SICILY LUXURY TRAVEL, ITALY

SICILY LUXURY TRAVEL, ITALY

TAILOR-MADE TRAVEL SICILY

From Greek temples and Byzantine facades to Roman arches, Norman churches, and Baroque palaces, Sicily harbors a fascinating history; 11 civilizations have left their mark throughout this enchanting island. Bask in family-driven traditions and local culinary excellence, bike through quaint villages, swim in the turquoise waters of the Aeolian Islands, and hike through the ancient trails that reveal breathtaking views of active volcanoes. Sicily is a world on its own and waiting to transport you back in time.

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Discover inspiring example trips to Sicily below

SICILY'S HIGHLIGHTS

SICILY'S HIGHLIGHTS

Palermo

The island’s strategic position in the middle of the Mediterranean brought various invaders, including the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Saracen Arabs, the French, and the Spanish Bourbons. As a result, there is a vast range of architectural styles in Palermo and an intriguing fusion of ingredients used in many local dishes. Palermo’s historical highlights include the Baroque “Quattro Canti” square, which divides the four main areas of the old town. Nearby, visit the Piazza Pretoria, home to the “fountain of shame.” The fountain, decorated with sculptures of nude nymphs, humans, and mermaids, was considered too risque for the Tuscan Villa owned by a Spanish Viceroy, so it was sold to Palermo. Palermo is also home to the largest theater in all of Italy, Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, which is famous for its excellent acoustics.

Agrigento

Agrigento is home to the remarkable Valley of the Temples, an exceptionally well-preserved group of eight Doric Greek temples that date between 510 and 430 BC. Out of the eight temples at this UNESCO Heritage site, the Temple of Concordia is in the best condition and is only surpassed in quality by the Parthenon itself. During its heyday, Agrigento was immense in both size and economic power. In addition to temples, travelers will also find Kolymbethra Gardens, where ancient olive trees thrive and citrus fruits flood the area with their perfumes. Guests can enjoy a private picnic in these enchanting gardens after exploring the temple ruins. Nearby, visit Scala dei Turchi, or “Stair of the Turks,” a dazzling white cliff rising 50 meters above the blue waters of the Mediterranean. Natural erosion has carved the cliff into fascinating staircase-like ridges, which gave it its name.

Baroque Valley

Known for the stunning late Baroque buildings within its eight towns, the Baroque Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site. After the cities were destroyed by an earthquake in 1693, they were painstakingly redesigned and rebuilt in ornate late Baroque style. With the city of Noto as your base, enjoy biking through the picturesque Sicilian countryside. Ragusa, is said to be one of Sicily's most picturesque towns - both the old and new parts of this town are inhabited, and the view from the new post-earthquake section, Ragusa Superiore, over the old area, Ragusa Ibla, is simply stunning. Modica is yet another exquisite town in the Baroque Valley. It offers a beautiful juxtaposition of original medieval buildings against late Baroque structures that were built after the earthquake. In this delightful old city, travelers can also indulge in a private chocolate tasting.

Taormina

An iconic destination since the 18th century, Taormina boasts ancient Greek splendor, medieval charm, and unique views of Mount Etna and the Ionian coast. Built into a hillside in the 3rd century BC, Teatro Greco is one of the oldest theatres in the world, and visitors can still enjoy live performances. Although still a very active volcano, Mount Etna offers excellent opportunities for outdoor adventures. Explore the remains of lava flows, caves, hotel ruins, and a hike with breathtaking views along some of the smaller craters. Thanks to the Etna volcano, this area also has rich soils, excellent for agriculture and vineyards. Enjoy a private wine tasting of the unique wines produced from the volcanic soil and a tour of a vineyard at the foot of the volcano.

Aeolian Islands

Dotting the cerulean seas off of Sicily’s northeastern coast, the Aeolian Islands are some of the most beautiful in all of the Mediterranean. These volcanic islands have rich soil, giving them lush green vegetation that contrasts with the dramatic cliffs and active volcanoes. Of the seven main islands, verdant Salina will be your base. Guests can arrive from Sicily by private helicopter and enjoy a comfortable stay at a luxury hotel along the sea. The lush greenery of the hills and mountains covered in wild capers and evergreens at higher elevations provide spectacular hiking opportunities with rewarding vistas, especially from the highest point of the island at Monte Fossa delle Felci. Neighboring Stromboli Island is famous for its very active volcano, which adventurous travelers can climb to about 1,000 feet with an expert guide! Enjoy the sun and blue waters from a private boat as you navigate past impressive volcanic formations to visit secret swimming spots that are only accessible from the sea.

SEE WHAT OUR TRAVELERS HAVE TO SAY

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

It has been a wonderful trip. The helicopter was thrilling and we loved seeing so much of Sicily in such an easy way. Elisa was a lovely guide and Mario was very knowledgeable. The star of the trip was Emmanuelle in Salina — we had a wonderful time hiking with him. He was a delightful young man and a very knowledgeable, helpful guide. Just terrific. Thank you for all your hard work!

Kevin Poorman / CEO of PSP Capital Partners and Pritzker Realty Group

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Thank you for the perfect organization of our Sicily trip. It would be too long to mention all the interesting places we visited and all the charming people we met (all the drivers were excellent, particularly Alex, and all the guides extremely knowledgeable, particularly Rachele). The books you sent us previously to the trip by John Julius Norwich and Giovanni Verga were most useful and visiting smaller towns which are hardly mentioned in the guides, such as Grammichele, Vizzini or Palazzolo Acreide, was an excellent idea. All hotels and restaurants excellent, the Seven-rooms Villa Dorata in Noto in particular, even if it has now expanded to nine rooms.

H.B.D

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fabulous holiday! Excellent planning — the itinerary was quite restful and at a good pace. Stefano, the driver, was kind, knowledgeable, a great dining resource and fun to be with. Rachel may have been our best guide ever; she had a good level of energy, was a lovely person to be around, was flexible and had a deep knowledge of the country and the sites.

S.M

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★

It was a wonderful experience from start to finish. We loved all of our stops and appreciate your ability to change our itinerary on a dime when the weather was not cooperating. Our guides were great.

Taryn Valle

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