4 Day Sicily New Year Break | New Year

Friday 29  December | Meet at the airport at 4 am for our Air Malta flight to Catania departing at 06.00am. Upon arrival we shall visit the Centro Sicilia, a shopping complex offering many stores including Primark. After enough time, our private coach will take us to Mount Etna, one of Sicily’s natural beauty landmarks and Europe’s highest active volcano. We will view the volcano craters, the volcanic ash landscape and also admire the spectacular scenery spreading far over the Calabria coast. On the way down from the volcano, we will visit the mountain village of Zafferana where we will have the opportunity to sit-in on a honey tasting demonstration and sample the different types of local honey. At the end of the day, we shall be transferred to our 4* hotel in Frigintini – Le Magnolie Hotel (or similar) for check-in and dinner.

Saturday 30 December | Breakfast followed by a day excursion. We begin by visiting an oil factory followed by a cheese making farm (extra), where you will be shown the process involved in producing these products. We then proceed to a charming Val di Noto town, Scicli, less well-known than its prestigious neighbours but just as fascinating and beautiful before we continue our way onto our last stop in Ragusa Ibla. Here we will have free time to visit the Corso, the Duomo di San Giorgio and the Botanical Gardens. Dinner at the hotel.

Sunday 31 December | Breakfast followed by a full day excursion. Today we visit the quaint island of Ortigia, Siracusa’s island heart. In Ortigia we can wander amongst the ancient cobblestone streets and appreciate the magnificent baroque architecture. We then proceed to Noto, where both the city and its beautiful Duomo are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Compulsory New Year’s Eve dinner at the hotel (extra).

Monday 01 January | Breakfast followed by room check-out. We then visit Modica where we will enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of the town before proceeding to Modica Bassa, the historical centre. Many Montalbano scenes were shot here including the Duomo, the Jewish quarter and the Corso. After some free time we head to an Agritourismo farm for lunch (extra). Afterwards we then head to the centre of Catania for some free time before we go to the airport in time for check-in for our flight, departing at 11.25pm. Arrival in Malta is scheduled for 00.15 am (02 Jan).