Self-Drive Tour of Sicily

DAY 1 – Palermo, the Arab-Norman heart
Pick up the rental car and take your first stroll through Palermo’s historic center, where Arab, Norman, and Byzantine cultures have blended into a single urban fabric: the Quattro Canti, Piazza Pretoria, and the Cathedral.

Dinner in the Kalsa neighborhood or along Via Maqueda.

Overnight stay in Palermo.

DAY 2 – Norman Palace and Monreale
Visit to the Norman Palace and the Palatine Chapel, a treasure trove of Byzantine mosaics on a gold background.

We headed to Monreale to visit the Cathedral, with its mosaic cycle, and the Benedictine cloister.

I'm heading back to Palermo, between the historic markets of Capo and Ballarò and the Teatro Massimo.

Overnight stay in Palermo.

A stop in Cefalù, dominated by its Norman cathedral—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—between the Medieval Washhouse and the Old Marina, with a seafood lunch by the sea.

We continue on to Taormina, the “Pearl of the Ionian Sea,” for a stroll along Corso Umberto I and to enjoy the view of Mount Etna from the Belvedere in Piazza IX Aprile.

Overnight stay in Taormina or Giardini Naxos.

DAY 4 – Taormina and Syracuse
Visit to the Ancient Theater of Taormina, one of the most spectacular Greco-Roman theaters in the Mediterranean, and to the Isola Bella Nature Reserve.

Transfer to Syracuse with an optional stop in Catania, a city of lava stone and ornate Baroque architecture, including Piazza del Duomo, the Elephant Fountain, and the Fish Market.

Evening and overnight stay on the island of Ortigia.

DAY 5 – Syracuse and the Val di Noto
Morning at the Neapolis Archaeological Park, between the Greek Theater and the Ear of Dionysius.

Afternoon excursion to Noto, the capital of Sicilian Late Baroque architecture, which was rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake, featuring Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the Cathedral of San Nicolò, and Palazzo Nicolaci.

Return to Ortigia and overnight stay there.

DAY 6 – Agrigento
Travel westward, with a recommended stop in Modica or Ragusa Ibla, the capitals of the Iblean Baroque.

I arrive in Agrigento in the late afternoon to visit the Valley of the Temples at sunset, including the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Juno, and the Temple of Hercules, followed by a stop to take in the view at the Scala dei Turchi.

Overnight stay in Agrigento.

DAY 7 – Marsala and the Salt Flats, heading toward Trapani
Departure along the western coast with a stop in Marsala for a guided tour of the Stagnone Lagoon Salt Flats, featuring colorful pools and windmills, which are particularly picturesque at sunset.

Evening arrival in Trapani, among the narrow streets of the pedestrian-only historic center. Overnight stay in Trapani.

DAY 8 – Erice and San Vito Lo Capo
A climb to the medieval village of Erice, perched at 750 meters amid legendary mists, Norman castles, and cobblestone alleys: the Castle of Venus and a tasting of traditional almond pastries.

In the afternoon, transfer to San Vito Lo Capo.

Overnight stay in San Vito Lo Capo.

A relaxing day on the beach at San Vito Lo Capo, with the option of a boat excursion along the coast to the Zingaro Nature Reserve.

In the late afternoon, I head back to Palermo for one last dinner by the sea, somewhere between Mondello and Terrasini.

Overnight stay in Palermo or the airport area.

Return the rental car at the airport or port and depart for the return trip.