Arrive in Palermo on suggested flights and make your way to the hotel. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including travel insurance (a condition of travel), a private hotel transfer, and accommodation before or after the tour.

At 18:00, join your tour leader Lorraine Kypiotis and fellow travellers for a welcome briefing at the hotel, followed by dinner.

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Begin the day with a walking tour of Palermo, including the cathedral and the Baroque church of Il Gesù. Continue to the Regional Gallery of Sicily, located in the 15th-century Palazzo Abatellis, which houses a collection of mediaeval paintings, maiolica and frescoes gathered from monasteries suppressed in the mid-19th century, including the exquisite Virgin Annunciate by Antonello da Messina.

After lunch, enjoy a private visit to the magnificent 18th-century Palazzo Valguarnera-Gangi (to be confirmed). It was in the ballroom of the palazzo that Luchino Visconti filmed Burt Lancaster and Claudia Cardinale’s waltz scene in the 1963 film The Leopard, the adaptation of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s pivotal Sicilian novel, Il Gattopardo.

The remainder of the day is at leisure.

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After a talk by Lorraine, explore the Palazzo dei Normanni, seat of the Norman Kings of Sicily in the 11th and 12th centuries, and the oldest royal residence in Europe. The focus of the palace is the Palatine Chapel, a mosaic-studded jewel commissioned by Sicily’s first Norman King, Roger II, in 1130. The glittering mosaics recount tales from the Old and New Testaments and stand out amongst the greatest works of Byzantine art.

Then, travel to the nearby town of Monreale for lunch and a visit to its magnificent cathedral, built by William II in an effort to outdo his grandfather Roger II and considered the finest example of Norman architecture in Sicily. Incorporating Norman, Arab, Byzantine and Classical elements, its interior is almost entirely covered with brilliant mosaics.

Return to Palermo in the late-afternoon and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

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In the morning, travel to the archaeological site of Segesta, one of the major cities of the ancient Elymian people who, along with the Sicanians and the Sicels, constitute the indigenous inhabitants of Sicily. The Elymians eventually came under the cultural influence of the Greeks, as is evident in the impressive ruins of the Greek-style theatre and temple at Segesta.

After some free time for lunch, continue to Marsala, arriving in the mid-afternoon.

(BD)

This morning, visit the Giuseppe Whitaker Museum on tiny San Pantaleo Island. Here, amongst a magnificent collection of Phoenician artefacts, is the jewel in the museum’s crown – the Motya Charioteer, a marble statue from the Classical Greek period which was probably toppled from its original position during the siege of Motya by King Dionysius of Syracuse in 397 BCE.

After lunch in Mazara del Vallo, visit the Museum of the Dancing Satyr, housing a bronze statue dating from the 3rd century BCE and exhibiting an artistic refinement recalling the works of Praxiteles from the previous century. The statue was recovered from the depths of the sea by a fishing boat in 1998 and hailed as the finest discovery of Hellenistic art in decades.

Return to the hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure.

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Today, travel to Agrigento and explore the UNESCO-listed Valley of the Temples, whose expansive archaeological park is the largest in the world. Wander amongst seven Doric temples including the well-preserved Temple of Concord.

Check-in to the hotel in Agrigento in the mid-afternoon. The remainder of the day is free until dinner.

(BD)

This morning, depart Agrigento for the Villa Romana del Casale at Piazza Armerina, decorated with a stunning series of floor mosaics depicting hunts, chariot races and female athletes. The villa, dating to about 320 BCE was, in its time, one of the most luxurious of its kind whose owner made his fortune in the capture of animals for the Colosseum in Rome. This is epitomised in the mosaic of the Great Hunt. These mosaics are the finest in situ anywhere in the Roman world.

In the afternoon, travel onwards to Syracuse on the east coast. Considered to be the most beautiful city of the ancient world and home to the Ancient Greek mathematician and engineer Archimedes, Syracuse dominated Sicily from the 5th to the 3rd centuries BCE. It rivalled even Athens in prestige and power. Indeed, in 415-13 BCE, Athens invaded Sicily and attempted to conquer Sicily with disastrous consequences. Today, Syracuse is a vibrant city – a blend of ancient ruins, Baroque architecture and stunning vistas.

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After a talk by Lorraine, embark on a walking tour of Ortigia, the island which forms the historic centre of Syracuse. Visit the Fountain of Arethusa, the main square and the cathedral – a magnificent example of High Sicilian Baroque. In the nearby church of Santa Lucia alla Badia, see Caravaggio’s altarpiece, The Burial of Saint Lucy, which he painted during his refuge in Sicily after escaping from prison in Malta.

The afternoon at leisure to further explore Ortigia at your own pace. Then, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

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In the morning, enjoy an excursion to Noto, the Baroque gem of Sicily. Enter the city through the Arco di Trionfo and stroll along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, admiring landmarks such as the Cathedral of San Nicolò and Palazzo Ducezio.

After lunch at a local winery savouring Nero d’Avola wines, return to Syracuse. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

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Today, travel along the east coast to Taormina, an ancient city set between the towering Mount Etna and the azure waters of the Ionian Sea. Upon arrival, wander through its picturesque streets and visit the Ancient Theatre. Often referred to as the ‘Greek Theatre’, the foundations date from the Hellenic era, but the brick construction of the edifice itself indicates that the building in its present form dates from the Roman period.

Enjoy an evening at leisure.

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After a talk by Lorraine, drive along the coast to Messina and visit the Norman cathedral, home to stunning Norman-Arab architectural influences, beautiful mosaics and the iconic bell tower featuring an impressive astronomical clock that showcases scenes from Messina’s history and mythology.

Following lunch, visit the Regional Museum of Messina, housing two of Caravaggio’s stunning works – The Nativity and The Raising of Lazarus – painted by the artist in the last years of his life while fleeing the Knights of Malta.

Return to Taormina and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

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The full day is at leisure to further explore Taormina at your own pace. One option is to join an excursion by coach, funicular and four-wheel drive up to the summit of Mount Etna, experiencing the raw power of the mountain under which the Ancient Greeks believed that Hephaestus, god of the forge, tended his fires (not included in tour price; extra cost applies).

Tonight, enjoy a special farewell dinner with Lorraine and fellow travellers.

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Tour arrangements conclude with an included morning group transfer to Catania Airport for flights departing from 13:00. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including any additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour and travel insurance (a condition of travel).

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