Deeply Catholic places celebrate Easter with greatest ceremony and energy, and places of deepest Catholic history own the richest tradtions.  Christianity in Sicily goes back to only two decades after the Crucifixion, an older Christianity than any place outside of the Holy Land.  Our public ceremonies however, most strongly reflect the six centuries of medieval Spanish rule. On this tour, we will cross the island searching out the most evocative of Sicily’s Easter events.  Not only processions and drama, but there are special Easter foods for saints and sinners to share, including "turrunari", "cubbaita", "giuggiulena", “cicirata", and "pignoccata".  And in between the high points of Sicilian “Pasquale”, we will visit the high points of Sicilian legend, history, and natural beauty.

 Day 1, Saturday --  Arrive in Catania. We meet you at the airport and take you to Siracusa (incl). We check in at a charming hotel in Ortigia, the heart of ancient Syracuse.  We’ll have a welcome and group meeting. As you will be arriving jet-lagged, the first day will be settling in and getting oriented with a walk around the incredible island-peninsula of Ortigia, its rich history, palaces, narrow lanes, Jewish Quarter, and shops. Welcome dinner at a great Siracusa restaurant (incl) and overnight at Siracusa (Approdo delle Serene) 
 
Day 2, Palm Sunday –  After a continuation of our walk around the incredible island-peninsula of Ortigia, its rich history, palaces, narrow lanes, and Jewish Quarter, we’ll attend the Palm Sunday services at the amazing Cathedral of Siracusa, still incorporating the columns of a ancient Greek Temple to Athena, as well as events at the church of St. Martin, which dates to the 6th century. After lunch, we’ll look at the glories of Siracusa, at its height, the greatest of ancient Greek cities, visiting the Greek Theatre, Ear of Dionysius, and Roman Amphitheatre. Dinner at a recommended restaurant (incl.) and overnight at Siracusa (Approdo delle Sirene). 

Day 3, Monday – Travel to Taormina.  On the way we’ll stop on the slopes of Etna for a wine tasting and lunch of Mt. Etna regional specialties, at a renowned winery (incl).  Then on to Taormina where we tour the Roman Theatre, with its incomparable view, the Gardens, and stroll Corso Umberto among shops and restaurants.  Return to Siracusa for dinner and overnight (Approdo delle Sirene).  

Day 4, Tuesday -- Depart Siracusa for Piazza Armerina.  We will make an early start in order to route ourselves through the scenic Hyblean Highlands, seeing some splendid scenery (deep gorges and wildflowers) of the interior of Sicily.  We’ll stop for a look at Caltagirone, home of Sicilian ceramics, with the famous stairs decorated for Easter. At Piazza Armerina, we will have lunch, and visit one of the greatest of Roman Imperial villas (Villa Romana del Casale).  Then we take an afternoon drive on scenic roads to Agrigento.  Here we find the Greeks again, and temples the equal to those in Greece.  Dinner at a famous seafood restaurant (incl) and overnight in Agrigento.

Day 5, Wednesday – We travel west along the remote south coast to the Greek city of Selinunte, an equally splendid group of temples on lovely rolling seacoast. We continue to Marsala, for a winery tour and tasting in either the Florio or Donnafugata winery (incl).  Dinner and overnight at a Napoleonic era fortified estate, Baglio Oneto.

Day 6, Holy Thursday – We travel over to San Biagio Platani to see the Eastern harvest arches in the streets of this small town reflecting pagan rituals. We’ll visit that salt flats off Mozia where salt has been harvested for three thousand years. In Marsala, we'll see the re-enactment of Christ's passion, an extremely moving experience of his trial, torture and crucifixion.  The ceremony concludes that evening with a theatrical presentation of the final moments of the Passion.  Overnight at Baglio Oneto.  

Day 7, Good Friday – We go up the mountain of Erice to tour the town founded by Aphrodite and prominent the stories of Hercules, Æneas, and Carthaginian and Roman history and religion.  We’ll have a pastry demonstration at the confectionary shop of Maria Grammatico, made famous by Mary Simeti’s book Bitter Almonds (incl). After lunch, we descend to Trapani where occurs one of Sicily’s more famous processions. “I misteri” is a parade of a group of sculpted religious statues from 17th and 18th centuries.  For over sixteen hours they process, through the night, from Good Friday to Holy Saturday. Overnight at Baglio Oneto.  

Day 8, Saturday – We’ll travel to Segesta, one of the most beautiful temples in the world, then to Norman Palermo and the great cathedral of Monreale.  After lunch, we visit other  sites in Norman and Spanish Palermo.  Overnight in Palermo in an historic and infamous hotel (Hotel Grand et des Palmes).  

Day 9, Easter Sunday – We go to Piana degli Albanesi, the Greek Orthodox village where the girls and women of the town parade in 15th-century costumes.  After the mass, there's a moving parade of the holy veil.  Then we go to Terrazini for the Festival of the Schietti, bachelors who carry orange trees to their beloved.  We finish our tour with our “Arrivederci” banquet at a Altri Tempi in Palermo (incl). Overnight in Palermo (Hotel Grand et des Palmes).  

Day 10, Easter Monday – All Italy takes the day off, so we might as well too.  We will take you to Catania airport for your flight home.

 Price: € 2190 per person.    

Tour Cost Includes:
    *    Bed and Breakfast accommodation on twin-sharing basis.  All accommodation will be of a three-star or higher standard, specially selected by us for quality, ambience, and the friendliness of the staff.  All B&Bs have websites for your inspection.
    *  9 breakfasts and 6 other meals as indicated in the itinerary.
    *    A cooking class, pastry-making demonstration, winery tour, and 2 wine tastings.
    *    All entrance fees.
    *    An English-speaking Sicily Tour host / guide to be with you throughout the tour.
    *    All presentations will be in English or an interpreter will be present.
    *    Air conditioned chauffeur-driven bus throughout the tour.
    *    All applicable government taxes, service charges, and paperwork. 

 Tour Cost Does Not Include:
     *    Airfare to and from Catania Fontanarossa Airport.
     *    Passport applications and fees.  Passports are required for entrance into Italy.
     *    Travel or health insurance.
     *    Single supplement charges (24%)
     *    Meals or beverages not specified.
     *    Items or concerns of a personal nature.