The Treasure of Western Sicily

Day 1: Arrival in Palermo
On arrival in Palermo airport you'll be transferred to Palermo city centre (about 1h) where you'll be staying for the next 2 nights. This is Sicily's capital. It's almost 1 million inhabitants but feels like it's made of small villages. The cultural heritage is impressive, start visiting right over!! No matter how long you stay, you'll leave Palermo with the feeling you've missed something and will be wanting to come back. Overnight in Palermo

Day 2: Palermo, and Mount Pellegrino (3h walk; +300m -300m ; 6 km)
Entire day dedicated to this wonderful city. Start the day by a nice pilgrimage... You climb up on Mount Pellegrino following the path of the pilgrims who walk up to Santa Rosalia's sanctuary. The rest of the day, you go and explore the town. The churches, the theatres, the markets, the Normand Palace, the Cathedral... Don't forget to taste Palermo famous street food: "pane e panelle', a sandwich filled with gram flour fritters. Overnight in Palermo

Day 3: Monreale's Cathedral and cloister and Archeological Segesta
This morning, you'll leave Palermo, after picking up your rental car in the city centre. Your first Sicilian drive will take you quite close, to Monreale, to admire the Byzantine church of Monreale. The Pantocrator mosaics are spectacular. You'll then go towards Segesta and the famous Greek Temple that looks like it could still be used by for Greek ceremonies. A nice walk up will take you to the Roman Theatre. In the afternoon, you'll drive towards Castellammare and check in into your 'agriturismo' (farm house), for a tasty dinner and a good night sleep. Overnight close to Castellammare.

Day 4: Natural Reserve of Zingaro (5h trek, +500 mt - 530 mt, 11,50 km)
It's the first natural reserve created in Sicily, and when you get there, you'll understand why people have fought to preserve this area. From Scopello, the southern entrance to the Reserve, you'll hike through the wild countryside above the crystalline inlets calling out for you to go for a swim!! Relax on the small beaches or visit the small museum of the Reserve. In the afternoon, way back to your Agriturismo.

Day 5: Medieval Erice & Enogastronomic Marsala
Your tour of western Sicily takes you to the extreme point of Sicily. In the morning, you'll drive to Erice, the splendid city built on top of a small mountain, at 700 aslm. You'll then go to Marsala the westernmost point of the island. While you're in Marsala, famous for the wine, you should taste some Marsala! Wine tasting at Donna Fugata. After the tasting, you'll go on to Menfi, on the south-western part of Sicily. Overnight in a farmhouse near Menfi.

Day 6: Selinunte and the Cave di Cusa
This morning, you'll explore the quarry, where the stone used to build the town of Selinunte's sacred temple were excavated. While you wander through this small quarry, you can imagine the workers dropping their tools to flee away from the imminent danger of the invasion of Hannibal's Carthaginian army (409BC). Drive then to Selinunte, where you'll discover not only the Greek Temples, but the Acropolis, the ancient city with the narrow streets and the defensive walls. In the afternoon, drive back to Menfi. Overnight in Menfi.

Day 7: Agrigento and wine tasting
Another day, another Greek Temple. Today, you'll discover the very famous Valle dei Templi. The 7 temples, some of them almost intact, are all lined up on the top of a hill that looks above the Mediterranean Sea. You'll enjoy a guided tour of the archaeological area to learn about the Greek civilization in Sicily. After the visit, you'll drive towards Cefalù, and on your way stop at the Tenuta Tasca in the centre of Sicily, for a wine tasting with some local food. In the afternoon, you'll reach Cefalù for the final 2 nights.

Day 8: Cefalù and La Rocca (2h trek, + 100 – 100 mt, 5 km)
In the morning, nice hike up to the top of La Rocca, the hill Cefalù leans against. In the afternoon, enjoy a stroll about the city centre or a swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Day 9: Departure
You'll drive back to Palermo airport where you'll drop off the rental car. End of services