Art & Culture of Western Sicily & Palermo

Day 1 – Castellammare del Golfo

Scheduled flight to Palermo from your preferred airport – transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the centrally located 3* Al Madarig Hotel in Castellammare Del Golfo – dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 2 – Trapani, Erice & its Duomo

A walking tour of Trapani takes in Chiesa del Purgatorio with its impressive 18th century Misteri, twenty life sized wooden effigies depicting the story of Christ's Passion – poised on a crag overlooking the Mediterranean, the delightful medieval town of Erice boasts stunning views and we enjoy a guided tour at the 14th century Duomo, home to a ‘Madonna and Child’ attributed to either Francesco Laurana or Domenico Gagini.

Day 3 – Monreale & Palermo

Guided tour of the magnificent cathedral at Monreale, one of the great sites of Norman Sicily adorned with glittering Sicilian and Byzantine mosaics – a guided tour of Palermo, a beautiful city whose architecture ranges from Arabic to Norman in style, takes in sights such as the 12th century La Martorano, the awe inspiring Palatine Chapel and the Church of San Cataldo.

Day 4 – Boat trip to Mozia Island, the Museum of Mozia & Marsala tour & tasting

The boat trip to the island of Mozia affords views of the salt flats and windmills that characterise this part of the coastline – the archaeological site of Mozia was an important colony of the Phoenician city of Carthage, and its museum’s greatest treasure is its marble statue, ‘Giovinetto di Mozia’, also known as Charioteer – the port of Marsala is the home of the thick, strong, sweet wine that Admiral Nelson ordered vast quantities of following the Battle of the Nile in 1798, and we enjoy a tour and tasting at the Florio Wine Cellar.

Day 5 – Guided tour of Cefalù

Travel along the coast to the charming medieval seaside town for a guided tour of Cefalù and its splendid duomo, built in the 12th century during Sicily's Norman era and intended as the principal religious seat in Sicily – rest of the day is at leisure in Cefalù and on an individual basis you may choose to visit the Museo Mandralisca, home to a fine ‘Portrait of a Man’ by Antonello da Messina, and an interesting collection of coins, ceramics and vases.

Day 6 – Guided tour of Segesta

With a hilltop position on Mount Barbaro, a guided tour of Segesta also takes in its Doric temple dating from 5th century BC and one of the best preserved in the world – transfer to Palermo airport for our scheduled flight home.