The Eolian Islands at the court of Aeolus
> Arrival in Palermo
1st DAY – FRIDAY
Arrival at Palermo Airport. Welcome from our guide/companion who will be available to visitors for the entire duration of the circuit. Transfer by private coach to the hotel. Lunch and/or dinner (depending on flight times). Overnight stay.
> Palermo
2nd DAY – SATURDAY
Guided tour of the city: in particular, we will visit Piazza Pretoria, home to the Town Hall and the famous fountain with allegorical statues that Francesco Camilliani scultped in the 16th century. The church of Martorana and San Cataldo (external visits). Visit to the Church of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria and its cloister, splendid examples of Ba-roque art, where the cloistered nuns of the noble Sicilian families lived inside the ancient monastery, founded in the 12th century, at the end of the visit a small tasting will be served. We will then visit San Giovanni degli Eremiti (external visit) and the Arab-Nor-man style Cathedral (external visit). We will continue towards the imposing Palazzo dei Normanni in perfect Arab-Norman style, seat of the Sicilian Assembly, where we will visit the marvellous Palatine Chapel with its Byzantine style mosaics. We will conclude
our visit with a panoramic tour of the modern city. Return to the hotel and lunch. In the afternoon, optional visit (for an additional supplement) to the marvelous Cathedral of Monreale in Arab-Norman style, decorated with mosaics, where you can admire the majestic Christ Pantocrator and visit the Benedictine cloister. Return to Palermo for an external visit of the Teatro Massimo and the Teatro Politeama Garibaldi. Free time for shopping. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
> Palermo – Milazzo – Lipari
3rd DAY – SUNDAY
After breakfast, departure for Milazzo. Boarding the boat and departure for Lipari. Arri-val on the island, visit of the Archaeological Museum which preserves many objects from Lipari and the entire archipelago. Lunch. In the afternoon, departure by coach for a panoramic tour of the island. Free time for a walk through the typical narrow streets and for shopping. Dinner and overnight stay.
> Vulcano
4th DAY – MONDAY
After breakfast, departure for Vulcano. Arrival on the island and free time to bathe in the sulphurous thermal waters or immerse yourself in the thermal mud or lie on the black sand of this wonderful island. Return to the hotel for lunch followed by an afternoon boat trip to discover the beauty of the island and admire the famous Faraglioni. Return to the hotel in Lipari, dinner and overnight stay.
> Lipari – Stromboli
5th DAY – TUESDAY
Breakfast and departure by ferry to Stromboli. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Lunch. In the afternoon, a pleasant walk in the town centre, characterized by white houses and low walls. In the late afternoon, boat trip to the Sciara del Fuoco to admire the volcanic eruptions. Return to hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
> Stromboli – Milazzo
6th DAY – WEDNESDAY
Breakfast and free time to sunbathe on the black beach of volcanic origin with time to dive into the splendid crystal-clear waters and take a swim. Lunch. In the afternoon departure by ferry for Milazzo. Arrival, disembarkation and continuation to the Catania area. Hotel check-in, dinner and overnight stay.
> Catania Area – Etna – Taormina – Palermo
7th DAY – THURSDAY
After breakfast, departure for Etna. Visit to the extinct craters of the Silvestri Moun-tains where traces of recent lava flows are still visible. Lunch at a restaurant. In the afternoon we will continue to Taormina, the most famous tourist destination on the is-land, home to a magnificent Greco-Roman theatre which hosts numerous artistic
events throughout the year. Visit of the theatre and free time to stroll through the streets of the centre and go shopping. Transfer by bus to Palermo. Arrival and hotel check-in. Dinner and overnight stay.
> Departure from Palermo
8th DAY – FRIDAY
Breakfast and/or lunch (based on flight times). Transfer to Palermo Airport. Boarding of one of our special flights and departure.
N.B. The programme could be subject to some variations based on weather conditions. The circuit could be organized in a different order but the programme and destinations would remain unchanged.
