Today, we will have a full-day guided tour to Mount Etna, an active volcano situated in a large national park. At 10,902 feet, it is the highest point in Sicily. Etna is still an active volcano, but apart from ash, rarely causes problems.

(Wear sneakers and bring a light jacket)

At 9:30 a.m., your driver will pick you up at your hotel and drive to Mount Etna. During this up-close look at Her Majesty Mount Etna, your guide will show you the volcanic lunar landscape of the tallest active volcano in Europe. You will see the extinct craters and learn about the soil fertility she provides. 

On a walk up to the crater rims, your guide will explain Etna's history, geology, mythology and more.

Afterwards, we will visit Terra Costantino, an organic Etna winery for a tour, wine tasting and lunch.

At 3:30 p.m., we'll return to the hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast; lunch at Terra Costantino Winery

Guided tour: Mount Etna

Hotel: Romano House Hotel, Catania 

Today we'll visit Taormina, a spectacular hilltop town on the east coast of Sicily. Cliffs drop to the sea forming coves with sandy beaches, and a narrow stretch of sand connects to Isola Bella, a tiny island and nature reserve.

The historic center is given over to pedestrians who wander among the high-quality shops and cafes and with restaurants serving aromatic foods.

We will tour the famous Teatro Antico di Taormina, an ancient Greco-­Roman theater still used today. Built in the third century BC, the theater could hold 10,000 spectators. Today, the theatre is used as a venue for an annual arts festival.

We'll return to the hotel at 4 p.m.

Meals included: Breakfast

Guided tour: Taormina

Hotel: Romano House Hotel in Catania

After breakfast, we'll head out to Neapolis Archaeological Park in Syracuse. The Archaeological Park, along with the entire city, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. It is home to two of the most significant ancient archaeological sites from both Greek and Roman history, situated adjacent to one another in this park: the Greek Theatre and the Roman Amphitheater. They combine to make this one of the greatest archaeological sites in all of Italy.

The Greek Theatre is one of the most celebrated of all the ruins of Syracuse, which dates back to at least the 5th century BC. It is about 450 feet in diameter, making it the largest Greek theatre in Sicily. Its 59 rows of seating could hold as many as 15,000 spectators. This wonderfully preserved theater has remained in remarkable condition and appears today much as it did centuries ago. The theater was cut directly out of the limestone rock with the seats facing the sea providing a wonderful view, especially from the top tiers.

Nearby we'll see the ruins of the huge Roman Amphitheater, built in the 3rd century AD. It measures 459 feet by 390 feet and was used for gladiator fights.

Just outside of the Greek Theater is an area called the Latomia del Paradiso, or Paradise Quarry. This former limestone quarry is now a very green and peaceful tropical garden full of local and exotic plant species.  Walk the path through this beautiful area to a huge cave called the Ear of Dionysius. Legend has it that Dionysius, the ruler of ancient Syracuse would eavesdrop on the prisoners who were incarcerated here. The cave, which was carved out of the limestone hill, is shaped similar to a human ear and because of its shape, it has excellent acoustics, which allowed Dionysius the ability to eavesdrop. The cave measures 73 feet high and 213 feet deep. 

We’ll continue the tour on the island of Ortigia, the historical center of Syracuse. We’ll visit the Piazza Duomo, the main square of Syracuse, which features many beautiful Baroque buildings and ancient treasures.

We’ll finish with a delicious lunch at Fratelli Burgio, a Sicilian-style deli in the local market.

From here, we'll transfer to our home for the next three nights, Hotel Gutkowski.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Guided tour: Ortigia/Siracusa

Hotel: Hotel Gutkowski, Siracusa

Today we'll have a free day to explore Ortigia, the old town center of Syracuse. Enjoy the beautiful panoramas of the sea, shop in the local markets, or explore the picturesque streets of the old part of town and discover the traces left by all the different people who governed Sicily. 

Visit the market, walk along the Lungomare, enjoy all the artisans and shops in this charming town.

You might explore Cathedral Square with its magnificent bright limestone buildings: the town hall, Palazzo Beneventano, the bishop's palace, St. Lucy's Church, and the Cathedral - the only church still in use today which used to be a pagan temple.

You might explore the Jewish Quarter to Via Maestranza, the street where the nobility of the town had their pompous homes. On Archimedes Square, the neoclassical Fountain of Diana remembers once more the glorious past of Syracuse. 

Or visit the local fish and fruit markets where you can experience local life, colors, and scents of Sicily. 

Today - April 25 - happens to be the Italian holiday Festa della Liberazione, or Anniversary of Italy's Liberation. Public events, like marches and parades, are organized annually in all Italian cities - and you may see some here in Ortigia.

Meals included: Breakfast

Hotel: Hotel Gutkowski, Siracusa

After breakfast, we'll leave for a tour of Noto, renowned for its spectacular Sicilian Baroque architecture. It is packed with opulent churches and palaces, all made of the local, compacted, honey-colored limestone rock. Curvaceous concave façades battle for supremacy next to their convex cousins. Grotesque masks, cherubs, curlicues, and puffed-up, wrought-iron goose-breasted balconies abound.

The Baroque architecture was very much a planned effort by the church to re-assert itself after the Reformation. It was their chance to demonstrate power and importance, which they did with great flair and artistry. Sicily was for centuries a very tolerant place where the cultures of the Greeks, Arabs, Jews, and Byzantines were blended. The Spanish came and destroyed all of that basically in the quest for Catholic power and presence.

You'll have free time to explore the galleries and attractions in the town. You might want to stop at the famous Caffe Sicilia, which has been producing delectable sweets since 1892!

At 4 p.m., we'll return to our hotel. 

Meals included: Breakfast

Guided tour: Noto

Hotel: Hotel Gutkowski, Siracusa

After breakfast, we'll drive to Modica, the chocolate capital of Sicily. Modica is one of eight UNESCO Heritage towns in south-eastern Sicily whose architectural landscape changed forever following the devastating earthquake of 1693.

The medieval old town of Modica, once carved into rock, has been replaced by stunning baroque facades, extravagant churches and beautiful palaces. The old and new are connected by a maze of narrow streets and staircases.

Modica is the center of Sicilian chocolate production. We will delight in a visit to the famous chocolate producer, Antica Dolceria Bonajuto, which has been making its chocolate here since 1880. Hardly anything has changed since the old cold-processing method of cocoa used by the Mesoamericans. The tour will end with a chocolate tasting session.

Following our chocolate extravaganza, we'll head to Pozzallo, a charming seaside town, and take the ferry to Malta. 

Meals included: Breakfast, chocolate tasting

Hotel: Victoria, Silema, Malta

At 8.30, we'll depart from our hotel and drive through the eastern coast of Malta to port of Cirkewwa and take the 20-minute ferry crossing to the Island of Gozo. 

Gozo is well known for its crafts, particularly hand-made lace and knitted garments. Visitors are impressed by the island’s lush countryside, its serene atmosphere and how different it is from the larger island of Malta. 

Our guide will lead you around the Megalithic Temples of Ggantija, the oldest free-standing monuments in the world, pre-dating the Pyramids of Egypt!!

We'll stop for a delicious light lunch during our visit of the Gozo. 

We proceed to Victoria, capital city of the island, and visit the Medieval Citadel and Cathedral. 

We'll return to our hotel around 6 p.m.

Meals included:  Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel: Victoria, Silema, Malta

At 9 a.m. we'll depart with our guide for a full-day tour visiting the former capital city of Mdina and the present capital city of Valletta. We enter Mdina by the Main Gate and walk through the narrow streets adorned by palaces of the noble families of Malta. 

On reaching the main square, we visit the main Cathedral of Malta, dedicated to St. Paul, patron Saint of the Maltese islands. 

From there we'll proceed to the city walls which surround the town and enjoy a view of the whole island of Malta. We leave Mdina through the Greek Gate.

After lunch, we proceed to Ta’Qali – Crafts Village and a short stop to visit the glass blowing factory of Mdina Glass.

Our next stop will be in Mosta to visit the basilica known as “the Rotunda” for its round dome, the fifth largest in Europe. 

Our last visit will be to the Botanical Garden of San Anton. The garden is a botanical delight with mature trees, old stone urns, fountains, ponds and formal flower beds. The garden is formal with rustic touches and holds a wide variety of plants and flowers, such as Jacaranda trees, Norfolk Pines, Bougainvillea and roses.

We'll return to our hotel at 5 p.m.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel: Victoria, Silema, Malta

Today, you will have the full day at leisure in Malta. Relax on the beach and take a refreshing swim, go for a hike, do some last-minute shopping, enjoy some people watching from a sidewalk cafe, or visit some of the locations where scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed!

Tonight we'll enjoy a delicious farewell dinner, talking about our fabulous adventures and saying goodbye to our new friends.

Meals included: Breakfast, farewell dinner 

Hotel: Victoria, Silema, Malta

Today, we will bring you to the airport and say goodbye to charming, spectacular Sicily and Malta.