attractions, Mount Etna and Taormina. We first visit Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. Across fascinating landscape, we will reach the height of 2000 metres, from where we will enjoy a superb panorama of the Ionic Sea. In the afternoon, time at leisure in Taormina, the small mediaeval village called "the pearl of the Ionic Sea", famous for its typical tiny streets and its fascinating Greek theatre. Late afternoon, return to the hotel. Dinner is at the hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included

Friday
Free Day. Relax, shop or explore the city.
Breakfast Included

Saturday
Check-out of hotel, rest of the day at leisure and later transfer from your hotel to the airport or port

Catania to Malta Flight or Catamaran
To combine your Sicily and Malta tour you can book a flight direct with Air Malta at www.airmalta.com or Catamaran with Virtu at www.virtuferries.com or we can book it for you.

On arrival at Malta Airport/Valletta Port you will be greeted and taken to your hotel.. Check-in and the rest of your evening is at leisure.

Sunday
Blue Grotto - Limestone Heritage – Marsaxlokk Village
Our tour today vists Wied iz-Zurrieq, the beautiful valley leading down to the Blue Grotto. This picturesque grotto and its neighboring system of sea caverns mirrors the brilliant phosphorescent colors of underwater flora. Boat trips to the caves, which take around 25 minutes allow you to explore these grottoes and sea caverns along this stretch of coast. (The boat trip is not included in the overall price as it operates subject to weather conditions, EUR7.00 paid on the day). We proceed with a visit to the Limestone Heritage, a unique insight into the past and present cultures of an ancient culture set in stone. Discover the story of quarrying and masonry in Malta since the prehistoric times, there is also a unique collection of tools, vintage vehicles and machinery. This is a walk-through audio experience with the aid of specially designed dioramas. Our final stop includes a visit to the pretty village of Marsaxlokk on the south coast of the island. This fisherman's village is characterized by low lying buildings and the colorful traditional fishing boats known as the 'luzzu'. A small market lines the seafront and it is a haven for fish food lovers with an array of good quality restaurants.
Breakfast Included

Monday
Valletta - Malta Experience Show
Our guided tour of Valletta starts with a visit to the Barraka Gardens, here you can enjoy breathtaking views overlooking the magnificent Grand Harbour and the Three Cities. The tour also includes a walk through the bustling Republic street, our guide pointing out prominent buildings en-route. A tour of St. John’s Co. Cathedral, historically one of the most important buildings in Malta and which is adorned in riches dating back to the era of the Knights of St. John is a highlight of this tour. Here you can also admire the magnificent Caravaggio painting “The Beheading of St. John”, after our tour of the cathedral you will also have time to visit the church museum, a main feature are the numerous Flemish tapestries. Our tour ends at the Malta Experience, a superb 45-minute show illustrating the history of the Maltese Islands - from Neolithic to modern times. The show is displayed on a giant screen by means of state of the art visual and audio effects.
Breakfast Included

Tuesday
Mdina – Mosta Dome - San Anton - Crafts Village - Rabat
Today’s tour takes us to the central part of Malta that is dominated by the ancient medieval city of Mdina. Our walking tour takes through a maze of magnificent architecture in an olde worlde setting, evidence that this magnificent city is also known as the ‘silent city’. From the high bastion walls you can admire views of most of the island. Close to Mdina is the Roman town of Rabat, here we will visit the catacombs before proceeding to the remote Westside of the island visiting the spectacular cliffs of Dingli. After lunch we will stop at the botanic gardens of San Anton and the impressive Mosta Dome church, the fourth largest unsupported dome in the world. To end our tour we include the Crafts Village. Here you can admire the local glassblowers, filigree, pottery and variety of other local crafts with time for some shopping.
Breakfast and Lunch Included

Wednesday
Gardjola Gardens - Birgu - Traditional Boat Trip
This half day tour visits the oldest part of the Grand Harbour. We first visit the Gardjola Gardens, here you can admire the magnificent view from the Vedette (watch tower used by the Knights). We continue with the tour of this area next Birgu. Birgu is the oldest city of the Grand Harbour. In 1530 the Knights of St. John first settled in this area, and we will give you an insight to an era dominated by the Knights of St. John. Our walking tour will take us to the heart of city, the narrow streets and quaint alleys known as the 'collachio', an area of old Palazzo's which where the original Auberge's occupied by the Knights'. We finish this tour with a trip around the harbour on a traditional Dghajsa (type of gondola). This is the end of our tour and we make our way back to the hotel.
Breakfast Included

Thursday
Gozo Island Tour
Our tour starts with a short 25min. ferry crossing which passes the small and pretty island of Comino. On arrival at the picturesque Mgarr harbour, you will notice how much greener it is on Gozo. Even though so close to the larger island of Malta, the smaller island has many different characteristics. Included on our tour is a variety of scenic routes and interesting sights. We include stops at the Inland Sea and Azure Window at Dwejra, Victoria and the imposing Citadel, the beautiful seaside village of Xlendi Bay and include a spectacular show which relives the life of Gozo’s yesteryear throughout the centuries. You will have some free time for lunch and shopping for local hand made lace and woolen goods, both very popular buys on the island. Throughout the day you will also see some of Gozo’s typical old villages where the pace of life is typical of Mediterranean lifestyle of years gone by. Breakfast Included

Friday
Check-out of hotel, rest of the day at leisure and later you will be pick-up for a transfer to the airport.
Breakfast Included