Messina

2 Nights / 3 Days

Day 1: Taormina - Messina - Cefalù

After breakfast, we will drive alongside the Ionian Sea.
The moment we arrive in Messina where at our suggestion you will visit the Cathedral of Messina and think highly of the beautiful Duomo Square with the largest astronomical and mechanical clock in the world, housed in the free-standing campanile (bell tower).

We will then drive you to Cefalù along the Tyrrhenian Sea where you can admire the beautiful Aeolian Islands.

You will visit walking by yourself and at our suggestion the delightful fishing town of Cefalù with its medieval pebble-stone streets and outstanding Arab-Norman Cathedral. The most significant monument in the town, this was planned as the burial place of Roger II and his family. It shows a very exciting combination of different styles: Arabic, Byzantine, Romanesque and Baroque. The frontage is flanked by two massive bell-towers and preceded by a 15th century portico.

Lunch and dinner in your own time and overnight stay.

Day 2: Cefalù - Palermo

After breakfast leaving for Palermo, the capital of Sicily, where we will visit the Quattro Canti ("the four corners", a point of historic interest where the two main streets in Palermo meet), the Pretoria Fountain, better known as the "fountain of shame", and by yourself the Norman Cathedral and the Royal Palace which garnish the historic center of Palermo.

Then we drive to Monreale, a medieval town known for its Arab-Norman cathedral built in the 12th century.
A remarkable sight, inside, is the complex of mosaics with a golden backdrop, culminating in the great apse with the figure of Christ Pantocrator, dating from between the 12th and 13th century and depicting the cycle of the Old and New Testament, which is the most comprehensive cycle of the Byzantine tradition.
Of great interest are the porphyry sarcophagi of William I and II, the 16th century Chapel of St. Benedict and the 17th century Chapel of the Crucified, through which you access the rich treasure of the Cathedral. Finally, there is the remarkable 13th century.Benedictine Cloister, within which there is a courtyard that contains a well-designed fountain in Oriental style.

Day 3: Palermo - Segesta - Erice -Trapani

After breakfast, departure for the province of Trapani.
After a picturesque drive uphill and across the countryside, we will arrive at Segesta. You will visit the beautiful Greek temple from the 5th Century BC, perfectly conserved and in Doric style. We will then drive you to the medieval town of Erice located at 751 mt, balanced on the mountain of the same name, built on a triangular plateau with a glorious view of the sea, for a walking by yourself in this town.
Enclosed within secure bastions and walls, the town is a true labyrinth of little cobbled streets and alleyways wide enough to accommodate only one person at a time. Here we will take a stunning walking tour and you can admire the 12th C Venus Castle, Chiesa Matrice - the main church, and you can also taste the famous marzipan. Break for lunch. After lunch we drive to Trapani on the Salt Way Road, where we start touring the historic salt flat works, where the ancient tradition of harvesting salt from the sea is still proficient.
We then return to Palermo.

Dinner and overnight stay.