13-Nights Sicily in Depth - With Malta Option, Classic Group

Insight Vacations

Sicily In Depth - With 6-Day Malta Option, Classic Group
See every slice of Sicily during this 14-day guided tour. Take off to Paradise Quarry in Syracuse with a Local Expert, who will show you its Ear of Dionysius, an ear-shaped limestone grotto: call out to your fellow travelers here, and your voice may echo as many as 16 times. Visit the Palatine Chapel to marvel at the glittering gold mosaics for a stunning sight. Travel to the salt pans and windmills on the western coast and taste Marsala wine in its home town. In Taormina, perched above the Ionian Sea, join a Local Expert at the city’s cliffside Greek theater, from where you can see Mount Etna, the island’s active Strato volcano.Venture from your waterfront hotel in Sliema to the capital of Malta. In Valletta, meet a Local Expert who will guide you through the Fortress City, filled with golden-hued buildings and anchored by St. John's Cathedral. Later, in Mdina, join a Local Expert on a walk through the fortified Silent City, nicknamed for its peaceful atmosphere. Then, toast to an incredible journey during a final celebration dinner with your fellow travelers.


Dining Summary

• 13 Breakfast (B)
• 7 Dinner (D)
• 1 Lunch (L)

Choice Highlights

• Choose between two carefully selected activities
• Syracuse: Walk through the gardens of Paradise Quarry, listen to the acoustics in the mysterious Ear of Dionysius and visit the Greek theater.
• Syracuse: Stroll through Old Town Syracuse on the island of Ortygia and learn the legends of the Fonte Aretusa.

Additional Included Highlights

• Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
• Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
• We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
• From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
• Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
• If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.

Authentic Dining

• Palermo: Embark on a fun exploration of Palermo's tasty culinary scene on a Dine-Around evening.
• Marsala: Enjoy a tasting of some of the island's richest Sicilian wines at a local winery in Marsala.
• Ragusa: Savor the flavors of Ragusa during your Farm-to-Table dining experience, highlighting the freshest locally sourced ingredients.
• Catania: Your Celebration dinner reflects some of Sicily's top culinary heritage.
• Sliema: Enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers at your luxury hotel in Sliema.
• Sliema: Toast to your trip with your fellow travelers over a wonderful Farm-to-Table dinner.

Insight Choice

• Syracuse: Walk through the gardens of Paradise Quarry, listen to the acoustics in the mysterious Ear of Dionysius and visit the Greek theater.
• Syracuse: Stroll through Old Town Syracuse on the island of Ortygia and learn the legends of the Fonte Aretusa.

Insight Experiences

• Sliema: Visit the National War Museum, site of a former air raid shelter. Learn about the important role Malta played during WWII while you explore with a historian.

Make Travel Matter

• Trapani: Discover how the ancient traditions of salt extraction has been handed down from generation to generation. Set in a breathtaking natural landscape, home to pink flamingos and various aquatic birds, the salt pans and windmills create a picturesque scene against a backdrop of sea and sky. This experience supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 11 & 12 - Sustainable Cities and Communities & Responsible Consumption and Production
• Mdina: Experience the ambiance of Palazzo Falson, a prestigious museum that highlights the rich heritage of the island. Visit the exclusive rooftop garden, where Malta's endemic species thrive, creating a sophisticated pollinator haven for the local ecosystem.

Top Rated Highlights

• Palermo: Visit the spectacular 12th-century Palatine Chapel. Its sombre exterior gives away few clues to the riches inside. Step into a world where the walls glitter with 12th-century mosaics, the best of their kind in the world.
• Agrigento: Admire magnificent Hellenistic remains in the Valley of the Temples, such as the massive Temple of Concord and clifftop Temple of Juno.
• Piazza Armerina: Travel to the Villa Romana del Casale, a UNESCO site since 1997. The Villa is one of the most luxurious of its kind, showcasing it's rich and intricate mosaics which decorate almost every room.
• Ragusa: During your walking tour with your Local Expert see the famous Baroque buildings and churches.
• Modica: Experience Modica's celebrated hand-made chocolate.
• Taormina: Visit the ancient Greek Amphitheater with your Local Expert. Set on a cliff, open to the sky, take your seats and enjoy the view through the crumbling arches to Mount Etna.
• Taormina: Visit Taormina with a Local Expert and enjoy free time to stroll along Corso Umberto to Piazza IX Aprile.
• Valletta: Explore the capital with your Local Expert. Visit the Upper Barrakka Gardens and get lost in its beautiful 16th-century buildings including St John’s Co-Cathedral, designed in a baroque fashion.
• Mdina: E

Featured Destinations

Malta Malta The islands of Malta are an archipelago lying in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Malta is the largest of the islands. There are plenty of pre-historic sites and temples which must be seen in Malta. This is apart from the numerous churches, cathedrals and old military fortifications mostly from the times of the Knights of Malta (1530 - 1798). Every town or village has something to offer from museums, cathedrals, palaces and gardens. Many locals take a break and spend a long weekend or a few days on the nearby island of Gozo to enjoy the tranquillity of the sights and sounds on this enchanting island. Religion is a big part of life. The village festa, which is a feast in honor of the patron saint of the village, is a very important date for all the village.	Destination Guide
Sliema Sliema Sliema, about 1 mi/2 km across Marsamxett Harbor from Valletta, is the address of many of the capital's resort hotels, shops and restaurants. It's also the port of embarkation for most island cruises.	Destination Guide
Catania Catania Destroyed several times by eruptions from Mt Etna and an earthquake in 1693, this busy port, situated along the northeast coast of Sicily, on the Gulf of Catania, is now graced by wide boulevards, lush parks and spacious piazzas. Choose from the medieval power of the 11th-century cathedral and the Castello Ursino, the Baroque fantasy of San Nicolo, or return to the ancient origins of the city with a visit to the Greek theater. Just a short drive up the coast are the Greek glories of Taormina, with unforgettable views of Mt. Etna.	Destination Guide
Siracusa Siracusa Sicilia is the favorite island of Gods in traditional poetry. The most powerful and biggest ancient city in Sicilia is Siracusa. Its name may come from the native word "Siraco", which means "marsh", due to the bogs which surrounded the city. Or it may derive from a Phenician etymology signifying the presence of seagulls on its rocky shores. Few cities of the ancient world had the importance Syracuse had in Magna Grecia, the ancient Greek settlements in Italy. The most spectacular monuments in the archeological area surrounded by colorful Mediterranean vegetation are the Greek amphitheatre and the Orecchio di Dionisio (Dionysius' Ear). Besides touring the Archeological Museum that contains beautiful objects, Ortigia Island, the heart of the old Greek city, is worth a visit. Outside the city limits is Eurialo Castle, an incredible structure built to protect the city from the Cathaginians, and Pantalica, the great rocky necropolis in Anapo Valley.
Ragusa Ragusa Ragusa is a city located in Sicily that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This Baroque city dates from 1693 and Ragusa (Superiore & Ibla) is a gem full of architectural delights.
Agrigento Agrigento Agrigento is a small town on the Southern coast of Sicily. The beach is wonderful and the small streets of the old town are quaint and charming. Just outside the city, you will find magnificent Greek temples located in the Valley of the Seven Temples.
Marsala
Palermo Palermo Palermo is a city and seaport in Italy on the northwestern coast of Sicily, on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the largest city and chief port of Sicily. Many of the oldest buildings in the city date from the period when Sicily was a Norman kingdom and show Arab, Byzantine, Norman, and Spanish influences. Outstanding examples are the cathedral (1169-1185), the Palatine Chapel (1140), and the church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti (1132).	Destination Guide

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