DAY 1: Overnight Flight
Depart for Europe.

DAY 2: Palermo
Arrive in Sicily, where you will meet your tour manager. After check in there will be time to unpack, relax and freshen up before this afternoon's visit to the local marionette museum, where you can see a traditional Sicilian puppet show. This evening's welcome dinner is at one of Palermo's finest restaurants. Enjoy your first taste of authentic Sicilian cuisine, which combines Italian traditions with a touch of Eastern spice. (D)

DAY 3: Palermo
Today, visit Palermo's historic center on a guided tour. Begin at the Quattro Canti, or four corners, where two of the cities most prominent streets cross; one built during the Renaissance and one during ancient Arabic rule. Continue to the immense 13th century Dominican church of Santa Caterina, and the adjacent palm gardens of the Norman La Martorana church. The latter, fashioned in the Greek style in 1143, houses one of the most extraordinary collections of medieval mosaics found in all of Italy. Next visit the main Cathedral. Its many layers of construction show different influences over a thousand years. End your tour with a trip to nearby Monreale for a guided visit of its majestic Cathedral, long-considered the most beautiful in Sicily. It is an architectural gem and contains the most complete cycle of mosaics in the Byzantine tradition. Spend the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. In the evening, enjoy dinner in the heart of the city at a local family-style trattoria before returning to your hotel. (B,D)

DAY 4: Palermo
Start the day with an excursion through Palermo's most beautiful gardens. First is the Orto Botanico, botanical gardens founded in 1785 that are home to an enormous variety of tropical and subtropical flora, like the century-old ficus magnolioides. From the Orto Botanico, a short footpath leads to Villa Giulia, a quaint park set sprinkled with scented lemon trees and stone statues. Goethe once described the garden as "the most wonderful spot on earth...it seems enchanted and transports one back into the ancient world." At midday, enjoy a light lunch at a nearby trattoria before heading out on our afternoon garden tour to the exquisite Villa Malfitano. The villa itself was constructed in 1886 by Joseph Whitaker, who had plant species from all over the world shipped here to decorate the majestic gardens. The Dragon's Blood banyan tree is the only one found in Europe. During World War II, General George Patton quietly planned his invasion of southern Italy under the peaceful shade of the park. Following the tours, head back to the hotel to prepare for a special dinner at one of Palermo's noble palaces. (B,L,D)

DAY 5: Agrigento
This morning, visit Palermo's famous open-air market, accurately named the vucciria, a corruption of the French word boucherie or butcher shop. Take the chance to wander through one of the most diverse markets in all of Europe, filled with epicurean delights ranging from local fish to native produce and Sicilian specialty foods. After lunch on your own, a comfortable ride brings you to Agrigento, the Greek city founded in 581 B.C. that became rich and powerful through trade with nearby Carthage. Aside from its breathtaking panorama, the city is host to the most significant archaeological site in Sicily. After check in at the hotel, a local guide will lead you on a visit to the magnificent Valley of the Temples. Walk past the temples of Juno Lacinia, Concord, and Hercules, reaching the Temple of Asclepius. Named after the god of healing, this dedication was situated on a stream that was thought to have curative properties. The nearby Temple of Olympian Zeus is the single largest Greek temple in the world. Although an earthquake tore down most of its structure, the enormous foundations that remain make its vast dimensions quite imaginable. Later this evening, enjoy a relaxing dinner at the hotel, before an evening drive along the boulevard beside the temples. At night, these stunning relics of the past are illuminated in all their majestic glory. (B,D)

DAY 6: Taormina
This morning, cross the interior of Sicily, to Piazza Armerina for a guided visit to the famous Roman villa located here led by a local resident scholar. After nearly one thousand years of use, the Casale country house was destroyed by a flood in the 12th century. Ironically, the mud that destroyed it preserved the dazzling mosaic floors of the villa. They portray mythical figures, hunting scenes, and scantily clad maidens, as well as portraits of the family that once lived there. The collection is perhaps the most informative look at that period's culture in the entire world. After lunch, journey to the seaside resort of Taormina. The town was founded in 358 B.C. as a satellite colony of the ancient Greeks. Due to its location, it was successively occupied by the Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and then Normans. Like Palermo, elements of each period and culture can be found here. Perched high on looming cliffs, the charming town boasts a magnificent view of the Ionian Sea below and volcanic Mount Etna to the Southeast. After check-in you will have time to relax, freshen up, and stroll about town prior to this evening's welcome dinner at one of Taormina's alleyway restaurants, featuring the best in regional cuisine. (B,D)

DAY 7: Taormina
This morning, voyage to Syracuse, once the decisive battlefront of the Peloponnesian Wars. Accompanied by an expert local guide, visit the ancient Greek precinct of Neapolis for a guided tour of the area. Here you will find the great Theater of Syracuse, measuring 455 feet in diameter. Once a stage for the plays of Aeschylus, the Romans later converted it to hold their gladiatorial battles. Located at the top of the stadium is the enormous Altar of Hieron. Although little is left, its base exhibits the striking size and importance it must have had. Cross a sea bridge to the small island of Ortigia. Beside colorful boats moored in the small port, enjoy a light snack at one of the many charming cafes. After time to stroll about the town center, head back to Taormina, stopping on the way at a Sicilian masseria for a specially arranged dinner featuring a traditional Sicilian folklore show. (B,D)

DAY 8: Taormina
Dedicate today to studying botanical sights and smells of Taormina. In the morning, walk through town on a guided tour with a visit to the Greek Theater, which offers spectacular views of the glassy blue sea and volcanic Mount Etna in the distance. Nearby stop at the town's Giardino Pubblico, a public garden filled with fragrant flowers and stunning vistas. In the afternoon, we will visit two private gardens. The first, Casa Cuseni, was built by Robert Hawthorn Kitson in 1905. Because Taormina's excellent climate fosters vibrant growth, these gardens are continually brimming with colorful flora and are considered by many to be the most magnificent in all of Europe. Always a popular destination among intellectuals, Casa Cuseni accommodated the likes of Tennessee Williams, Bertrand Russell and Roald Dahl. After taking in the view from the art nouveau balcony, one can understand the inspirational qualities of the energetic gardens, the bay of Naxos below and the fire-breathing Mt. Etna in the background. Next, head to the Villa Madonna della Rocca. Steeply terraced, these hanging gardens are rich with exotic flowers and local native flora, while offering excellent angles of the adjacent Greek Theatre. This evening, enjoy a gourmet farewell dinner at a local restaurant in Taormina. (B,D)

DAY 9: Departure
Depart for the USA.