IMPORTANT TO KNOW:

Driver Escort & Local Guide: We customized these shore excursions using a Driver-Escorts. You have to enter inside the monuments alone. The Driver-Escort is able to provide basic tourist information only and he cannot escort you inside the sites because this is not allowed by Italian Rules. In case you need a Licensed Local Guide you must pay a surcharge and we will arrange for local guide to meet you directly on the spot.

Our Shore Excursions are: Private

Admission fee: The price of these tours does not include the Admission Fees, which are usually around Euros 8,00 per person payable directly on the spot.

If you are over 65 or under 18 years old and you have EU or Commonwealth Passport,  the admission fees are free of charge for you showing your document (or copy of your document) on the spot.

Half Day and Full Day Excursions:

-Half Day means: maximum 5 hours from h 8:00AM to h 1:00PM

-Full Day means: maximum 8 hours from h 8:00AM to h 4:00PM

Gratuities: Please be so kind as to considerer tipping (out of appreciation) based on the efficiency and service you receive.
Gratuities in restaurants are never included in the bill. The Cover charge is not a tip. If paying with credit cards, please pay your tip separately in cash to the waiter and this should be 10% of the total bill. The use of public toilets requires a payment to the attendant of Euro 0,30 cents (where applicable). Public toilet charge Euros 0,50 cents.
 

Legend: L (Lunch or Light Lunch)

For our excursions we will use these type of Vehicles:

-2 to 3 people: an Air Conditioned Private Car

-4 to 8 people: an Air Conditioned Private Van maximum 8 seats

HOME COOKING COURSE (Limited to maximum 4 people)  

Half Day from Palermo port

Welcome to the warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Sicily! Upon arrival at Palermo port, you will find the driver escort waiting holding a sign with your full name. Transfer to Donna Franca's home. Upon arrival a brief recipe  introduction, then start the Cooking Course: everybody will have 1 small egg, 100 gr (4/5 cup) White flour and ¼ tsp salt ... put the flour in a mound on the table...create a crater in the top of the flour mound and add the egg(s) and salt...knead until the dough is compact and well mixed....be careful not to overwork the dough....then wrap the dough in a towel (otherwise it will become too dry and difficult to work with)....prepare your Ricotta Cheese filling....two hours later .... the ravioli are ready to cook! Fill a large pot with water and salt well....when water boils, add the ravioli and a spoon of olive oil (to prevent the pasta from sticking together)....fresh, handmade pasta requires only about 10 minutes to cook....once pasta is cooked, drain it using a strainer...now plate the ravioli and dress it with fresh tomato sauce, parmesan cheese, and fresh basil leafs. BUON APPETITO!  (L)

Estimated admission fee in this tour: none

Local guide (available on request): no needs

RATE PER PERSON, EUR, LAND ONLY (Admission Fees are not included)

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MONREALE, PALERMO AND THE OPEN MARKET 

Full Day from Palermo port

Welcome to the warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Sicily! Upon arrival at Palermo port, you will find the driver escort waiting holding a sign with your full name.  Today we drive to Monreale to see where the Arab-Norman art and architecture reached the pinnacle of its glory with the Duomo, launched in 1174 by William II. It represents scenes from the Old and New Testaments all in golden mosaics. Then on to Palermo to explore the lively Capo Market, a large open street market that captures the flavor of Palermo's Saracen Arab past. Capo is a blend of general confusion and a jumble of vendors' stalls, winding toward the old gate (Porta Carini) of what used to be the city wall. We continue by seeing Piazza Pretoria and Via Maqueda, whose “four corners” converge Palermo at a quartet of baroque palaces left over from the heyday of Spanish rule dating from 1560.  Time at leisure for shopping before returning to Palermo port.

Estimated admission fee in this tour: none

Local guide (available on request): Rate for a full day excursion Eur 230,00 total

RATE PER PERSON, EUR, LAND ONLY (Admission Fees are not included)

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PALERMO SPECTACULAR VILLA AND MONREALE

Half Day from Palermo port

Welcome to the warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Sicily! Upon arrival at Palermo port, you will find the driver escort waiting holding a sign with your full name.  Today we will visit one of Palermo's great villa palaces, built in the Liberty style, sits within a spectacular garden. The villa was constructed in 1886 by Joseph Whitaker -- grandson of the famous English gentleman and wine merchant, Ingham, who moved to Sicily in 1806 and made a fortune producing Marsala wine. Whitaker had trees shipped to Palermo from all over the world to plant around his villa. These included such rare species as Dragon's Blood, an enormous banyan tree that happens to be the only one found in Europe. Local high society flocked here for lavish parties, and even British royalty visited. In World War II, Gen. George Patton temporarily stayed here as he planned the invasion of southern Italy--. Later continue to Monreale to see where the Arab-Norman art and architecture reached the pinnacle of its glory with the Duomo, launched in 1174 by William II. It represents scenes from the Old and New Testaments all in golden mosaics. Later back to Palermo port.

Estimated admission fee in this tour: Eur 8,00 per person

Local guide (available on request): Rate for a half day excursion Eur 180,00 total

RATE PER PERSON, EUR, LAND ONLY (Admission Fees are not included)

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MONREALE & CAPUCHIN CATACOMBS IN PALERMO

Half Day from Palermo port

Welcome to the warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Sicily! Upon arrival at Palermo port, you will find the driver escort waiting holding a sign with your full name.  Today we drive to Monreale to see where the Arab-Norman art and architecture reached the pinnacle of its glory with the Duomo, launched in 1174 by William II. It represents scenes from the Old and New Testaments all in golden mosaics. Then on to Palermo to explore the fascinating Capuchin Catacombs. The Catacombs outgrew their original cemetery in the 16th century and monks began to excavate the crypts below it. The bodies were dehydrated on the racks of ceramic pipes in the catacombs and sometimes later washed with vinegar. Monks were preserved with their everyday clothing and sometimes with ropes they had worn as a penance. The catacombs contain about 8000 mummies that line the walls. The halls are divided into categories: Men, Women, Virgins, Children, Priests, Monks, and Professionals. We continue by seeing Piazza Pretoria and Via Maqueda, whose “four corners” converge Palermo at a quartet of baroque palaces left over from the heyday of Spanish rule dating from 1560.  Later back to Palermo port.

Estimated admission fee in this tour: Eur 8,00 per person

Local guide (available on request): Rate for a half day excursion Eur 180,00 total

RATE PER PERSON, EUR, LAND ONLY  

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SEGESTA, WINERY, OLIVE OIL FARMHOUSE, ERICE  

Full Day from Palermo port

Welcome to the warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Sicily! Upon arrival at Palermo port, you will find the driver escort waiting holding a sign with your full name. Our first stop today is to Segesta, one of the major cities of the Elymian people (one of the three indigenous peoples of Sicily). Upon arrival, independent visit to the Temple. Later,  continue to a local winery to visit to the cellars and wines tasting. Then  to an olive oil and farmhouse to enjoy our light-lunch and Sicilian olive oil tasting. This afternoon we will reach Erice. The Elymians settled this medieval town and it was an important religious site associated with goddesses of fertility. Wander through its’ ancient streets and visit some of the famous homemade pastry shops, world-renown for marzipan candies and other delicacies like almond and pistachio pastries. Later back to Palermo port. (L)

Estimated admission fee in this tour: Eur 8,00 per person

Local guide (available on request): Rate for a full day excursion Eur 230,00 total

Black-Out: Saturday, Sunday, Wine Exhibition Dates, Italian Holiday

RATE PER PERSON, EUR, LAND ONLY (Admission Fees are not included)

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CORLEONE, THE MAFIA MUSEUM & FICUZZA NATURAL PARK

Full Day from Palermo port

Welcome to the warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Sicily! Upon arrival at Palermo port, you will find the driver escort waiting holding a sign with your full name. Then driven to the town of Corleone. It is an attractive area among the sceneries of Palermo and is known primarily as the birthplace of Mafia. Beginning in the 1960s, the town became famous (or perhaps infamous) for its Mafia.  This was because the town housed the headquarters of some well-known clans like the  Clan dei Corleonesi. The name of the town was used as the adopted surname of the title character in Francis Ford Coppola's movie, The Godfather. In the novel, Vito Andolini emigrates from the village of Corleone, his last name gets changed by a miscommunication between the man helping Vito and the man logging in the names at Ellis Island when he says "Corleone" instead of "Andolini." He was unable to respond when asked for his proper name and was therefore given the last name of Corleone by an immigration official. Corleone is a very nice, typical Sicilian style town. On arrival we will visit the Mafia Museum. Later we will continue to Ficuzza, a nature reserve and small hamlet in the mountains south of Palermo in the township district of Corleone. We will relax in the park and enjoy a great stroll through the Ficuzza village.  The park was founded as a support for the royal game reserve of the Bourbon dynasty.  Throughout the centuries, Ficuzza forest has been the scenario of many historical events:  illegal breeding, mafia murders, Tripolitan rebels deported during WWI, and seat of the fascist military headquarters during WWII.  During the walk into the natural park through Ferdinando III's hunting lodge, we will enjoy a light lunch at the historic rail station.  Here we will taste typical local and country dishes in a fantastic rustic environment. During afternoon  back to Palermo port (L)

Estimated admission fee in this tour: Eur 8,00 per person

Local guide (available on request): Rate for a full day excursion Eur 230,00 total

RATE PER PERSON, EUR, LAND ONLY (Admission Fees are not included)

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CEFALU' & PALERMO SHOPPING  

Full Day from Palermo port

Welcome to the warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Sicily! Upon arrival at Palermo port, you will find the driver escort waiting holding a sign with your full name. Today we depart for Cefalù: Cefalù is a charming coastal town which boasts a massive Norman Cathedral with outstanding mosaics. On arrival time to explore the town. Later back to Palermo for an orientation tour. Time at leisure for shop. During afternoon  back to Palermo port

Estimated admission fee in this tour: none

Local guide (available on request): Rate for a full day excursion Eur 230,00 total

RATE PER PERSON, EUR, LAND ONLY (Admission Fees are not included)

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CARINI CASTLE, ERICE & OLIVE OIL FARMHOUSE 

Full Day from Palermo port

Welcome to the warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Sicily! Upon arrival at Palermo port, you will find the driver escort waiting holding a sign with your full name. Today we drive to Carini. The town’s castle was the setting of a tragic episode involving the Baronessa di Carini, killed by his father in 1563 for having a secret affair while already betrothed to another man. Built as a fortress in the Norman epoch, it was extensively remodelled, mainly by the La Grua-Talamanca family. Visit to the castle. Then pass to Erice. The Elymians settled the medieval town of Erice and was an important religious site associated with goddesses of fertility. Here we will walk around the castle built on the rest of Venus Temple. Wander through its’ ancient streets and visit some of the famous pastry home made shops, world-famous for marzipan candies and other delicacies like almond and pistachio pastries. Then to an olive oil and farmhouse to enjoy our light-lunch and Sicilian olive oil tasting. This afternoon back to Palermo port.

Estimated admission fee in this tour: Eur 8,00 per person

Local guide (available on request): Rate for a full day excursion Eur 230,00 total

RATE PER PERSON, EUR, LAND ONLY (Admission Fees are not included)

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PALERMO & WINERY 

Half Day from Palermo port

Welcome to the warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Sicily! Upon arrival at Palermo port, you will find the driver escort waiting holding a sign with your full name. We will pass by the Old City Wall in the Kalsa quarter of town on your way to a winery in Casteldaccia to relax and enjoy the flavours of local Sicilian wines. Visit and tasting local wines. Later back to Palermo port.

Estimated admission fee in this tour: none

Local guide (available on request): Rate for a half day excursion Eur 180,00 total

RATE PER PERSON, EUR, LAND ONLY (Admission Fees are not included)

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MONREALE DOME, PALERMO GOTHIC VILLA AND REGIONAL ART GALLERY

Full Day from Palermo port

Welcome to the warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Sicily! Upon arrival at Palermo port, you will find the driver escort waiting holding a sign with your full name. We will visit Villa Malfitano, one of Palermo's great villa palaces, built in the Liberty style, sits within a spectacular garden. The villa was constructed in 1886 by Joseph Whitaker -- grandson of the famous English gentleman and wine merchant, Ingham, who moved to Sicily in 1806 and made a fortune producing Marsala wine. Whitaker had trees shipped to Palermo from all over the world to plant around his villa. These included such rare species as Dragon's Blood, an enormous banyan tree that happens to be the only one found in Europe. Local high society flocked here for lavish parties, and even British royalty visited. In World War II, Gen. George Patton temporarily stayed here as he planned the invasion of southern Italy--. Later we continue to Monreale to see where the Arab-Norman art and architecture reached the pinnacle of its glory with the Duomo, launched in 1174 by William II. It represents scenes from the Old and New Testaments all in golden mosaics. This afternoon again onto Palermo t admire the amazing Palazzo Abatellis, the regional art gallery. This old building, was designed by Carnalivari at the end of the 15th century as the residence of Francesco Abatellis, harbourmaster of the Kingdom of the two Sicilies. The palace is one of the most significant Gothic-Catalan architectonic samples in Western Sicily. Its gallery features sculptures and paintings from the 12th to the 18th century. On the first floor, stop and admire the Triumph of Death fresco. If you look at it, the Guernica by Picasso will come to mind suddenly. On the second floor, the Annunciation by Antonello da Messina is the highlight. Last year, this artwork and a few other pieces by Antonello da Messina were exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Later back to Palermo port

Estimated admission fee in this tour: Eur 12,00 per person

Local guide (available on request): Rate for a full day excursion Eur 230,00 total

RATE PER PERSON, EUR, LAND ONLY (Admission Fees are not included)

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Customized for your GROUP

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