Arba Sicula's preliminary itinerary (with some updates) for the 17th Annual Tour of Sicily: June 2 - June 14, 2011
June 2 - Thursday DAY 1 - Departure from J. F. Kennedy Airport, New York. Alitalia 611 S to Rome at 21:45 PM.
June 3 - Friday DAY 2 - The flight to Rome arrives at 12:05 and connects with AZ 1781 S arriving in Palermo at 14:25 PM. Transfer to Hotel Centrale (011-39-091-336666) in the center of the city. Balance of the day at leisure. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
June 4 - Saturday. DAY 3 - Morning guided tour of Palermo that includes the Palazzo Abbatellis, Zisa Palace, the National Museum. Meeting with the President of the Palermo Province. In the afternoon we will visit Monreale. Dinner at our Hotel with Sicilian guests, all local members of Arba Sicula.
June 5 - Sunday DAY 4 - Morning guided excursion to Cefalù. Visit the Cathedral. After lunch w'll return to Palermo. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner at our hotel.
June 6 - Monday DAY 5 - Palermo to Marsala. We will visit Erice, stop at Maria Grammatico's famous pastry shop on Via Vittorio Emanuele, 14, have lunch on our own, and then drive to Marsala and sail to the island of Mozia. We'll enjoy a wine tasting at the Di Prima family winery in Sambuca di Sicilia. Access from Mario's bus up to the winery is by a winery shuttle van or an optional 10 minute climb. We will relax at our Hotel Baglio Basile (+0923-741705).
June 7 - Tuesday DAY 6 - Marsala to Agrigento via Mazara del Vallo. Lunch in Mazara del Vallo or at the beach of Agrigento. Afternoon visit of Agrigento's Valley of the Temples. Check into our hotel. Dinner at the Colleverde Park Hotel (+922-29555).
June 8 - Wednesday DAY 7 - Morning drive to Siracusa by way of Piazza Armerina. Visit the Villa del Casale and its mosaics. Lunch on the way. Dinner at our Hotel Panorama (+931-412188). In the evening we will enjoy Sicilian music after dinner.
June 9 - Thursday DAY 8 - Visit the archeological sights in the morning. Lunch on your own (Teresa's Kitchen) on the island of Ortigia. Visit The Madonna delle Lagrime and other sights in Siracusa. We will see the play Andromache, by Euripides, at the Greek theater with pizza afterward.
June 10 - Friday DAY 9 - Morning drive to Catania. Visit the cathedral, the via Etnea, the Bellini Theatre. Lunch on your own. After lunch we will proceed to Taormina by way of Acicastello, Acireale where we will stop for an ice cream. We will proceed to our hotel in Giardini Naxos and relax at the pool or the beach. The Caesar Palace (+0942-5590) will be our hotel for the remaining 4 nights. Buffet dinner at the hotel.
June 11 - Saturday DAY 10 - A short morning drive to Taormina to visit the Greek-Roman theater (Teatro Antico). Free time for lunch and shopping in Taormina. We then return to our hotel for relaxation at the hotel pool or take the hotel shuttle to the beach or shopping in town, or local shopping near the hotel at the Super Mercato (ATM available) and Tutto Scarpe. Buffet dinner at our hotel.
June 12 - Sunday DAY 11 - Visit Savoca first and then Crateri Silvestri on Mt Etna. Lunch on your own at Crateri Silvestri with time for shopping. We will return to our hotel by 3:00 PM. The rest of the day at leisure. Shuttle from the hotel to town for a stroll along the beach, shopping, and a gelato. Buffet dinner on the roof garden at our hotel.
June 13 - Monday DAY 12 - The activities for the last day will be a surprise. Our farewell dinner will be at a local restaurant.
June 14 - Tuesday DAY 13 - Transfer to Catania. The return flight is on Alitalia 1738 S to Rome at 11:45 AM connecting with Alitalia 610 S to New York at 14:40 PM. It will arrive in New York's J. F. Kennedy Airport at 18:10 PM of the same day.
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