Treasures of Sicily & Calabria / Marsala / Cefalu / Trapani / Valley of the Temples / Giardini Naxos / Taormina / Mount Etna / Savoca / The Godfather Tour / Messina / Bronzi Di Riace / Gerace / Tropea / Pizzo / Altomonte (Sicily & Calabria….October 24 – November 4, 2025….Dom Giordano)

Description

11 Days and 10 Nights  10/24/2025  – 11/04/2025

Acclaimed Radio Host Dom Giordano will join this event. 

ITINERARY

Day 1  Departure from USA for overnight transatlantic flight to Italy.   Dinner served on board.  Guests will be flying Air France via Paris and straight to Palermo, Sicily. 

Day 2  Palermo

Upon arrival in Palermo meet your tour leader from Conservative Tours as well as your chauffeur for 11 days in Sicily & Calabria.    Transfer to your centrally located hotel in this sun-drenched city!  After a brief orientation session we’ll head to one of our favorite dining establishments in the city and introduce you to Sicilian flavors and authentic local  cuisine.   Even growing up in America, regardless of your background, you are well aware that much about Sicily is distinctive…..and there is no better example of that than at the dinner table!  Enjoy!

 

Day 3  Palermo A morning tour of Palermo, a city full of character, features Quattro Canti – a splendid example of Spanish Baroque architecture, the Palace of the Normans, the cathedral, and the famous Benedictine Abbey of Monreale. Here you will admire a 12th century cathedral, housing very fine mosaics representing a complete cycle of the Old and New Testaments. In the afternoon visit with your tour leader to the picturesque fishing village of Cefalù. 

Day 4  Erice, Marsala wine & dine

Today we travel toward the area of Marsala, which is also the closet point on the island to mainland Africa. Here we will visit a local Marsala winery followed by a tasting session of this famous wine. We’ll continue to the hill top town of Erice—– considered to be one of the most beautiful and best preserved medieval towns in all of  Sicily!!!. 

We told you that dining in Sicily is special…..so let’s head to a local farm house off the beaten path today to enjoy  some local delicacies  of the province of Trapani. Late afternoon return to Palermo.

Day 5  Palermo/Agrigento/Taormina  Journey in a south-western direction  to the corner of Sicily dominating the Mediterranean Sea. Our first stop will be the ancient Greek city of Akragas, a hillside town famous for its magnificent Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a guided tour of the Valley, dating back to the 5th century B.C. The best temple is that of Concordia (similar in design to the Parthenon in Athens) which is in an almost perfectly preserved condition.  After visiting the Valley of the Temples, we meander through Enna to the Eastern coast of the Island of Sicily to reach Giardini Naxos, our home for the next 3 nights. Let’s dine together this evening!

Day 6  Taormina This morning we visit Taormina. If you’ve never been to Taormina be prepared for one of the most colorful and lively villages on the Mediterranean!   Upon arrival enjoy a walking tour of Taormina’s charming city center that also includes the Greek/Roman Amphitheater, with its spectacular views of Giardini Naxos and Mount Etna. Free time this afternoon to enjoy the town before returning to your hotel.  Taormina invites all who visit to stroll its charming center.  We’ll suggest our favorite stop for a gelato too!

Day 7  Mount Etna Volcano This morning explore the slopes of Mount Etna from the comfort of your beautiful motor coach.   Etna is the largest and most active volcano in all of Europe! Savour a fun and interesting honey-tasting session in nearby Zafferana. Continue climbing to 6,000 feet, where you can enjoy the best views, as you drive through the fertile slopes and villages that sit on ancient volcanic eruptions. 

Today your lunch will served to you at a local winery, including a wine tasting session to experience the local Sicilian wines. This afternoon return to your hotel for an evening at leisure. 

Day 8  Messina and the Godfather Tour and Reggio Calabria 

Today we leave Taormina and continue driving towards the mainland of Italy. Later this morning we will cross by ferryboat the Straits of Messina and arrive in Calabria the most southern region of the Italian peninsula. En route we will stop to explore Savoca,  known for the movie  The “Godfather” as Savoca was chosen as an authentic village for filming several scenes in the famous movie.   Francis Ford Coppola himself made the choice of Savoca for some quintessential scenes of local architecture and character.  Later this morning we will stop in Messina to admire one of the most beautiful astronomical clocks in  the whole world and its beautiful Cathedral. After check in at our hotel in  Reggio Calabria we will visit the Famous “Bronzi di Riace” inside the Archeological Museum. Some free time for lunch along one of the most beautiful stretches in coastal Italy, the Promenade of Reggio Calabria. Dinner together this evening.

Day 9  Calabria-Gerace-Tropea

Morning departure for a guided tour of the medieval hill town of Gerace, which is known as one of the most picturesque & historical centers in the region. Here you will visit a famous Norman Cathedral considered to be the largest in Southern Italy, dating from the 11th Century A.D. 

Today enjoy an exclusive lunch at a local Agriturismo. This afternoon we continue to Tropea,  considered to be the most beautiful town of Calabria overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Some free time for soaking up the sun and the sights.   Free evening for dinner.

Day 10  Tropea and  Pizzo

This morning we will first visit Tropea. You will visit a famous Norman Cathedral and the balcony overlooking the bay of St Eufemia in Tropea. In the afternoon we visit Pizzo Calabro, with its imposing medieval Castle.  Pizzo is also known for the best Truffle gelato in Calabria….and that’s saying a lot!   

Day 11  Calabria-Naples

This morning we leave Calabria and gently meander towards Naples, driving through the beautiful Apennine Hills and the picturesque landscape of southern Italy. We will stop in Altomonte to visit its beautiful medieval district and enjoy a local culinary experience in town at a landmark restaurant. Late afternoon arrival at our hotel on the outskirts of Naples. Light dinner at hotel. 

Day 12  Morning transfer to Naples Airport for your connecting flight home to America.

Tour Price:  $5544.00 

Deposit:  $515.00 (Includes $15 Processing Fee) 

WHAT’S INCLUDED: 

• Round trip air fare from our USA gateways to/from Italy. 

• Four star deluxe hotel accommodations for ten nights 

• Breakfast each morning 

• Four (4) lunches each featuring regional gastronomical specialties 

• Four (4) dinner events 

• Two (2) wine tasting events 

• Touring by private, air-conditioned motorcoach 

• All entrance fees as per the itinerary 

• All motorcoach transfers
• Boat transfer across the Straits of Messina

• All tour leading and local expert tour guiding by licensed staff of Conservative Tours Inc. 

• “Whispers” personal audio listening system throughout the event 

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:  

• Government air & city taxes 

• Travel Insurance 

TOUR DATES 

DEPART:  OCTOBER 24th,   2025
RETURN:  NOVEMBER 4th,  2025
12 DAYS, 11 NIGHTS 

 TOLL FREE :  888 733 9494

ACT NOW TO JOIN IN OUR DELIGHTFUL, FULLY-ESCORTED TOUR OF SICILY & CALABRIA THIS FALL.