Guided tour of Sicily. Guided tour of Sicily "a piece of paradise that fell from heaven"

Italy has 2/3 of all cultural property Europe, but even for Italy - the island of Sicily is a special place.
Sicily is a separate continent with its ancient original culture, richest history, perfectly preserved architectural monuments, magnificent nature, wonderful climate and noble and hospitable inhabitants!
According to the monuments of Sicily, you can study the history of European civilization, the Greeks and Romans, Byzantines and Arabs, Normans and Franks left their mark here. Nature did not offend Sicily - majestic mountains and the highest active volcano in Europe - Etna, the emerald sea and wide sandy beaches, picturesque coves, bays and islands, greenery of citrus orchards, olive groves and vineyards, mild mediterranean climate. The combination of these factors has made Sicily, along with Venice, Florence and Rome, one of the most interesting and visited destinations. excursion tourism in Italy.
The first regular sightseeing tours to Sicily took place back in 1700 - Sicily with its monuments was part of the European "Grand Tour", a kind of pilgrimage to the most beautiful places, which artists, writers, philosophers and scientists from all over Europe were obliged to make.
With the opening of regular flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg to the airports of Sicily - Catania and Palermo and Russian tourists had the opportunity to enjoy the cultural, historical and natural beauties islands.

In the spring-summer-autumn 2016 season, the SNP Tour Operator together with the Eurialo Viaggi Company (Sicily) offers group group excursion tours to Sicily. Sightseeing tours are designed for 7 days / 6 nights - during this time, tourists visit the most beautiful cities of Sicily and get acquainted with the multifaceted architectural and cultural heritage islands.

In the 2016 season, flights to Palermo will be carried out in the early morning on Saturday, and returns from Palermo will be carried out late in the evening on Friday, so the standard excursion tour is designed for 7 days / 6 nights:

Combined tours: 7 days excursion tour - 7 days of rest at sea.
Many tourists after the end of the sightseeing tour stay for another week - they choose to stay in hotels in Sicily.
Here is an example of such a combined excursion tour:

Full list combined tours look in the left column-navigator on the site.

The main sights and excursion objects of Sicily

Main excursion object islands created by nature itself - it is majestic and mysterious Mount Etna- the largest of active volcanoes Europe. The top of the volcano is located at an altitude of 3320 meters and is a key element of the landscape of Sicily. At present, the volcano and the territory adjacent to it are under state protection as a natural biosphere reserve and one of the most popular excursion objects islands.

The next largest and most important sightseeing object in Sicily is the capital of the island is the city of Palermo. During its long and glorious history, Palermo has been Arab emirate, and the capital of the Norman kingdom, at one time it was considered the most beautiful city Europe. The main attractions of the city: Palazzo dei Normani, founded in the 9th century by the Arabs, the Royal Palace, was rebuilt several times. Now it is the building of the government of Sicily. A remarkable example of Arab-Norman architecture, the Palatine Chapel, which has preserved Byzantine mosaics. One of the most revered monuments of Palermo is the Norman Cathedral, built in the 12th century, here are the royal tombs and the ashes of St. Rosalia, patroness of Palermo.
There are so many attractions in Palermo that enough for an average European state, of the most significant we will mention the Oratorio San Lorenzo, Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Villa Giulia and botanical gardens, Arab-Norman castle of the 12th century, National Museum archeology, where you can see the Siculus, Phoenician and Greek sculptures, household items of the Ymers and Etruscans, the International Puppet Museum, in whose collection there are more than 2000 dolls. Makes a strong impression visiting the underground catacombs ancient monastery, where there are mummified bodies and skeletons of about 8,000 wealthy residents of Palermo who died in the 17th-19th centuries.

Attractions in the province of Messina
One of the most famous architectural monuments Sicily - Greek theater of the 3rd century BC is in city ​​of Taormina- popular seaside resort, here you can also see the ancient aqueduct, the ruins of the temple of Serapida and the church of St. Pankratia.
The capital of the province - the city of Messina was founded by Greek colonists. Of the interesting monuments in Messina, it is worth seeing the church of Santa Maria d'Alemana, the church of Santa Maria Annunziata dei Catalani, the Dome Cathedral, the fountain of Neptune.

Attractions in the province of Catania
City of Catania- the capital of the province of the same name, was founded by the Greeks in 729 BC. In Catania, there are the ruins of the largest Roman theater in Sicily, it is interesting to look at the Cathedral of St. Agatha, built at the beginning of the 11th century on the site of the Achilles Baths, Ursino Castle, built in the 13th century, which is an example of the Sicilian Baroque Biscari Palace.
Interesting monuments antiquity and renaissance are also found in small towns provinces of Catania - in Acireale, Patermo and Caltagirone.

Attractions of the province of Syracuse
In the city of Syracuse many monuments of the Greek and Roman eras have been preserved - the Greek theater, the altar of Hieron II, the Roman amphitheater, the castle of Euryal - the largest castle of antiquity, built in the period from 407 to 397 BC.
In the province of Syracuse, it is interesting to visit the cities of Pantalica, Noto, Palazzolo Acreide - with many monuments from different eras.
Many interesting sights, well-preserved monuments of antiquity, renaissance and the Middle Ages have been preserved in the cities of Ragusa and Cava d'Ispica in the province of Ragusa, in the cities of the province of Caltanissetta, Enna, Trapani.

Attractions in the province of Agrigento
The capital of the province - Agrigento - the city of Agrigento is one of the most ancient cities in Sicily. In antiquity, this place was the site of the city of Akragas, founded in the 6th century BC.
Main attraction Agrigento - Valley of the Temples- famous throughout the world is a complex of ancient buildings built in the 4th-5th century BC. The Temple of Concord, the Temple of Hercules, the Temple of Jupiter, the Temple of Aesculapius and the Temple of Juno are unusually beautiful and harmoniously integrated into the surrounding landscape.
Of the monuments of the Middle Ages in Agrigento, it is worth seeing the abbey of Santo Spirito (Holy Spirit), the church of San Lorenzo, the churches of St. Dominic and Santa Maria dei Greci, Cathedral.
Another interesting sightseeing site in the province of Agrigento is the city of Sciacca, here it is worth visiting the Dome Cathedral dedicated to Mary Magdalene, the Church of St. Margaret, the gates of St. Salvador, the Palace of Steripinto, built in the 15th century.

Sicily - largest island Mediterranean. It is washed by three seas - Ionian, Mediterranean and Tyrrhenian. And it consists of many small islands around. The capital of Sicily is the city of Palermo, and the main resorts are Taormina, Catania, Syracuse, Agrigento. Sicily is one of the most beautiful islands mediterranean sea with beautiful sandy beaches, magnificent mountains, patterned rocky shores and green olive valleys. First of all, Sicily is associated with the mafia. Actually it's calm and beautiful island, with a huge number of attractions. It is this mysterious mixture that makes tours to Sicily very popular every season.

Excursions on the island of Sicily:

• Excursion to the suburb of Palermo Monreale.
• Excursion to Piazza Armenina, Mount Etna.
• One day excursion to the city of Archimedes of Syracuse.
• excursion tour to the Maltese archipelago or to the nearby Lipari Islands.

Entertainment on the island of Sicily:

Tours to Sicily are very popular among tourists who are looking for a calm and at the same time interesting vacation. Attractions, magnificent nature, traditions and cuisine of Sicily make it special. Tourists do not need noisy discos for entertainment here, it is enough to feel the atmosphere of the island. Thrill-seekers will be attracted by the craters of the legendary volcano Etna. thermal springs adults will be given minutes of relaxing recovery, and children will be interested in the Sicilian Zoo and the largest amusement park in Europe - Etnaland.

The average price of lunch per person is 15 USD, 20 USD with alcohol.

How to choose and buy a tour to Sicily, Italy

Tours to Sicily will allow you to enjoy the interesting relaxing holiday tourists of all income levels. Most often, tourists stay in hotels of three or four stars, choosing tours with the type of food "breakfast". Ticket prices vary depending on the season this moment most cheap tour for two to Sicily from Moscow for 7 nights in a 3-star hotel and breakfast included. The most popular months for tourists to visit are July, June, August. You can buy a tour to Sicily as follows: make a purchase online or pay in cash at the office (Moscow, metro Park Kultury).

ALL SICILY (CATANIA)

The tour program includes not only the most famous addresses in Sicily - Palermo, Catania and Syracuse, but also small medieval cities, archaeological parks, a trip to Etna and much more. Four nights of the program take place in the Taormina area, three in the Palermo area. This tour can be combined with a seaside holiday.

Summer period from 06/16/2019 to 09/22/2019

Arrival airport: Catania
Departure airport: Catania
Group tour, Classic level. Sunday arrivals: 06/16/2019, 06/30/2019, 07/14/2019, 09/01/2019, 09/08/2019, 09/15/2019, 09/22/2019 (last arrival date)
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Route: Catania - Taormina area - Mount Etna - Taormina - Taormina area - Catania - Syracuse - Taormina area - Agrigento - Palermo - Erice* - Marsala* - Palermo - Monreale - Taormina area - Catania

Tour program:

Tour itinerary

The tour price includes:

• Accommodation in 3*/4* hotels:
• in the Taormina area, 5 nights;
• in the Palermo area, 2 nights;
• Meals: half board;
• Group transfer airport - hotel - airport**;
• Transfers according to the program;
• Excursions with Russian speaking guide and walks with an escort:
• Syracuse;
• Taormina;
• Agrigento;
• Palermo and Monreale;
• Walks: Catania, Mount Etna.
• Accompanying person on the route with the group;
• Airfare (for a full tour package).

Additional charge (on the spot):

• All entrance fees to archaeological parks and museums during the tours, in particular:
• Archaeological Park in Syracuse - 10 euros;
• Capuchin catacombs - 4 euros;
• Valley of the Temples in Agrigento - 10 euros;
• Ancient Greek theater in Taormina - 10 euros;
• Capuchin monastery - 3 euros;
• Cathedral in Montreal - 4 euros;
• Headphones in Montreal and Palermo - 3 euros;
• Tastings in Palermo and Taormina - 10 euros each;
• Travel by boat to Mozia and fare tax - 5 +10 euros;
• city ​​tax (compulsory surcharge)- directly at the hotel;
• Optional guided tours and walks*:
• Cable car and jeep on Mount Etna - 63 euros;
• Excursion Erice-Marsala - 45 euros;
• Excursion "Taormina Sea Exprerience" on a boat - 25 euros.

Notes:

* Prices for additional group tours are calculated for a group of min. 15 people In the event of a reduction in the group, prices change, as the guide informs on the spot, or the tour is canceled.

** Group transfer airport - hotel - airport is provided only for charter flights from Moscow and Riga.
Attention! For tourists arriving on S7 flights from Moscow, it is possible to provide a group transfer with an additional charge of 15 euros / person.
For other flights, it is possible to order individual transfers for a surcharge or independent transfers to / from airports to hotels.

In the event of a delay in entering a group or private transfer there is an additional charge for waiting on site. Tourists must inform the assistant by telephone.

Every year the demand for tours to Sicily increases, many tourists come here to get acquainted with local attractions, architectural objects and amazing story this area. Gorgeous golden beaches and azure clear waters, picturesque countryside and unusual animal world, majestic mountains and the highest active volcano - Etna - attracts travelers from all over the world.

There are individual and combined excursion tours, it all depends on your desire. The island is very interesting with a mixture of cultures, this happened because of the numerous conquerors who marked this land and left each of their imprints. Some succeeded others, existed together, created and destroyed - all this contributed to the interpenetration of cultural layers.

When visiting the resorts of Sicily using tours from the Svoi People company, you will be surprised how much it will remind you of reading a large fascinating book, in which each page tells about the era in which a people lived. In Italy, this place is the most favorite for relaxation, thanks to the mild climate.

Excursion tours

The most popular resorts are Letojanni, Taormina and Cefalu, where numerous hotels in Sicily gladly accept tourists. Letojanni is considered a place family vacation, here - magnificent nature and a lot of entertainment for every taste.

Bohemia prefers to relax in Taormina. Fashionable hotels, expensive cafes and restaurants, famous boutiques are everywhere. Art lovers will appreciate the ancient Greek theater and will be able to attend a concert or performance. Youth companies come to Cefalu, who choose a quality service for affordable prices.

IN Lately are in great demand Bus tours to Sicily from Moscow.

The climate of Sicily is mild, typically Mediterranean, with hot summers ( average temperature July - August + 24°C) and short mild winters (temperatures rarely fall below + 10°C). Insignificant precipitation falls in the winter months - from October to March.

Beach

Coastline the islands in the north are predominantly rocky, in the south there are 1000 km of magnificent sandy beaches. bathing season on the island lasts from May to October.

Resorts

Most popular resorts islands - Taormina, Syracuse, Messina, Chifalu, Letojanni, Santa Flavia, Giardini Naxos, Agrigento. Taormina is a fashionable European resort, which is very popular among young people, thanks to its good infrastructure and rich nightlife. Taormina is also cultural capital Sicily. In summer, the annual film festival takes place here. Syracuse is one of most beautiful cities Mediterranean with rich history, unique ancient architecture, with great natural beaches and excellent developed infrastructure. At this resort, both family tourists who prefer a quiet relaxed holiday, and cheerful youth who choose leisure and varied leisure activities. Messina, located on the shores of the famous Messinian Gulf, and framed by the majestic Peloritan Mountains, offers its guests a truly fabulous holiday. Here you will find spacious sandy beaches, picturesque landscapes, historical monuments and enchanting music shows open air.

Kitchen

Sicilian cuisine has absorbed the best of culinary traditions different peoples who have inhabited the island over the past two thousand years. And although it is considered only a variety Italian cuisine, it is clearly felt Spanish, Greek and Arabic influence. The most famous Sicilian dishes are "arancini" (stuffed rice balls), "Pasta alla Norma", cooked with fried eggplant slices, seasoned with tomatoes, basil and salted ricotta (prepared mainly in Catania) and "caponata" (fried vegetables with sour - sweet sauce). Of course, as in all of Italy, pizza is prepared on the island, which is called "Sicilian" here. As for desserts, we recommend trying "frutta martorana" (a marzipan cake resembling fruit in shape and color), "buccellato" (traditional round cake decorated with fresh and dried fruits, pistachios, walnuts and almonds), as well as delicious "cannoli" » (crispy waffle tube filled with mascarpone cheese, whipped cottage cheese or ricotta with sweet syrups).

Attractions

There are several water parks on the island. Almost in any coastal town there are yacht marinas where you can rent a boat. The sailing season is from April to November. Sicily is replete with architectural and natural attractions. One of the most famous is Etna volcano - the highest in Europe (3340 m). The area surrounding the volcano forms the "Park of Etna" - the largest nature reserve Italy. The capital of Sicily - Palermo - is a large modern port city, rich in monuments of various historical eras. This is the Cathedral, and the church of St. John the Hermit with red domes, and the Normandy castle, and the famous theater of Massimo.

Not far from Palermo, in the city of Monreale, there is a Benedictine cathedral and chapel built by William II in the 12th century. Taormina is rich antique monuments Greco-Roman era and medieval palaces. And the famous Syracuse in antiquity was one of the most important political, military and cultural centers Mediterranean: Archimedes was born here, Plato worked here. Today the city created archaeological park, where you can see the Greek theater, the Roman amphitheater, as well as visit the caves of Dionysius and the island of Ortigia - ancient center with an old cathedral