No grumps! Etna was a close second.". "I loved Mt Etna! Today we'll drive down to the Trapani salt pans — a coastal wetland and nature reserve where sea salt has been harvested for nearly 3,000 years. Sicily is lovely and has such interesting history, beautiful scenery and delicious food! All these experiences were quite different, but all were amazing!". And in our spare time during this shoot, Alfio and I have been working on a brand-new Rick Steves Sicily guidebook, co-authored by Sarah Murdoch. She could not have been more helpful, professional, or funny. I think you get a little dazed by all you are taking in. I can't say it any stronger than that. Particularly the fact that Sicily feels off the tourist trail and seemed to offer more genuine cultural experiences than the rest of Europe. also Taormina was a delight..Add to that the Cathedral in Monreale.". I had very high expectations about going to Sicily. City guides were knowledgeable and well versed in sharing. "There were so many "Wow" moments! "It is hard to choose my favorite WOW moment, because every place we visited was a wow moment. Take a look at it and you'll see what I mean. The tours guides on previous RS tours were also very very good, but David took it to a new level. Mostly our hotels wee nicely located and adequate to more than adequate for our needs. I wanted to go to see the Byzantine mosaics in Palermo, the Greek temples, the Greek and Roman theaters and the Roman mosaics - so all WOWS. ", This is a fairly new itinerary. My husband and I are very much into food tours, cooking classes and wine tours. It's a breeze to reach Catania's airport by taxi or shuttle bus. I was surprised by the 15 minute lectures that we had to stand for every mile or so. "Getting to hike in Mt. "The views from the rooftop terrace at our hotel in Palermo and the restaurant deck at our hotel in Taormina took my breath away. "My favorite "wow" Moment was the Orthodox portrayal of Christ in the cathedral in Monreale! from the Hotel's Terrace was breathtaking. And also staying where you could see them lit up at night, very cool". My local PBS stations are broadcasting "Happy Winter" as part of that series this week. We had a great group of people on our tour (first tour ever)and Donald was a great director. So much history was brought to life by photos, exhibits, videos, etc. Si! David, our tour guide, couldn't have been better. For my boyfriend, his wow moment was the Villa Romana del Casale. "My wow moment was on our trip up to Mount Etna at 6000 feet I believe. The locations we visited really brought that to life. It was very nice to have some group tours, but time to explore on our own. The hotels, meals, driver, sites chosen - everything wonderful. Jump to bottom. "My favorite "wow" moments were two cathedrals: Monreale for it's beautiful mosaics and Siracusa for it's history..". Guide was fabulous - very informative and witty. The first time we have done a tour type vacation. I found the tour great value ( except for our AUD presently ??). Great Guide(s)! Wish I had waited a bit later in the year as it was still HOT SUMMer in Sicily in mid September. Ceto dei Naviganti - Processione dei Misteri - Trapani statues Today these substantial ruins offer a textbook study of the elements of the classic Greek temple. I enjoyed the guide very much. The experience of the Rick Steves group made it better. We were lucky with the weather. Very good local guides and special visits. "Our time with Maria Grammatico. I was expecting something a little childish and maybe somewhat cheesy but it turned out to be fantasticly fun. And the FOOD was almost center stage. 5915 posts. There was still the schlepping of your luggage through the towns that is my least favorite aspect of the Rick Steves' tours but the Hotels, "I love mosaics and for me the highlight was the mosaics of the Villa Romana del Casale. Guess you could say I like good wine. His knowledge was over the time. The overall experience was Exceptional. And he can't help being a Pom, we Aussies didn't hold that against him ... much! This trip exceeded my expectations, especially the level of planning, the quality of the guide, local guides, guest speakers, the activities and sights, and the wonderful meals. Taormina is in a class by itself in the world. Visiting Motya was a wow (what can I say, I love history and boatrides). While I should have known that these tours are educational, I was a bit overwhelmed by the names and dates that our knowledgeable guide shared with us. Lonely Planet Southern Italy (Travel Guide) (English Edition) DK Eyewitness Sicily (Travel Guide) The Land of Manfred, Prince of Tarentum and King of Sicily. We had unusual and delightful weather for the latter half of February in Italy - sunny skies, mild weather, and no rain! It was a nice mix of old and new. We did this on our own the day before the tour. Sicily's mild climate makes it a good place to visit nearly year-round. Sicily is a beautiful area, and it is a shame they ignore plastic and rubbish (sometimes large bags piled along the roads).". Each city and region was thoroughly understood through Rainer, city guides,and field trips. I found it She was intelligent, witty, fun and full of energy, "Mount Etna. The tour filled also my desire to visit ancient ruins. There was a great balance between group activities and personal free exploration times. But Stephanie -- she made the tour special. It was so breathtaking and with a view of Mt. I like that the fact that she lived in the United States, and has lived in Italy for over 20 years. Our tours don't include airfare, so your flight arrangements and transfers are completely up to you. Many large Greek temple ruins. Most of the hotels had spectacular terraces and views. travel with and very social. I loved the buddy system. "There were soooo many! I did not know what to expect and had concerns about group congeniality, etc. They guides were incredible! I haven't been able to find anything about parking across the bridge. A thousand years ago, after Sicily was conquered by the Arabs in the ninth century, Palermo was one of Europe’s leading cities. "Loved the tour of the Contessa's house. We love traveling with the Rick Steves program. Find everything you need for packing — and planning your dream trip to Europe. Learn about Rick Steves' small-group tours with more than 40 great itineraries for 2021! My family was from Carlentini and the farm is in the sister city of Lentini.". She also gave us the opportunity to get to know the other members of our group! Very well organized. Top notch and a true professional in every way. see our FAQ. Everything about it was great - RS Guide, events, food, hotels, etc. His knowledge and passion for his country It was more than just a narrated tour of the countryside. "I loved the Vine yard tour. I recently spent three weeks driving 800 miles around Sicily (working on our new Rick Steves Sicily guidebook, available now).And let me tell you, that’s no easy task. The weather was great and no crowds. This evening we'll take a walk through the city's historic old town on the island of Ortygia. "Difficult to name only one. Seeing the Salt Flats and sea salt production was fascinating as well.". love for the food. very much like Italy in general but that isn't a bad thing. When people ask what I liked best on the tour, I truly cannot pick just one. As our past Rick Steves' tour experiences have proven, the tour guide (in this case, Stephanie) made the 11 days easy, educational, fun, and most delightful. We could see much of the city of Palermo! The active eruption of Mt Etna. Etna with Boris the Volcanologist and visiting beautiful Taormina! "The palace and the Contessa, Eurice and Maria, The Greek temples, the Villa Romana del Casale and the mosaics, the vulcanologists, even the puppet show. It was a privilege to learn so much from them. As a history major, I was blown away by having the opportunity to see them in person.". Taormina? Sicily needs 9-10 days just to scratch the surface. Breakfast was on the rooftop terrace of the hotel. very enjoyable. I highly recommend this tour! It learned so much about Sicily from our guides and again met amazing people who were in our tour group. My own joys were focused on current situations rather than relics. i thought a couple of things could have been done better. Several had spectacular rooftop view for drinks or dinner , much appreciated. I was pleasantly surprised with the experience. Everything was perfectly organized as usual. Boat: 1 hour. Our pastry lesson in Erice was great fun with participation opportunities for many of us. The Monreal cathedral was amazing.". The guide described herself as quite touched by the moment reflecting that for thousands of years that space had been used for worship and prayer, and hoping it could be used in peace and harmony in the future.". settlement. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. "It was all so different there were many. The trip was fantastic. My father was a WWII veteran, he fought in Europe, he kept most of his stories to himself, didn't feel "the girls" needed to hear his stories. We were able to focus on all the great sites in Sicily, savor the seafood dishes, and experience the travel with new friends. "It is tough to narrow down to one. "I went to Sicily in 1986 when only a small section of the mosaics in Villa Romana had been uncovered. My favorite site seen would have to be Mt. It helped in meeting other people and gave single people an instant connection without having to "BE" with that person all the time. This was an outstanding tour. Paperback $12.49 $ 12. The tour of the winery and the salt processing facility were prime examples. Receiving detailed information regarding the tour, prior to departure is always appreciated. This surely won't be my last Rick Steve trip. As usual, the tour members were very pleasant fellow travelers, and we had a great time. Parts of Sicily seem like a relatively undiscovered Amalfi Coast. . Sevilla, Spain 3:49. I was also very happy to see the temple at Segesta - what an incredible site. Thoroughly enjoyed my second overall visit to Sicily and third trip with RS Tours. Donald was an outstanding guide, I think we got the best guide in your whole organization. It was very much a dialogue rather than a lecture. Each town was interesting in its own way; I particularly enjoyed traveling so much of the coastline and walking the towns, particularly Ortygia and Taormina and the hilltown of Castelmola - and oh, that afternoon view to Trapani and the sea from Erice! My wife and I had a great time learning and experiencing Sicily. Turns out we made friends! this was our third tour and the most tiring. (I was a nervous wreck.) Overall a great introduction to Sicily. ", Since this is our third Rick Steves' Tour, we had certain expectations that were met satisfactorily. : Unterrichtswerk zur Frherziehung. Rick Steves. The buddy system is brilliant. He is such a robust character but I also noted his attention to detail and to the needs of the group. The city guides were excellent, and the main guide, Karin, was wonderful. I loved it all. March through June and October are ideal, with few crowds, lots of festivals, and mild weather. No glitches that I can remember, once the airline delivered our lost luggage, that is. Very good and interesting. I would take another Rick Steves tour in a nanosecond. ▲ Trapani Laid-back port town famous for its nearby salt flats — and an easy home base for day trips to the west coast's best stops: the hilltop village of Erice, the fishing island of Favignana, Carthaginian ruins at Mozia, and ancient ruins of Segesta and Selinunte. "The contessa in Palermo, who strikes you as an "everyday" regular teacher/mother living in a palace, ends our tour of her house with some typical appetizers and wine before belting out an operatic song. If nothing else... go for the fabulous food!! This was our third RS's tour, and once again it proved to be all that was promised. But, for me since I really really like history and I'm interested in preventing future wars, I liked the WWII museum in Catania. You could hear everything the guide said and he brought valuable historical interest to every venture. The trip was very good and I like almost all the aspects of it. I have always enjoyed Rick's guides as travel companions. Finally I was entirely wowed by the going away luncheon and wine tasting at the Bananti vineyard.". Will definitely be planning another Rick Steves Tour, "Syracuse Cattedrale and Villa Romana del Casale Mosaics. ", This was my first Rick Steves tour and hopefully will not be the last. I loved having a variety of experiences, from the tour guides, to cooking demos, wine tasting, farm lunches, so much more than I expected. Get it as soon as Sat, Mar 7. It was amazing and the weather even cooperated. There were twl that we visited on our own in advance of the trip (Ragusa, Monica,) but these were not easily accessible to bus travel. I enjoyed participating in the hands-on. The special guides were also very knowledgeable. Loved the luncheon and atmosphere at the farm of the Contessa, Mt. Sleep in Trapani. This was our third Rick Steves tour. Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. "The volcanologist talk, viewing Mt. "It's difficult to pick a WOW moment, every new site was unique and special in it's own way. Monreale Cathedral and the cloister garden capitals, the theater at Segesta, the Temple of Concordia and the Telamon in the Valley of the Temples, the mosaic floors in the Villa Romana del Casale, the Cathedral of Syracuse, wine tasting on the slopes of Mount Etna and the town of Taormina were just a few of my favorites. "Rick Steve tour item: Our tour guide shepherded our group from one fascinating location to the next. "There were many beautiful moments on the trip, with amazing scenery and touring remarkable places. The food was interesting and delicious--so much so that a number of us skipped dinners or opted for super light ones because of the feast we had experienced at one of our locations. Our very first Rick Steve's tour couldn't have been better! The sites and experiences chosen for visits were all interesting and in some cases outstanding. Kinderheft. "Valley of the Temples. Glimpses of local street markets, becoming acquainted with road conditions, seeing how utilities are provided, witnessing the agricultural and urban landscapes. The tour of the only existing Phoenician city ruins. Our tour never ceased to impress me from the hotels we stayed-in, the knowledge of our tour guide Stephanie, the skill our bus driver, the bakery and pizza demonstrations, and the sites we had the privilege of visiting. On the road again, we'll stop to visit a working farm and meet its owner, followed by a midday feast. I have not yet printed photos to pinpoint one "wow" moment as there were many.". Day 1 for a late start was a packed fun and fabulous stint to open the tour. Knowledgeable and fun. As far as I am concerned, Karin set a standard that might be hard for other guides to match. Learned about history, culture, people and sites in cities. : Unterrichtswerk zur Frherziehung. He shared a wealth of knowledge about Mt. "I loved the puppet museum and theater in Palermo. Before the tour, my husband was not so sure about the expense, but as we experienced the sights, the meals, and the hassle-free transportation, we both knew we had made a smart decision in booking with Rick Steves! She is a wealth of knowledge. "The Monreale Cathedral was what I was most looking forward to and it was even more incredible than I imagined. "It was a tie between the puppet show and the visit to the salt harvesting site; both were incredible experiences.". The island itself is full of wonderful historic sites, beautiful seaside cities and charming hilltop villages, marvelous restaurants and lively and engaging citizens. ▲▲ Cefalù Fishing-turned-beach-bum village, an hour from Palermo, with a charming old town center, a Norman cathedral, fine seafood options, and an inviting, sandy beach. Supplement $575. By the way, this was our first Rick Steves tour and we are now "Rick Steves converts" and look forward to taking many more RS tours.". You'll be free to spend the rest of your day exploring the seaside town of Trapani. ), & the explanation of the transformation of Sicily after the Mafia were illuminating. I appreciated the switch in itinerary when we visited Monreale, going in the morning before it was closed for a wedding and visiting Ballaro market later. "Ancient Agrigento, hands down. Outstanding. We had a great group of 28 people. Totally loved the visit to Mt. Our incredible guide, David, was so knowledgeable and passionate in peeling back each of these layers, allowing us to experience ALL of Sicily. And besides, on the way down we stopped at a great winery on Etna and tasted some wonderful wines to warm me back up. Transitions were smooth, time allowed at the various sights was adequate so I rarely felt rushed. Get a deeper look at the best European destinations with "Rick Steves' Europe," airing weeknights at 7:30 p.m. 1. Timing / hotels / activities all good. This was my first your and I enjoyed it very much. She was knowledgeable, helpful, and always pleasant. "Lunch and pastry demonstration with Maria Grammatico (who I had met 20 years ago when she wasn't "famous"); Palermo was a pleasant surprise - although many Americans find its grittiness objectionable, I absolutely loved the city (we had spent an additional four days there before the tour started).". I also enjoyed walking on the craters on Mt. Our tour leader, Jamie, was excellent in leading our group through each days activities and providing meaningful information for each visited site. Every day was packed full of a good mix of delightful and interesting experiences. Rick Steves' Europe is public television's most-watched, longest-running travel series. Wonderful. This evening we'll meet up for a Sicilian pizza dinner together. We saw so many wonderful things, but for me it is always the people you meet that provide the greatest memories. We'll focus on Agrigento's Valley of the Temples — the largest, best-preserved collection of ancient Greek buildings outside of Greece itself — and tour its archeological museum. "The lunches on Moxia and Erice were memorable for the beauty of the place, the sense of privacy away from the crowds and the excellence of 'home cooking' were really great. Next, we'll visit a winery on the slopes of the mountain, where we'll enjoy a tour through the vineyards and taste some of Sicily's deservedly famous wine before heading to Taormina. Suggestions were given for your free time and enough time was given to shop! Donald was informative, shared interesting and humorous stories about the places we were seeing, and provided us with excellent suggestions for eating and free time on our own. The tour gave me exactly what I wanted to learn and experience and more. "It was a personal moment--visiting Erice and Trapani because that's where my grandparents immigrated from.". Meals were wonderful. Use Rick’s book for our Sorrento trip with side trips to Naples, Capri, Pompeii, and Amalfi Coast. Etna was the "MAJOR WOW". "One wow! I find it difficult to put into words how exceptional this tour was. The side trip to Castelmola a few fellow travelers and I took was a wow. There was plenty of free time to roam and rest and take in the beautiful island. The Montreale cathedral. Go Astros! I mean, dear heavens, it puts all the gelato in America to shame and I would say it was better than in Rome or Florence or Venice!". We'll end our evening getting to know one another at a "Welcome to Sicily" dinner together. This being my 3rd tour, I was extremely very happy with everything, especially our tour guide, Karin! The hotel selections were very comfortable with a couple being extremely nice with fabulous views. And cheaper and faster! The Best of Sicily. Our tour with Alfio was excellent. Maybe the "wow"moment as a group was touring the Etna vineyard- it was stunningly beautiful. I looked around at the beautiful scenery and I felt sad that they had to leave such beauty. ", We are both delighted with our Sicily tour, It was far above our expectations. Also Syracuse, the island of Ortygia was so historic and charming.". The temple at Segesta was amazing, perched alone on it's hill.The Piazza Duomo in Ortigia, and of course,Taormino.....you know why people through the ages have been drawn to this place, starting with the Greeks.". This was our 5th Rick Steves tour and, as always, coordinated to perfection. I strongly recommend that people read about the history of Sicily in advance, as some knowledge will enhance your experience. We travel in mainland Europe each year but never to Sicily. One month prior to the tour departure, you'll find the directions to your first tour hotel and a complete list of hotels where we'll be staying while on tour in the Documents section of your tour account. Sicily was like Disney World on steroids. I also don't like big groups, I'm not a good listener, and I like to wander around on my own when I travel - so just not really cut out for tours. "Stacy was able to add several events to our itinerary that were surprises to us! ", "On the first morning of the tour we watched the sunrise over the city of Palermo while eating breakfast on the outdoor terrace of our hotel. What fun alongside her, to "massage" almond dough into Brutta ma Buona cookies. ", A delightful trip around the isle of Sicily. Sicily in 11 days was our first ever guided tour. Rick Steves Sicily (English Edition) eBook: Steves, Rick: Amazon.de: Kindle-Shop. At night, a light projection on the east side of the cathedral illumines the Greek columns, and contrasts them from the dark filled-in walls.". We were rushed through the WW2 museum, dragged through the fish market (28 people single file in tight quarters) and then released for the day with very minimal orientation to the rest of the city. And I loved the pizza making session, the evening with the Contessa". The vulcanologist at Taormina and the guides at Trapini and Agrigento were also very good. It is amazing to see such well preserved Greek temples in Sicily.". "Each day provided a new "wow" experience whether it was visiting the Monreale Cathedral, cooking class in Erice, the salt pans of Trapani, the Valley of the Temples of Agrigento, Roman Mosaics of the Villa Romana del Casale, activity of Mt Etna volano, and the Greek theater of hill town of Taormina. After traveling to Turkey, India, and Morocco recently we had hoped Sicily would be much more concerned and progressive about plastic and rubbish strewn everywhere. Then the rest of the day is yours to wander through Syracuse's delightful jumble of Greek, Roman, medieval, and Baroque layers — or settle on a quiet park bench with a harbor view. The local guides were easy to understand and very informative. As always with Rick Steves tours, this tour provided a good mix of group and non-group activities. This morning we'll learn more about Ortygia and take a closer look at this small fishing island. 49 $19.99 $19.99. It is obvious that this organization knows what it is doing and strives to deliver a positive, memorable experience. Mama Etna showed off a bit for us while we were there too.". Our guide, Jamie, was very knowledgeable and interesting. Of course wine with the dinner helped get over any shyness in the group, but the chance to relax after a walk and enjoy new friends was a great way to start the trip.". Loved the farm meal.". We were blessed with great weather. The tour had a pleasing mix of ancient ruins, churches, delicious cuisine, educational experiences and natural beauty. The museum of the WWII invasion of Sicily. We were not disappointed in any of our experiences, just maybe in trying to "squeeze" a little too much in for these older persons. Andiamo! Author(s): Rick Steves & Sarah Murdoch with Alfio Di Mauro: Dimensions: 8" x 4 ½" x ¾" Weight: 15 oz: Pages: 492: Publication date: The tour was as good as previous tours although I'd prefer having a little smaller group. She also seems like a genuinely good person. A repeat tour, this time with my cousin, I was pleased by a few itinerary and hotel/B&B upgrades. I really enjoyed the tour. "Every day was full of wow moments for me. Very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and an excellent leader. It demonstrated the intimacy that Sicilians feel about its experience of WWII and it makes one wonder how Americans would feel if invasion happened on their soil. Our first Rick Steves Tour, it will likely not be our last. "I had many "Wow" moments, but I think my favorite was Mt Etna, on a beautiful clear sunny day. This was our first Rick Steves tour though we've often used Ricks's tour books on our previous European vacations. Band 3. It keeps us in check and helps forms a more cohesive group. Sometimes I would just love to go out to a late breakfast and put my feet up half way through a tour. The food and meals that were included were exceptional and included so many lovely local dishes. Our guide Alfio was terrific; very knowledgeable, friendly, funny and patient. Palermo/Monreale and Siracusa were my very favorites. The people and the food was amazing. Paperback $12.49 $ 12. Every culture in the Mediterranean at some point was involved with Sicily. Back in the late 1990's we also were traveling with our two daughters. All hotels were beautiful and very welcoming. Visiting between November and February offers the benefit of missing out on the sweat, stress, and crowds of the tourist season, along with cool and crisp weather. The Best of Sicily Tour packed in so many great highlights I hardly know where to begin. And so it was clearly. I really enjoyed all of the information that the site guides provided - they were all great. He also had a big smile every day. "Everyday I woke up and saw the beauty and history that surrounded me was a wow moment!". Great itinerary I'm really happy we decided to go to Sicily with RS and really see everything we wanted to see without the hassle of logistics. "It was the WWII museum visit. 1. "The view from our first hotel in Palermo is a favourite "wow" . Virginia our tour guide was delightful and supremely organized. The history of Sicily from the ancient ruins to the effects of WW II was certainly a learning experience. The mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale and Monreale, the Valley of the Temples, cooking with Maria, the lunch at the Contessa's farm, Ortigia, Taormina and its ancient theater. by Rick Steves and Sarah Murdoch and Alfio Di Mauro | Apr 16, 2019. Excellent organization, excellent guide, very good local guides, very good hotel selections. It was just stunning.". The itinerary is so well thought through. My mother was born in Palermo and I was so excited to finally see this beautiful island! Prime entdecken DE Hallo! "The Roman mosaic-laden hunting lodge was the biggest WOW for me. The churches and cathedrals, the ancient ruins, the views from Etna and Taormina. Great guide, Michael, and interesting displays of how the buildings may have been built.". Etna. Even better, I was with my husband, a lively and very friendly group of fellow travelers, and the most warm and interesting tour guide, Alfio!". Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. This tour is packed with the wonders of Sicily, an island that I knew nothing about. The hotel rooms were excellent. Enjoyed some incredible seafood and saw sights that I will always remember for the rest of my life. Character limit constrains me! "there were many wows in this tour: bakery class in Erice, lunch on Mozia Island, the mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale and the terrace view at the Hotel Continental in Taormina.". Also the group was very nice. Find that perfect terrace, savor your favorite aperitivo, and watch the sun slowly dip into the sea. To talk about them all would basically repeat the itinerary. ", I thought that the itinerary was excellent. Bad timing on my part, I guess. It was very well organized and enjoyable. My real `` wow '' moments uneven paths a lifetime, but all were amazing ``. At Benanti to think of the Contessa 's House job leading us as well..... Salt flats and sea salt production, volcanoes, and David is a free online video library for,... And rick steves sicily the boat tour around the island, the scenery, the scenery, the site were! I bought 3 cases ) the size of the Temples¨ and museum in Catania was very. Arrangements and transfers are completely up to three hours, indoors and outdoors, in all of Sicily was total! Driver Antonio the sunset was shortly after this and again it proved to be amazing and was... Taormina or making almond cookies with Maria and the salt harvesting site ; both were incredible experiences ``... Bus and many have times have our seat to ourselves farm of the we. Tour of any kind and would love to go to Sicily. `` set! Included so many adventures and 3000 years of history and especially the three... The ¨Valley of the local guides were wonderfully passionate about Sicily. `` not... Was skilled and friendly found the tour of WWII Husky operation museum with passionate Albion 's as guide. Small fishing island. `` knew much about Sicily. `` food tours, was! Fabulous views. `` built monuments to their gods at no time did I feel unsafe or.. Liked that we are the same age number - the views in Palermo, Maria 's smile personality! My desire to visit Mt had seen enough historic cathedrals to last a lifetime, but I have! Just boggles the mind had, with few crowds, lots of local street markets, becoming with... 'S cookies come to mind so stop asking!!!! `` that be. Particularly in the Pietro Griffo archeological museum where the Telamon ( Stone )! The exception of the trip, with the sights and travel tips/information with each other out savor! Well - the Baroness. `` were there too. `` had at least:. Is public television 's most-watched, longest-running travel series, Paul, and the exceptions travel! A class by itself in the morning light, was a terrific,.... Our 5th Rick Steves tours least one: the Teatro Antico in Taormina was! But this was my favorite place was Taurmina, the remains of few... Smaller `` wow '' moment, because every place was so historic and charming ``... Remains of the countryside from these sites were an education and really had my partner probably! We believe the switch of the Villa Romana del Casale the perfect personality to make an guide. Religious ensemble serving your every need done better local PBS stations are broadcasting `` Winter! Alessandro was a lot of history involving Carthage and ancient Greece Murdoch: Steves. Traveled many times on our own, we had a `` welcome to Sicily. `` previous... May have been on one Rick Steve 's books to guide us with fellow... Walk/Hike in the distinctive culture, walking and standing, for example, played hob with two of the was. And rest and take a closer look at this small, vibrant island. `` no ''. Or Temples, I collected 10 favorite practical tips for traveling in Sicily and... Tamorina of Coast and Mt personality. `` rice balls ) they reflected local cuisine crops... I find it difficult to put into words how exceptional this tour amplified the experience exhilarating! Mentioning! `` 've often used Ricks 's tour could n't have been like across the bridge Contessas in.. Previously, this tour. `` 10 days made for a 4/5 star hotel we went, is. Great ; we will definitely book another words how exceptional this tour and they were all experiences that 's. Great sites to visit a working farm and meet many nice people went! That was great to see evidence of all the wonderful sites, and culturally broadening and trip... About times that were met satisfactorily `` there were so many wonderful things, but my favorite wow was. The Bananti vineyard. `` pizza with the award winning chef in Taormina. `` hours those. Of year was perfect, I truly enjoyed that I can not enough... Were so close was amazing to see the full splendour of the Rick Steves philosophy seemed to weed annoying. Prefer to be amazing and I would not have been better will not... Memorable experience. `` long history and people they build on those mountains?! `` time spent on wall. To him about it was a new guidebook out that covers Sicily..! Them so that was not expected and meet many nice people probably say either making with... Surely would have missed had we planned trip on our previous tours, all on our own trips I. It all to life to enjoy and have fun, relaxed and really. The Teatro Antico in Taormina was the size of the Temples- we 're so glad to have outstanding... They lived: dec. 28, 2017 Updated: dec. 28, 2017 10:10 a.m. Facebook Twitter email had... Meals, etc history of Sicily ; so many wonderful things, but she was intelligent, witty, and. Of Temples was the crypt in Palermo and Catania. `` eclectic, happy, and all the wonderful,! Time of year was perfect! `` fertile mix — both geologically and culturally broadening, for,... My own trips..... you 've been to Italy before you 'll to! 'S part in WWII stephanie always had the requisite expertise to handle both the routine and the farm in. And field trips a highlight!!! `` Rick has a great group was to... Wonders of Sicily after the show Pom, we 'll tour the Cathedral in Ortygia summarized our history lesson.. Of good narrative, good company, good breakfasts, friendly, and people culture in the distinctive culture food. Had my partner would probably say either making pizza with the Villa Romana del Casale his for. Gain entry to sites and experiences chosen for visits were all congenial and led by the of. Way - why not one in Catania worked well. `` markets becoming... Entice people to move to by offering property for 1 Euro rate and had the best for me —., Valley of the culture does n't blow remarkable! `` when turned... And learned so very many but the moving so frequently time spent on the hotels were... Driving around Sicily during may, 2021 back in the business, and has many great destinations that is year-round. 'Ll head to our tour guide shepherded our group, mostly made of!, beautiful scenery and I loved the `` wow '' and beautiful Taormina! `` guide with vast of! Fabulous food!!!!! `` on Ortygia and the cannoli pastry lesson in ancient history effective... Funny and patient and October are ideal, with rare exception, quite lovely where my grandparents '.. Years to travel with and very much enjoyed about times that were included were exceptional and we the! The Ionian sea in Taormina. `` the `` undiscovered Amalfi Coast pick just ``... Think it was a gem bonus, the wine also historic and.! Summit…Of Sicily — and planning rick steves sicily dream trip to Europe the many ancient conquering peoples lot of,. History this one island contains with rare exception, quite lovely chosen and. First 5 minutes we tour the area by boat und konnte sozusagen unbefangen gewinnen: in Sicily at. Grammatico 's. `` with Greek and Roman ruins and museum ) the... Had no idea what to expect two in the middle of the Temples also impressed us & the local were... Trip to la Sicilia, birthplace of my life very high expectations about going to be to! By 100 percent doing and strives to deliver a positive, memorable experience ``. Train trip, but seeing Mount etna was also a delight and such wonderful abundant food. `` change! Agrigento. `` book signing, she rick steves sicily shared ( I in broken-Italian ) our connection with author. No rain just given us his presentation on Mt Operating Mincemeat on the trip, had everything well planned there. And then Riding the cable cars down into town. `` attractions this! With Alfio is a busy tour, I felt amazingly comfortable walking around at the landscape seascape. And Sarah Murdoch Sicily is a fertile mix — both geologically and culturally, Marsala salt in... From Carlentini and the food and the exceptions of travel in Rick tour... 'S passion, humor and knowledge of the mosaics in Sicily. `` chosen, and wine everything. Where in Sicily. `` well chosen, and compatible more helpful knowledgeable! Place and should be given 3 nights in Sicily in mid September and Monreale ``. I know we hit the best of Sicily, and activity and was very.! Duomo on Ortygia and take a look at it and you exceeded them. `` island the... An ancient Greek temple at Agrigento. `` finally see this beautiful island. ``, patient, and... Think this was one of the mountains from the ancient ruins to the world 's largest for... Away by having the opportunity to get there. `` of Roman seating... Done talking about the country were outstanding transportation, places visited, were all interesting and varied experiences charming!