Mediterranean Medley - Sicily & Malta

Day 1 - Thursday 4 September 2025

Melbourne - Sicily (in-flight meals)

Welcome to Sisterhood Womens Travel. 

Meet your fellow travellers and SWT representative (who will assist with check in) at the Melbourne Airport for your flight to Sicily. Sit back, relax and enjoy the inflight entertainment as we head towards our next adventure.

**Your tour hostess will meet you in Dubai for your flight to Sicily, therefore your flight Melbourne to Dubai will be unescorted.

Day 2 - Friday 5 September 2025

Welcome to Sicily!

Welcome to Sicily! 

Upon arrival into Catania, we'll be transferred to our hotel for check-in and have the remainder of the day at leisure.

Dinner tonight at leisure

Overnight - NH Catania Centro Hotel, Catania (or similar)

Day 3 - Saturday 6 September 2025

Catania Sightseeing (B, D)

This morning, we'll have a half-day tour of Catania, the second-largest Sicilian city, that lies on the Ionian coast at the feet of the majestic Mount Etna. It is a lively city, with plenty of bars, restaurants and shops. Strolling through the Centro Storico with its artful baroque buildings, you should not miss visiting the grand Piazza Duomo with the huge Baroque cathedral devoted to St. Agata and the Fontana dell’Elefante, symbol of Catania, the prestigious avenue Via Etnea with its elegant shops and neat café-bars and the Roman Odeon.

Just a few steps from the elegant Piazza Duomo, you can immerse yourself in the noisy and colourful fish market, La Pescheria, where a lot of people go shopping every day, not only for fish but also for vegetables, cheese, fruit, etc.

Lunch and afternoon at leisure.

Dinner tonight at our hotel.

Overnight - NH Catania Centro Hotel, Catania (or similar)

Day 4 - Sunday 7 September 2025

Catania - Mt Etna - Siracusa (B, L)

After breakfast, we meet in the lobby with the driver and with a local guide for a half-day visit to Etna, the highest ACTIVE Volcano in Europe. Up to 1800 metres we can reach this level by bus and then have a 1 hour and half trekking tour at this level visiting CRATERI SILVESTRI. 

Starting from 1800 metres a.s.l. you can climb up to 3000 mts (OPTIONAL – payment on the spot) where the landscape seems to be lunar and you can have an unimaginable view above almost half of Sicily. On sunny days you can see also Calabria (continental Italy) and all the views from Siracusa to Messina including the Aeolian Islands. The ground is hot and we recommend not to wear tennis shoes. 

Stop at a winery for wine tasting and lunch then we continue to Siracusa.

Dinner at leisure tonight.

Overnight - Palazzo Cavalieri Hotel, Siracusa (or similar)

Day 5 - Monday 8 September 2025

Siracusa - Noto - Siracusa (B, D)

After breakfast, meet in the lobby with the driver and with a local guide.

Today we will visit Siracusa, one of the most ancient towns in the world. We will walk on the island of Ortygia, the picturesque and densely built original centre of Syracusa. Here we'll admire the wonderful PIAZZA DUOMO where stands the CATHEDRAL. Inside, traces remain of a Doric temple dedicated to Athena which dates from the early decades of the 5th century BC.

Directly north of the Cathedral is the PALAZZO VERMEXIO, now Town Hall.

Recent excavation beneath the building has uncovered the unfished remains of a Jonic temple to Artemis. Attached to the Cathedral's southern side is the elegant, 17th-century PALAZZO ARCIVESCOVILE. Nearby is the CHIESA DI SANTA LUCIA ALLA BADIA. The church's baroque façade is decorated with a wrought iron balustrade.

We cannot miss the visit to the magnificent Archaeological Park where we will admire the 5th‐cent BC Greek Theatre, the ear of Dionysus, the stone quarries, the Roman Amphitheatre and the Paradise Quarry.

After this visit, we have free time for lunch.

Then we transfer to Noto, the capital city of baroque art in Europe.

Old Noto was completely destroyed in the extremely violent earthquake that struck Eastern Sicily in 1693, a quake that heavily damaged Catania and Syracuse. The present site of Noto was rebuilt from scratch, and almost entirely in the Baroque style, the prevailing style of building in Sicily at the time. Unesco World Heritage, it represents a considerable undertaking, successfully carried out at a high level of architectural and artistic achievement. Keeping within the late Baroque style of the day, it also depicts distinctive innovations in town planning and urban building. Do not miss the Cathedral: the cathedral's dome (cupola) collapsed due to an earthquake a few years ago and has been rebuilt exactly as it was before, using the same hand-cut stone and a large part of the original material.

Return to Siracusa and dinner at a local restaurant 

Overnight - Palazzo Cavalieri Hotel, Siracusa (or similar)

Day 6 - Tuesday 9 September 2025

Free day in Siracusa (B. D)

A free day today to explore Siracusa at leisure.  

This evening, we'll regroup for dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight - Palazzo Cavalieri Hotel, Siracusa (or similar)

Day 7 - Wednesday 10 September 2025

Siracusa - Modica - Ragusa (B, D)

After breakfast we depart from the hotel for a full-day tour visiting Modica and Ragusa Ibla.

Meet with a local guide and visit the baroque village of Modica with our most comfortable walking shoes. With its steeply stacked medieval center and spectacular baroque cathedral, Modica is one of southern Sicily's most atmospheric towns. Visit Chiesa di San Giorgio, one of Sicily's most extraordinary baroque churches.

Modica is known for its chocolate and its main street has several good chocolate shops.

Stop for a chocolate tasting in a typical local pastry shop. 

Then, we transfer to Ragusa Ibla.

Our guide will meet us and then we'll visit Ibla (historical center) with baroque its monuments. This sloping area of tangled alleyways, grey stone houses and baroque palazzi is effectively Ragusa's historic center and it's quite magnificent. Ibla is also one of the locations of move ‘ il Commissario Montalbano’.

Check into the hotel and have dinner at the hotel.

Overnight - Mediterraneo Palace Hotel, Ragusa (or similar)

Day 8 - Thursday 11 September 2025

Caltagirone - Villa Romana - Ragusa (B, D)

After breakfast at the hotel, we'll meet in the lobby with the driver and depart to Caltagirone.

Meet with a local guide at the parking bus of Caltagirone and take a local little train to the city center.

Caltagirone is a Unesco Site thanks to its monumental heritage, centuries-old ceramics tradition and picturesque folklore events. Stop in a typical local pottery shop.

The name Caltagirone derives from the Arab term Qalat-Jerun, which means “Castle of the burial grounds” because of the presence of vast necropolises in its territory. The first settlement rose in the surroundings of a castle during the Greek era. The earthquakes of 1542 and 1693 destroyed the town, and the new town was built in baroque style thanks to the work of several architects.

The most interesting monuments are the Norman Duomo, dedicated to S. Giuliano, preserving beautiful paintings by Francesco Vaccaro (1802-1882), the Chiesa del Collegio erected by the Jesuits in 1593, and the Chiesa di S. Giacomo reconstructed after the 1693’s earthquake.

Continue to Piazza Armerina.

Meet at the entrance of Villa Romana with a local guide to visit the magnificent Villa Romana del Casale. The remnants of this 3rd – 4th century Roman villa, contain some of the most well-preserved and fantastic mosaics in the world. 

Return to Ragusa.

Dinner at the hotel tonight.

Overnight - Hotel Mediterraneo Palace (or similar)

Day 9 - Friday 12 September 2025

Ragusa - Favara - Agrigento (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the hotel then meeting in the lobby with the driver and departure for a cooking class in Favara with Annalisa, our Chef. We'll enjoy our Sicilian cooking class and then eat what we've cooked! (lunch).

Then we meet with the local guide and visit the Valley of Temples and Archaeological  Museum.

We explore the great Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. The Greek colony was founded in 581 BC by Colonists from Gela. It was once considered the “fairest city inhabited by mortals.” Here we will see the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Temple of Heracles and the Temples of Concord and Hera. We will also visit the Archaeological Regional Museum. The museum is located just outside the town at Contrada San Nicola, with a panoramic view over the Hill of the Temples. This area has recently been identified as the site of the upper agora of the ancient city and there are archaeological and architectural remains to be seen. The museum is housed in a complex of buildings redesigned in the 1960s in a perfect blending of the new site of the museum with the restored Convent of San Nicola (14th c.), containing the library, the conference hall and the auditorium. The museum illustrates the history of the ancient city of Agrigento and its territory from prehistory to the period of Hellenization.

Continue to Agrigento.

Dinner at the hotel and overnight in Agrigento. 

Overnight - Baglio Della Luna Hotel, Agrigento (or similar)

Day 10 - Saturday 13 September 2025

Agrigento - Selinunte - Marsala (B, D)

This morning after breakfast at the hotel, we'll meet in the lobby with the driver and depart to Selinunte then meet at the entrance of the archaeological park with a local guide and visit of Selinunte archaeological Area, considered to be one of the most striking archaeological sites in the Mediterranean.

Our last stop of the day is Marsala.

Visit the historical centre of Marsala and check in to our hotel.

Dinner at our hotel and overnight in Marsala. 

Overnight - Dome Hotel, Marsala (or similar)

Day 11 - Sunday 14 September 2025

Marsala - Palermo (B, D)

After breakfast meet in the lobby with the driver and with a local guide and depart for a full-day visit of the Salt Pans, Erice and Segesta.

The tour starts with the salt pans bordering the coast. The whole area is a WWF oasis, as it hosts thousands of migrating birds in spring and autumn. In the summer, salt is still produced according to age-old traditions.

After that continue to Erice.

Erice: the town is placed on the homonymous mount Eryx, the religious center of Elimi, which is famous for its temple where the Phoenicians worshipped Astarte, the Greeks Aphrodite and the Romans Venus. We'll visit Matrice Church and wander through its ancient streets and visit some of the famous pastry homemade shops, world-famous for marzipan candies and other delicacies like almond and pistachio pastry.

Then we depart for a tour of the majestic Greek ruins at Segesta. At Segesta, we will tour the great Doric Temple with its well-preserved 36 colossal columns built in the 5th century BC and the renowned Greek theatre.

Our last stop of the day is Palermo.

Check in, dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight - Giardino Inglese Hotel, Palermo (or similar)

Day 12 - Monday 15 September 2025

Palermo (B, D)

After breakfast meet in the lobby with the driver and with the local guide.

Then start our unforgettable full-day tour of Palermo known as the capital of the "Kingdom of Sicily" for centuries. Founded by the Phoenicians, who named it Ziz. Greeks called it Panormos, meaning "all port. "Invaded by Saracen Arabs ("Moors"), who turned many churches into mosques and then became one of the Muslim world's most splendid cities, surpassed only by Baghdad. A mixture of Moorish, Norman and Spanish Baroque styles, rich in monuments, royal palaces and churches: Cathedral, the Norman Palace with the Palatine Chapel in Norman-Arab style, the "Quattro Canti" and Piazza Pretoria.

Then visit of Marionette Museum and Cappuccini catacombs.

Return to hotel and dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight - Giardino Inglese Hotel, Palermo (or similar)

Day 13 - Tuesday 16 September 2025

Palermo - Monreale - Palermo (B, D)

After breakfast, meet in the lobby with the driver and with a local guide.

A short drive to Monreale overlooks the "Conca d'Oro," a beautiful valley beyond Palermo. Mosaics in Monreale Cathedral are said to be one of the world's largest displays of this art. The cloister of the Benedictine abbey alone would make Monreale famous. Located next to the cathedral, these 228 columns, some with mosaic inlay, each with a meticulously stone-carved capital, enclose the gardens of the cloister.

Later we'll do a walking tour in Palermo. Visit Piazza San Francesco with its beautiful church, visit Corso Vittorio, Piazza Marina and Porta Felice.

Return to hotel and dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight - Giardino Inglese Hotel, Palermo (or similar)

Day 14 - Wednesday 17 September 2025

Palermo - Cefalù - Castelbuono (B, D)

This morning meet in the lobby with the driver and depart for Cefalù and then Castelbuono.

Cefalù is a medieval town on the northern coast of Sicily, about 60 km east of Palermo. It was built on the site of an ancient Greek settlement. It rests of the old megalithic boundaries and of the most ancient part of the inhabited area can be seen on the picturesque mountain rising at the back of the town.

Walking along its pedestrian main road and down the nice side streets, you’ll find plenty of delightful restaurants, cafés and shops.

The most important monument of Cefalù is the Cathedral, an amazing building in southern Romanesque style built by King Roger II, featuring beautiful golden mosaics. Also worth seeing are the medieval washing place and the ancient Osterio Magno palace.

We'll continue to Castelbuono, check into our hotel and have dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight - Agriturismo Bergi Hotel, Castelbuono (or similar)

Day 15 - Thursday 18 September 2025

Cefalu - Messina - Taormina (B, D)

Today after breakfast, we check out and depart for a day tour visiting Messina.

We then have a meeting with a local guide and visit Fontana D’Orione and Nettuno and of Cathedral with the famous tower.

We'll have free time for lunch and continue to Taormina.

Check-in at our hotel in Taormina, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight - Vello D'Oro Hotel, Taormina (or similar)

Day16 - Friday 19 September 2025

Taormina (B, D)

The next day, our tour continues up in the mountains lining the coast: this is the so-called “Godfather” tour, featuring the authentic villages chosen by Francis Ford Coppola for the Sicilian scenes of his world-famous movie. The tour allows us to explore the real untouched Sicilian countryside, local lifestyle and culture. The first stop is Forza d’Agrò, a very nice village still with its medieval layout, overlooking the most incredible views. Here Coppola recreated some glimpses of his fictional Corleone, filming the main square, the small SS. Trinità church, the belvedere.

Another “piece” of Corleone is to be found in Savoca, a very ancient village dating from the 12th century. Following the steps of the cast, we’ll see the picturesque spots shown in the movie, such as the Bar Vitelli, one of Coppola’s favourite places, which was filmed several times.

Don’t miss the opportunity to taste their delicious and refreshing lemon granita.

Then we make our way to the church of St. Lucy, where the scene of the wedding between Apollonia and Michael Corleone was shot.

Return to Taormina for a free afternoon.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight - Vello D'Oro Hotel, Taormina (or similar)

Day 17 - Saturday 20 September 2025

Taormina (B, D)

Breakfast at the hotel and then meeting in the lobby with a local guide for a half-day visit to Taormina.

Its narrow stone-paved streets are lined by elegant shops and cafés; to spend some time in Taormina is an unforgettable experience between natural beauties, shores wet by a crystal blue sea and the deep culture of the island. Visit San Nicola Church and the beautiful Greek theatre.

Free time for lunch and afternoon at leisure.

Dinner at a local restaurant tonight.

Overnight - Vello D'Oro Hotel, Taormina (or similar)

Day 18 - Sunday 21 September 2025

Last day in Taormina - Malta (B)

Our last day in Taormina to relax and make the most of our surroundings before we farewell Sicily.

Tonight we'll take a late-night flight to Malta.

Malta is a blend of Morocco, Greece and Italy, yet unique in its own right, making sense given its location in the Mediterranean Sea. With its Mediterranean seas and endless sunshine not to mention old historic cities with loads of history, fascinating culture, old fishing villages, and ancient temples, Malta is an interesting blend of old and new with a laid-back, relaxed atmosphere.

Upon arrival, we'll be transferred to our accommodation.

Overnight - Cavalieri Hotel, St Julian (Malta) (or similar)

Day 19 - Monday 22 September 2025

Malta (B)

This morning we can relax and enjoy a lazy morning.

Later, we'll start our walking tour of Valletta by visiting the Upper Barracca Gardens from where you may enjoy a beautiful view of the Gran Harbour and the Three Cities of Victoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea. 

Our next visit is to St John’s Co-Cathedral, home of the splendid Caravaggio painting “The Beheading of St. John”. We then walk down the main street of the city “Republic Street” passing by the Law Court till we reach St. George’s Square also known locally as the Palace Square where we can admire the Grand Master’s Palace. 

Dinner at leisure tonight.

Overnight - Cavalieri Hotel, St Julian (Malta) (or similar)

Day 20 - Tuesday 23 September 2025

Gozo (Malta) (B)

Today, we'll depart our hotel by coach and drive through the eastern coast of Malta till we reach the port of Cirkewwa. Here we will embark on the Gozo ferry. After a 20-minute crossing, we reach the port of Mgarr in Gozo, which immediately sets the pace for Gozo’s unique atmosphere. Our guide will lead you around the Megalithic Temples of Ggantija, the oldest free-standing monuments in the world, pre-dating the Pyramids of Egypt. We proceed to the medieval citadel in Victoria – the capital city of the island of Gozo to visit the Cathedral, the fjord-like Xlendi Bay and Dwejra to see the inland sea and take a boat to go through the creek which ends up into the open sea (sea permitting – boat ride not included).

Stop for lunch snack (not included) in a restaurant during our visit to the Island.

Gozo is well known for its crafts, particularly hand-made lace and knitted garments. Visitors cannot fail to be impressed by the island’s lush countryside, its serene atmosphere and how different it is from the larger island of Malta. Return to Hotel at 18.00hrs approximately.

Dinner tonight at leisure.

Overnight - Cavalieri Hotel, St Julian (Malta) (or similar)

Day 21 - Wednesday 24 September 2025

Blue Grotto and temples (Malta) (B)

Departure from the hotel after breakfast for a full-day tour of the south of Malta. We drive to the south of Malta past the town of Zurrieq and down to Wied iz-Zurrieq to visit the Blue Grotto. Here we can take an optional boat ride with the fishermen to take a close look at the Blue Grotto. (A boat ride is not included and depends on the sea conditions).

We then proceed to visit the archaeological site of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Ħaġar Qim, discovered under rubble in 1839, dates from around 2400 - 2000 B.C. The largest megalith at Ħaġar Qim is some seven meters high and weighs around 20 tons. Much of interest has been unearthed at Ħaġar r Qim, notably a decorated pillar altar, two table-altars and some of the `fat lady' statues. The Mnajdra Temple stands isolated, about 600 meters further down from Ħaġar Qim. It is made up of two sizeable temples and is thought to date from around 3400 B.C. The third temple at Mnajdra is perhaps the finest surviving temple in Malta. The masonry shows intricate knowledge of building techniques and excellent workmanship. The spiral carvings and decorated, pitted slabs give an exceptional aspect to this remarkable site. The ruins of Mnajdra yielded valuable relics. The lack of any metal objects here and at other similar temples is evidence of its Neolithic origin. 

We then visit the temples of Tarxien. They date to approximately 3150 BC. The site was accepted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992 along with the other Megalithic temples on the Island of Malta. They consist of 3 separate temples but attached structures. Of particular interest at the temple site is the rich and intricate stonework, which includes depictions of domestic animals carved in reliefs, altars, and screens decorated with spiral designs and other patterns.

Dinner at leisure tonight.

Overnight - Cavalieri Hotel, St Julian (Malta) (or similar)

Day 22 - Thursday 25 September 2025

Mdina (Malta) (B)

After breakfast, we depart with our guide for a half-day tour visiting the former capital city of Mdina. We drive through the central part of the island to reach Rabat, a town outside the city walls of the medieval town of Mdina, also known as “the silent city”.

We leave our minivan and walk into Mdina by the Main Gate and through the narrow streets adorned by palaces belonging to the noble families of Malta. You will enjoy admiring the various types of architecture from Norman-Siculo, Gothic and Baroque. On reaching the main square we find the main Cathedral of Malta dedicated to St. Paul, the patron Saint of the Maltese islands. Visit the Cathedral and then proceed to the bastions which surround the town and enjoy a view of nearly the whole of Malta. We leave Mdina through the Greek Gate and return to our hotel.

Dinner at leisure tonight.

Overnight - Cavalieri Hotel, St Julian (Malta) (or similar)

Day 23 - Friday 26 September 2025

Farewell Malta! (B, in-flight meals)

Time to farewell Malta as we transfer to the airport for our afternoon flights home. 

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the inflight entertainment as we head towards home.

Day 24 - Saturday 27 September 2025

Welcome home!

Welcome Home! 

We thank you for joining us for your latest adventure and we look forward to welcoming you back.