Sicily, the largest island of the Mediterranean sea is the land of the sun, of the mythes and of the old traditions which were brought by the different civilizations succeeding one another through the past and which today offer the visitor the fragance and the taste of a “cocktail” rich of various flavours. In this cocktail it is possible to perceive the whole history of Sicily: the Greek essence, the Roman magnificence, the Norman traces, the Arabian atmosphere which is still pervading the local markets, the Spanish liveliness; all these things are vivified by the baroque style, which completes the picture of Sicily perceived by the tourist in his travel through the island. Sicilian people are very proud of their land they want to pay homage to it by converying a sense of warmness and hospitality to the tourists who want to know both the ancient history and modern life in Sicily, and who want to transform their holiday into a real cultural experience. Settled in the middle of the Mediterranean sea, Sicily used to be both a landing- place and a cross-road for many foreign peoples: one hand, it divided the eastern part of the Mediterranean sea from the western one, on the other hand it joined the European continent to Africa. The first populations living in Sicily were the “Sicani” and “Siculi”, then followed by the Phoenician, coming from the Middle East, the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzatines, the Normans, the Swabians, the Aragoneses, the Austrian and the Bourbons. All these civilizations left in Sicily very important traces that can be found nowadays. That’s why Sicily is considered one of the most important Archaeological and artistic museum in Europe. Modern Sicily Cool History 10 october 2017: Beijing/Rome. Meals: Chinese Dinner. Meeting at the airport 3 hours before the departure of your flight to Rome by Alitalia check-in desk. Leave from Beijing by Alitalia direct flight to Rome Fiumicino at 09:15. Arrival estimated in Rome Fiumicino at 14:25. After the baggage hall, meet your chinese speaking guide for the private transfer to your hotel. Accomodation in your reserved rooms. Free Afternoon free at leisure. Dinner in Chinese Restaurant. Overnight: Hotel Warmthotel 4**** 11 october 2017 : Rome. Meals: Breakfast. Breakfast at your hotel. Meet your chinese speaking guide a tour in the historic centre of Rome. In this day you will be able to use a full day pass for the undergroud. Overnight: Hotel Warmthotel 4**** 12 october 2017 : Rome/Pompei/Catania. Meals: Breakfast, lunch. Meet your chinese speaking guide and departure by private bus for an half day tour of the city of Naples: its historical center, among the largest in Europe, will leave you breathlessly for the uniqueness of the alleys, the friendliness and warmth of the local people. It will visit the Basilica of Santa Chiara with its beautiful cloister majolica, the imposing Cathedral of San Gennaro and historical workshops of master craftsmen of San Gregorio Armeno, the Way of the Nativity. Visit of Piazza Plebiscito. After that transfer to Pompei and visit: The city was an ancient Roman town-city near modern naples in the Italian region of campania, in the territory of the comune of Pompei. Pompeii, along with Herculaeum and many villas in the surrounding area, was mostly destroyed and buried under 4 to 6 m (13 to 20 ft) of ash and punice in the aruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Researchers believe that the town was founded in the seventh or sixth century BC by the Osci or Oscans. It came under the domination of Rome in the 4th century BC, and was conquered and became a Roman colony in 80 BC after it joined an unsuccessful rebellion against the Roman Republic. By the time of its destruction, 160 years later, its population was approximately 11,000 people, and the city had a complex water system, an amphitheatre, gymnasium and a port. The eruption destroyed the city, killing its inhabitants and burying it under tons of ash. Evidence for the destruction originally came from a surviving letter by Pliny of Younger, who saw the eruption from a distance and described the death of his uncle Pliny the Elder, an admiral of the Roman fleet, who tried to rescue citizens. The site was lost for about 1,500 years until its initial rediscovery in 1599 and broader rediscovery almost 150 years later by Spanish engineer Rocque Joaquin de Alcubierre in 1748. The objects that lay beneath the city have been well-preserved for centuries because of the lack of air and moisture. These artifacts provide an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of a city during the Pax Romana. During the excavation, plaster was used to fill in the voids in the ash layers that once held human bodies. This allowed one to see the exact position the person was in when he or she died. Pompeii has been a tourist destination for over 250 years. Today it has UNESCO World Heritage. At the end transfer to the Port of Naples. Embarkment on the Tirrenia Ferries to Catania. Accomodation in your own private cabins. Overnight on board. 13 october 2017: Catania. Meals: Chinese lunch and Chinese dinner. Arrival, private transfer to the Hotel. at the airport. Meet and greet with your chinese speaking guide and private transfer to the hotel. Overnight: Hotel 4**** 14 october 2017: Catania/Syracuse/Ortigia/Catania. Meals: breakfast, Chinese lunch and Chinese dinner. Breakfast at your hotel. Meet your chinese speaking guide and departure by private bus for an half day city tour of Syracuse and Orti- gia: Since far-off times Siracusa represented a very important stop for the trevellers and till nowadays the city confirms its authenticity to the eyes of who passes by. Its archaeological, cultural and artistic heritage is a perfect synthesis of the whole history of Sicily: all the urban centre, world heritage site since 2005, offers to the passengers the sensation of travel- ling in far-off times without any stops. Your visit will start taking you to Syracuse's real attraction the “ Archaeological Park”, home to the pearly white 5th-century-BC Teatro Greco. Hewn out of the rocky hillside, this 16,000-capacity am- phitheatre staged the last tragedies of Aeschylus (including The Persians), first performed here in his presence. In late spring it's brought to life with an annual season of classical theatre. Beside the theatre is the mysterious Latomia del Par - adiso, a deep, precipitous limestone quarry out of which stone for the ancient city was extracted. Riddled with catacombs and filled with citrus and magnolia trees, it's also where the 7000 survivors of the war between Syracuse and Athens in 413 BC were imprisoned. The Orecchio di Dionisio, a 23m-high grotto extending 65m back into the cliffside, was named by Caravaggio after the tyrant Dionysius, who is said to have used the almost perfect acoustics of the quarry to eavesdrop on his prisoners. Back outside this area you'll find the entrance to the 2nd-century Anfiteatro Romano, originally used for gladiatorial combats and horse races. The Spaniards, little interested in archaeology, largely destroyed the site in the 16th century, using it as a quarry to build Ortygia's city walls. West of the amphitheatre is the 3rd-century-BC Ara di Gerone II, a monolithic sacrificial altar to Heron II, where up to 450 oxen could be killed at one time. We will then drive on to the tiny islet of Ortigia to enjoy a Sicilian lunch at Le Terrazze restaurant. The island of Ortygia is a labyrinth of charming ancient and medieval streets. This was a center of Greek, Byzantine and Judaic civilization. Physical evidence of these three cultures can still be seen today, making Ortygia a fascinating place to visit for anybody curious about the historic patrimony we have inherited from classical mythology, early Christianity and medieval Judaism. Lunch in Chinese Restaurant. After that private transfer back to Catania for an afternoon visit of the city. According to Thucydides, the city was founded in 729. BC by Greek colonists who gave her the name of Katane. In 476 BC the city was conquered by the tyrant of Syracuse, Hiero that he named Aitna. With the conquest of the Romans, the city had a new commercial develop- ment. With the Norman conquest in 1071 Catania enjoyed a period of prosperity that culminated under the Aragonese dynasty that founded the first university in Sicily. In 1669, a huge lava flow from Etna submerged the western districts and burying the port. In 1693, a catastrophic earthquake reduced the city to a heap of ruins, leaving standing only five buildings, including the Castello Ursino. The subsequent reconstruction of the city lasted throughout the '700 el'800 giv- ing the city Baroque aspect characterized by the use of alternating lava and limestone from the province of Syracuse. All the old town is worth visiting as from the Duomo, its square with the elephant symbol of the city, Etnea street, the The- ater Massimo Bellini. Dinner in Chinese restaurant. Transfer back to the hotel. Overnight: Hotel 4**** 15 october 2017: Catania/Taormina/Volcano Etna/Sicilian Outlet Village/Catania. Meals: breakfast, Italian lunch. Breakfast at your hotel. Meet your chinese speaking guide and departure by private bus for an half day city tour of Taormina: even if it is a small town on the east coast of Sicily, Taormina is one of the most visited touristic resorts in all of Italy. Perched up on a hill about 250 m above the sea, Taormina is about midway between Messina and Catania, a good base for day excursions in eastern Sicily.