Summary
Short description
Experience highlights of the Sicilian Baroque and an Inspector Montalbano tour, visiting Syracuse and Ragusa
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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:
8-day tailor-made holiday
from £2,700 pp incl. flights
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