Messina Trip Overview
Among our tours of Sicily with this one you can take the opportunity to explore the Northwestern side of the island: be enchanted by the Salt Pans of Trapani, Erice, Palermo, Cefalù & Monreale, capitals of the Arab-Norman heritage of Sicily. Start visiting the nature reserve of the Salt pans of Trapani, a unique place where it’s still preserved the old tradition of the salt extraction and continue with Erice, where you can discover the old medieval village and the castle. Don’t forget to taste the typical local cookies. You will discover also the capital of Sicily, Palermo, where you have the opportunity to admire the monuments that testify the Arab and Norman dominations in Sicily. Nearby Palermo, Cefalù and Monreale, are two of the most popular tourist destinations in Sicily. Their charming Cathedrals keeps inside mosaic decorations dating back from the XII century. In the last day, we’ll go to Caccamo, where one of the largest and best-preserved medieval castles in Sicily stands.
Additional Info
Duration: 6 days
Starts: Messina, Italy
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Messina Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Messina, Sicilia, Italy
Among our tours of Sicily with this one you can take the opportunity to explore the Northwestern side of the island: be enchanted by the Salt Pans of Trapani, Erice, Palermo, Cefalù & Monreale, capitals of the Arab-Norman heritage of Sicily. Start visiting the nature reserve of the Salt pans of Trapani, a unique place where it’s still preserved the old tradition of the salt extraction and continue with Erice, where you can discover the old medieval village and the castle. Don’t forget to taste the typical local cookies. You will discover also the capital of Sicily, Palermo, where you have the opportunity to admire the monuments that testify the Arab and Norman dominations in Sicily. Nearby Palermo, Cefalù and Monreale, are two of the most popular tourist destinations in Sicily. Their charming Cathedrals keeps inside mosaic decorations dating back from the XII century. In the last day, we’ll go to Caccamo, where one of the largest and best-preserved medieval castles in Sicily stands.
Itinerary
Day 1: Salt Pans of Trapani
Stop At: Trapani, Trapani, Province of Trapani, Sicily
Trapani is a port city and the capital of Trapani province in the north-west corner of Sicily, Italy. Trapani has a lively atmosphere due to its position as the capital and its economic activities as a port.
Duration: 5 hours
Stop At: Riserva Naturale Saline Di Trapani E Paceco, Garibaldi 138, 91011, Trapani, Sicily Italy
The nature reserve oriented the salt pans of Trapani and Paceco is a protected natural area of Sicily established in 1995, which extends for almost 1000 hectares in the territory of the municipalities of Trapani and Paceco.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4 stars hotel
Day 2: Erice village
Stop At: Erice, Erice, Province of Trapani, Sicily
Erice is a medieval village that nearby Trapani overlooks the archipelago of Egadi Islands.
Duration: 5 hours
Stop At: Castello di Venere, Largo Castello, 91016, Erice, Sicily Italy
It was frequented by local populations since prehistoric times, as evidenced by the discovery of many stone, ceramic, and bronze objects found in the area.is famous for its panoramic position, from where you can admire the landscape of Trapani.
Duration: 20 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4 stars hotel
Day 3: Palermo
Stop At: Palermo, Palermo, Province of Palermo, Sicily
Capital of Sicily, the third-largest city of the island.
Duration: 6 hours
Stop At: Cattedrale di Palermo, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 90040, Palermo, Sicily Italy
The primatial metropolitan cathedral basilica of the Holy Virgin Mary Assumption, known simply as Palermo Cathedral Church, is the main Catholic place of worship in the city of Palermo.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Quattro Canti, Corso Vittorio Emanuelle Via Maqueda, 90100, Palermo, Sicily Italy
Is an octagonal square at the intersection of Palermo’s two main roads.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Fontana della Vergogna (Fontana Pretoria), Piazza Pretoria, Palermo, Sicily Italy
The fountain was built in 1554 by the Florentine sculptor Francesco Camilliani for the garden of the Spanish nobleman Don Luigi Toledo, father-in-law of the Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo I de Medici.
Duration: 20 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4 stars hotel
Day 4: Palermo and Monreale
Stop At: Norman Palace, Piazza Indipendenza 1, 90129, Palermo, Sicily Italy
The Norman Palace, also known as the Royal Palace, is located in Palermo and is currently the seat of the Sicilian regional assembly. The palace is the oldest royal residence in Europe, home to the rulers of the Kingdom of Sicily, imperial seat with Frederick II and Corrado IV and the historic Sicilian Parliament
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Chiesa Inferiore della Cappella Palatina, Piazza del Parlamento, 90131, Palermo, Sicily Italy
The Palatine Chapel is a Norman-Byzantine style basilica, made consecrated in 1140 by King Roger II of Sicily, and which is located within the architectural complex of Palazzo dei Normanni in Palermo. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, within the Arab-Norman site of Palermo and the cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Monreale, Monreale, Province of Palermo, Sicily
The city of Monreale was born with the Normans in the XII century. Far from the Norman city stood an ancient Arab village Balharā [5]. located on the slopes of Monte Caputo at 310 m above sea level.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Duomo di Monreale, Piazza Guglielmo II 1, 90046, Monreale, Sicily Italy
The cathedral of Santa Maria Nuova is the main Catholic place of worship in Monreale, in the metropolitan city of Palermo, the archiepiscopal seat of the archdiocese of the same name.
Duration: 40 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4 stars hotel
Day 5: Cefalu
Stop At: Cefalu, Cefalu, Province of Palermo, Sicily
The town, which is part of the Madonie Park, is included in the club of the most beautiful villages in Italy, the association of small Italian towns that stand out for their great artistic, cultural and historical importance, for the harmony of the fabric urban, livability and services to citizens.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Duomo di Cefalu, Piazza del Duomo, 90015, Cefalu, Sicily Italy
Il Duomo di Cefalù sarebbe sorto per volere di Ruggero II, il quale si dice fosse riuscito a scampare a una tempesta, e che, per ringraziamento e devozione, volle edificare un Santuario, in onore del Santissimo Salvatore.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Tempio di Diana, Salita Saraceni, 90015, Cefalu, Sicily Italy
The temple of Diana is a megalithic structure dating back to the 9th century BC that resides on the cliff located north of the city of Cefalù.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Porta Pescara, Via Vittorio Emanuele, Cefalu, Sicily Italy
Porta Pescara has a characteristic late-medieval construction, with a Gothic arch topped by the coat of arms of the kings of Sicily.
Duration: 10 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4 stars hotel
Day 6: Caccamo
Stop At: Caccamo, Caccamo, Province of Palermo, Sicily
Caccamo is located overlooking the valley of the St. Leonard river.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Castello di Caccamo, via Termitana Palermo, 90012 Caccamo, Sicily Italy
The most important attraction in which there have succeeded one another all the population that during the century conquered the town.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
