DAY 1

Arrival at Palermo airport, where you will be welcomed by a Sicilissimo Incoming representative.Bus transfer to a hotel in the Palermo area for dinner and an overnight stay.

DAY 2

PALERMO - MONREALE

After breakfast at the hotel, the day will be dedicated to exploring Palermo accompanied by a local guide.General tour of the Sicilian capital, starting in the historic centre to admire the "Quattro Canti", the intersection of two roads that divide the city into 4 districts, passing in front of Piazza Pretoria.Visit to "La Martorana", a Greek-Orthodox church: a magnificent Norman building built by Admiral George of Antioch in 1143. The interior, which is decorated in a mix of Byzantine and Baroque styles, contains beautiful mosaics.Visit to the "Metropolitan Cathedral", dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.This impressive building was constructed on the site of an ancient basilica which had already been converted into a mosque by the Arabs. The building reflects the different architectural styles present in Sicily from the 12th to the 19th century.The relics of Saint Rosalia, the patron saint and protector of the city, lie in a chapel inside the church.The tour continues with a visit to the "Capella Palatina". Dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul, it is one of the oldest churches as well as one of the finest treasures from the Arab-Norman period, located within the "Palazzo dei Normanni", home to the Sicilian Regional Assembly.You can admire this architectural style thanks to an amazing restoration which has taken a long time to complete.Afterwards is a walk through "Il Capo", also called "La Vucciria", a colourful market reminiscent of the city's old Arabic souks; visit to see the outside of Teatro Massimo.Lunch at a restaurant along the way.Transfer to Monreale, situated on the slopes above Palermo.Visit to the Cathedral of William II of Sicily, the walls of which are completely covered with beautiful Byzantine-style mosaics depicting scenes from the Bible and the Gospel.Departure to the Milazzo area. Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Milazzo or Capo d'Orlando.

DAY 3

AEOLIAN ISLANDS, STROMBOLI

Departure to the port of Milazzo and travel by boat to Stromboli.Transfer of luggage to hotel on foot, settle in and have lunch.In Stromboli there are small fishing villages such as Ginostra, which has about 45 inhabitants, and Scari, the island's port.The island of Strombolicchio is situated nearby her big sister.Stromboli is northernmost island of the Aeolian archipelago, and its 924-metre tall volcano is the most active in Europe.On average, there is an eruption every hour with falling lapilli, ash, small lava "bombs", and cooled magma stones, which is why you must wear a helmet when walking on the slopes of the volcano.Visit in the afternoon accompanied by someone from the small village.Free time to go swimming at the black sandy beach or (ALTERNATIVELY) to go on a 50-minute island tour on boat, discovering the side of the volcano called the Sciara del Fuoco (fire slope) where most of the lava flows during an eruption...

Departure at around 4:30/5:00pm with a volcanology expert guide: the hike lasts for 5 or 6 hours with a break every 40 minutes and an hour stop at the craters.Please note!This trip is only suitable for people in good health, who are used to hiking and mountain climbing.Equipment Required: very comfortable hiking shoes, wind jacket, warm clothing, spare t-shirt, protective helmet (provided by the guide for the duration of the hike).Participants will also have to provide: torches, water, snacks or sweets.The hotel will prepare a packed meal to eat for dinner on the trip.Those who do not want to participate in the hike will dine at the hotel.

DAY 4

STROMBOLI - LIPARI - VULCANO (TRIP)

Breakfast at the hotel.Departure by boat from the port of Stromboli to Lipari which, according to the Odyssey, was the residence of the God of the Wind:Aeolus.With 11,000 inhabitants, Lipari is the largest and most populated island in the Aeolian archipelago, and is therefore considered the capital...Settling into the hotel and lunch.Departure by boat from the port of Lipari to Vulcano.

Arrival at the island's small harbour (Porto di Levante) and start of the two and a half hour walk to Vulcano island's crater, which is located at an altitude of about 400 metres. Here you will be able to admire the fumaroles and enjoy a fantastic view of the Aeolian islands...Return to the hotel in Lipari, dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 5

LIPARI - SALINA (TRIP)

Breakfast at the hotel.Departure by boat from the port of Lipari for the island of Salina.Salina is the second largest island in the Aeolian archipelago, after Lipari.Its most interesting landmarks are Monte Fossa delle Felci (about 960 metres high) and Monte dei Porri (about 860 metres high).Walk to the "Fossa delle felci" nature reserve, starting from Santa Maria: the mountain of the same name has the highest peak of the entire archipelago.The journey takes about 5 hours.Packed lunch during hike.Return to Lipari in the afternoon (depending on boat timetable), dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 6

LIPARI - TAORMINA

Breakfast at the hotel.Departure by boat from the port of Lipari to Milazzo.Journey continue by bus to Taormina.Lunch at a restaurant along the way.Visit of Taormina, an ancient Greek city, which has now become a beautiful, sophisticated, cosmopolitan resort, built on the slopes of Mount Tauro.Above the "grand bleu", the city is dominated by the snow-capped summit of Mount Etna.Free time to explore Greek-Roman theatre, where tragedies were staged and gladiators fought; from its topmost steps you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Mount Etna and along the coast to Calabria.Settle in to the hotel in the Catania area.Dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 7

ETNA, NORTH SLOPE:SARTORIUS MOUNTAINS / PIANO PROVENZANA (TRIP)

Breakfast at the hotel.Today's destination is Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe...Departure by bus to the northern slope, the wilder, less touristy side.2 and a half hour walk to the Satorius Mountains (craters formed in 1865), walking through the woods...Packed lunch during hike.Journey continues by bus and walking to Piano Provenzana, a resort inundated by lava flows during the eruptions in 2002-2003.Departure by bus towards Palermo,settle into the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 8

DEPARTURE

Breakfast at the hotel.Transfer to Palermo Airport.End of our tour.