Being my first Rick Steves tour I didnt know what to expect. Plus we had a fantastic guide in Alfio.
Fist time with RS Tours.
With Rick Stevens you are traveling from one event to the next.
The Roman Villa with its mosaics was extraordinary.
All of the villages and towns we visited were charming, all of the hotels where we stayed were great, and Jamie, our guide, was fabulous. The history, the food, the people, the sites - wow!
It was an awesome tour experience. "Taromina - seeing Mt.
Sicily is such an interesting place! The tour contained a mix of fascinating history, culture, and spectacular natural scenery.
I really enjoyed the tour. Bus: 2 hours. Tour Questions?
She is clearly a highly experienced professional.
There was also a great balance of down time where you could just hang like a local or explore even more! Opportunity to celebrate Easter in Italy! And the food, of course.".
The first impression on the rooftop in Palermo with a WOW view of the ancient city, the multiple course dinners of scrumptious food, Marias beautiful lunch spread and cooking class, Valley of the Temples in Agrigento was surreal, the beautiful winery lunch and tasting in Mt Edna, the views from many of our hotels were WOW and last but not least Taorminas Ancient Greek Theater is picture perfect and etched in my mind forever.".
Great sites and scenery, wonderful tour guides and city guides, great group of people traveled with, delicious food! "I love the Italian community.
"The three arranged lunches, great settings and fabulous food. "Mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale which was a primary reason we chose this tour. ", This was a bucket list trip for me and my first tour experience. "Picking a favorite wow moment is difficult! The bookings of hotels, local guides and restaurants went very smoothly. Salute!
"Taormina on the east coast of Sicily. I didn't know what to expect, but once we met our guide, I could tell that Andrea was knowledgable, kind, enthusiastic, caring, professional and was going to be the one to make this tour outstanding!
This was our first Rick Steves tour though we've often used Ricks's tour books on our previous European vacations.
"I would have to say that the Cathedral in Ortygia summarized our history lesson perfectly.
Sicily was wonderful with lots of variety -- the history was remarkable.
We had a small group - only 12 people - and it was a very compatible, friendly and fun group.
The history of Sicily from the ancient ruins to the effects of WW II was certainly a learning experience. That same night I was able to view Mt Etna from my balcony and see the red "lava blurps" at the top of the volcano. The Greek Roman Theater in Taormina was breathtaking and the view was amazing.
Hotels and their location were fine.
Also Monreale.".
Sicily gave me an amazing look of it's past history as well as an appreciation for it's modern day amalgamation of it's culture.
The food and scenery were equally enjoyable.".
"I most enjoyed our time in Taormina, but seeing Mount Etna was my favorite part of the tour.".
Initial experience on arrival "what are we in for" but then the hotel terrace was like "WOW" at sunset. Rainer was an excellent tour guide. The small town of Taormina was charming.".
I was very wrong. "I was surprised and pleased to discover the Church of La Martorana was built and used by many cultures who worked together.".
We'll explore the local market, stroll through centuries in the Cathedral of Syracuse, and marvel at the masterpiece of the Piazza del Duomo. Allisandro did a great job driving and keeping us safe.
I love that each hotel is different, with its own vibe, comfortable and centrally located, most close to the water or with a view.
Well organized with a great guide and a bus driver that was excellent. It was a great mixture of varied experiences.
More than one favorite Winery visit in my Etna,". And an entertaining pastry demo by a former convent resident.
This afternoon we'll head to our tranquil countryside hotel. Excursions were well chosen. Thoroughly enjoyed my second overall visit to Sicily and third trip with RS Tours.
"The positive attitude and enthusiasm from Tomasso, our guide.". And a special treat was to be there while the spring wildflowers were in bloom.
Everything from Palermo to Catania was wonderful!
Nina excellent, very knowledgeable. This was our first RS trip and it was great; we will definitely book another. Lots of walking and opportunities for different types of food. The local guides used were fantastic - the tour of the Monreale Cathedral by Jacqi Alio was so interesting. Followed by an incredible Sicilian lunch prepared for all of us. "There were so many "Wow" moments! We had great weather everyday of the tours.
Etna. Etna.
My one criticism of this tour: it deserves at least one more full day. I had read about the Valley of the temples, but Segesta was a delightful surprise.
When we got to the theater at Segesta, we were the only people there for the first 5 minutes! I have been referring to this as my gastronomic tour of Italy. ", Excellent tour.
Booking round-trip to one city will require a connecting flight, train trip, or overnight stay.
In particular, our guide Nina made it a lot of fun with her humour, knowledge and pilates on the bus. "FOOD, Mt. Excellent and fascinating museum.
"There were so very many but the one that took me most by surprise was the WWII museum in Catania.
It was quite an excursion and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Jamie was quite knowledgeable of the area, its history, and as an added bonus, the food and the wine!
Overall, Alfio provided both and expert and personal tour of Sicily.
Terms of Service | Privacy, Marsala salt flats boat cruise (weather permitting). Etna.
I saw such a variety of places and did many different activities, but was also able to explore on my own. She was well informed about food, culture, and history.
"There were so many.
"The museum and Greek temple at Agrigento, views from the top of the amphitheater at Taormina.". Only suggestion would be to put where they lived. What a view!".
Our group, 28, was a good group with the majority being married couples, a rareity in travel.
"In general, the mix of architecture from the various nations dominating Sicily throughout history.". I think the schedule could benefit from an edit to allow people to catch their breath. We'll tour the cathedral's interior of glittering, golden mosaics as well as the story-telling columns of the cloister. To my right, Mt.
Sicilian Pizza !!!! A traveler who does not enjoy traipsing into hot stuffy shops to buy key chains.
Rainer, was an outstanding Guide.
He was full of "value added" surprises, knowledge, charm, wit, and very engaging. Etna, the Mediterranean Sea, the Ruins, the beautiful houses were breathtaking.". We'd read some books about Sicily before we departed the US and got to Palermo 2 days early to be over jet lag.
The trip was well planned, entertaining, and very informative.
The diversity of people, landscape, architecture, and food made it an exceptional place to visit. Other than that, it would be the various vistas seen from the tops of mountains and the beautiful sea views.
Etna was hard to beat.". ", "Two: the Valley of the Temples (and museum), and Monreale.".
He also had a big smile every day. Sleep in Trapani. It was so nice to travel abroad again, and engage with others in food, history, architecture, and language. Rainer's narration was deliberate, powerful, and emotionally impactful. love for the food. Everything from the extraordinary experiences to the special friendships formed made the trip very special. This was our second Rick Steves tour and we enjoyed it greatly.
Churches, ruins, food, views - too hard to choose one. ", "Taormina, we need at least one more day.". Then the places selected, the knowledge imparted, the structure of the tour were also outstanding.
So one of my wow moments was at the church in Syracuse (former Greek temple, Mosque, church) and the feeling that we are all the same in our humaness.".
Balance between incredibly old sites and contemporary culture was reasonable. To talk about them all would basically repeat the itinerary.
"My wow moment came when we sat under the shadow of Mount Etna and I realized that there were close to a million people who lived their lives within striking distance of an eruption. Also the World War II Museum and the walk in the fog at Erice were great highlights.
"For me it was the trip to Mt Etna with Boris Bencke, the local vulcanologist.
Would be difficult if out of shape or with mobility limitations. It was fun to view the red molten lava at night flowing down the mountain from a new fissure that had just recently opened up.
I loved it! "The mosaics are Monreale cathedral with our guide Jackie.".
Bus: 3 hours.
I have been on four Rick Steves tours, all of which were great.
This afternoon you're free to luxuriate in this cliffhanging, Old World resort town.
"What enchanted me the most was Mount Etna.
Great weather, very comfortable travel and hotels, good food, good people. "Our Wow! Moment was in our free time, encouraged by our guide.
"My favorite wow moment was listening to archeologist on the Phoenician island of Mozia he answered questions we had about culture so little is known about.".
Relatively fast paced tour that covers the major sites and destinations of Sicily.
The old town at Syracusa was perhaps the most fun place with its narrow streets and lively shops and cafes.".
He provided the context for understanding.
Also loved going to the puppet theatre and play.
The accommodations were very diverse, clean, good breakfasts, friendly desk staff.
My 7th tour and third in Italy.
We could not have planned all of these details ourselves.
.
The group of travelers got along famously, and the group meals and events were great fun. ", Well structured and organized.
Loved not sweating the details, and the myriad surprises each day.
The varied types of activities we did were both fun and highly educational.
Sicily is underrated as a vacation destination. They were the best of local fare served by enthusiastic entrepreneurs who seemed delighted to host us in there special parts of the island.".
We had a great experience. Palermo deserves more time and a much more extensive walking tour.
Sicilian food is so delicious! "My favorite wow moment would have to be a tie between Monreale and Villa Romana del Casale for the incredible intricacy, craftsmanship, and beauty of these two stops on our tour. We traveled with a terrific guide and outstanding group of travelers. Sicily with Alfio di Mauro was truly exhilarating.
"I would have to say our visit to Villa Romana del Casale. I had no real idea what expect, but our guide did a masterful job of explaining the past as well as the present.
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. Scenery was gorgeous!". Monreale deserves a full half day or more. And our guide, Nina, was fabulous! 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. Travel companions were great. "The Greek Temples at Agrigento and Segesta, closely followed by the mosaics at Monreale.". I accompanied a friend who was going on the RS tour.
The PASTA and all food, "The entire tour was one big WOW moment.
Everything about it was great - RS Guide, events, food, hotels, etc.
Through the guidance of Tommasso, I learned a lot of history, culture and cuisine of Sicily.
Walking inside a Mt. He was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic sharing his years of knowledge & research.". Then it's on to Syracuse. A tried and true tour that I can tell has been continuously improved to perfection over time. Our apprentice guide Andrea was also knowledgeable, helpful and funny. Your guide was excellent. She also seems like a genuinely good person.
The pacing was great, the sites and various tour guides were very.
We'll tour the Phoenician island of Mozia and learn about this bygone civilization. This was the first of many delightful tastes of the incredible Sicilian food we enjoyed throughout the trip.".
Prep work using Rick Steves videos, tips and expectation guides helped get ready for what was ahead.
Very cool! The palazzo in Palermo, the hotel/views in Trapani, the darling town of Ortygia, the Greek ruins in Agrigento, the Roman villa and its mosaics (!
Not only was she extremely knowledgeable about our destinations, but she was so down to earth, so warm and friendly.
Then we'll begin our Sicilian adventure by joining a contessa for a personal tour of her family's home, the Palazzo Federico. Also enjoyed the local guides who were very knowledgeable. All in all, a wonderful trip. A perfect country to take a Rick Steve's tour.
This was the first tour we've ever taken, being very independent travellers.
Most days are strenuously paced with 28 miles of walking, including hilly terrain and lots of stairs. "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. The Best of Sicily Tour packed in so many great highlights I hardly know where to begin.
"Lunch at Maria Grammatica's home.
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.
It was a very special time to be there.".
We suggest arriving a day or two before your tour begins to allow ample time to get over jet lag and be well-rested for the first few days of your tour.
I was hesitant to go to Sicily because I believed we would need a car (and I'm a really crappy driver).
Our tour companions were all congenial and fun to spend time with.
"There were many beautiful moments on the trip, with amazing scenery and touring remarkable places. I especially enjoyed the Palazzo Federico visit with the Contessa who gave a warm, personal tour of her home and interesting apperitivo which was a fun introduction to Sicily.
It was a plentiful amount of really great food! But from the first glimpse of the mountains from the plane, I knew this was going to be a special trip.
", "The Etna experience was great with the plumes and walk/hike in the park.
It felt so comfortable here.
"Gosh, first I thought it touring Monreale, then I thought it was the day in Agrigento touring the Greek ruins followed by staying at the Bagio della Luna overlooking those ruins. Lovely town, exquisite scenery, Roman ruins, great food, and wonderful people. "My partner would probably say either making pizza with the award winning chef in Taormina or making almond cookies with Maria.
It was a wonderful trip. "There was a "WOW" moment every day, but I especially enjoyed the cathedral in Monreale for it's storytelling in mosaics, the wonderfully preserved mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale, the awesome Valley of the Temples, and a wonderful clear day on the Slopes of Mt Edna.
Also the mixtures of different cultures that formed present day Sicily gave me a better understanding of countries around the Mediterranean Sea.".
Top notch and a true professional in every way.
Enjoyed the food cooking demonstrations as it's loads of fun.
During this time I've noticed the hotels have improved; they have become more upscale. The trip had a nice progression of history, variety of cities leading up to Taormina.". Wonderful travel companions.
"There were a lot of wow moments, but my favorite was the Piazza Duomo in Ortigia.".
The overall experience was Exceptional.
The activities were well paced, enough to do but not overwhelming. Small group of 14 was very cohesive. ", "I really liked the visit with the countess in Palermo, which convinced me to do this toursomething I would be unable to do on my own.". They put time and passion into preparation. Every day was a new exciting adventure. Here's what you'll see and do on our Best of Sicily tour: Fine print: You are responsible for the cost of your drinks and free-time sightseeing. She was friendly made sure everyone was doing well during the trip.
The Rick Steves Sicily guidebook also gave us many non-tour highlights during our free time, and during 3 days in Palermo before the tour. And fun!!!
I had a "wow" day visiting the 2400-year old unfinished temple in Segesta, the Maria Grammatico lunch spread and pastry making adventure with walk around Erice and sunset in Trapani.
If I had to choose only one, it would be the mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale. Sicily history spanned almost all of Europe. I know that I could have arrived a few days earlier, but I prefer to have a guide to the city and that is why I sign up for the Rick Steves tours because the guides are so fabulous.
They were truly breathtaking.
It was an amazing experience from beginning to end. As a woman approaching 60, I felt amazingly comfortable walking around at night.
It was absolutely magical and well orchestrated! He shared a wealth of knowledge about Mt. I like that the fact that she lived in the United States, and has lived in Italy for over 20 years. The people, food, wine, cities, ancient temples and Greek theaters were awesome. The grand piazza in Ortigia, the theater and temple at Segesta and luncheon on the Baroness' farm".
I've worked with groups for 40 years and I was impressed by his skill as a group leader. As with our previous tours, this tour was well planned and well executed. It was a privilege to learn so much from them.
I wish my father was alive so I could talk to him about it.".
Tie breaker: Alfio's surprise treat at Catania market!". Our tour was put together very well , our Bus
"Mount Etna , the visit to the home, food". Out tour guide, Nina, was awesome.
People in Sicily appeared to take COVID precautions seriously unlike the rural area in the USA where I live.".
This was our 5th Rick Steves Tour and it was fantastic like the others.
I felt so much better with masks required for the group and knowing that a negative test and proof of vaccination had to be shown.
We were impressed by every aspect of the experience.
To have watched any performance in that theater would have been magical!". We did not find the pace too strenuous and ended the tour ready for more.
This was such a wonderful tour!
First rate guides, accommodations; adventures, etc.
Finally I was entirely wowed by the going away luncheon and wine tasting at the Bananti vineyard.".
They guides were incredible! Boat: 1 hour.
A wow moment has to be the weather--wow, we were grateful!".
see our FAQ. I love visiting Mt. Very well organized.
"I especially loved all the ancient sites- Segesta, Valley of the Temples, Villa Romana del Casale. The balance of group activities and free time was ideal.
The sense of history there - the ability to envision that space when the temples were in use and blazing white in the ancient sun - was palpable. Alfio was our guide and his knowledge, "I would have to have to say I was most impressed with the Villa Romana del Casale, and its mosaics.". "Probably the baroque church that Nancy took us to.
We previously toured Italy using Rick's books and were please with his recommendations for important sites, hotels, and restaurants.
This was our 4th RS tour and knew it would be packed with history, experience, and activity and was not disappointed. His knowledge of Sicily's history, only second to his love of his birthplace, shone through the narrative at every stop. I enjoyed my quiet time on benches quite a lot. We'll learn how nearly a year before D-Day, Allied troops found themselves fighting against and at the same time liberating their Italian adversaries.
Ceto dei Naviganti - Processione dei Misteri - Trapani statues So did the quality of our guides, Stephanie and Nancy. We visited so many interesting and unusual places, and our tour leader was excellent.
Guide was super, open, engaging, knowledgeable.
Moderate walking: 26 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. The Best of Sicily tour touched great cities and towns. It was outstanding in every way. I expected a lot due to RST reputation and I was not disappointed!
2.
Being late in the season, we virtually had many sights to ourselves and that was great.
Appreciated the general congeniality of the tour members! It made the trip so much easier for us and we were able to enjoy every moment without worrying about my husbands meals. Thank you for elevating our tour experience on so many levels!
Sleep in Palermo. Loved the tour guides, itinerary, daily plans, variety of experiences.
Comfortable bus, mostly interesting site selections, and good hotels.
"The Roman Villa at Piazza Armenia was amazing. Maybe my real "wow" was how this tour over delivered every single day.". I find it difficult to put into words how exceptional this tour was.
What a wonderful opportunity to experience the Sicilian culture and sample foods we might have never considered.".
Sicily itself was gorgeous and loaded with fascinating Greek and other temples and ruins. Etna was surely a "wow" and the wild weather made it even more of an adventure. "The views from Taormina were spectacular.".
"Segesta was a great experience especially after seeing the theater then going down to visit the temple.".
"Hmmm I think it has to be the first glimpses of Taormina from our orientation walk!!".
Thanks Rick Steves and our awesome tour guide Tommaso of Sicily!! This is not my first trip to Italy; but I always leave wanting to return.". As a history major, I was blown away by having the opportunity to see them in person.". "The Roman Villa with mosaic floors moved me because it helped me imagine a busy household and the life they held, made the history more intimate and personal.". Sleep on the island of Ortygia.
For decades we've planned our own trips.. you've made us a convert!
The group was full of experienced travelers and interesting people that I enjoyed getting to know. It's hard to imagine that parts of it date to 600 BC and the location has been a house of worship for 2600 years.
We were able to see all the available sites of high interest.
Hotel terrace view in Tamorina of coast and Mt. Guides (we had an apprentice as well as main guide) were fabulous - not intrusive but genuinely interested in giving you a good trip.
Plus lots of laughs with new friends on the tour.". Now, tears again.".
Culture and Life Style.
This was my 8th Rick Steves Tour over a 20 year period.
I thought it was very well chosen.
"One wow!
Etna when the weather was good.
Alfio is an exceptional guide - knowledgeable, organized, warm, friendly, with a good sense of humor.
The people on the tour were bright, articulate, well-traveled and fun to be with.
She could not have been more helpful, professional, or funny.
We were drawn to Sicily primarily by its history, which is so intriguing. Etna.". Etna, but let me explain.
"One of my most beautiful moments was on the restaurant balcony of our Taormina hotel.
Magnifico!
My complete Sicilian immersion can be summed up in one word: fantastico!
Tour was a bit more informal than other tours we've been on. Italian pastries aren't as sweet as those in America; I'll be using less sugar from now on when baking. What always impresses is the outstanding quality of the tour guides. "To many wows to choose a favorite. Thoroughly enjoyed the entire tour.
She had a light touch in knowing how to handle potentially uncomfortable subjects and did so brilliantly.
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 history, geography, food, the folks on the tour, and the people we met along the way made for a truly incredible experience.
We'll meet our local guide and take a walking tour of Palermo and its colorful, bustling Ballar street market all spiced with an evocative whiff of Africa. Touring around the the Island there was so much diversity from area to area. My husband would rather not drive so he can enjoy the travel time.
Bus: 4 hours. We were well prepared on what to expect each day, and every day was an adventure of wonderful history, the culture and history of the Sicilians, and all the beautiful sights. being handled for us. "Taormina. I think the group and our guide Alfio worked well to meet up on time and keep moving from place to place.
This afternoon we'll enjoy a lively performance of Sicily's traditional puppet theater, where the language is no barrier to entertainment.
Really. ", "Everything. Yummy!". "Polpo bollito at Palermo market, buffet and pastry lesson at Marie Grammatico's, wine-tasting on Aetna, Contessa's home tour, Alberto's presentation at the Museo della Sal, Valley of Temples guided walk (exceptional guide), pizza lesson and dinner with Corado in Taormina, boat ride and Caravagigo's "Burial of St Lucy in Ortygia .
"Noting all the "no mafia" symbols in Palermo. Alfio, our tour guide, was excellent.
We had a wonderful trip !!! Monreale, meeting Maria who taught us how to make her pastry, and the wonderful lunch we had afterward.
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. Bus: 3 hours.
Aside from the bed bugs in the hotel at Agrigento, it was absolutely perfect.
What a fabulous spot, and the hotel there was so beautiful!". The valley of the temples was a standout, as was Segesta. How Rainer took our pictures at the beginning of the tour with our names on them so that we could remember everyone's name. It was just stunning.".
In a nutshell, the tour started out great and simply got better each day. This morning we'll tour Taormina's remarkably situated ancient Greek theater, which is still used today for open-air performances. The variety of sights and activities was fantastic!
From the depth of history to the beauty of the countryside to the excellent food and wine to the laid back and friendly Sicilians - the place grows on you. Sicily is a fascinating area.
Wonderful ancient architecture in cathedrals such as in Monreale, the sweeping vistas from Erice, the Roman mosaics preserved in the Villa Romana del Casale, the majestic Greek Valley of the Temples, a gloriously sunny day on Mt.
Etna is the metaphor for the people who have lived and survived over the millennia.". We were quarantined in Palermp COVID center for a week and had to rebook our flight home at a premium cost of $2600. "The Valley of The Temples was the most impressive.