Athens, Peninsula and Sicily End Palermo (2024)

Ден 1

Welcome to your tour with Europamundo! We’ll transfer you to the hotel and you’ll have some free time. In the afternoon, you’ll find information about the start of your tour on the boards located at the hotel reception.

Ден 2

We´ll embark on a city tour of Athens with a local guide, visiting landmarks such as the Presidential Mansion, the Panathenaic Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games were held, the National Library, and the bustling squares of the city center. We´ll also explore the newer neighborhoods that developed after the 2004 Olympic Games. The tour will conclude at the Acropolis (admission not included). In the evening, we´ll provide a transfer to the historical neighborhood of Plaka, renowned for its charming Greek tavernas and opportunities to immerse yourself in the rich folklore of this country.

Ден 3

We’ll travel to the Peloponnese, making a brief stop at the Corinth Canal, an impressive engineering marvel from the late nineteenth century. Continuing through the mountains, we’ll reach Tripoli, the capital of the Arcadia region. Here, we’ll take a break to explore the bustling Aeros Square, known for its cafes and restaurants. Our journey will then take us to Olympia, where we’ll visit the Archaeological Site with a local guide (ticket included). The first Olympic Games were held here in 776 B.C., attracting athletes from all over Greece and its colonies. Highlights of the site include the Temple of Zeus, the Stadium, the Gymnasium, and the Arena. Next, we’ll proceed to Patras, the third largest city in Greece, with a remarkable medieval fortress and the largest cathedral in the country. Adjacent to the cathedral is the small church of St. Andrew, a significant place of pilgrimage. Dinner will be included.

Ден 4

After breakfast, we will cross over the Rio-Antirrio bridge, an impressive cable-stayed bridge which connects the Peloponnese with the Greek continent. We travel across the Central Greece regions and the Epyrus. IGOUMENITSA, arrival at this coastal city; free time for a walk before taking the modern ferry (expected departure time at 14:00h) on which we will cross the Ionian Sea towards Italy. Arrival at BRINDISI by the end of the day (arrival time expected at 21:00h). Lodging.

Ден 5

Today we will visit two spectacular and authentic towns. ALBEROBELLO, charming town famous for its unique conical-shaped houses known as "trulli". These unique structures, with their stacked stone roofs, are a World Heritage Site and are considered an outstanding example of Italian rural architecture. After that we continue to MATERA, located in the Basilicata region, known for its ancient historic center with its "Sassi di Matera", a complex of ancient houses and buildings carved into the rock that date back thousands of years. It is a World Heritage Site and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited human settlements in the world. Time for a walk and lunch. In the afternoon we continue through Basilicata and Campania, admiring their beautiful mountain landscapes. NAPLES, arrival in the evening. Free time afterwards.

Ден 6

We’ll have free time to explore Naples before boarding a boat for a trip to the Island of Capri, where you can choose to take a boat to Grotta Bianca or the funicular to Capri city. After lunch, we’ll reboard and head to Sorrento, a charming tourist town nestled at the base of a cliff, where you’ll have free time to wander. Our journey will then take us to the Gulf of Salerno, where we’ll stay in the city of Salerno.

Ден 7

We travel to the south of ¨the boot¨. Attractive southern Italian scenery as we cross the Cilento National Park. We arrive in PAOLA, on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea, we visit the sanctuary of St Francis of Paola and we have free time for lunch in its pretty historic centre. We go on our way to VILLA SAN GIOVANNI where we take a short ferry crossing to the island of SICILY. Arrival in MESSINA where we will have time for a stroll and to visit the cathedral before continuing to TAORMINA.NB: Accommodation in the “region of Taormina”, the accommodation may sometimes be in Messina.

Ден 8

At the foot of the Etna volcano, the beautiful city of TAORMINA was defined by Churchill as the most beautiful place on earth. Time to stroll through the old town full of life, its Greek theater dominating unforgettable landscapes. After that we continue our route towards the center of the island. CALTAGIRONE, a city declared a World Heritage Site for its great Baroque legacy. We include a ride on a tourist train to listen to the explanations of the city and learn about its main points. The city is the center of ceramics in Sicily, as witnessed by its numerous shops and workshops and some of its emblematic places, the best known, the staircase of 142 steps, each decorated with different tiles. After lunch time we continue to the VILLA ROMANA DEL CASALE (admission included), a World Heritage Site. Villas, in the Roman Empire, were the symbol of agrarian exploitation. El Casale not only it has the architectural configuration of the 4th century been preserved, but, due to their abundance and quality, the mosaics that adorn almost all the rooms are the most beautiful in the Roman world. Crossing the mountainous center of the island we continue to PALERMO, arriving at the end of the day.

Ден 9

Today with a local guide we will have a city tour of Palermo. We will admire the cathedral with its mix of styles and its royal tombs inside (admission included); the Norman Palace (the former royal palace), its fountains, its markets and gardens. During the visit we will also go to MONREALE, its cathedral (admission included) has been declared a World Heritage Site for its impressive golden mosaics that cover the interior. Free time in the afternoon.Note: Sometimes, if the number of travelers is very limited, the visit may not be private but rather carried out with a regular excursion provided by local companies.

Ден 10

After breakfast, our journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful lasting memories.