SICILY September 8- 18, 2015 Sep 8

Fly WASHINGTON, DULLES via Rome to PALERMO

Sep 9

Arrive PALERMO, Sicily. Be met and transferred to the hotel. Orientation tour of Palermo with a Granita tasting. Welcome dinner with wine. HOTEL PALAZZO DELLE BORSA (D) Palermo at one time was an Arab emirate and the seat of a Norman Kingdom, becoming Europe’s grandest city in the 12th century. While a lot has changed, be prepared to explore palaces, castles and churches with a fusion of Byzantine, Arab, Norman, Renaissance and Baroque architecture.

Sep 10

PALERMO City sightseeing to visit Cappella Palatina, city squares and the Norman Cathedral of Monreale. Cappella Palatino founded in 1132 has fabulous mosaics from the Arab-Norman period and is a good place to begin viewing the architecture, before marveling at the Monreale Duomo, a Norman masterpiece. Lunch included. (B,L)

Sep 11

PALERMO Half day to coastal village of Cefalu. Cefalu has retained its medieval appearance since the 12th century. The narrow streets of the town center are lined with elaborately decorated buildings. The fisherman’s quarter has old houses clustered along the seafront. After lunch return to Palermo (B,L)

Sep 12

PALERMO via AGRIGENTO to ENNA Full day with private bus and guide via Agrigento where there is a visit to Temple Valley to see the ancient temples of Juno and Demeter. Continue to the village of Enna with its outstanding views. Towering above the interior, on a clear day you can see Mt. Etna. Enna is unknown\by most tourists. It is a sleepy medieval town that charms and prospers in an old fashioned Sicilian way. Dinner at the hotel. HOTEL FEDERICO II (B,D)

Sep 13

ENNA Sightseeing today at Piazza Armerina and a visit to the famous Villa de Casale. The villa dates back to the Roman era in the 4th and 5th century and is famous for its mosaic floors. Lunch included before returning to Enna. Dinner at the hotel. (B,L,D)

Sep 14

ENNA via RAGUSA to SIRACUSA A full day of great sightseeing via Ragusa with visits to the small towns of Noto, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Modica. Both towns are known for their vineyards. Later continue to Siracusa. Dinner included at the hotel. HOTEL MERCURE SIRACUSA (B,D)

Sep 15

SIRACUSA Our private guide will explain the vast archeological site built on Ortigia Island; museums, fortress, temple-cathedral of Greek Sicily. Cicero called Syracuse the greatest and most beautiful Greek city. The city was founded in 734 BC by Greek colonists from Corinth. It once rivaled Athens in its splendor and power and had 1,500,000 inhabitants. (B)

Sep 16

SIRACUSA past CATANIA to TAORMINA Head north along new highways past Catania to Taormina. Visit the city to see the spectacular Greek/Roman theater built in the 3rd century BC. Time to browse and shop before arriving at our hotel in seaside Giardini-Naxos, the first Greek colony in Sicily and suburban Taormina. Dinner at the hotel. HOTEL HILTON NAXOS (B,D)

Sep 17

TAORMINA/ GIARDINI- NAXOS See Mt. Etna close up with a cable car and jeep tour. Visit Schiavi Castle at Savoca where lunch is included at the Vanvitelli bar, a “Godfather” site. Return to the hotel mid afternoon. Last minute shopping and relaxing. (B,L)

Sep 18

TAORMINA/ CATANIA- ROME- WASHINGTON Early morning transfer to Catania airport for the flights via Rome to Washington.

TRIP INCLUDES: * Ten nights first-class hotels, double rooms with private bathroom. 3 nights Palermo – Palazzo Borso 2 nights Enna – Hotel Federico II 2 nights Siracusa – Hotel Mercure Siracusa 2 nights Taormina/Giardini Naxos – Hilton, Hotel Naxos * Buffet Breakfast daily. * Welcome Dinner with wine in Palermo. * 4 dinners during trip. * Private transfer Palermo airport to hotel, and from hotel Taormina to Catania airport. * Private bus for the duration of the trip. * Professional English-speaking guide throughout Sicily, plus local tour guides as necessary. * Sightseeing in Palermo with Granita tasting; Monreale; Cefalu; Agrigueto Temple Valley; Piazza Armerina and Villa del Casale; Ragusa with visit to Noto and Modica; Siracusa Archeological site; Mount Etna; Savoca visit Schiavi Castle – the Godfather site; Taormina city. * Admissions to sightseeing sites. * Luggage handling at hotels. * Services of Italy, Sicily representative. * Final trip documents, handling and administration. TRIP PRICE: * $2,985.00 per person, double occupancy * 20 persons minimum to operate. * Deposit $400 per person to reserve.

$655.00 single room supplement.

AIR PRICE ADDITIONAL: Economy-class, non-refundable on United non-stop DullesRome-Dulles; and local flights Rome-Palermo and Catania-Rome, based upon current January 2015 taxes and fuel surcharges, approximately $1575.00 Price is not guaranteed until tickets are paid for and issued. FINAL PAYMENT DEADLINE: 19 June 2015 DOCUMENTS: Valid US Passport good for 6 months beyond date of return. CANCELLATION TERMS: Between deposit and May 29, 2015 a charge of $250 per person. Between May 30 – June 18, 2015 a charge of $400 per person. From June 19, 2015 to departure, there is no refund.

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Date:_____________________ VIP Group Travel, Ltd. Richard Meyer 1212 Old Stable Road McLean, VA 22102 Ph 703 356-6884 Fax 703 356-6782 email: [email protected]

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VIP Group Travel has retained the services of Welcome Italy to act as tour operator. The suppliers providing transportation, conveyance or accommodations are independent contractors and are not agents or employees of Welcome Italy.

Responsibility: VIP Group Travel LTD and Welcome Italy (Tour Operators) act only as agents for the various independent suppliers who provide hotel accommodations, transportation, sightseeing activities, or other services connected with this tour. Such services are subject to the terms and conditions of those suppliers. Tour Operator and their respective employees, agents representatives, and assigns accept no liability whatsoever for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or any other incident which may be caused by the negligence, defect, default of any company or person in performing these services. Responsibility is not accepted for losses, injury, damages or expenses or any kind due to sickness, weather, strikes, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts, acts of nature, local laws or other such causes. All services and accommodations are subject to the laws and regulations of the country in which they are provided. Tour Operator is not responsible for any baggage or personal effects of any individual participating in the tours/trips arranged by Tour Operator. Individual travelers are responsible for purchasing a travel insurance policy, if desired, that will cover some of the expenses associated with the loss of luggage or personal effects.