TOURS SPECIALISTS INC. of Florida

1232 Clays Trail

Oldsmar, FL 34677

phone: 800-223-7552 •  727-784-8588 •  fax: 727-784-7520

e-mail: toursspecialists@gmail.com • web: toursspecialists.com

CELEBRATING 49 YEARS IN BUSINESS

SICILY Food and Wine

2012 - LAND ONLY

8 days

Extensions and upgrades available

also available:

ITALY with cooking class, Italy Gourmet tour, Southern Italy

and Italy in Depth

Trips for travel agent and spouse / companions

Departs every FRIDAY

Friday

WELCOME TO SICILY!!!

Arrival in Catania. Transfer to your hotel. (d)

     Overnight VILLA DIODORO, Taormina

Saturday

 Taormina

Morning at leisure or explore the slopes of Mt. Etna climbing to 1800 meters to enjoy the best views and villages site on ancient volcanic eruptions.

Also enjoy a Honey Tasting in a farmhouse climbing on Mount Etna. Back to Taormina and tour of its charming city centre including the Greek/Roman amphitheatre with its view of Giardini Naxos and Mount Etna. (b)

     Overnight VILLA DIODORO, Taormina

Sunday

Taormina/Siracusa/

Experience your excursion to Siracusa. A guided tour of this city highlights the Archaeological Park, Greek Theatre, Latomia del Paradiso and Cave of Dyonisios’ Ear.

On the way back to Taormina, you may take an optional “Godfather” tour that shows the authentic villages chosen by Francis F. Coppola for most of the scenes in the Godfather movies.

Visit a taste of the real untouched Sicilian countryside, local lifestyle and culture. This evening savor a special Sicilian dinner with wine in a restaurant characteristic of this region. (b,d)

     Overnight VILLA DIODORO, Taormina

Monday

Taormina/Agrigento/

Palermo

Depart to Agrigento, famous for its Valley of the Temples. Enjoy a guided tour of the valley dating back to the 5th century B.C. The Doric style temples, like that of Concordia which in an almost perfectly preserved condition.

You will learn the history and architecture of Concordia and the other temples of the area.

Resume travel to Palermo where you will arrive in the evening time for a relaxing dinner at your hotel. (b,d)

     Overnight AI CAVALIERI HOTEL, Palermo

Tuesday

Palermo/Segesta/Marsala/

Journey to Segesta, a large archaeological zone with a magnificent Doric Temple located within a natural setting that ranks as one of the best preserved Greek architectural sites.

Continue to the sea town of Marsala very famous for its sweet wines. Visit a wine cellar and sample some Marsala during a special wine tasting session.

Drive along the Trapani coastline and stop for lunch a special Sicilian restaurant.  Return to Palermo. (b,l)

     Overnight AI CAVALIERI HOTEL, Palermo

Wednesday

Enjoy a morning tour of Palermo, a city full of character.  Visit Quattro Canti, a splendid example of Spanish Baroque architecture, the Palace of the Normans and its superb Palatine chapel. Continue to the cathedral and famous Benedictine Abbey of Monreale.

Admire a 12th century cathedral, housing very fine mosaics representing a complete cycle of the Old and New Testaments.

Balance of the day at leisure or take an optional tour to the picturesque fishing village of Cefalu.

In the evening enjoy a special dinner at local restaurant. (b,d)

Thursday

Palermo/Corleone/Ficuzza/

Palermo

A day dedicated to one of the most famous social phenomena in Sicily. Depart in the morning for Corleone (inland Sicily) known for being the place where mafia phenomena was born.

First, participate to an interesting cooking lesson to prepare some of the traditional Sicilian dishes and then enjoy the special lunch.

After lunch one of the inhabitants of Corleone, will present a fascinating discussion of the Sicilian Mafia, their origin and the way Corleone inhabitants have worked to eliminate organized crime.

 Back to Palermo, enjoy a festive farewell dinner at your hotel

(b,l,d)

     Overnight AI CAVALIERI HOTEL, Palermo

Friday