Northern Sicily Splendours 2019

14 TH - 18 TH AUGUST NORTHERN SICILY SPLENDOURS

HOLIDAY PACKAGES STARTING FROM €289 5 DAY

VISITING: MONDELLO PALERMO, MONREALE, NATIONAL PARK MADONIE MOUNTAINS, GIBILMANNA, GRATTERI, CASTELBUONO, CEFALU, FORUM SHOPPING MALL

DAY 1 – MALTA – PALERMO - MONDELLO

DAY 3 – NATIONAL PARK MADONIE MOUNTAINS – GIBILMANNA – GRATTERI - CASTELBUONO Breakfast and the tour today will lead you to the National Park of the Madonie Mountains. First stop will be at Gibilmanna, which means ‘gibil’ a mountain of manna. The name Manna comes from a sweetish substance that is collected from local Mountain Ash trees in late summer. Here we visit the Sanctuary and the Baroque Chapel of the Virgin Mary. Later drive to Gratteri which is a typical laid back Sicilian village. It is surrounded by beautiful pine, oaks woods and sites such as Pizzo Dipilo. The city boasts areas of historical importance to Sicily. Although probably founded by the Romans, as a coin discovered at the area seems to confirm, the town design betrays clear Arab-Medieval features. Here we stop for a Sicilian typical lunch(not included). Proceed to Castelbuono, famous for the old Castel built by the Ventimiglia family, and the famous chapel of St Anna inside. St Anna is patron saint of Castelbuono (entrance fee to the Castel not included). Later walk in the picturesque streets and taste of some typical pastries and manna. After breakfast proceed for an orientational tour of Cefalu which is notable for beautiful sunsets, unpretentious charm, and a very appealing blend of ingredients for an Italian seaside holiday. Sandy beaches, a picturesque historic town on a rocky headland, some high culture in the shape of a fine Norman Cathedral, decent transport links, Sicilian food and sunshine all add up to make the town one of Italy’s most attractive seaside destinations. DAY 4 – CEFALU – FORUM SHOPPING MALL

Unlike the modern beach resorts and developed fishing villages which dot Italy’s coast, Cefalù has some grandeur in its past, it was important enough that one of Sicily’s Norman rulers, Roger II, would build a glorious cathedral here. While its later history was less distinguished, there are some substantial and elegant buildings in the town, as well as reminders of Sicily’s varied influences, not just Norman and Byzantine, but also Arab, Spanish and finally Italian. Drive to Forum Shopping Mall. A stunning state-of-the art architecture, iconic design and over 120 shops Forum- Palermo offers a truly unique shopping experience. Add 2400 parking spaces, kids play centre and there’s even a cinema to complete your perfect day out. Clothes, accessories, shoes, sports wear, underwear, electronic products, but also treatments such as nails, make-up, facials and solarium can be all found under one roof. Wherever you are in Forum Palermo, you are never too far from somewhere to sit, drink or eat. There is a good range of cafes ( sip your espresso at Segafredo or Lavazza),bars, pizzerias, fast food places( try Old Wild West) and restaurants ( Rossopomodoro and Rossosapore serve up authentic Neapolitan cuisine) giving you plenty of options when you are looking to drop your bags and take a load off.

Meet the tour manager at Malta International for your flight to Palermo. Drive to Mondello which is more than just a beach resort, it’s an education in Sicilian custom, rituals and adolescent bonding. The road which curves behind the beach makes a pleasant stroll. Up at the far end of the bay, the ‘centre’ of the town, a waterfront piazza rather blighted by advertising boards for eateries, is useful for eating and shopping. The most historic sight is the old stone watchtoawer which predates the beach resort. It’s worth wandering up as far as the harbour, though, where small fishing boats bob up and down and old men fish from the jetty. The symbol of Mondello is the striking Art Nouveau building on a pier in the middle of the bay, the Charleston. Dating back to the more elegant heyday of the resort, this has been restored and sits in yellow glory over the blue waters of the bay. Transfer to your 4* Mercure Palermo Centro hotel for check in. Breakfast and today we will start our tour by driving to Monreale where one can see the magnificent Norman Duomo with the imposing “Cristo Pantocratore”. This church is covered with mosaics with scenes from the Old Testament. Proceed to Palermo with a visit to the Palazzo dei Normanni (entrance fee not included). From here one can follow on foot Via Vittorio Emanuele towards Via Maqueda. Visit the Cathedral which dates back to 1184, I Quattro Canti, The chuch of St Joseph dei Teatini and Piazza Pretoria. Further down on Via Vittorio Emanuele one can stroll along ‘Via Roma’ which is famous for its shops, Teatro Massimo and the Politeama Garibaldi theatre. DAY 2 – MONREALE - PALERMO

NORTHERN SICILY SPLENDOURS 2019

DAY 5 – PALERMO – MALTA

Breakfast and some time at leisure. Transfer to Airport for your flight to Malta.

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