- Italy Escorted Tours
- Classical Sicily with Giardini Naxos Beach Stay
The biggest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily is a delightfully diverse spectacle brimming with the world's finest assembly of Baroque architecture and pristine Greek temples. Journeying through quaint piazzas and charming seaside towns, immerse yourself in historic charm, idyllically situated in the shadows of Europe's highest Volcano, Mount Etna.
Please note: Your guide will accompany you on all days when you have excursions, they will not accompany you on free days.
Extend your stay in Giardini Naxos and enjoy more time soaking up the Sicilian sun on its beautiful beaches. Discover ancient history at the archaeological park, take scenic boat trips along the Ionian coast, and indulge in delicious local cuisine.
Dinner
Depart on your scheduled flight to Catania. Upon arrival, meet your local guide and transfer to Giardini Naxos. A laid-back town on the Ionian Sea, visitors can enjoy enchanting beaches and panoramic views of the surrounding hills.
Breakfast & Dinner
Head to the towering Mount Etna - the most active stratovolcano in the world - to ascend by cable car up the volcano’s southern slopes. Take in impressive views over Sicily from the upper station at 2,300 metres elevation and perhaps walk to the base of Etna’s crater. Continue to Taormina to wander its winding medieval streets - this charming clifftop town is the perfect place to stop for lunch. Admire awe-inspiring views from the Piazza IX Aprile before heading to the Corso Umberto, a vivacious promenade lined with boutiques, jewellers and clothing stores. Catch a glimpse of the remarkable St Nicolas Cathedral of Taormina situated at the top of this quaint avenue. Visit the famous Greco-Roman theatre carved into the hillside, once used for gladiatorial contests and now a setting for modern performances against the dramatic backdrop of Etna and the sparking sea.
Breakfast & Dinner
Spend a day at leisure in Giardini Naxos, relaxing in your hotel, enjoying the area’s stunning beaches, or taking the opportunity to explore at your own pace; indulge in the town’s laidback ambience and unwind in one of many chic cafes, restaurants and bustling bars.
Breakfast & Dinner
Travel to Cefalù, a former fishing village turned charming holiday resort. The town is overlooked by ‘La Rocca’, a monumental rock known to the Phoenicians as the Promontory of Hercules: the Temple of Diana sits atop this 270-metre landmark, a megalithic building reached via a brisk uphill climb. Wander through Cefalù’s medieval cobblestone streets to its majestic 12th-century cathedral, where golden Byzantine mosaics cover the domed ceiling. Enjoy some free time to explore Cefalù before continuing to Palermo.
Breakfast & Dinner
Explore Sicily’s capital Palermo, one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe. Founded as a trading post by the Phoenicians, the city has been influenced by Roman, Byzantine, Arab, and Norman occupation, and now provides a glimpse into the far-reaching, complex history of Italy’s heritage. Explore the city’s multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Palermo Cathedral and the Royal Palace. Stroll through the Piazza Vigliena: this Baroque square is considered the centre of Palermo’s historic quarter and is an ideal place to stop for a coffee and absorb the rich history and vibrant modernity of the city. Take the afternoon to explore at leisure.
Breakfast & Dinner
Today embark on a tour of Agrigento's fascinating Valley of the Temples. This fascinating archaeological complex, assembled on the site of an ancient civilisation, is made up of eight temples and other ancient remains dating from between 510BC and 430BC. Walk through the tranquil green landscape and marvel at the well-preserved, UNESCO-listed Temple della Concordia, alongside the Temple of Heracles, a partially-destroyed series of columns evocative of classical Greek civilisation.
Breakfast & Dinner
Travel to the medieval town of Piazza Armerina, nestled among wooded hills in Sicily’s mountainous interior. Nearby is the Roman villa at Casale, where you can gain an insight into Imperial Roman life through its well-preserved mosaics. Continue to one of Sicily’s most important cities, Syracuse. once the centre of the Greek empire. Explore the historic sites of the ancient Island of Ortigia, upon which some of Sicily’s oldest Greek temples, dedicated to Apollo and Athena, were built. Dominating Syracuse’s expansive marbled Piazza Duomo is the distinctive Cathedral of Syracuse, whose arresting white façade is lavishly adorned with intricate carvings and columns.
Breakfast & Dinner
Today marks the end of your tour, but the beginning of your extended stay in the haven of Giardini Naxos. Inviting you to slow down, and truly immerse yourself in the beauty and culture of this coastal paradise.
Breakfast & Dinner
Enjoy time at leisure in Giardini Naxos. Take a stroll along the beach, explore nearby shops and charming streets, or simply unwind in the relaxed atmosphere of this coastal town. Sip a coffee with a view, try local Sicilian dishes, and end the day watching the gorgeous sunset.
Breakfast
Depart your hotel after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Use discount code TOUR100 at the checkout to save £100 per person on selected tours departing in October 2026
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The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
A visa is not required for your trip to Italy. Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. We strongly advise you check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.
It is your responsibility to check your passport validity. To enter Italy your passport must: have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive and have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave. Sources of information include; https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
Please note your final documentation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. Weight restrictions will be finalised on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0333 188 0407, quoting HX313.
IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
All our tours feature a “Tour Pace” to help find the right holiday for you. To travel on any of our tours requires unaided mobility and the ability to stroll around the sights, climb stairs and get on and off coaches and boats. The tour pace is rated Easy Going. A good level of fitness is required as you may be on your feet for approximately four hours in a day, though this will be interspersed with regular breaks and will vary from day to day. You will be walking around the sights, getting on and off coaches, trains and boats and climbing steps and modest hills and streets, that maybe cobbled. You will stay in variety of hotels throughout the tour. Our guides will always endeavour to provide the highest level of service and assistance; however, they cannot be expected to cater for customers who are unfit to complete the itinerary.
The currency in Italy is the Euro. We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK, however cash machines are available in all the major cities to withdraw money in the local currency.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.
You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as souvenirs, laundry, any meals not included in the itinerary as well as drinks and any additional snacks. Approximately £300- £400 per person will be sufficient for the duration of the tour. It is a good idea to try and maintain a supply of small notes and change in the local currency for tipping or small purchases.
Tipping
It is customary to tip your guide and driver at the end of your tour, this is at your discretion, but we recommend you allow approximately €2 per person per day. Optional excursions are at an additional cost. Tips will be collected at the beginning/end of your tour. Tips are accepted in the local currency.
The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 15, and the maximum will be 25. If in the unlikely event there are less than 15 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date, then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
There is no minimum number of travellers for this extension however the main tour passenger numbers will apply for the main part of the tour. If in the unlikely event there are less than the required number of people booked on your main tour date then you may be asked to change to a different date. A full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
This tour does not operate as a fully escorted programme. Your English-speaking guide will be with you on all scheduled excursion days, however, on free days when there are no planned activities, your guide will not accompany you. This allows you the flexibility to explore at your own pace and indulge in personal interests. You will still have access to a local team member who can assist you in case of emergencies on your free days.
Your extended stay in Giardini Naxos is not escorted by a tour guide and your time will be free to explore the area at your own pace. Transfers are included.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.
Breakfast will be at set times in the morning and dinner (when included) will be at the hotel.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way.
Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information
On your arrival in Catania, Sicily, you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Destination Italia holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/ Destination Italia representative or driver will show you to your transfer vehicle.
Please find below the emergency contact details for Destination Italia (24hrs):
Mob: 0039 393 960 9812
