Experience the legendary Pistachio of Bronte and visit Randazzo, at the heart of Mount Etna. Explore volcanic landscapes, meet local producers, and taste premium pistachio products crafted using centuries-old traditions.
Today you can experience firsthand the production process, where the Bronte DOP green pistachio comes to life, visiting a family-run Pistachio farm. During the visit, you can stroll through the pistachio groves at the foot of Mount Etna, learn about the harvesting and artisanal processing methods. We continue the day, enjoying a delicious pistachio-based lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we move to Randazzo, a city on the northern slopes of Etna with medieval origin where, over time and in history, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Jews, Arabs, Normans, and Aragonese have left traces of great documentary and artistic value. You can't miss visiting the town's historic churches. These represent the ancient neighborhoods of the city, inhabited by Greeks, Latins, and Lombards. The Church of Santa Maria (Latin Quarter), the Church of San Martino (Lombard Quarter) and the Church of San Nicolò (Greek Quarter).]]>(Full day)
Driving on the south west coast of Sicily, not far from Mazara del Vallo, we will reach one of the largest and most impressive archaeological sites in the Mediterranean. Selinunte was one of the most important of the Greek colonies in Sicily. It was founded, by a colony from the Sicilian city of Megara around 650 BCE. As early as 580 BCE the Selinuntines were engaged in hostilities with the people of Segesta (a non-Hellenic city), whose territory bordered on their own. The city was utterly destroyed by the Carthaginians in 409BC and again in around 250BCE. It was never rebuild. After the visit of Selinunte we may have lunch in a restaurant by the beach area of Marinella di Selinunte. After lunch we will tour the historic saltpan works where the ancient tradition of harvesting salt from the sea is still practiced. On board on the ferry-boat to reach Mothia Island, founded at the end of VII century B.C. on the island of San Pantaleo, situated at the centre of a large lagoon, known today as 'Stagnone', or big pond. Time at leisure to visit the Withaker Museum and the archaeological site. Than we return to the main land for the drive back.]]>(Full day)
Our destination today is the southern part of the Island in surch of the undiscovered part of Sicily where the inspector was created about 15 years ago by the Sicilian author Andrea Camilleri. Montalbano soon became very popular both as a TV series andas a novel. Nearly all the episodes have been filmed in so-called Baroque Sicily (Ragusa Ibla, Modica, Scicli, Ispica…) Modica’s Duomo di San Giorgio is an important symbol of Montalbano and a recurrent setting in the television series. It is the second church of ‘Vigata’, the first being the Duomo di San Giorgio of Ragusa Ibla. Modica’s Duomo of San Giorgio, with its imponent steps and the adjacent palace, have really become iconic of Montalbano’s ‘Vigata’. We will go in search of Palazzo Municipio, the Scicli Municipal Town Hall which was the set location for the Police Commissioner’s office and the Vigata police station. The City of Scicli is about 25 km from Ragusa. It is located in the coastal hills of Modica and is part of the Val di Noto geographical region of the Province of Ragusa, it is a World Heritage site and there are many baroque churches, palaces and historical buildings to explore. We will take you to ‘Marinella‘ and Montalbano’s house by the sea. ‘Marinella‘ is really Punta Secca, a small fishing village in the Santa Croce Camerina comune. The village has a lighthouse, a small port and an old watchtower (Torre Scalambri). The Punta Secca Lighthouse is the famous landmark. Ragusa In more recent episodes, Piazza Pola in Ragusa Ibla, off the main street, becomes the site of the Inspector's police station. Look out in TV episodes for the nearby Circolo di Conversazione, an elegant one-storey building. Ragusa is a picturesque town on two hilltops, surrounded by deep valleys, and it is featured heavily in Inspector Montalbano. The cathedral square Piazza Duomo, a long sloping piazza with a flight of steps leading up to the cathedral, can be glimpsed frequently. Individual buildings and lanes close by are often used as the setting for Montalbano's investigations and house calls, and viewers will also notice and admire the famous view over Ragusa Ibla, the old town on its hilltop, with flights of steps and a road in the foreground.In Gli Arancini di Montalbano / Montalbano's Croquettes the detective calls in at a cafe in Piazza Duomo to see his housekeeper's delinquent son. The public park in Ragusa Ibla, the Giardino Ibleo, stands in for a hospital garden in another episode. The restaurant San Calogero which Montalbano visits often - and where he introduces colleague Mimi to future wife Beba in Gita a Tindari / Excursion to Tindari - is really La Rusticana in Ragusa Ibla, where the cast of the TV series have signed the walls. Donnafugata castle. In the pursuit of his enquiries a disapproving Montalbano sometimes has to call upon aged Mafia boss Balduccio Sinagra in his sumptuous residence. In fictional Vigata the Sinagra family are the local Mafia clan. In reality the Castello di Donnafugata belongs to Ragusa town council, and is open to the public (and well worth visiting). The grounds also serve as the location for a horse race and a seduction in La Pista di Sabbia, and Montalbano finds a couple of corpses in the maze in Gita a Tindari / Excursion to Tindari.]]>(Full day)
Driving to western part of Sicily from Palermo, our first stop will be at the magnificent Temple of Segesta. It was built by the Elimian, an old population whose origins maybe are Turkish but were later colonised by the Greeks to become one of the most important Greek colonies in the west side of Sicily. It is the first Greek Temple built in Doric style. The Temple has 36 columns, still intact despite the several earthquakes which effected this area in the history. We also visit the theatre, which is a typical example of the Greek semi circular theater style. We then move on to the medieval town of Erice, situated 880 metres above the sea level and surrounded by ancient Elimi and Phoenician walls on the northeastern side of the city. Two castles make for a spectacular skyline to this town, Pepoli Castle, with foundations dating from Saracen times, and Venus Castle, dating from the Norman era but built on ruins of the ancient Temple of Venus. Surrounded by a lush park, the hilltop castles alone are worth a stop in Erice, which offers charming old stone streets and medieval churches. Pepoli Castle was at first a feudal stronghold, though Erice was eventually ceded to the Crown as a demesnial city. The view from the castle towers is stupendous. Though both castles have been modified somewhat over the centuries, they still have that distinctively medieval character one expects of such fortresses.mInteresting is to visit the Cathedral built in the 1300 in Gothic Catalan style with mirable decorations where we can see the picture of the famous black Virgin venerated in the area. We will stroll the village and taste the famous marzipan cakes made with almonds in different flavors (pistachio, pinots, orange, lemon and so on..) by the famous pastries shop "Grammatico".]]>(Full day)
Our destination today is the southern part of the Island - enjoy the visit of the real Sicilian Baroque among the wonderful unspoiled charming villages of Noto, Modica and Ragusa Ibla. Our ninety minute leisurely drive will take us down the eastern coastline of Sicily passing the "Piana of Catania", the coast line of the Ionic sea and Iblei mountains, arriving in Noto. The beautiful antique town was built in 1703 is entered by the Porta Reale and from there we follow Corso Vittorio Emanuele along which we can admire numerous 18th century beautiful palaces of incredible architectural value. The streets all leading to Corso Vittorio Emanuele have also many beautiful buildings including the Duomo, the Museo Civico the Convento dei Francescani...the list goes on and on. We then continue our drive to the charming Ragusa and visit the old part, "Ragusa Ibla", situated in the upper part of this magnificent town. We finish with a visit of the antique village of Modica, famous also for its special unique chocolate in different taste. A chocolate taste is a must!]]>(Full day)
Taking the ferry to Villa San Giovanni we will cross the sea between Sicily and the mainland, the “Continente” as sicilians say. We will drive to the Archaeological Museum to see the Riace Bronzes: these are the greatest bronzes from the Greek world ever discovered and among the world’s most beautiful sculptures. They were discovered by a diver in 1971 off the coast of Riace and are known as ‘Statue A’ and ‘Statue B’. The museum also has a number of other interesting artefacts (entrance fee Euro 5,00 per person). Reggio Calabria is also known to have one of the most amazing walkway along the sea, overlooking the Messina strait and Etna volcano, not to be missed. You can agree with your driver to enjoy your lunch in Reggio Calabria or in Scilla, (pronounced sheella) a stunningly-located fishing village in the Calabria region. The village is squeezed into this restricted and picturesque landscape and it is an unforgettable sight. Scilla is straight out of myths; it is traditionally the home of the fearsome monster Scylla who, along with Charybdis (over the sea towards Sicily) guarded the narrow Strait of Messina and menaced Odysseus / Ulysses as he sailed by (Tour duration approx. 8 hours).]]>(Full day)
Sometimes called the Aeolian Islands (as the domain of Aeolus, god of the winds), the Lipari Islands are a volcanic archipelago visible from Sicily's eastern Tyrrhenian coast, easily accessible by ferry or hydrofoil from Milazzo and also Messina. The most important islands are Lipari, Salina, Filicudi, Alicudi, Stromboli, Panarea and Vulcano. Here you'll find beautiful scenery, volcanoes, castles, thermal resorts, water sports, good fishing and, of course, some great beaches. Lipari is the largest island and in Summer, the most crowded. Dominated by Mount Chirica, Lipari has an area of almost 37 square kilometers. It's almost 10 kilometers in length and about 5 kilometers wide. Lipari's natural ground water sources haven't been fully been utilized; freshwater arrives by ship from Sicily, which is about an hour away depending on which transport service you use... Vulcano is located very close to Lipari, separated by a wide strait. The highest points of the island are Mount Aria (501 meters) and Mount Saraceno, almost as high. The last major eruption of Vulcano (386 meters) was in 1890. Vulcano's thermal bath resort, operated by Geoterme Vulcano (090-985 3012), is open year round. Salina named for its salt mines, is the second-largest of the islands, and also the greenest, with extensive viticulture. Its twin peaks give Salina a strange appearance. Stromboli which with Vulcano is probably the most famous of these islands, is closer to the Calabrian coast than it is to Sicily. Its Greek monuments are not spectacular. Far from the other islands, dominated by a single large volcano, Stromboli itself is impressive from a distance. We are pleased to pick you up from your hotel and drive to Milazzo port, where under our help and suggestion you will take an hydrofoil to one of the Islands: Vulcano, Lipari, Salina or/and so on... You do not need any guide at the Island, since you will enjoy a day through special local foods, nice beaches, shops and cultures. We will wait your return at the most convenient time you wish to come back from the Islands to bring you back to your hotel.]]>(Full day)
We have chosen a magnificent drive along the northern coast line with wonderful roads overlooking the Ionian sea and over the Eolie's Islands. We will stop first and visit Tindaris, which began as a settlement back in the Bronze Age (about 1500 B.C). The town suffered the effects of a landslide at the end of the 1st Century AD, and an earthquake in 365 AD. Tindaris was the most important Greek city in this vicinity, though most of what the visitor sees today was constructed during the Roman period. We will visit the amphitheatre, which was built in the 4th century BC. It has the ruins of simple temples and the so-called basilica, a fine example of Greco-Roman architecture begun in the 4th century B.C. and successively modified for use as a meeting place. We will also see the very important Christian Sanctuary that sits high on the hill above the city. It is famous for its black Madonna statue that draws visitors from afar, and gives it its name, the Sanctuary of the black Madonna. We then take a drive by a wonderful toad by the Ionian sea through charming villages, in particular, the famous Santo Stefano di Camastra village, filled of several ceramic shops and colored pottery. We the get to Cefalù, a charming unspoiled village with winding, narrow, medieval streets and delightful restaurants overlooking a rocky coast. It is dominated by a huge rock known as "La Rocca" - once the site of a Temple of Diane and one of the finest Norman-Arab-Byzantine Cathedrals. The Duomo of Cefalù was begun in 1131 by Roger II and it was intended as the principal religious seat in Sicily. Though it failed to fulfill this function, the building's magnificence has never been eclipsed. Its fine mosaics (1148), which feature an image of Christ Pantocrator in the apse, are often celebrated as the purest Byzantine works of art on Sicilian soil. Also of interest is the museum "Mandralisca" which houses an "Antonello da Messina" painting and a collection of coins, ceramics, vases, minerals and shells.]]>Full day
Piazza Armerina Set on a plateau almost 700 meters above sea level about 35 kilometers from Enna and a bit nearer Caltagirone, the city of Piazza Armerina is not without charm. Founded during the Norman era, its historical quarter has some beautiful churches, including a Baroque cathedral, as well as a well-preserved fortress (Spinelli Castle), but most visitors come here to see the Roman Villa, with its magnificent mosaics. Located a few kilometers outside town, the villa is one of the largest Roman dwellings of its kind to have survived antiquity, and probably belonged to a wealthy patrician. Depicting scenes from daily life, such as hunting, the mosaics are as remarkable for their sociological value as for their artistry. One of these, showing women clad in two-piece swimsuits exercising with barbells, could well describe a scene typical of the twentieth century. The "Villa del Casale" was built between 330 and 360 AD. The identity of its owner remains a subject of debate. However, three individuals are usually mentioned: Proculus Populonius, governor of Sicily from 314 to 337; Caeionus Rufus Volusianus, also called Lampadius, an influential and wealthy man; and Sabucinius Pinianus, probably of Roman birth. There are 3500 square meters of mosaics on the villa's floors, and some surviving wall paintings. Our tour will introduce you wonderful landscapes of hillsides with orange and lemon trees, animal farms. We will arrive at the famous charming and Barocco town of Caltagirone, full of baroque Palazzi and famous for the best ceramics in Sicily and known for staircases made of handmade ceramic tiles. We can also visit some Nativity of Jesus Chris which the town is known for. After a light lunch in a local Sicilian restaurant, we will drive you to the village of Piazza Armerina and visit the most important Roman monuments ever found in Sicily (tour duration 8 hours).]]>(Full day)
If you like to enjoy a real mediterranean capital in a just a couple of hours drive from Taormina, full of several monumentes and chuerches and rich of elegant streets with luxurious shops, You can enjoy a full day exploring PALERMO and its area: Palermo is the capital and the most important city of all Sicily located between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Conca D'oro Mountains. We start to approach the city walking the Medieval area of Palermo where the main features are from Baroque and Arabian-Norman period. We visit “Piazza Pretoria” with its beautiful Renaissance fountain – the heart of the city, called: "Quattro Canti" - the magnificent Cathedral – “San Cataldo” church and son on… Then we'll continue on foot to visit San Giovanni degli Eremiti one of the best known Norman monuments built by Roger II and the Palazzo dei Normanni. Next, we'll move on to the village of Monreale, driving along a wonderful road overlooking the "Conca D'Oro" valley. We will visit the magnificent Duomo of Monreale and the “Chiostro dei Cappuccini”. Time permits we can visit the famous open market "Vucciria" or “Il Capo” – the Cappuccini Catacombs - Zisa Castle and so on... (tour duration approx. 8 hours). We can be very flexible in our itinerary of this tour and with a shorter visit of Palermo, we can add the extra visit of the town of Cefalu`.]]>(Half Day)
Mt Etna Volcano is one of the world's most active volcanoes and the most active one in Europe. It has been erupting for several million years. Mt Etna is one of the greatest and most beautiful volcano adventure tour destinations in Sicily, beside many other which can be easily enjoyed from our charming village of Taormina. We will be pleased to pick you up at your place at your most convenient time in the morning, (advisable 9,00 a.m.) and drive to mount Etna passing Sicilian towns and old lava flow on the way. We stop at the main square of the village of Zafferana to enjoy the view. During the ascent different kinds of vegetation can be noted. We will reach 2.000 meters (7.000 ft) where we take a walk together to visit the "Silvestri" craters (1892) and the latest new lava flows and craters from 2001/2002/2003, enjoy the desert moon atmosphere! On the way, we will also stop and visit a local family honey farm where it is possible to taste local Etna wine, a selection of natural honey (orange, lemon, eucalyptus, strawberry.), almond pastries, olives, extra virgin olive oil, etc… Driving down from the mount through a wonderful pine tree forest, we will end the day with a visit of the charming village of Giardini Naxos (first Greek colony in Sicily) by the sea, which was hit and covered by an old lava flow. (tour duration 4 hours).]]>(Full day)
We will be leased to pick you up at your place at your most convenient time in the morning, (advisable 9,00 a.m.) and drive to mount Etna passing Sicilian towns and old lava flow on the way. We stop at the main square of the village of Zafferana to enjoy the view. During the ascent different kinds of vegetation can be noted. We will reach 2.000 meters (7.000 ft) where we take a walk together to visit the "Silvestri" craters (1892) and the latest new lava flows and craters from 2001/2002/2003, enjoy the desert moon atmosphere! On the way down we can also visit a local family honey farm where it is possible to taste local Etna wine, a selection of natural honey (orange, lemon, eucalyptus, strawberry.), almond pastries, olives, extra virgin olive oil, etc… We then drive to the slopes of Etna, We will reach a well known winery where we enjoy the visit of the wonderful property overlooking the sea and the lunch combined with a selected wines - This typical Sicilian lunch included of: a variety of antipasti with seasonal products and a main course combined with 5 wines. After lunch on our return way home, we will visit the sea village of Giardini Naxos which was the first Greek colony in Sicily.]]>(7 hours)
Mt Etna Volcano is one of the world's most active volcanoes, and the most active one in Europe. It has been erupting for several million years. Mt Etna is one of the greatest and most beautiful volcano adventure tour destinations in Sicily. Starting from your place a drive to the northern side of our volcano, We drive passing some Sicilian villages, several ancient lava flows and before, we arrive at “Sartorius” craters where we enjoy a pleasant walk through the wonderful Etna national park full of vegetation, pines, birch trees and with a soft hike, we visit the "Grotta dei Ladroni", lava cave formed long time ago. The walk is a soft hike on which we visit a few gorgeous volcanic cones, with a wonderful view. We will drive than to Etna north/Piano Provenza, ( 1.900 mt./ 7.000 ft. level ) known for the splendid sky area which was involved and destroyed in the 2002 eruption. You can have a break enjoying a cup of caffe and a light lunch. You can have a break before you enjoy a typical Sicilian lunch with several local dishes in a refuge located in the natural Etna park. (walking time minimum 1 hour up to 2 hours, to be agreed with your driver - tour duration approx. 7 hours / closed walking shoes are advisable).]]>(7 hours)
Drive to mount Etna passing Sicilian towns and old lava flow on the way. We arrive in the village of Zafferana and enjoy a nice sea view from the main square, then visit a local family honey farm where you will taste local Etna wine, a selection of natural honey (orange, lemon, eucalyptus, strawberry.), almond pastries, olives, extra virgin olive oil, etc… We then stop in one of the most known and old winery in Mount Etna region (possibly Murgo winery) to enjoy a winery visit and a wine tasting combined with a Sicilian specialty dish. We continue our drive on the most scenic rout called “Mare Neve/ sea mountain” with a wonderful view over our volcano and the blue Ionian sea. We arrive at the second well-known winery “Gambino” where we enjoy the visit of the wonderful property overlooking the sea and the wine tasting combined with a Sicilian typical lunch (Four wines combined delicious typical sicilian food, such as: dried tomatoes, Etna area mushrooms and olives, local salami, 2 types of Pepato cheese, Provola, fresh cheese, sausage in white wine, salad, hazelnuts sweet and coffe (possible vegetarian version on request).]]>(6 hours, wine tasting included)
We will be pleased to pick you up at your place at your most convenient time in the afternoon, (advisable 1,00 p.m.) and drive along the Alcantara valley, rich of citrus plantations. Stop at the Alcantara gorges to enjoy the overview of the lava canyon, created by ancient lava eruption. We then continue our drive direction to the northern face of the volcano using the "Mare Neve” road. We will reach Piano Provenzana (2000mt / 7000ft), to see lava and craters created by the last 2002 eruption and to enjoy the breathtaking view … with a drive on the slopes of Etna, We will reach the well known winery where we enjoy the visit of the wonderful property overlooking the sea and the wine tasting combined with a Sicilian typical light dinner (Four/five wines combined delicious typical Sicilian food, such as: dried tomatoes, Etna area mushrooms and olives, local salami, 2 types of Pepato cheese, Provola, fresh cheese, sausage in white wine, salad, hazelnuts sweet and coffe, possible vegetarian version and children menù on request).]]>(7 hours)
A Step Back in Time in Savoca, Forza D'Agrò and Castelmola. Enjoy an introduction to the real Sicily exploring the towns of Savoca and Forza D'Agro with your local driver who so proudly call these area's home. Starting from your place (advisable 9,00 a.m. or 3.00pm afternoon tour) and with a leisure drive, we will first visit the medieval charming village of Savoca. We will take a walk on the panoramic promenade to the famous church of Sant'Nicolò or better called Santa Lucia which was used in the Godfather movie for the marriage of Al Pacino and Apollonia. We also visit the rest of the town with other churches and the famous "VITELLI" bar, one of Coppola's favorite spots. A taste of lemon Granita is a must! We then drive to the next charming medieval village of Forza D'Agrò, which is without a doubt one of the best examples of a typical village of the Province of Messina which still conserves its medieval street layout and on all sides of the town you have the most incredible views. We then drive you to finish our journey to the Medieval village of Castelmola (just above Taormina) to take a pleasant walk in the town. We will then drive you back to your hotel. (tour duration approx. 4 hours) - we can include the visit at the famose private villa “Castello degli schiavi” where several scenes of the movie were shot, specially were the car blowed up with Apollonia inside In this case the tour duration will be considered full day with approx. 7 hours duration.]]>(Full day)
Our tour today will start, picking you up from your place at your most convenient time and driving to the beautiful town of Syracuse in the southern part of the Island - enjoy a very special introduction to the Sicilian coastline en-route. Our ninety minute leisurely drive will take us down the eastern coastline of Sicily passing the "Piana of Catania", the coast line of the Ionic sea and Iblei mountains, arriving in Siracusa. More than any other modern city in Sicily, Syracuse manifests a visible continuity from its ancient Greek past, both historical and mythological. We will stroll, upon our arrival, the open local fish and fruits market situated in the historical centre. We then visit the archaeological area of Neapolis with is Greek theatre, the Roman amphitheatre and Latomia del Paradiso (with its Dionysius Hear) and the "Ara of Hyeron". We will arrive at the 'Ortigia Island', the heart of the city and we will stroll along the ancient narrow streets, which still keep the Medieval influence, before arriving at the Duomo square, one of the city highlights. This Duomo was built above a Greek Temple, which holds more than 2.500 years of history. It is possible to visit one of the more charming spot of Ortigia, the "Arethusa fountain" with its Papyrus plants, overlooking the Ionic sea. We can suggest and stop, at your convenience time, in a local Sicilian restaurant to let you enjoy local dishes. Please note that the driver cannot take you inside the archeological area or inside churches so if you have particular interesting in archaeology and history and wish to enjoy a walking tour with a licensed guide in Syracuse, we can reserve it as extra (Tour duration approx. 6/7 hours).]]>(7 hours)
Since the eighteenth century, Catania has been the second most important city of Sicily, supplanting Messina in that respect. Subjected to Etna's fickle temperament, Catania has been damaged by lava flows and earthquakes on several occasions. A particularly destructive volcanic eruption in 1669 was followed by a serious earthquake in 1693. To arrive in Sicily and only enjoy Taormina would be a crime, whilst beautiful, the real Sicily is on your doorstep waiting to be discovered. With Catania you can enjoy a very special lively city which offers a taste of the antique and modern, order and chaos, excellent shopping and Art, History and Culture, Fountains and Squares. We will visit the Cathedral square, the mean street of Via Etnea (named after the volcano), the Roman theatre and so on... We will then stroll the famous open fish market situated in the heart of the city. We move out of the city to the seaside towns of Aci Castello and Aci Trezza, two pretty coast line Sicilian villages. Aci Castello boasts a rich production of citrus fruits, olives, grapes, almonds, cereals and amazing restaurants. Aci Trezza is a small but charming fishing village, with its small harbor full of fishing boats and typical fishing trattories. Both of them have a backdrop the famous "Faraglioni" created by lava rock by an ancient sub-marine eruption. The name Aci Castello derives from the homonymous Castle situated on a nearby hill of lava rock, built by the Normans in 1076. Approximately in 1170, it was completely destroyed by a devastating earthquake, and was repopulated no sooner than 1530. The most architecturally interesting monument is the Norman Castle, today home to a Museum, built with lava rock from Mount Etna. We then make our way to Acireale which is situated on a flat stretch of lava high above the Ionian Sea. We will visit the Duomo square with its wonderful Baroque palaces and churches, in particular, the Duomo itself and the church of St. Peter & St. Paul and San Sebastian. We stroll the main street, arriving at the Public gardens with its beautiful view over the volcanic "Timpa" and the ionic sea (Tour duration approx. 7 hours).]]>(Full day)
Located on a plateau overlooking Sicily's southern coast, Agrigento was founded as Akragas around 582 BC by a group of colonists from Gela, who themselves were the immediate descendants of Greeks from Rhodes and Crete. The area was inhabited much earlier; a female skull (that of the "girl of Mandrascava") foundnear Cannatello is half a million years old. The medieval city of Agrigento is not without a certain charm. High in the historical center of the city, the Romanesque Gothic cathedral, built during the fourteenth century, still displays some of its medieval character, as does the thirteenth-century Church of San Nicola. Unfortunately, the Saracen fortress believed to have stood at Agrigento has not stood the test of time. The Greek temples, theatres and ruins, and even the archaeological museums, are located outside the city proper. Agrigento was destroyed several times during the Punic Wars, suffering particularly extensive damage during a siege by Roman forces in 261 BC, but always rebuilt. The Greek poet Pindar (518-438 BC) described Akragas as "the most beautiful city of the mortals." Akragas' most famous citizen was the philosopher and scientist Empedocles (490-430 BC). In the Valley of the Temples are the ruins of numerous temples but also necropoli, houses, streets and everything else one would expect to find in an ancient city. There is a small amphitheatre, as well as several auditoria, and a fine archeological museum. Unfortunately, most of the temples at Agrigento are in ruins, with pieces strewn about, and several appear to have never even been completed. Part of the Temple of Juno, built around 450 BC, is still intact. Its style has been compared to that of the temples at Paestum, near Salerno. The Temple of Concord (named retroactively), built around 440 BC, is in far better condition, and at night the illuminated temple is a sight to behold. A number of telamons (large segmented stone columns in the form of human figures) have been preserved. Our tour will introduce you wonderful landscapes of hillsides with orange and lemon trees, animal farms. We will arrive in Agrigento to visit the famous Greek Valley of the Temples with several Greek Temples and Tombs "... Giunone, Concordia, Ercole, Giove-Olimpo and so on..." and its unique and world renowned museum of Greek artifacts. We may have lunch in a restaurant by the beach area of Agrigento, called: San Leone. (tour duration approx. 8 hours).]]>