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Valley of Temples, Agrigento, Sicily

The Sicilian Baroque & Inspector Montalbano Tour

8-day tailor-made holiday from £3,195 pp incl. flights

Summary

Short description

Experience highlights of the Sicilian Baroque and an Inspector Montalbano tour, visiting Syracuse and Ragusa

In Brief

  • 3 Nights Syracuse
  • 4 Nights Ragusa

About

Recommended for:
History & culture

Start your tour of Sicily in Syracuse, a beautiful town with Baroque architecture crafted from honey-coloured sandstone that glows in the sun. Whilst there, get your fill of the area's incredible history, dating back to the Roman Empire. Explore some other Baroque highlights, including Noto, the Villa del Tellaro, and the town of Modica.

For the second part of the tour, you will be based in the fabulous Relais Antica Badia Hotel in Ragusa. Explore the actual setting of the detective series Inspector Montalbano, with the towns of Scicli and Ragusa Ibla used as Viagata. Visit the police station, town hall, the Inspector's home, and the staircase of the Duomo of San Giorgio that regularly features in the programme.

Day by day itinerary

Day 1
Syracuse

Arrive at Catania Airport in Sicily with British Airways. Meet your driver at the airport, and transfer to Syracuse to your centrally located hotel in Ortygia, a 1sq km island joined to the mainland via three bridges. Enjoy the town's charming baroque houses and delightful narrow streets: it's certainly one of the most pleasant places to stay in Syracuse. Spend the afternoon at your leisure.

Stay: Grand Hotel Ortigia, Syracuse

Day 2
Syracuse

Embark on a half-day guided tour of Syracuse's Archaeological Park and learn about some of the historic town's marvels. Visit the Latomia del Paradise and the Ear of Dionysius, the Greek Theatre and the Roman Amphitheatre, and of course Ortygia's treasure, the Duomo - a 480 BC Doric temple dedicated to Athena and the Fonte Aretusa.

Stay: Grand Hotel Ortigia, Syracuse

Meals: B

Day 3
Syracuse

Today you will have a half day guided tour of Noto and time to explore at your own pace, before your driver continues on to the Roman Villa del Tellaro, home to a small number of truly exquisite mosaics.

Before returning to Syracuse, you'll visit the Palazzuolo Agreide, founded in 663BC as Acrae, the town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and exudes Baroque style, with its buildings erected after the 1693 earthquake. 

Stay: Grand Hotel Ortigia, Syracuse

Meals: B

Day 4
Syracuse, Modica & Ragusa

Meet your driver to travel from Syracuse to Modica, one of the oldest towns in Sicily and a stunning example of the baroque that was also rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693. Modica is a centre for cheese, chocolate and almonds. Stop off at the chocolate factory of the Bonaiuto family to learn about the chocolate production process.

Stay: Relais Antica Badia, Ragusa

Meals: B

Day 5
Ragusa Ibla & Donnafugata

Take another guided tour, this time heading inland to the second town staging as Vigata, Ragusa Ibla. Many scenes from the television show have been filmed in Ragusa Ibla, including the staircase to the Duomo of San Giorgio and to Santa Maria della Scala Church.

Have lunch at the Trattoria San Calogero, actually the Restaurant La Rusticana, before continuing to the Castello di Donnafugata, the home of the local mafia boss Balduccio Sinagra.

Stay: Relais Antica Badia, Ragusa

Meals: B

Day 6
Scicli & Punta Seca

Take a guided tour of the town that Inspector Montalbano is set within - Scicli, known as Vigata in the television series. Visit Montalbano's office - the Scicli town hall, and the police station that's also Scicli's town hall. Continue to the Marinella of Vigata, and the home of the Inspector in Punta Seca.

Have an optional delicious lunch at the seaside restaurant Enzo a Mare - The Chalet in the show. On the way back, call at la Mannara, the tuna fishery used in the series.

Stay: Relais Antica Badia, Ragusa


Meals: B

Day 7
Ragusa

Have a relaxed day, and explore Ragusa at your own leisure. The heritage of the town can be traced to the 2nd century BC, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is split in two halves: the older town of Ragusa Ibla, and the upper town of Ragusa Superiore. Visit the beautiful cathedral of San Giovanni Battista in the Ragusa Superiore, and explore the narrow streets and stunning baroque architecture.

Stay: Relais Antica Badia, Ragusa

Meals: B

Day 8
Departure

Transfer to Catania airport for your British Airways flight to London.    

Meals: B

Map

Pricing

Any element of this itinerary can be adjusted to suit your needs. Just contact us to find out more.

Accommodation rating: Superior

8-day tailor-made holiday
from £3,195 pp incl. flights

Deluxe

April / May

from £3,195 pp. incl. flights

Jun / Jul / Aug / Sep

from £3,450 pp. incl. flights

Valid for travel:  April - October 

Includes:

  • Complimentary UK airport lounge access
  • Return flights between the UK and Catania
  • 7 nights accommodation in typically 4* or 5* hotels on a B&B basis (half-board on days 3 to 6)
  • Transfers to and from the airport
  • Local taxi service in Syracuse (day 2) 
  • Half day private guided tour of Syracuse (day 2)
  • Excursion to Baroque Style World Heritage Site the Palazzuolo Agreide in the town of Acrae (day 3)
  • 4 days private chauffeur day 3 to 6
  • Private driver guide to visit Noto & Villa del Tellaro
  • Private driver guide to visit Modica
  • Private driver guide to visit Ibla & Donnagugata
  • Private driver guide to visit Scicli & Punta Secca

Entrance fees are not included and payable locally

Half Board available at the grand Hotel Ortigia on request

Terms & Conditions

Prices are per person based on two people sharing a twin/double room; prices are subject to availability and possible change; normal booking conditions apply.

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At Wexas, we specialise in bespoke travel experiences. Our itineraries are just samples of what we can arrange, and can be changed depending on your precise needs, finances and ideas by our experienced destination specialists.

Contact one of our consultants on 020 7590 0796 to discuss how we can tailor your holiday.

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