Join Friendship Force on Sicily: A Cultural Journey 11 DAYS September 2–12, 2019 Speak to a travel expert today 1-800-438-7672 © 2018 EF Education First Sicily: A Cultural Journey 11 DAYS The Sicilian sun shines light on a different side YOUR TOUR PACKAGE INCLUDES of Italy. 9 nights in handpicked hotels 9 breakfasts In the midst of the Mediterranean, discover an island with personality all its own—full 6 dinners with beer or wine of flavor and teeming with one-of-a-kind art and architecture. From multicultural 1 cooking class Guided sightseeing tours Palermo to breathtaking Taormina, each and every stop on this tour of Sicily reveals Expert Tour Director & local guides unexpected treasures. Private deluxe motor coach INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS Palermo Cathedral, home-hosted dinner in Palermo, Agrigento's Greek ruins, Piazza Amerina, Syracuse Cathedral, Sicilian cooking class, views of Mount Etna, Taormina's Greek theater TOUR PACE On this guided tour, you'll walk for about 1.5 hours daily across uneven terrain, including cobblestone streets and unpaved roads, at high altitudes. Speak to a travel expert today 1-800-438-7672 © 2018 EF Education First Itinerary Overnight flight | 1 NIGHT Taormina Region | 2 NIGHTS Day 1: Travel day Day 9: Transfer to Taormina & sightseeing tour Board your overnight flight to Palermo today. Included meals: breakfast Transfer to Taormina, where a local guide introduces you to this scenic town perched high above the sea. Palermo | 3 NIGHTS • Enjoy views of Mount Etna, Taormina Cathedral, and the Palazzo Corvaia, seat of the first Sicilian parliament Day 2: Arrival in Palermo • Visit the town’s 2nd-century Greek theater Included meals: welcome dinner Welcome to Italy! Gather with your fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner. Spend a free evening in the Taormina region or add an excursion. + Traditional Sicilian Dinner & Wine Tasting Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Palermo & Monreale Included meals: breakfast, dinner Day 10: Free day in the Taormina Region Included meals: breakfast, farewell dinner This morning, embark on a guided tour of bayside Palermo, situated at the foot of Mount Pellegrino. Enjoy a free day in the Taormina region or add an excursion. • Visit the architecturally diverse Palermo Cathedral and see the stunning artwork + Mount Etna: Sicily's Volcanic Landscapes of the Cappella Palatina This evening, celebrate your trip with your group at a farewell dinner. • Continue on to nearby Monreale where you’ll pay a visit one of the town’s Day 11: Departure magnificent cathedrals Included meals: breakfast (excluding early morning departures) Tonight, join a local at their home in Palermo to enjoy traditional dishes and dine like Transfer to the Catania airport for your flight home. a true Italian. You’ll receive an authentic understanding of your host’s day-to-day life while learning about Sicilian culture and traditions from a new perspective. Please note: The inclusions and order of events on this tour are subject to change and will Day 4: Free day in Palermo be confirmed prior to your departure. Included meals: breakfast Enjoy a free day in Palermo or add an excursion. + Ancient Ruins: Segesta & Erice Agrigento | 1 NIGHT Day 5: Transfer to Agrigento & sightseeing tour Included meals: breakfast, dinner Travel south through the Sicilian countryside to Agrigento for a guided walking tour of the city’s fascinating Greek ruins. Then, sit down for an included dinner. Syracuse | 3 NIGHTS Day 6: Syracuse via Piazza Amerina Included meals: breakfast, dinner On the way to Syracuse, stop for a guided tour of Piazza Amerina and view the stunning mosaics in Villa Romana del Casale, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Later, sit down for an included dinner. Day 7: Sightseeing tour of Syracuse & cooking class Included meals: breakfast, dinner Embark on a guided tour of Syracuse, a historic city known for its rich Greek history. • Visit the Greek theater, the most complete ancient Greek theater still in existence • Tour the massive Paradise Quarry and gardens, featuring the cave that Caravaggio dubbed “The Ear of Dionysius” for its unique acoustics • Visit the Roman amphitheater, then cross a bridge to the Island of Ortygia to see the Temple of Apollo and Syracuse Cathedral Tonight, take part in an interactive cooking class where you'll learn how to make traditional Sicilian cuisine. Then, enjoy an included dinner. Day 8: Free day in Syracuse Included meals: breakfast Spend a free day in Syracuse or add an excursion. + Traditions of Sicily: Villa Lunch & Noto Village Speak to a travel expert today 1-800-438-7672 © 2018 EF Education First Sicily: A Cultural Journey Create a more personal journey by adding optional excursions that speak to your interests. Excursions offered on the same day will occur at different times, so there’s no need to choose— you’re free to do as much or as little as you’d like. Save $10* when you book your excursion up Customize to 3 days before your tour departs. Please note: Excursions that require advance reservation will only have this discounted price listed. Call or go online to start customizing your tour: your experience 1-800-438-7672 Day 4: Ancient Ruins: Segesta & Erice Day 10: Mount Etna: Sicily's Volcanic Landscapes $105/$115* (8 hours, departs in the morning) $79/$89* (7 hours, departs in the morning, Journey to western Sicily to visit the ancient Greek lunch included) ruins of Segesta. Here, you’ll view a magnificent Doric Travel from Taormina to the base of Mount Etna, temple with a local guide. The temple is one of the best Europe’s largest and highest active volcano. Here, preserved and most beautiful Greek archaeological a local guide will board your bus and you’ll ascend sites in the Mediterranean. Next, visit the well- up to 5,000 feet, stopping at a scenic vantage point preserved village of Erice, perched on the summit to snap photos and learn about the mountain’s long of Monte San Giuliano. The relics within Erice are history of eruptions, as well as its native flora and fascinating, from its Phoenician walls to its Norman fauna. Continue up to 6,600 feet, where you’ll have free castles. Your guided tour of the town will take you time to walk among the volcanic craters and peruse the past the town's temple and churches, touching upon mountainside shops before sampling local delicacies at the role they played in Erice's history. You'll also try an included three-course lunch. almond wine and pastries during a visit to one of the Please note: Comfortable shoes and layered clothing are town's most famous shops. As you make your way back recommended. Temperatures on the mountain are cool to Palermo, stop at the Mozia salt pans to snap a photo in the summer and can be quite chilly the rest of the year. and learn how the salt is harvested. Day 8: Traditions of Sicily: Villa Lunch & Noto Village $95/$105* (8 hours, departs in the morning, lunch included) Start off the day in Noto, a quaint city at the foot of the Hyblaean Mountains. A local guide gives you the lay of the land, highlighting the UNESCO-recognized cathedral and the city's Baroque-style architecture. As you stroll along Corso Vittorio Emanuele with your local guide, stop to sample a sweet Sicilian snack. The food will vary based on season, but the tasting may include traditional gelato or Sicily's signature granita. Next, travel to a rustic villa, Casa Bianca, owned and run by a Sicilian contessa. With its warm climate, open fields, and fertile soil, Sicily is home to some of Italy’s finest foods. Today’s authentic family-style meal showcases many of the region’s delicious and varied flavors. Day 9: Traditional Sicilian Dinner & Wine Tasting $89/$99* (4 hours, departs in the evening, dinner included) Venture into the foothills surrounding Mt. Etna for dinner and a wine tasting at a local vineyard. Like Sicily itself, Sicilian cuisine has been profoundly influenced by the myriad cultures that have made this island their home. XSF20_1218 *Optional excursions may be purchased up to three days prior to departure or while on tour. Pre-purchased optional excursions cannot be canceled within three days prior to departure or while on tour. Select optional excursions require advance booking and cannot be purchased or canceled after the advanced reservation deadline. GAT accepts payment by cash, Visa, or MasterCard for optional excursions purchased on tour. Additional fees may apply for optional excursions purchased on tour. Excursions require a minimum number of participants to operate. Details and prices are subject to change. Due to seasonal hours of operation and availability, some excursions may not operate. If this occurs, you will be refunded any payments made for that excursion post-tour. Speak to a travel expert today 1-800-438-7672 © 2018 EF Education First.