Western Sicily & the Aegadian Islands 2026-27

Departure on scheduled ITA Airways flights to Palermo – transfer to the hotel – lunch at leisure – in the afternoon, guided visit of Palermo (Piazza Verdi, the Cathedral – interior – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, panoramic tour, the Norman Palace with the Palatine Chapel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) - dinner at the hotel restaurant - after dinner, Palermo by night: a stroll with the tour leader – overnight stay at a hotel in the area of Palermo – Mondello – Santa Flavia.

Breakfast at the hotel – transfer to the port of Trapani or Marsala - boarding of the hydrofoil or motor vessel and departure for Marettimo, the most distant and wildest of the Aegadian Islands - arrival at Marettimo and a motorboat trip around the island with local fishermen - along the way you will admire the Camel Grotto, the Bombarda Grotto and the Nativity Grotto, Punta Troia with its small Bourbon fortress and Punta Libeccio with its white lighthouse – fish-based lunch at a restaurant - free time for a stroll through the lanes of the little fishing village and along the paths of this enchanting car-free island - return by hydrofoil or motor vessel to Trapani or Marsala - transfer to the hotel - dinner at the hotel in Marsala, Mazara del Vallo or Trapani – evening at leisure – tour leader available – overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel – full-day guided excursion – in the morning, visit of the lush Island of Mozia (the remains of the ancient Punic city dating from the 8th century BC stand on the islet of San Pantaleo in the Stagnone lagoon - Motya was a great power until it was destroyed in 397 BC by Dionysius, tyrant of Syracuse - all around, the salt pans, windmills and vineyards form a natural setting of great charm) – arrival in Marsala, in the most important wine-producing area of Sicily – short visit to a winery to learn the secrets of, and savour, the famous wine that takes its name from this town - visit of the picturesque historic centre enclosed by gates and bastions, which open onto narrow streets lined with Spanish palaces, churches and monuments - traditional lunch at a seafood trattoria - in the afternoon, guided visit of Mazara del Vallo, a charming and ancient town of western Sicily (the characteristic canal port, home to the largest fishing fleet in Italy, and in the historic centre interesting Arab-Norman buildings and numerous Renaissance and Baroque churches laid out in the style of a kasbah; visit of the Museum of the Satyr, inside the church of Sant’Egidio, with the bronze statue of the “Dancing Satyr”, now famous and known throughout the world) - return to the hotel - dinner at the hotel in Marsala, Mazara del Vallo or Trapani – evening at leisure – tour leader available – overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel – coach transfer to the port of San Vito lo Capo - boarding and boat trip along the coast in front of the Zingaro Nature Reserve, the first nature reserve in Sicily, with 7 kilometres of rugged coastline rich in coves, jagged rocks and sea stacks - stop for a swim - during the cruise there will be a stop to admire the Scopello sea stacks rising in front of the tonnara of the same name, and for a swim – light lunch on board based on typical tonnara produce, fish couscous, Sicilian cannolo and fruit - return to San Vito Lo Capo, a typical fishing village – free time to relax on the renowned white sandy beach and swim in the clear blue waters – in the evening, return to the hotel - dinner at the hotel – evening at leisure - tour leader available – overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel – transfer to the port of Trapani - boarding of the motorboat for the island of Favignana – in the village of Favignana you will see Palazzo Florio – exterior – and the ancient tonnara - visit of the former Florio tuna factory, a late 19th-century plant where the Florio family began processing and trading preserved tuna. The visit offers a fascinating and original journey into the ancient civilisation of the tonnare that has always shaped life on the Aegadian Islands – the cruise then continues along a series of wonderful inlets and grottoes, with a stop for a swim, to enjoy the beauty of this island to the full –light lunch on board (penne with Trapani-style pesto, seasonal fruit, water, wine) - onwards to Levanzo - short visit of the small village of Levanzo - stop for a swim in the splendid waters of Cala Minnola - back to Trapani - return to the hotel - dinner at the hotel – evening at leisure - tour leader available – overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel – full-day excursion to Agrigento with a local guide – visit of the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest archaeological area in Italy (Temple of Concordia, Temple of Juno, Temple of Zeus, Temple of Castor and Pollux, Temple of Heracles) – visit of the Kolymbethra Garden, an authentic archaeological and agricultural jewel of the Valley of the Temples, brought back to life after decades of neglect (an extraordinary garden for the wealth of archaeological finds that are still coming to light) – traditional lunch at a restaurant - in the afternoon, visit of the historic centre of Agrigento, characterised by narrow alleys and unusual little squares set within an urban layout of Arab origin, although some of its oldest and most representative historic palaces are Norman (visit of the 11th-century Cathedral of San Gerlando and the Church of Santa Maria dei Greci) – in the evening, return to the hotel - dinner at the hotel – evening at leisure – tour leader available – overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel – departure for Trapani – guided visit of the city (a stroll through the elegant streets of the historic centre, a succession of historic palaces and churches of great artistic value: the Cathedral and the Church of the Purgatory, home to the Sacred Groups of the Mysteries of Trapani) – continuation to Erice, which preserves intact the charm of an ancient medieval village, enlivened by workshops selling traditional crafts, finely decorated ceramics, colourful hand-woven rugs and traditional sweets made with almonds and candied fruit – the historic centre has a typical layout of little squares and narrow, winding streets overlooked by beautiful courtyards - lunch at leisure – transfer to Palermo airport – departure on scheduled ITA Airways flights for the journey home.