Discover Sicily with Gateways International Tailor-made Tours
Price: $3,999 CAD
(Per Person in Double Occupancy)
Departure: May 7, 2023
Return: May 24, 2023

Photo: Views from Barone di Villagrande Winery, Mount Etna, Sicily
Sicily is perfectly placed in the heart of the Mediterranean and is the largest of the Italian islands. Relax and enjoy the unique history on this 8-day discovery tour. Taormina is a great location to tour the towns of Savoca and Forza d’Agro and to get as close as you can to the active volcano, Mount Etna. Lunch at Enjoy the charm and history of this beautiful island, where HBO’s The White Lotus Season 2 was filmed.
- Tour sites where The Godfather was filmed, the towns of Savoca & Forza d’Agro
- Hike the edge of the crater of active Mount Etna
- Lunch with wine tasting at the centuries-old volcanic wines of Barone di Villagrande winery
Package Includes:
- Total 7 nights' accommodation at THE 5-Star NH Collection Taormina, Superior Room
- All entrance fees and tours as per itinerary
- Breakfast daily, lunch as indicated
- Hotel taxes and service charges
Itinerary:
Day 1: CATANIA
Welcome to Sicily! Upon arrival, meet your driver who will transfer you to your hotel, the NH Collection located in Taormina. Check into your room, relax. NH Collection Taormina (5 Stars) - Superior room
Day 2: TAORMINA
Take today to adjust to your new time zone. Enjoy the amenities at your hotel or explore Corso Umberto, the main street in Taormina on your own. NH Collection Taormina (5 Stars) - Superior room
Day 3: SAVOCA, FORZA D’AGRO
Today you will enjoy a private half-day tour discovering two towns where Francis Ford Coppola filmed the Oscar winning movie, The Godfather. Visit Bar Vitelli where Michael Corelone’s character sees Apollonia for the first time; tour Santa Lucia (St Nicolo) church where they were married and enjoy stunning views of this island’s unique landscape. Discover vestiges of the past such as the dilapidated remains of a medieval synagogue and one of the city’s gates in Savoca and visit the Capuchin crypt. In Forza d’Agro, get your camera ready for stunning views of the valley and Sicilian Gothic character of the town. Following your tour, return to Taormina NH Collection Taormina (5 Stars) - Superior room
Day 4: TAORMINA
Take today to relax at your hotel. Perhaps take a dip in the hotel’s infinity pool with some of the best views in Taormina, or enjoy spa services, not included. NH Collection Taormina (5 Stars) - Superior room.
Photo: Town of Savoca, The Godfather
Day 5: MOUNT ETNA & BARONE DI VILLAGRANDE ESTATE
Mount Etna is the tallest active volcano in Southern Europe. According to Greek mythology, in its depths Hephaestus and his Cyclops forged Zeus’ thunderbolt. Enjoy dramatic views while your guide shares facts about the landscape which has been shaped by this imposing mountain, and nature thrives on the fertile volcanic soil. Being an active volcano, the main craters cannot be reached, but you will take an easy hike on the edge of an extinguished side crater or on a solidified lava flow, before heading for the Barone di Villagrande Estate, where the Nicolosi family has been training native vines since the 17th-century. After a visit of their vineyards and winery, a light lunch accompanied by wine tasting will convey to your palate all the flavors of a land that has been scarred by Mount Etna volcanic activity but also blessed by the fertility of its lava.
NH Collection Taormina (5 Stars) - Superior room
Day 6: TAORMINA
Take today at leisure. Perhaps explore the ancient Greek theatre, hike or take a cable car up lovely Isola Bella to tour the only house and gardens on this tiny island.
Day 7: TAORMINA
Enjoy your last full day in Sicily. Relax at your hotel, or opt to take an optional cooking class, not included.
NH Collection Taormina (5 Stars) - Superior room

Photo: Pool at NH Collection Taormina, 5-Star Hotel
Day 8: TAORMINA
After breakfast, check out of your hotel. Your private driver will take you back to Catania airport to board your home-bound flight.