Day 1 Sicily | Meet in Catania
All day
Today is the gathering day.
Welcome to Sicily, Italy. We'll meet in Catania, Sicily's second-largest city. Afterward, we'll travel to Taormina and check into our hotel there. Enjoy a good night's rest and recharge your batteries as we begin our journey tomorrow.
Visa Information:
This itinerary requires a Schengen visa in advance. If this itinerary is your main itinerary, it is recommended to apply for a Malta Schengen visa, which is recommended to be applied for 2-3 months in advance.
How to get to your destination:
This itinerary meets at Catania, requiring you to book your own flight to [Catania Airport, airport code CTA];
About the team:
This itinerary is a private small group meeting at the destination. One order is per group. Joining a group is not recommended.
Day 2 Taormina → Caltagirone → Taormina
All day
After breakfast at the hotel, we'll visit the Roman ruins of Villa Casale, home to numerous Roman mosaics and frescoes. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, we'll then travel to Caltagirone, a town steeped in Baroque architecture and renowned for its pottery production. Upon arrival, we'll visit the Maria del Monte Staircase, built in 1608. Each step is decorated with a different hand-decorated ceramic, using a millennia-old traditional style.
You will enjoy Sicilian specialties for lunch. After lunch, you will have some free time before returning to the hotel to rest.
Day 3 Taormina Full Day
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Taormina was a Greek colony in 400 BC and is considered the most beautiful town in Sicily. Some people say: "If you can only choose one destination in Sicily, Taormina is the right one."
After breakfast at the hotel, we will take you to visit the Greek Theater, built in the 3rd century BC, which offers a view of Mount Etna; the City Park, with a view of the sea, a small park with children's play equipment and lovely buildings; Taormina's main street, Via Umberto, and the Heart-shaped viewing platform overlooking Isola Bella.
Then we came to [Castle Hill], a hilltop village located northwest of Taormina. It is higher than Taormina and has beautiful views overlooking the entire Taormina.
We will prepare a special pasta dish for you for lunch today. After lunch, you will be free to explore your own Sicily travel inspiration.
Day 4 Taormina → Syracuse → Catania → Malta
All day
Today's destination is Syracuse, an ancient city on the east coast of Sicily. Most of our friends go to this charming little city because of the movie "Sicily's Beautiful Legend".
Syracuse has a very ancient history. Founded by ancient Greek colonists in 734 BC, the ruins of the Temple of Apollo built at that time can still be seen today. We will take you to visit the Syracuse Cathedral in the old town of Ortygia Island. The Cathedral Square was the main filming location of the movie "Sicily's Beautiful Legend";
The Xianlin Spring is a fountain located on the seaside and has appeared in many poems of ancient poets. If you love ancient Greek and Roman culture, the Siracusa Archaeological Park dates back to the 5th century BC.
For lunch you will enjoy local specialties.
After today's sightseeing, we will go to Catania Airport and fly to Malta. After arriving in Malta, we will check in at the hotel near Valletta.
Day 5 Valletta Full Day
All day
After breakfast at the hotel, we will travel to Valletta, the capital of Malta. With an area of only 0.61 square kilometers, it is also the smallest capital city in the European Union. Built by the Knights of Malta in the 16th century, it is a Baroque architectural style.
Enter the Cathedral of St. John, built between 1573 and 1578 by the Knights of Malta. Although its exterior is rather plain, its interior is magnificent, including Caravaggio's work: "The Beheading of St. John the Baptist";
We will then go up to the Barakka Gardens, which is one of the viewing points for viewing Valletta Harbour and the Three Sisters Cities opposite;
For lunch we arranged Maltese specialties Western food.
After lunch, you will have free time to explore the old city of Valletta and go to the main street of the old city: Old Mint Street. The slope of the street makes the whole old city seem to be folded, which is a good place to take beautiful photos.
Day 6 Valletta → Gozo → Comino → Valletta
All day
Malta's sister island, Gozo, is also a treasured travel destination. Upon arrival, we will head to Victoria, the city center of Gozo. The area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. The most famous attraction is the Citadel, which was once an acropolis in the Phoenician and Roman periods and was converted into a castle in the Middle Ages. It is a commanding height on the island of Gozo and offers stunning views.
At lunchtime, we will visit the picturesque village of Xlendi, close to the coast, to taste the local seafood specialties.
After lunch, we need to take a boat to [Comino Island]. The blue lagoon on the island is extremely clear. Even friends who can't swim can go swimming in the water. The water is clear and the waves are small. This is the most popular swimming spot in Malta and the home of the "Malta Blue".
After the tour, return to the hotel to rest.
Day 7 Valletta → Mdina → Valletta
All day
Today we continue our historical tour and visit the Temple of Hygarki and the Temple of Mnadria, two of the seven megalithic temples in Malta. Inside the Temple of Hygarki there is a 660-meter-long paving stone, which is the largest and most eye-catching super-giant stone of all the temples in the Maltese Islands. The Temple of Mnadria is also known as the "Temple of the Sun". This temple is actually an ancient "sun clock".
Then, we'll visit the Blue Grotto, a naturally formed cave that envelops the sea. Depending on the light, the water appears a vibrant blue. You'll take a boat tour of the famous caves.
At lunch time, we came to the fishing village of Marsaxlokk, where you can enjoy a seafood feast with beautiful pier views and special colorful boats!
After lunch, we'll travel to Malta's other "capital," Mdina, which existed before the arrival of the Knights of Malta. Cars are not permitted in Mdina (except for a few residents and emergency vehicles), earning it the nickname "The Silent City." The main gate of Mdina was also used as the filming location for King's Landing in Game of Thrones.
Malta disbanded on Day 8
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Today is also the day for everyone to disband. The eight-day trip to Sicily and Malta has come to an end. Please be safe on your return trip. See you next time!
About dissolution:
You can decide to continue your trip or take a flight back to China based on your own holiday situation. We will arrange a drop-off based on the actual flight conditions. You can also continue your tour based on your own situation.
