FREE RICK STEVES BEST OF PDF

Rick Steves | 544 pages | 26 May 2016 | Avalon Travel Publishing | 9781631212598 | English | Chicago, United States Italy - Rick Steves Travel Forum

Tour Questions? See our FAQ Call Rick Steves' most exotic tour in Italy will immerse you in the distinctive culture, cuisine, and history of — including , Taormina, , Syracuse, , and more! On this island adventure, Rick Steves Best of Italy Rick Steves guide will introduce you to the hearty welcome and home cooking of a Sicilian family farm, the steamy power of , Italy's brightest pottery and boldest wines, Europe's most amazing ancient Greek ruins, and slow sunsets from picture-perfect seaside villages. Join us for the Best of Sicily in 11 Days! We'll send the notification email when a tour opens within a season spring, summer, fall, winter or region. Opportunity to experience Easter in Sicily! Spend the Thanksgiving holiday in Sicily! We'll gather at our hotel in Palermo at 3 p. Then we'll begin our Sicilian adventure together by joining a contessa for a personal tour of her family's home, the Palazzo Federico. We'll end our evening getting to know one another at a "Welcome to Sicily" dinner together. Moderate walking: 2—6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. No bus. Sleep in Palermo. Then we'll greet our driver and hop aboard our coach bound for the hill-topping town of , renowned for its Arab-flavored cathedral, blending Byzantine, Arab, Jewish, Gothic, Rick Steves Best of Italy Norman traditions, heritage, and art. We'll tour the cathedral's interior of glittering, golden as well as the story-telling columns of the cloister. After lunch, we'll return to Palermo, where you'll be free to explore more of this exciting, energetic city and discover a tucked-away trattoria for dinner on your own. Strenuous walking: 2—8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. Bus: 1 hour. This morning we'll head toward the island's western coast, stopping at the ancient Greek site of to meander through its magnificent Doric temple and hilltop theater. Then we'll continue to the enchanting medieval mountaintop town of . Believed by Romans to be the home of Venus, Erice eventually evolved Rick Steves Best of Italy a center for Christian convents and home to heavenly pastries which we'll learn about and taste. This afternoon we'll enjoy a tasty lunch that includes the region's specialties: sun-dried tomatoes, Castelvetrano olives, and Marsala wine, before making our way to today's final destination: seaside Trapani, where we'll take an orientation walk and set you free for the Rick Steves Best of Italy. Bus: 3 hours. Sleep in Trapani. Today we'll drive down to the Trapani salt pans — a coastal wetland and nature reserve where sea salt has been harvested for nearly 3, years. We'll tour the Phoenician island of Mozia and learn about this bygone civilization. Then our guide will teach us the history and process of salt harvesting as we tour the area by boat. You'll be free to spend the rest of your day exploring the seaside town of Trapani. Find that perfect terrace, savor your favorite aperitivoand watch the sun slowly dip into the sea. Bus: 2 hours. Boat: 1 hour. This morning we'll take a magical history tour through the ruins of Agrigento, one of the richest of the Greek colonies and a thriving democracy 2, years ago. We'll focus on Agrigento's Rick Steves Best of Italy of the Temples — the largest, best-preserved collection of ancient Greek buildings outside of Greece itself — and tour its archeological museum. This afternoon we'll head to our tranquil countryside hotel. You'll have time to soak in the view before tonight's dinner together. Sleep near Agrigento. The Romans also colonized Sicily, which we'll learn about at today's first destination, the Villa Romana del Casale. Here we'll spend much of our morning surrounded by the world's most rich and colorful collection of Roman mosaics — including the time-bending " girls" . On Rick Steves Best of Italy road again, we'll Rick Steves Best of Italy to visit a working farm and meet its owner, followed by a midday feast. Then it's on to Syracuse. This evening we'll take a walk through the city's historic old town on the island of Ortygia. Bus: 4 hours. Sleep on the island of Ortygia. This morning we'll learn more about Ortygia and take a closer look at this small fishing island. We'll explore the local market, stroll Rick Steves Best of Italy centuries in the Cathedral of Syracuse, and marvel at the masterpiece of the Piazza del Duomo. This afternoon we'll enjoy a lively performance of Sicily's traditional puppet theater, where the language is no barrier to entertainment. Then the rest of the day is yours to wander through Syracuse's delightful jumble of Greek, Roman, medieval, and layers — or settle on a quiet park bench with a harbor view. We'll begin our day with a short drive up the coast to Catania, where we'll take in breathtaking views of Mount Etna while learning more about the volcano with a spirited presentation by one of the University of Catania's volcanologists. Next, we'll visit a winery on the slopes of the mountain, where we'll enjoy a tour through the vineyards and taste some of Sicily's deservedly famous wine before heading to Taormina. After we check into our hotel, we'll take a neighborhood orientation walk. This evening, join in the local passeggiata to feel the pulse of Sicilian culture, then find the ideal people-watching spot to enjoy your gelato and dinner on your own. Sleep in Taormina. This morning we'll tour Taormina's remarkably situated ancient Greek theater, which is still used today for open-air performances. This afternoon you are free to luxuriate in this cliffhanging, Old World resort town. Any way you Rick Steves Best of Italy it, you'll have a ringside seat to savor Il dolce far niente the sweetness of doing nothingSicilian style. This evening we'll meet up for a Sicilian pizza dinner together. We'll learn how nearly a year before D-Day, Allied troops found themselves fighting against — and at the Rick Steves Best of Italy time liberating — their Italian adversaries. We'll gather together tonight to say arrivederciRick Steves Best of Italy travel memories, enjoy the freshest Sicilian food, and toast to new friends. Light walking: 2—4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. Sleep in Catania. Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. Rick Steves Best of Italy a breeze to reach Catania's airport by taxi or shuttle bus. Your guide will help you with any post-tour planning, leaving you well prepared for the road ahead. Grazie e ciao! Our tours are physically active! It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. On our Best of Sicily in 11 Days tour — among other things — you'll need to happily…. You guys amaze me. We had a wonderful time. Even thought our tour Rick Steves Best of Italy at the onset of the Corona Virus, we had a spectacular time. It was just cool. Also, the Greek Ruins were awesome and the Michael, the local tour guide was spectacular. I can tell you in 7 characters: amazing. First, our tour guide, Tommaso, was great see abovethe itinerary was packed with wonderful experiences, Massimo our bus driver was fantastic, comfortable, clean bus, snacks, Tommaso's stories during the bus rides, amazing historic sites, local guides, wonderful meals. A tried and true tour that I can tell has been continuously improved to perfection over time. I especially enjoyed the Palazzo Federico visit with the Contessa who gave a warm, personal tour of her home and interesting apperitivo which was a fun introduction to Sicily. I had Rick Steves Best of Italy "wow" day visiting the year old unfinished temple in Segesta, the Maria Grammatico lunch spread and pastry making adventure with walk around Erice and sunset in Trapani. Walking inside a Mt. Etna crater was great and with mph winds we couldn't manage to walk around it! But my favorite was listening to Tomasso in the bus! His family stories are the best! Everyday, everything was on time and it was clearly evident they had our tour in complete control. I can't say it any stronger than that. The local guides were fantastic also, they added so much to our tour. The mosaics in Monreale were amazing and I'll call them my wow moment. For my boyfriend, his wow moment was the Villa Romana del Casale. But I must say the Greek ruins in Segesta stunning, the salt flats in Trapani and the island of Mozia so unique! Agrigentos Valley of the Temples- we're so glad to have seen and experienced these sights. Loved the sea towns, going to Castelmola and looking at Rick Steves Best of Italy landscape and seascape from the heavens. Sicily was just fantastic. We had great weather everyday of the tours. All the local guides were great. Alfio, our tour guide was exceptional. He provided great details about his country. His knowledge was over the time. All hotels were beautiful and very welcoming. All the tour members in our group were great. We all got along very well. Best Time to Go to Italy by Rick Steves

Italy has Europe's richest, craziest culture. After all, this nation is the cradle of European civilization — established by the and carried on by the Roman . As you explore Rick Steves Best of Italy, you'll stand face-to-face with some of the world's most iconic images from this 2,year history: 's ancient Colosseum and playful Trevi Fountain, Rick Steves Best of Italy Leaning Tower, 's Renaissance masterpieces Michelangelo's David and Botticelli's Venusand the island city of elegant decay — . Beyond these famous sights, though, Italy offers Europe's richest culture. Traditions still live within a country that is vibrant and fully modern. Go with an eye open to both the Italy of the past and of the present. Mark's , the Grand Canal, and singing gondoliers. Francis' hometown, perched on a hilltop, with a divinely Giotto-decorated basilica. Farther south is , with its well-preserved ancient Greek temples. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Share. : North vs. European travel at home. Resources Travel Tips Rail Passes. Italy Itinerary: Where to Go in Italy by Rick Steves

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