odyssey travel sicily

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Explore Southern Italy & Sicily Through a Guest's Eyes

Multi-time traveler, and Florida-based writer, Karen Kuzsel (Wagner) and her husband Russ Wagner recently returned from our Southern Italy & Sicily small group tour and she wrote a series of wonderful blog posts about their experiences traveling from striking Sicily, to the breathtaking Amalfi Coast to unheralded Apulia.

Click on the links below to read Karen’s articles, and if you’d like to join us on your own adventure, check out our Southern Italy & Sicily small group tour.

Part 1: Taormina

Part 2: Agrigento

Part 3: Matera

Part 4: Alberobello, Apuglia

Part 5: Lecce

Part 6: Sorrento/Capri/Amalfi Coast

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A Sicilian Odyssey

Itinerary Expand All

Day 1: arrive siracusa, italy.

Tour begins: 6:00 PM. A transfer is included from Catania – Fontanarossa Airport to the Grand Hotel Ortigia, a century-old landmark hotel ideally located in the historic heart of Siracusa on the island of Ortigia . Join us for a welcome reception and dinner at the hotel tonight. Stay Two Nights: Grand Hotel Ortigia (D)

Day 2: Siracusa, Italy

Walk in the footsteps of ancient Greek explorers who settled on this historic island in 734 BC, building a city of archaeological splendors, economic prosperity and political power that rivaled Athens as the most important city in the world until it fell to the Romans in 212 BC. Your locally guided walking tour today reveals some of its treasured Greek and Roman sites as you explore Neapolis Archaeological Park, including the 16,000-seat Greek Theatre (Teatro Greco), the Ear of Dionysius (Orecchio de Dioniso), and the 3rd-century Roman amphitheater.

Back in Ortigia, visit the Theatre of Apollo and the Baroque Duomo. Lunch today is a noble affair when you dine at the family palazzo of the Barone Pietro di Beneventano, and taste wines from the family vineyard. Free time this afternoon offers you an opportunity to see more of the city or walk back to the hotel with your Tauck Director, where the remainder of the day is at leisure. (B/L)

Day 3: Baroque Gems Of Noto And Ragusa Ibla

Drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Noto this morning where a walking tour along the elegant Corso Vittorio Emmanuele promenade showcases the city's Baroque buildings, golden-hued palazzi and churches among them, rebuilt after a devastating 17th-century earthquake. View from the outside the Basilica di San Salvatore and the Duomo di Noto as well as the ornate Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, before exploring on your own. A tour of a local herb farm later this afternoon introduces you to the freshly picked aromatic spices that add true regional flavor to today's family-style tasting lunch.

This afternoon, drive to the lovely Baroque town of Ragusa Ibla , a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A local guide introduces you to the town on a guided walking tour of its ancient labyrinthine lanes, the main Piazza and historic sites. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of the Arezzo, the "noble" family of Ragusa Ibla; visit the century-old Circolo del Conversazione the original "Gentlemen's Club" of the day, and Il Piccolo – the private, small family theatre of the Arezzo family who have lived in their 19th-century palazzo for more than 200 years. Dinner this evening is at your hotel. Stay Two Nights: Eremo Delia Giubiliana (B/D)

Day 4: Ragusa, Italy

This morning, travel to the nearby town of Piazza Armerina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been called an "art city," woven into the fabric of Sicily. The mosaics you will see here are considered among the most beautiful and best preserved of their kind anywhere in the world. Your artful discoveries begin when you step inside the Roman Villa del Casale, dating back to 320 to 350 BC when it was built for a Roman official.

Look down at the floors as you tour the villa; the mosaics, both figurative and geometric, tell eloquent tales of Homeric poems and myths, nature and scenes from aristocratic life. After lunch, return to Ragusa for dinner in a wine cellar located in the medieval crypt underneath an old church, featuring 400 labels of the best Sicilian and international wines. (B/L/D)

Day 5: Explore The Greek Temples Of Agrigento & Afternoon At The Resort

This morning, depart for a visit to Agrigento and the amazing Greek temples. The Valley of the Temples at Agrigento, dating back to 581 BC, must have been the favorite neighborhood of the gods if the number of temples there is any indication – the site is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Built on a hillside facing the sea, explore temples honoring deities the likes of Zeus, Hercules, Concord, Pollux and Castor with a local guide in this amazing archaeological site. Visit the temples of Zeus, Concord and Hercules, the Temple of Juno and more. Arrive at the resort mid-afternoon; the remainder of the day is free to enjoy the resort's amenities as you please. Stay: Verdura Resort (B/L/D)

Day 6: Palermo, Italy

The morning is free to spend as you please. Enjoy a wine tasting en route to your Palermo hotel for a two-night stay.

This evening, join the son of a baroness for an exclusive private dinner and tour of his family's art collection in their historic city-center villa, designed by Ernesto Basile, the architect of Teatro Massimo. Stay Two Nights: Grand Hotel et des Palmes (B/L/D)

Day 7: Palermo, Italy

Start your day with a guided visit to the Palazzo dei Normanni, the seat of the kings of Sicily during the reign of the Normans and the main seat of power for Sicilian rulers for centuries. A UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the Palatine Chapel in the heart of the palace, the palazzo dates back to the 9th century and boasts multicultural touches that were added later.

These include the spectacular mosaics of precious stones, many glittering in gold, you will see in the royal apartments and chapel, which also features inlaid carved marble floors and a painted wooden ceiling. A walking tour of historic Palermo is followed by lunch at a local restaurant and a guided visit to Teatro Massimo, the largest opera house in Italy and the setting where the final scenes of the movie, Godfather Part III, were filmed. The remainder of the day is free to spend as you please. (B/L)

Day 8: Taormina, Italy

Drive to Cefalù for a guided tour of its Norman cathedral, constructed in 1240, before driving by the Madonie Mountains. Then, it's on to Taormina on a scenic drive that views the Aeolian Islands dotting the seascapes. A guided uphill walking tour of Taormina takes you to the Teatro Greco built in 3 BC by the Greeks and remodeled by the Romans. Your evening is at leisure. Stay Two Nights: Grand Hotel Timeo (B)

Day 9: Taormina, Italy

A guided walking tour of Taormina this morning takes you up hilly lanes to the Teatro Greco built in 3 BC by the Greeks and remodeled by the Romans. The views from here are worth the climb! Enjoy time to explore the sights on your own for the remainder of the day. If you wish to experience an active adventure today, join us for a 4x4 Range Rover adventure up Mount Etna for a hike on its moon-like lava surfaces.

Following free time in Taormina, join us for a farewell reception and dinner tonight at the hotel. (B/D)

Day 10: Depart Taormina, Italy

Tour ends: Taormina. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo to Catania – Fontanarossa Airport (a 45-60 minute drive). Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport. (B)

Trip Inclusions Expand All

Journey highlights.

• Private lunch at a Baron's palazzo in Siracusa with a wine tasting from the family vineyard and dinner and an art tour with the son of a baroness at their private villa in Palermo
• Visit to Palermo's grand Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, the largest opera house in Italy
• Visits to the Sicilian Baroque UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Noto and Ragusa Ibla
• Enjoy a wine tasting at a local winery.
• Feel like part of the family when you visit the intimate theatre and "gentlemen's club" of the noble Arezzo family who welcome you to their 19th-century palazzo

Trip Inclusions

• Airport transfers upon arrival and departure
• Service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

Included Meals

• 20 included meals (9 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 6 dinners)
• Itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
• Price is for land, cruise and specified internal flights. International flights not included.

Availability Twin Share (Per Person) Solo (Own Room)

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Myths and legends: through the Odyssey, but in Sicily

Are you filling your bucket list hopefully we’ll be able to travel again soon, and in that moment, sicily can be your first destination. do you know what are the elements that make a place special monuments for sure, traditions…but also legends let’s discover together three iconic sicilian towns that became famous even thanks to some old myths and odyssey above all..

What does Odyssey mean for Sicily? Many towns many legends. We can describe Sicily in this way, since everybody knows that this magical island inspired writers, poets, etc. If we look back to the past, we can immediately find a lot of myths connected to this Italian region. Sicilian Secrets shows you where you should go to know more and live in person some chapters of the adventurous epic poem by Homer…take note!

First stop, Messina. Beyond the borders.

Messina is the first stop of our journey. Everybody is enchanted by the sunset on the Strait of Messina while looking at Calabria, right on the other side of the coast. One of the most popular Sicilian legends concerns something happened in this strip of sea many centuries ago.

Scylla and Charybdis were two horrible monsters who used to live in the Strait of Messina; the first one was continuously hungry and used to eat every boat and sailors that passed close to the coast of Calabria, the second one caused some strong whirlpool three times a day close to the coast of Sicily. Nobody wanted to pass through the strait except for Odysseus . According to Homer in the Odyssey, Odysseus challenged these monsters and his boat was sadly swallowed up, all his fellowmen died, and he was the only one who survived.

Calypso, no time. Where’s Ogygia?

Our second stop is in Pantelleria . It’s a small island in the Mediterranean, belongs to Sicily and many academics identified right there the legendary island of Ogygia . In the Odyssey, Ogygia is the place where Calypso , a beautiful and charming nymph, used to live. According to the description we can read in the poem, Pantelleria has many connections with the myth so…who knows!

Maybe this is the island where Odysseus stopped for ten years falling in love and being also spelled by Calypso, she was even a sort of Goddess of Love. Once you get there, you can visit the grotto of Satarìa and enjoy the warm springs…at the same time, remember that you are going into the house that three thousand years ago belonged to the nymph. Let’s dream…

Aci Trezza and The Rocks of the Cyclops

The last stop of our virtual itinerary through the Odyssey is Aci Trezza , one of the most important places where you can discover some incredible legends. You will immediately notice the so-called Rocks of the Cyclops or Cyclopean Islands , located in front of the town. According to mythology, a cyclops called Polyphemus used to live there. This time, we won’t tell you about the romantic story between the shepherd Aci and the nymph Galatea but about the origin of these islands. We can find everything in the Odyssey, of course.

«These words the Cyclops’ burning rage provoke: From the tall hill he rends a pointed rock; High o’er the billows flew the massy load, And near the ship came thund’ring on the flood. It almost brushed the helm, and fell before: The whole sea shook, and refluent beat the shore».

Homer wrote that Odysseus met Polyphemus on his journey back to Ithaca. This monster killed two of Odysseus’s fellowmen, so he wanted his revenge. Odysseus made the cyclops drunk and tired using some wine and when Polyphemus fell asleep, he blinded him putting a wooden stick in his big eye. As you can imagine, the monster was not happy at all, and full of anger invoked the help of his father Poseidon, so:

«A larger rock then heaving from the plain, He whirled it round–it rung across the main: It fell and brushed the stern: the billows roar, Shake at the weight, and refluent beat the shore».

  Do you feel as curious as Odysseus and want to explore all Sicilian legendary places ? In the meantime, follow Dimensione Sicilia and Sicilian Secrets on Facebook and Instagram and turn your quarantine into a nice trip you can do from home. Don’t forget to collect all our hints and advice!

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A Sicilian Odyssey

• 2024 Small Group

Accommodations

• Pricing & Availability
• Important Info

Uniquely Tauck

Experience with tauck

TAUCK EXCLUSIVES – Private lunch at a Baron's palazzo in Siracusa with a wine tasting from the family vineyard and dinner and an art tour with the son of a baroness at their private villa in Palermo

Tauck Value Includes

Visit to Palermo's grand Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, the largest opera house in Italy

Visits to the Sicilian Baroque UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Noto and Ragusa Ibla

Enjoy a wine tasting at a local winery

SEE WHAT YOUR JOURNEY INCLUDES

Active components such as hiking, bicycling and walking longer distances may be included, and hills and/or uneven terrain may be encountered on several days. Guests should be able to walk two to three miles and stand for long periods of time with no difficulty.

Often robust – may include long days, active sightseeing, early starts, evening activities, significant travel times.

Along Europe's Scenic "Yellow Roads"

Discover cultural footprints forever present... O ver the centuries, the island of Sicily was colonized by the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Muslims, Normans and assorted others before becoming part of Spain, then the Bourbon Kingdom, and finally part of Italy. And today...

Private tour of palermo's teatro massimo, behind-the-scenes at italy's largest opera house, palermo's teatro massimo vittorio emanuele.

The largest theatre in Italy and Europe's third-largest opera house, Palermo's Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele opened in 1897 – 22 years after construction began – with a production of Verdi's "Falstaff." Its neoclassical exterior was inspired by ancient Greek and Roman architecture, while its auditorium reflects the style of the Renaissance and features excellent acoustics, as you'll see (and hear) on your guided tour of this grand venue. Closed for 23 years starting in the 1970s, the Teatro Massimo – the location where the final scenes of "The Godfather, Part III" were filmed – was restored and reopened in time for its centennial in 1997.

Reception and dinner at a private villa

An exclusive reception, dinner and art tour hosted by a family member at a private villa in palermo.

Built in the 18th century for the King of Naples, Ferdinand I and Queen Maria Carolina of Borbone (an older sister of Queen Marie Antoinette of France) during their exile in Sicily, Villa Chiaramonte Bordonaro is still home to the Barons Chiaramonte Bordonaro today, and its gardens rank among the most beautiful parks in Palermo. The villa's current owners often open up their home for special events… like your exclusive private visit and gala dinner, to which you are welcomed by the son of the current Baroness, who hosts a tour of his family's villa and their private art collection housed in a building designed by Ernesto Basile, the architect of the Teatro Massimo.

Verdura Golf & Spa Resort

Nights 3 and 4

An alluring Sicilian escape....

An irresistible destination boasting miles of private Mediterranean coastline, Verdura Golf & Spa Resort is a place where your room will seem woven subtly into the Sicilian landscape... where you'll enjoy a true sense of space and uninterrupted views of the azure waters from your private terrace.

Sicily is an island of wild beauty and history, with a culture that dates back to antiquity. The tour encapsulated the passion and pride of a Sicily one must experience.

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Grand hotel ortigia.

Siracusa, Sicily, Italy

Eremo Della Giubiliana

Ragusa, Sicily, Italy

Verdura Resort

Sciacca, Sicily

Grand Hotel et des Palmes

Palermo, Italy

Grand Hotel Timeo

Taormina, Sicily, Italy

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About Booking This Tour

Travel Documents

If you are a U.S. citizen traveling internationally, you will need a passport valid for six months beyond the completion of your Tauck journey for entry into Italy; however, you do not need a visa for the short duration of this tour.

If you are a citizen of another country traveling internationally, you should contact an embassy or consulate of Italy to determine what travel documentation is required.

Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

We recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

To facilitate Travel Requirements, destinations are increasingly utilizing online forms that require digital proof that you've successfully completed your submission (via an email, QR code, etc.) To ensure smooth travels and peace of mind, we strongly recommend all guests carry a personal smart phone and sign up for international data plans before traveling overseas.

TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN AS A GUARDIAN: If you are traveling as the guardian of a child/children, we strongly suggest that you carry a letter from both parents of the child authorizing emergency treatment in the event of illness or accident. For travel abroad, many foreign countries have specific entry requirements for children under 21 who are traveling internationally without BOTH parents. (These requirements are in response to the increased incidence of children being abducted and taken abroad.) PLEASE NOTE THAT TAUCK IS NOT RESPONSIBLE for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for children traveling without both parents.

How to Book a Tour

See your travel advisor, or call Tauck at 800-468-2825 to make a reservation.

At the time of booking, please have the following information ready for all members of your party:

• Tour Name and Departure Date
• Traveler's Name: First and last names as they appear on your passport or driver's license
• Traveler's Address(es)
• Email Address*
• Traveler's Phone Number(s)*
• Emergency Contact Information: Please provide the name and phone number  of a relative or friend (not travelling with you) whom we could contact during the tour in the unlikely event of an emergency
• Interest in purchasing a travel protection plan (US and Canada)
• Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Tauck recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
• Interest in our specially negotiated airfares

* Required Fields

Deposits & Final Payment

Deposits and fees for the optional Protection Plan or Cancel Fee Waiver [CFW] coverage are due at time of booking.

The deposit amount is $600 per person

Final Payments:

Final Payment is due to Tauck  60  days before departure for lands trips, and  120  days before departure for cruises and rail journeys. If your deposit was made by credit card, final payment will be automatic unless you opted out at time of booking. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be a considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply.

Travel Protection Plan

Effective for plans purchased as of July 1, 2021:

Tauck's Guest Protection

Tauck's Guest Protection provides you with cancellation protection before your journey begins as well as insurance benefits while you are traveling. Guest Protection includes the following:

Cancellation Waiver – Provided by Tauck:

Under Tauck's Cancellation Fee Waiver you can cancel your tour for ANY REASON up to the day before departure and receive a money-back refund (except in Extreme Circumstances*) on the land tour cost, based on your original method of payment.

*Extreme Circumstances:  In the event of an act of God, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, accident, natural disaster, outbreak of disease, or other event or circumstance beyond our control that contributes to or results in cancellation rates above our historical cancellation rates in the absence of such event or occurrence, Tauck reserves the right to issue a credit to you in lieu of a money-back refund, applicable to a future Tauck journey.

Travel Insurance Benefits – Underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company.

• Trip Cancellation –  If you must cancel your tour due to a covered reason, the plan provides coverage for the amount you paid for your travel arrangements. Since the non-insurance cancellation waiver takes care of the land package cancellation fees already, this benefit reimburses the airfare cancellation charges up to the value of your original airfare purchase.
• Trip Interruption –  If you have to interrupt your tour for covered reasons, the plan provides reimbursement to catch up to your tour or return home.
• Travel Delay –  Provides reimbursement for missed, prepaid travel arrangements if you are delayed by a common carrier, natural disaster, unannounced strike, or other reasons as cited in the plan.
• Medical Expense –  Reimburses covered medical expenses incurred in the event you become injured or sick during your trip. 
• Baggage / Personal Effects Protection –  Provides reimbursement in the event your luggage or personal effects are, lost, stolen, damaged or delayed during your trip.
• Worldwide Emergency Assistance Services –  Provided by Carefree Travel Assistance; 24-hour emergency telephone assistance hotline for medical and travel related problems.

The cost of Tauck's Guest Protection is: $559  per person

This protection provides insurance coverage that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker.

This optional Guest Protection must be requested at time of booking and fee must be included with initial payment. Fees are based on costs as of July 1, 2021, and are subject to change. Details will be provided with written confirmation of your tour reservation. Guest Protection does not protect travel agent commissions. Reimbursements will be made according to original method of payment. The amount of any refund shall be reduced by any recoveries obtained by you from any third parties.

The Guest Protection plan waives cancellation fees outlined below, provided we are notified of cancellation before your tour departs. Tour cancellation fees are waived regardless of reason, without written notice, and Tauck will refund land tour cost.

To obtain your state-specific Certificate of Insurance that contains the complete terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the certificate, visit  affinitytravelcert.com/docs/TACGPPINTL .

If You Have To Cancel

If you cancel within 10 days of initial deposit Within the first 10 days after you place your initial deposit, you may cancel your reservation for any reason with no cancellation fees. If you cancel more than 10 days after initial deposit Regardless of reason, cancellations result in costly charges from our travel and hotel providers covering penalties and fees incurred by canceling confirmed bookings. These fees vary from tour to tour. Therefore, the following fees apply.

Cancellation Fees with Tauck's Guest Protection Plan:

Loss of Guest Protection fee, per person 

Cancellation Fees without Tauck's Guest Protection Plan :

60 days or more before departure = $600 per person

59-8 days before departure = $900 per person

7-1 days before departure = $1500 per person

Time of cancellation will be when notice is received in our Wilton Woods, CT office.

In the event of an unforeseen circumstance beyond our control, Tauck reserves the right to amend the cancellation terms outlined herein.

Note:  All Guests, regardless of residency, who book a Tauck journey have the option of purchasing the Cancellation Waiver provided by Tauck in the event they need to cancel their trip after making their reservations. Tauck's Guest Protection, which includes both the Cancellation Fee Waiver and the Travel Insurance Benefits and Assistance Services described above, is not available to residents of Puerto Rico.

Travel Terms and Conditions

Click here  to find Tauck's Travel Terms & Conditions.

Travel Requirements For This Tour

Air Information and Luggage Restrictions

AIRFARE: Airfare to and from this destination is not included in the journey cost. If purchasing your air elsewhere, it is very important to provide us with your confirmed arriving and departing flight information no later than 3 weeks before your arrival date. Flight information can be submitted to Tauck (or verified, if you've already provided it) in the My Account section of Tauck.com.

TAUCK AIRPORT TRANSFERS are included at the start and end of the journey between the airport and the Tauck hotel. Airport transfers are available for any pre tour or post tour hotel stays immediately consecutive to the tour, providing flight information is received in the Tauck office no later than three weeks in advance. Details on locating your transfer upon arrival to the tour start city will be included in your final documents.

AIRLINES and CHECKED LUGGAGE: Due to space limitations during your Tauck journey, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one average-size suitcase per person. Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and are free to revise luggage policies without notice. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies. PLEASE NOTE that if you are booked on a tour that includes on-tour flights, the checked luggage weight restrictions for these flights may be lower than the weight restrictions for your international flights.

Checked Luggage – General

Due to space restrictions, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one suitcase per person weighing no more than 50 pounds (23 kg) and with overall dimensions (length + width + height) not exceeding 62 inches (158 cm).

Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and luggage exceeding airline standards for size or weight may result in expensive overage fees or other consequences.

Airlines are free to revise luggage policies without notice, and certain airlines have different baggage allowances for different classes of service. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies.

Tauck luggage tags will be provided by your Tauck Director on Day 1 of your itinerary. Please do not attach a Tauck luggage tag to any carry-on items, as the Tauck tags designate luggage that is to be handled and transferred by ground operators and hotel staff during your journey.

Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and that you bring only those items you need handy during the day such as make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or on the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may be inaccessible during daytime travel.

Health, Safety and Mobility

HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

While drinking water is generally safe at all our hotels, bottled water will be available wherever the local water is not fit to drink. We also provide bottled water on the motor coaches.

Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.

If you have a medical condition which might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify us as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

If you are a resident of the U.S. traveling internationally, no vaccinations are currently required for travel to Italy. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 800-232-4636 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on to the CDC website by clicking here .

If you are a resident of another country traveling internationally, please contact an embassy or consulate of Italy to determine what vaccination(s) may be required for your travel.

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUESTS

The restaurants, hotels, caterers and numerous other partners we work with all do their best to accommodate special dietary requests from Tauck guests. However, given the diverse nature of those food providers (from small wineries to grand hotels to world-famous restaurants in more than 70 countries worldwide), some of our partners are better able than others to accommodate such requests. We therefore cannot guarantee that all dietary requests can be accommodated at every meal. Also, please note that where dietary requests can be accommodated, choices will frequently be limited.

A Sicilian Odyssey is an active and extensive tour. To enjoy this tour, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surfaces. Some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. Sicily is home to innumerable historic buildings and sites, some dating from antiquity. Therefore, roads, walkways and architecture will present challenges for you if you have difficulty walking independently and, therefore, we do not recommend this tour if you have such difficulty. You will encounter cobblestone streets, narrow passageways, and steep and winding hill town roads. The amount of walking you do at the various sites and towns is at your sole discretion; you may remain on the coach during any of these walking excursions.

Examples of our walking itinerary:

• Agrigento 2 hours of walking over mainly even terrain
• Noto - cobblestoned but flat walkways
• Siracusa - uneven terrain at Archaeological Park
• Taormina - steep walkways throughout city center

In addition, coach travel along the many "Yellow Roads" on this tour are very windy and may cause you some discomfort if you are prone to motion sickness. If you are, we advise bringing motion sickness remedies or medication with you.

PLEASE NOTE: We regret that this Tauck itinerary cannot accommodate wheelchairs or motorized scooters. Likewise, we regret that we're unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs. The responsibility of the Tauck Director who accompanies your trip is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.

Reading List

We have compiled a reading list of recommended books to give you more information about the destinations you will be traveling to on your upcoming journey!

You can view the reading list  here.

Sicily has a typical Mediterranean climate with mild and wet winters and hot, dry summers. Summer temperatures are often above 90°F (32°C) during the day and drop to about 70°F (21°C) at night. In the fall the temperatures range from 60 to 80°F (16 to 27°C). Rainfall can occur anytime throughout the year, though the summer months are the driest.

To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website by clicking here.

What To Pack

Bringing the right clothing for your trip is important – we've partnered with Necessary Gear who provide an "easy-to-use, one-stop shop" for your Tauck travel needs, specifically selected for this trip. Click here to visit their site .

When packing for your trip to Sicily, it is important to keep in mind the time of year you are traveling and the current weather conditions for that time. The weather in Italy is temperate and unpredictable. Your journey is designed with leisure in mind. Dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is adaptable and allows for layering. Generally, during the day, casual, comfortable, cotton clothing is recommended. Cool weather at higher elevations or at night will require warmer, layered clothing.

In Europe, especially in finer restaurants, it is customary to dress somewhat formally. Slacks or a dress for women and a jacket for men are acceptable dining attire. It is advisable to avoid wearing jeans, sneakers or shorts for dinner. You may also wish to dress up a bit for the welcome reception and the farewell dinner, but certainly be comfortable.

Most Catholic churches in Italy require that your knees and shoulders be covered when you enter, even during the hot days of summer.

You will find a hair dryer located in your hotel guest room. By law in Italy, irons and ironing boards are not made available to guests at the hotels. Valet laundry and dry cleaning services are available for a fee.

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor's prescription or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.

Following is a list of recommended items to pack for your trip to Italy:

• Casual daytime wear – shorts, slacks, long and short-sleeved shirts
• An optional jacket and tie for men
• Casually elegant evening wear for ladies
• Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat
• A light sweater or jacket for higher elevations or a breezy night
• Binoculars (7x50 preferably)
• Insect repellent
• Camera, lenses, batteries, memory cards and chargers
• Lightweight, comfortable, sturdy walking shoes that have already been broken-in
• Travel alarm clock/cell phone with alarm function (many hotels do not have clocks in the rooms)
• Rain poncho and collapsible umbrella
• Daypack for camera equipment
• Sundries and toiletries that may be difficult to find en route
• Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your hotel room while traveling

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6 of the best ways to discover Sicily this summer

From hiking active volcanoes to watching opera in an ancient theatre, here’s how to experience Italy's largest island at its best.

It seems like everyone’s dreaming of Sicily at the moment — and who can blame them? After HBO’s recent hit series, The White Lotus, thrust the island into the spotlight, audiences around the globe have taken a renewed interest in its charming towns and painterly coastlines. However, the Mediterranean’s largest island was luring visitors long before Hollywood arrived, with a centuries-long status as something of a cultural melting pot.  

This is a place of ancient Greek temples, Roman mosaics, Norman churches and resplendent baroque palaces, as well as distinct culinary traditions with a strong Arabic influence. And there’s a reason why so many cultures have settled here. With mild winters and sizzling summers, Sicily is southern Europe in microcosm: it’s packed with wonderful cities, coastlines and countryside, while magisterial Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe, towers above it all. Here are six of the best ways to experience the island this summer.

1. Hike an active volcano  

With its snow-capped tip giving way to a lunar landscape of peaks, craters and lava fields, Etna is one of Europe’s most spectacular natural sites, accessible to the public via 145,000 acres of protected parkland. For those wanting to explore its highest reaches, it’s a good idea to book a local guide. Go Etna offers transfers via 4x4 to a starting point at 6,266ft above sea level, where you’ll be whisked across the lava fields in a cable car, before hiking to the volcano’s peak at roughly 11,000ft. Here, an otherworldly, yellow-black landscape awaits, as well as spectacular views across Sicily’s east coast — though visitors should note that weather and volcanic activity can make the volcano inaccessible.  

End the day with a glass of Etna’s finest. The area’s volcanic slopes are becoming increasingly famous for vineyards that produce fruity, mineral-rich wines, with opportunities to learn more about their long winemaking history through tours and tastings.  

2. Discover the Aeolian islands

Situated in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the northeast coast of Sicily, the Aeolian islands are Sicily’s best-loved archipelago. Thousands of years ago, each island was a fearsome volcano; today, they are peaceful holiday spots, with charming beaches and breathtaking clifftop footpaths, served by a network of fast hydrofoil boats that make island-hopping easy.  

Pretty Salina, where the critically acclaimed Il Postino was partly filmed in the 1990s, is known for its sweet Malvasia wine, while remote Alicudi has no cars or roads, only donkeys to help transport goods. On Stromboli, where a volcano remains active, you can lounge on black-sand beaches by day and usually see fiery eruptions every 20 minutes or so once the sun sets. Magmatrek organise hikes to the safe limit of 1,300ft to see them up close. As the name suggests, the island of Vulcano is home to the Aeolians' other active volcano. Hike to the summit (when allowed — signs will tell you), then reward yourself with a volcanic wine-tasting at Soffio sulle Isole vineyard.

3. Learn the mythical origins of the Cyclops Riviera  

Sicily is a land of rich mythology — Homer is thought to have set part of The Odyssey around the Strait of Messina. Nudging south, the coastline above Catania also played its part — supposedly the site at which wily hero Odysseus took on the cyclops Polyphemus (a giant one-eyed man-eater). The jagged lava stacks known locally as faraglioni sitting off the coast are supposedly the rocks Polyphemus threw at Odysseus’s boat. But it’s not only the area’s history that is legendary — its beauty is also widely renowned.  

The river Aci (named after the mythical Acis, who was killed by Polyphemus) lends its name to the gorgeous fishing towns along the coast. Don’t miss Aci Trezza, whose crystalline waters are great for snorkelling, or Acireale, famous for its striking baroque architecture and its iced fruit granita (best enjoyed like the locals do, with a brioche to dip into it).  

4. Go birdwatching in the Vendicari Nature Reserve or Nebrodi Park

Sicily is a haven for wildlife and an essential stop for migratory birds flying between Europe and Africa. At the island’s southeastern tip is the Riserva di Vendicari — an eight-mile stretch of coastal nature reserve where birds such as flamingos, curlews and storks take a break amid pebbly beaches, wetlands and tiny coves. Observe them while taking advantage of the snorkelling, hiking and sunbathing opportunities on offer. The mountainous spine which runs behind Sicily’s north coast is also home to a natural park, the Parco dei Nebrodi. Keep your eyes peeled and you could be rewarded with sightings of rare griffon vultures, as well as golden eagles and bushy-eared eagle-owls.  

5. Immerse yourself in history at the Valley of Temples, Agrigento

The ancient Greeks scattered temples across Sicily, but Agrigento is the island’s most spectacular architectural site, with seven temples and a number of religious sanctuaries awaiting exploration in a valley of almond and olive trees. This was a holy border around the ancient city of Akragas — the temples sit in a semicircle around the ruins of the city. Also on site are the ancient agora, a necropolis, fortifications and the bouleuterion , or assembly house, while the fragrant macchia mediterranea —   shrubland of shady carob trees, myrtle, laurel and mastic bushes, and delicate, yellow-flowered tree spurge — carpets the site.

6. Enjoy a performance with a view at the Greek theatre, Taormina

History and culture combine to spectacular effect in Taormina, where you can take your seats for a performance as the locals have done for over 2,000 years. The hilltop town’s iconic Greek theatre was constructed in the third century BCE — sculpted from the rocky cliff face overlooking the sparkling blue Ionian Sea, with Etna taking centre stage in the background. You can book onto regular tours, but the best way to experience it is by taking in a performance. The season generally runs from June to late September, with 2023 highlights including a semi-residency from Andrea Bocelli and a production of Puccini’s Tosca.

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• FAMILY TRAVEL

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• Rick Steves Tours
• Rick Steves tour ...

Rick Steves tour vs Odysseys Unlimited tour

After reading comments comparing Rick Steves to Road Scholar, I thought it would be nice to learn of comparisons of Rick Steves to Odysseys Unlimited. If you have toured with both companies, please share your experiences both pro and con. I have taken 9 Rick Steves tours and am taking my first Odysseys tour next year so I would like to know how they compare so I know what to expect.

We have done a couple of Odysseys -- all south America -- via my undergraduate university's alumni travel program. All excellent and all five star all the way. But have not done a Rick Steves so have no ability to compare. I am guessing the Odysseys's tours are a notch or two up the scale. We never handled our luggage and rarely checked into hotels. Just handed us a key. At the end of the tour we did tip the guide. But he also was extremely good. Not a lot of mingling with the local folks.

We've taken both. As I mentioned in another post, the downside to RS is that they go to Europe only. We've used OU for both in and out of Europe. We've found the land-only prices to be competitive. (The OU marketing collateral prices include economy air arranged by OU. We arrange our own air using miles and we arrive 2-3 days earlier to get over jet lag. We have heard so many horror stories about OU-arranged air, so if you do use them, arrange your own air.) The quality of the guides is comparable (both high). RS tours are (in my view) more physical - more opportunities for hikes etc. - and there is that opportunity mid-tour to do laundry (for a reasonable amount). OU seems to cater to a crowd that's willing to spend more and the demographics skew older. My gen-X daughter would go on RS tours and not feel out of place but does not go on OU tours (too old) even if we offer to pay her way. As my husband and I get older, we appreciate OU for not having us schlep our bags ourselves, and being able to bring 24-26 inchers instead of roll-aboards. At the end of the day, it's the itinerary that drives the choice of tour company (if we decide not to travel independently) and we are finding that RS choices are quite limited.

I am currently on my 3rd OU tour, and have taken 9 RS tours.

I agree with all of Amelia's comments, and will continue to use both depending on itinerary, and lean RS because they are more active and I enjoy the more generous free time.

We’ve done 1 OU and 8 RS tours. While we enjoyed our OU tour, we’re saving them for when we can’t handle our luggage anymore. I would agree with the other poster assessments. We did the OU Spain Paradores and Pousadas tour. I didn’t feel the rooms were that much better than we’ve had on our RS tours, but I don’t remember ever having to climb stairs with our luggage. What we didn’t care for was the fact that the OU hotels were not always centrally located. We stayed in Carmona and had day trips to Seville and Cordoba, which cut down our time in each place. Our included dinners were at the hotels .

I've taken three tours with each.

On the OU tours, most of the hotels were four star and centrally located . Most meals were in restaurants, drinks were included at included meals.

All the tour directors--what RS calls "guides"-- were licensed and native to the country or area they were in.

Group size on OU was smaller than RS.

I agree it's better to arrange your own flights.

Thanks for the comparisons between the two tour companies. I have been curious about OU for some time but leery about switching from traveling with Rick Steves. I have very much enjoyed RS and would travel with them in the future. One of the things I like is that his company policies are transparent and favorable in some ways. However, some positives about OU are tempting, namely higher class hotels (I've enjoyed many RS hotels but some were less than desirable to me) and more meals included. I am able to handle my own bags, but having them handled for me would be nice. I would think the ages of the tour members would be comparable. On my RS tours there were some younger people but on average most were older. The discussion on RS No Grumps policy is interesting. Even though we sign an agreement to adhere to no grumping that does not guarantee that someone won't. I guess just having that expectation spelled out in writing or perhaps the type of personalities RS attracts contributes to the more agreeable traveler maybe.

Thanks for the responses, keep them coming. All very helpful. As to the “no grumps” policy, I don’t think it is achieved through the written agreement all RS travelers sign. Instead, I think it is self imposed because people who can book their own air travel, get themselves to the first tour hotel and are willing to carry their own luggage and maybe even climb some stairs are by nature not complaining grumps. I hope these are the people I meet on my first Odyssey’s tour.

The Odysseys groups I was with got along great. On one tour we had a guy who complained because the tour director wouldn't change the itinetary just for him. Ages were probably 50+.

Odysseys customer service is also great. They go above and beyond to do things right. On one tour, a hotel, at the last minute, told OU they had overbooked and couldn't accomodate the group. Our itinerary was slightly changed. To make up for it, Odysseys added extra sightseeing and another included dinner even though it wasn't their fault. The group enjoyed the changes and were actually glad it happened.

My wife and I are about to book an Odyssey tour for fall 2024, to Macchu Picchu and the Galapagos--has anyone on this forum done that tour, and if so, how did you like it?

Second question: I see that people are recommending that we handle our own air; on the tour I mentioned, there are 5 flights:

to Lima Peru to Quito, Ecuador to Baltras, Galagos Islands to Quito from Quito back home

If I handle flights, does Odyssey handle the 3 internal flights, or would I have to arrange all of that? I'm hoping to speak to the rep tomorrow, so I suppose that's a question for them, unless someone already knows the answer.

I just took my first Odysseys tour. I liked it and would travel with them again. I did the Romania and Bulgaria tour. There were 16 of us and it was a very nice size. The other travelers were EXTREMELY well-traveled. They were a very hearty bunch - and there were numerous people in their 80s but you would never believe it unless they showed you their IDs.

Hotels were good, itinerary was fun, and the guides were good. We had two - one for Bulgaria, who was fantastic, and one for Romania who was solid and completely professional but a little less "fun".

To answer you question about flights - book your own. And even if you do, internal flights are covered and booked by Odysseys.

Numerous people who had Odysseys-booked flights had bad connections and missed flights. I don't let anyone book my flights - I always want the control of safe, logical connecting cities and times.

You need to call in to get land-only prices from Odysseys, which is kind of a pain, but workable.

Valerie, thanks for that info; I think that's what we'll do--book our own flights, and confirm with Odyssey that they'll be taking care of the internal flights (3 of them).

We've done RS tours, have another booked in Scotland next year; we like it, but want to see Macchu Picchu, and especially the Galapogos.

Thanks to the OP's post about Odyssey, we've booked yet another trip! Next year we're taking 3 trips with 3 different tour companies--13 days in Scotland, which will dovetail into a 15-day Viking cruise around the British Isles. Then in October, we've now booked the 16-day Odyssey tour that goes to Machu Picchu and the Galápagos Islands. Really excited; the rep on the phone this morning confirmed that we can book our own inbound and outbound flights, and they'll take care of the internal flights that get us from Lima to Quito, then out to the Galapagos and back.

From looking on the Internet for reviews, it seems that the only negative about Odyssey has been their air department; for that reason, we booked the trip and will take care of our own flight arrangements.

I just took a trip with Odysseys-unlimited "Treasures of Peru". It was amazing and the tour guides very knowledgeable. Hotels were 1st class, itinerary amazing, never had to carry a bag. I really enjoyed the trip. We were on the go constantly and were exhausted when we got home. The only problem was with the airlines going to Peru. Our flight was canceled and I had to sit in airport for 11 hours. OU staff didn't help very much. Didn't get me earlier flight, hotel or food voucher when waiting. Then when I completed survey and told them of my concerns they refused to take any accountability and told me maybe I should find another travel company. My responses was "why ask people to compete a survey if they aren't interested in honest feedback." I would recommend traveling with them the trip was exceptional and very well organized. Peru is an amazing country with humble people, delicious food and amazing history. I agree with others in post, in future I will get my own flights going and coming home. Flights inside the country are covered and went well.

@drlorrie - First welcome to the forum! This statement " Then when I completed survey and told them of my concerns they refused to take any accountability and told me maybe I should find another travel company. " is just so silly on the part of OU! My word...I totally agree with why they would ask for an eval if they can't learn from errors. Do they have any FB pages that are monitored by OU staffers? That might also be a place to post. I'm on 2 private groups for Road Scholar and have made no bones about my issues with my last trip. However, my eval DID get their attention at the time although they continue to have the person in question "organizing" tours.

I"m surprised with OU's response.

I do know, from talking to fellow tour travelers, that the flights they sometimes include are not the best.

On my Japan trip, those that had included flights had to fly from Japan to South Korea then to the US and then to their home cities. Anyone capable of making a plane reservation should do so on their own.

Also on that trip, some of the participants didn't like the tour director. I thought she was fine. But apperently, the reviews were not great and everyone on the tour was offered a $100 voucher towards another tour.

OU's customer service used to be excellent but I have to wonder if the pandemic may have had an effect on them. I took their first Greek tour after the pandemic and it had issues. The response from OU was non-existant. Things may have changed.

On a personal note, I realized that multi-day tours are not for me. I prefer to have control over what I do and where I stay. YMMV.

We have done six OU tours (Peru, Tanzania, South Africa+, Alaska, Scandinavia and Costa Rica) and seven RS tours (Turkey, Eastern France, Adriatic, Scotland, Ireland, Sicily and Southern Italy). We liked both tour companies. Both are very customer service oriented. OU is definitely more upscale. On the occasions when tour participants encountered a snafu on either tour, the guides handled it very well. We arranged our own flights on four of the OU tours. We let them book our flights to Peru and Tanzania. If you book your own flights, you are responsible for getting yourself from the arrival airport to the first tour hotel although OU did transfer us from the Costa Rica airport and the Joburg, South Africa airport. For the Tanzania safari, I would recommend letting OU handle the flights if their policy is still that you need to get yourself through immigration and to the tour hotel. We arrived in the tiny airport in Arusha late at night. It was absolute chaos with people trying to get their visas, go through customs and immigration, etc. OU was there to handle things and get us through the crazy process. Plus it was a long ride from the airport to the tour hotel. I would not have felt comfortable in Arusha arranging our own transport from the airport in the middle of nowhere at night. We did not have any problems with our OU arranged flights. OU only books economy flights or business class flights. There is no premium economy option. You could have problems with your flights no matter whether you book them yourselves or OU books them. We have zero complaints about OU or RS. The OU tours are very well done and you stay in better hotels than on a RS tour. I find the tour members on the OU tours need a bit more hand holding than on RS tours. For the most part, the OU tour participants are congenial with a couple of exceptions. I hope this helps.

drlorrie, did you ask the airline directly for hotel and food voucher?

Jessica, my OU tour of New Zealand starts in 3 months. I am hoping for great guides and fun fellow travelers like I have experienced on 9 RS tours. Odysseys Unlimited recently revised its health protocols for 2024 tours. There is no vaccination requirement, no Covid testing requirement and no masking except for those exhibiting cold or flu symptoms who are asked to mask on the bus and sit at separate tables for group dinners. Anyone testing positive for Covid will be required to adhere to local governmental regulations, if any. No one will be removed from the OU tour or required to isolate unless required by government regulations. I am hopeful that RS will adopt similar protocols for 2024 as I am booked on an Italy tour in June. I emailed the RS tour department to point out the new OU protocols and was told that RS is reviewing its policies for 2024 and will have an update in December or January. I urge you and others to also contact RS and express your concerns.

Well, I'm happy your guide was proactive about masking on your South Italy tour. I just returned from a non-RS tour where there were sick people on the bus that our tour guide ignored, and, lo and behold, we got Covid. Silly me for not masking on my own. I will happily be on a RS tour where the guide is concerned about our welfare.

We just got back from an odyssey tour of northern Italy. Excellent guide and itinerary. A brief word of warning on the hotels. They looked great on paper, but somehow we were always assigned to the lowest room category. Some of the worst rooms in nice hotels we’ve ever stayed in. Hotels were full in September and even offering to pay to upgrade got us nowhere.

Jessica writes

one tour member tested positive on the morning of the first day of the tour. He had only been exposed to the rest of the group at the introductory dinner.

So this person sat in the intro meeting room for at least one hour, then shoulders-to-shoulders and across the table with fellow travellers at dinner for another hour or more. Sure sounds like close contact, doesn't it? If he was infectious as people can be for up to two days before they show symptoms it is possible he could have infected someone else, who in turn might not show symptoms for two or more days. Looks to me like you had a wonderful guide who understood the health issues and took appropriate steps to prevent the rest of the bus from getting sick in case someone else was infected.

Hey folks, let's get this thread back on topic. Experiences on an RS tour vs Odysseys Unlimited.

Covid policies are obviously one thing to compare, but they are what they are. We don't need yet another thread in this forum devolving into a covid debate as it tends to box out the intended discussion and lead to guideline violations. Further side commentary on this subject risks the removal of this thread.

We welcome more reports about what it's like on OU vs RSE.

Like many have suggested, we booked our own air travel rather than let OU select our flights. We also plan to arrive a few days early and stay a few days after the tour like we do on RS tours. I have always believed that the reason there are no grumps on RS tours is that people who can book their own travel, get to the tour hotel and carry their own luggage are unlikely to need hand holding or to complain. My first OU tour will test my theory.

We have not been on RS tours but have taken five UO tours. The do book economy airfare but we have been able to upgrade on our own. The UO guides are exceptional. The true test occurred on our trip to Israel. While visiting the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, my wife fell and broke her arm. Bethlehem, being in Palestine, the 911 responders wanted to go to a Palestinian hospital. Our guide insisted she be taken to a Israeli hospital (much better health care system in Israel). While we were there for 1 1/2 days our guide or another OU representative was continually with us. This occurred at the end of our tour but we had to cancel our add on to Petra. UO made all the necessary airline changes and upgraded us to business class on the flight back.

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• Travel Tips

I Set Sail to Follow Odysseus’ Journey–Here’s Where I Landed

“Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns…driven time and again off course, once he had plundered the hallowed heights of Troy.”

I’ve always been fascinated by The Odyssey and the awesome voyage of Odysseus, all the magical spots he visited, and the strange creatures he bumped into while sailing from burning Troy back home to his weeping lonely wife. He’s the first savvy globetrotter of mankind. Figuring out where exactly in the Mediterranean his magical wanderings took place may seem like a head-splitting riddle. But in time scholars and geographers, helped by Homer’s tips, have located a few spots in Italy. So I set off along Odysseus’ trail relying also on amazing “alternative readings” of the epic poem. Here’s where I landed: most are remote, unknown atolls you’ve never heard of.

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Kinky, chic, exotic. It’s the jewel of the Pontine archipelago off Rome’s coast, dubbed the Romans’ Bahamas. This is said to be where Odysseus was bewitched by the beautiful sorceress Circe—after she turned his men into pigs. Homer called the witch’s isle by its ancient Greek name—Eea.

Palms, wildflowers, and prickly pears give it a tropical vibe. Shaped like a crescent moon it’s a labyrinth of colorful sea grottos, white pebble beaches with translucent waters, granite rocks with weird patterns, and tall reddish-yellow cliffs that look like corners of Mars. Boutiques and cocktail bars, such as La Maga Circe, are named after the two lovers.

I get lost in the maze of winding cobbled alleys and steps connecting bright yellow, purple, red, green, and blue fishermen dwellings covered in pink bougainvilleas. The harbor is lined with ancient Roman fisheries and cisterns where I dive in to refresh. Many villagers live in elegantly restyled prehistoric grottos. Ponza is also where Roman consuls came to skinny-dip and work on their tan. Locals say Odysseus’ boat docked at the Parata inlet’s sea stacks jutting out of fluorescent blue waves where I kayak in zig-zags and go snorkeling. Odysseus and Circe’s lovemaking was so passionate that, according to myth, they had three sons, one of whom went searching for his father and ended up marrying his step-mom Penelope. But that’s another story.

A short ferry boat trip from Ponza takes me to the nearby tiny one square mile former prison island of Ventotene, whose name in the local dialect gives a nod to the strong winds blowing here. Part of a pristine marine reserve turned into a diving Mecca with friendly barracudas and giant groupers, this is where Odysseus was harassed by more weird and scary women—the sirens. Poor guy, to resist the tempting song of these half-bird, half-women creatures who had the power to drive men insane and make them drown he ordered his companions to tie him to the mast and plug their ears. Odysseus was the only one who listened to the sirens’ enchanting song, bringer of such deep knowledge and secrets that no man could bear it except him, the hero. Yup, despite what you may think, in Greek mythology the sirens weren’t sexy ladies with sensual fishtails and shell bras. They were ugly harpies with lethal, high-pitched voices. Homer says they lived on a flat, barren isle topped with skeletons. Ventotene is as flat as a pancake and shaped like a lizard, with a low bushy countryside where farmers grow lentils.

Nobody knows the forbidden contents of the sirens’ chant but in the evening, as I sip a fennel digestive, I can hear them singing to each other, and it’s not a pleasant melody. Ventotene is bird-watching heaven where there’s a weird ugly bird called “berta” that shrieks like a baby. Locals dub it the “sirens’ scream.” The place is mesmerizing. Humble, simple, and wild, prepare for a no-frills, laid-back stay in former prison cells overlooking black-pebble beaches and mushroom-shaped sea stacks. The few locals suntan on black volcanic rocks down at the lighthouse. My buttocks are blue-bruised at the end of the day but it’s the best spot to admire the sunset and the distant view of the Vesuvius. The isle is tiny yet packed with so many things to see: the majestic Bourbon fortress, the mosaic-covered ruins of an ancient Roman villa, and prison undergrounds. Bars and boutiques are inside grottos lining the minuscule port where fishermen sell their catch.

Recommended Fodor’s Video

Scilla and cariddi.

You know when you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place? It’s not just a figure of speech. Italians say “between Scilla and Cariddi”—and that’s a real place. It’s in the Strait of Messina, right between the picturesque town of Scilla on the tip of Calabria and Peloro Cape on the opposite Sicilian coast. Here Odysseus’ ship was attacked by two sea monsters who embodied the fears of ancient sailors when navigating this deadly narrow strip of sea. The heroic crew was caught between Scylla, an octopus-like man-eating demon with dog-headed tentacles, and the beast Charybdis that constantly sucked in water and spat out water. Scylla was the personification of dangerous pointed sea rocks and Charybdis of gigantic whirlpools and violent currents that swallowed boats. Still, nowadays it is a treacherous, deep spot where the seabed is dotted with ancient wrecks and sunken statues. But the towns are charming. Scilla’s pastel-colored fishermen huts are nestled at the feet of cliff-hanging fortresses where the monster was said to live while Peloro Cape, with the tiny ancient hamlet of Torre Faro, boasts one of Sicily’s most stunning, round-shaped sandy beaches.

Quaint, offbeat, secluded, with pristine shores and translucent waters. It’s the wildest and farthest island of Sicily’s Egadi archipelago, where silence rules. Pinkish granite cliffs, Byzantine chapels, solitary pebble-stone inlets, and purple-pink animal-shaped grottos home to monk seals dot the coast. A few islanders move around on donkeys and you might bump into deers and wild boars in the bushes. There’s just one sleepy village frozen in time with dazzling white and blue fishermen dwellings that harbors a secret. According to an alternative reading of The Odyssey by 19th-century English author Samuel Butler, this is the real, legendary home of Odysseus—not the island of Ithaca in Greece. Which, today, would make him an Italian. Marettimo’s ancient Greek name is Hiera, meaning “sacred.” Forget social buzz, crowded beaches, and hotels. It’s one of Italy’s most under-the-radar destinations great for detox, unplugged stays. One single road connects the village to a spooky, crumbly overhanging pirate fortress.

In his literary work, The Authoress of the Odyssey , Butler also claims Homer is a con man, for the epic poem was actually written by a Sicilian poetess-princess called Nausicaa. After re-reading the masterpiece in ancient Greek, Butler set off on a long journey across Sicily and landed in Marettimo in search of confirmation to his theory. Strolling along the harbor past the tiny bars selling delicious cannoli and cassatelle pastries, there’s a little dwelling with a panoramic window overlooking the shimmering blue sea. That’s the cottage where Butler sojourned, an epigraph on the white-washed wall pays homage to his memory. The wooden bench nearby, where Butler sat admiring the view, has peeling-off paint due to the salty air. Locals are proud to boast such an élite past visitor.

Marettimo’s sister-isle Egadi chain, is the pearl of the archipelago, the tiniest and cutest island, Levanzo. Islanders exploit Butler’s version and claim this is where The Odyssey’s one-eyed Cyclops Polyphemus lived inside a huge cave which can be visited by boat and is covered in beautiful graffiti of early men that tell a spellbinding tale on the origins of the universe. Blinded by Odysseus, the giant tried stopping the fleeing hero by throwing huge rocks at his ship which fell into the sea and turned into a ragged sea stack shaped like the back of a dinosaur called Faraglione. Sunbathers attempt to swim to the stack from the beach but are trapped amid nasty currents and shallows that form a pleasant natural jacuzzi pool. I almost drowned in the endeavor, so I settled for a leg water massage up to my hip.

The isle, a former hippie retreat, is a nudist heaven. Locals suntan naked behind rocks while tourists happily swim topless. The dazzling white fisherman village overlooks aquamarine-colored water, and the harbor is lined with bouncy boats and dinghies. A lush pinewood forest hides a secluded inlet that used to be the ancient port. There are ghostly old military barracks and a few abandoned dwellings with unhinged doors and broken windows. Villagers have turned lookout towers into panoramic studios. You can walk to all inlets but forget soft sandy beaches. Feet will hurt and I tore three pairs of flip flops jumping from rock to rock and walking on pebbles. But I’m glad I did.

About Malta, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica: islands of the western Mediterranean

For senior and mature travellers taking a small group tour to Malta, Sicily , Sardinia and Corsica, this paper answers questions and provides the historical context of a small group tour for couples and solo travellers to the Historic Mediterranean sea .

25 Sep 19 · 15 mins read

About Malta, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica

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Common threads, unique aspects of these Mediterranean Islands

The history of these four Mediterranean islands has a number of common threads, and each possesses many unique aspects that are explored on these Mediterranean tours. It is the Mediterranean sea though that gave the power with the islands providing resource to facilitate the merchants of Venice, the traders of North Africa and the occupants of Rome to stamp their mark on the history on each Mediterranean Island over time to create the fairy tale villages so often in the travel guide books, but for an Odyssey traveller we seek to take our traveller beyond the destination into the history and stories in the ancient ruins and medieval alleyways that create the Italian culture and that of the Mediterranean culture we experience today as we explore each Mediterranean Island from Sardinia to Malta and then the Corsica to Sicily ferry.

Malta withstood two tremendous sieges during its history due to its strategic location. In 1565, the Knights of St. John Hospitaller held out against the Ottomans , who were threatening Europe. Furthermore, in WW2, the island held out for three years against the Germans and Italy and earned the George Cross for bravery. Sicily’s natural resources and central position made it a great prize for ambitious states and rulers. Once a centre of Greek civilisation , it became an important Roman then Byzantine province. The Arabs arrived in the 9th century, then the Normans in the 11th century.

Visiting Sardinia and Corsica

The ancient world knew Sardinia for its obsidian, traded throughout the region to make sharp tools and arrowheads. Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, Spaniards as well as Italians all conquered the island.

Corsica also has a similarly turbulent past, as a bone of contention between rival city-states. Rebellion against Genoese rule finally led to the establishment of a republic. However, French troops arrived in overwhelming numbers when Genoa sold her remaining Corsican towns to France. This history when planning a trip to Corsica should form part of the itinerary of a good Corsica tour.

Tours of Malta

The tiny Republic of Malta is right in the heart of the Mediterranean, midway between Sicily and Tunisia . Farmers have cut much of Malta’s rocky landscape into terraces for farming, and fishing and seafaring remain important. Malta is also exploiting its sunshine and beaches, and above all its history, attracting tourists and film-makers. For Odyssey travellers on a small group tour a Corsica trip tends to be history based around the old town and the Musee de la Corse, rather than fabulous beaches, scuba diving and a boat trip. Don’t miss these highlights when planning a trip to Corsica for inclusion in the itinerary:

Valletta, the capital

Tours to Malta must include its capital, Valletta, one of the first planned cities in all of Europe. Despite measuring only 900 by 630 metres, Valletta boasts over 25 churches, making it a testament to the strength of Catholicism. Pope Pius V’s military engineer, Francesco Laparelli, drew up the plans for the city and its defences. When visiting Valletta, don’t miss:

• John’s Co-Cathedral and its magnificent Baroque interior. Caravaggio, the Italian master painter, painted several works for this spiritual headquarters of the Knights.
• The Grandmaster’s Palace has one of the largest armouries in the world. The Hall of the Supreme Council of the Knights of St John is found here.
• Fort St Elmo, rebuilt after its destruction by the forces of Suleiman I during the Great Siege in 1565.
• The Auberges, the inns of residence of the Knights of St John.
• The ‘Malta Experience’, an audio visual show chronicling Malta’s rich history, set in a purpose built panoramic auditorium.
• Renzo Piano’s City Gate, Opera House and Parliament building.

Highlights of Malta travel

• Mdina, the ‘silent city’, Malta’s ancient capital and arguably one of the best examples of a medieval city in Europe. Malta’s nobility lived here, consequently it was known as the Città Notabile. In 1090, Count Roger decreed a cathedral should be built here to re-establish Christian worship and teaching. This was built above a ruined sanctuary where Publius, the Roman governor of Malta, once had his house. Publius is famous for greeting St Paul when the apostle was shipwrecked here in 60 CE. The great earthquake of 1693 destroyed the cathedral, but it was soon replaced in the Roman Baroque style with a magnificent dome.
• Rabat, an extension of Mdina, is separated by an Arab wall and ditch. It contains Malta’s oldest church, early Christian catacombs and the Museum of Roman Antiquities.
• The little town of Mosta is famous for the Parish Church of Santa Maria (aka the Mosta Dome). An older church remained in use during the Dome’s construction. The parishioners provided most of the funds and much of the labour. Mosta also has the Victoria Lines, 12 kms of fortifications built by the British in the late 19th century.
• The Hal Saflieni Hypogeum is a subterranean necropolis thought to date from around 3600 to 3600 BCE. In 1902, construction workers stumbled upon what appeared to be an underground sanctuary. Archaeologists subsequently found a massive underground structure consisting of three levels carved into stone.
• Malta’s stone age farmers built over 50 massive temples, including the Tarxien temples, between 3600 and 2500 BCE. Their interiors have intricately carved decorations of animals, snakes, fish, spirals and dots.
• The Ghar Dalam cave, the ‘cave of darkness’, is an archaeological site some 500,000 years old. Excavations here yielded remains of animals suggesting Malta was once joined to Italy, but not northern Africa.

Mediterranean Tours to Malta should also take in Gozo, the second largest island of Malta. Its tightly-packed hilltop villages and little fortified farmhouses are the legacy of slave-snatching raids by Barbary corsairs. The main town, Victoria, is a maze of little streets, old stone balconies and religious shrines. The main sights to see in Gozo include:

• The massive walls and bastions of the citadel, Il-Kastell. Philip II of Spain donated money for its building. It contains the Palace of the Governors, the cathedral, Folklore Museum, and a nobleman’s palace, now the Archaeological Museum. The citadel’s ramparts provide a panoramic view across the water to Malta, and on a clear day, even Sicily.
• The stone age temple complex of Ggantija , the oldest of all the Maltese temples, dating from 3600 to 3200 BCE. These are the oldest free-standing stone edifices on earth, pre-dating the pyramids of Egypt and the Mycenaean temples on Crete.
• The origin of the Ta Pinu Basilica is unknown, but the first records of the chapel date back to 1534. A delegate of the Pope closed the church in 1575 as it was in a bad state of repair. He also gave orders for the shrine to be demolished. However, according to legend, the first blow with the pick broke the worker’s arm. This was understood as a divine message, and accordingly, the chapel was saved.

Odyssey offers tours of Malta

Malta tours are included in two of Odyssey’s escorted tour programs to the islands of the western Mediterranean. The first includes the guided tour of Malta, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica . This Mediterranean islands small group tour is perfect for the mature traveller looking to enjoy small group Malta travel. Our other guided tour is Caravaggio’s journey, an escorted small group tour of Malta, Sicily and mainland Italy. This tour follows in the footsteps of this brilliant but troubled Italian painter, Caravaggio. Born Michelangelo Merisi in the city of Milan in 1571, Caravaggio became one of the most famous painters of his time and one of the most influential. Unlike the cruise ships which go between Malta, Sicily and Sardinia, our tours take the local ferry from Sardinia to Maltaand return to give you an authentic and immersive experience of Mediterranean culture.

Sicily tours

Sicily is the largest Mediterranean island in the mediterranean sea. In medieval times it was the stepping stone between Europe and Africa. Phoenicians and Greeks, Carthaginians and Romans, Goths and Byzantines, Arabs and Normans, Germans, Spaniards and the French have all fought for its control. The island’s geography, topography and climate remain fixed, but Sicily’s art, architecture, cuisine, and religion altered with each conquest. If you’re planning a trip to Sicily, don’t miss the following!

Palermo, the capital

Palermo is flanked by the Tyrrhenian Sea on one side and Monte Pellegrino on the other. The city nestles in a natural amphitheatre called the Conca d’Oro (the Golden Seashell). Palermo’s beautiful setting, and its monuments and architecture, make it one of the most exciting and exotic Italian cities to visit. When in Palermo, don’t miss:

Highlights of Palermo

• The most magnificent monument in Palermo is the Norman Palace, Palazzo Normanni, and its Cappella Palatina, or Chapel Royal. The first Norman king, Roger II, blended Byzantine, Islamic and Romanesque styles of design and craftsmanship. It is adorned with mosaics as well as marble inlaid with gold, stone and glass. The walls and ceiling glow with vividly depicted scenes from the Bible.
• Monreale, the ‘royal mount’, where William II founded a cloistered monastery celebrated for its mosaics and adorned capitals.
• The Teatro Massimo, Palermo’s magnificent Opera House.
• Quatro Canti, the magnificent Baroque piazza.
• La Martorana, renowned for the Byzantine mosaics in its spectacular interior.

Other highlights of a Sicily tour

• Caltagirone, originally Arab, then Norman, then Ligurian. Today it’s one of Italy’s major ceramic production centres. Don’t miss the approach to the city’s Regional Museum of Ceramics. It comprises a network of ramps, steps and benches, adorned with panels and reliefs in colourful ceramic tiles.
• A devastating earthquake in 1693 flattened the town of Noto. Subsequently, its nobles rebuilt it into the finest Baroque town in Sicily. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town is most impressive in the early evening and at night. Don’t miss the San Franceso Church, the Monastery of Santa Chiara, the Duomo and the Palazzio Ducezio.
• Piazza Armerina is a half-medieval, half-baroque provincial town. It’s important for the early fourth century Roman mosaics in the Villa Romana del Casale, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The floors of what remains of the villa have some of the finest surviving mosaics from Roman antiquity.
• Trapani once sat at the heart of a seaborne trading network stretching from Venice to Carthage. It was here that Peter of Aragon landed in 1282, beginning the Spanish occupation of Sicily. Its historic centre features 18th century Spanish Baroque architecture.
• Mozia is an ancient Phoenician town on a small island off the coast. To the Arabs it was Mars el’Allah, literally “Port of Allah”. The Whitaker family bought it in the late 1800s and subsequently made a fortune from the wine they made and named after the region — marsala. Joseph Whitaker also began archaeological digs on the island in 1913 and founded a museum for its finds.
• Take the funicular up to the spectacularly sited town of Erice. It’s possible to see the summit of Mt Etna at the other end of the island on a clear day.

Sicily’s Greek city-states

• Segesta is an archaeological site about 70 kilometres southwest of Palermo . Its ancient Greek temple is one of the best preserved Doric temples in the world. It also contains the ruins of a Norman castle, a small church, a mosque, and a classical theatre.
• Syracuse was the most powerful and important of all the Greek city-states. In its heyday, it was bigger than Corinth or Athens, and was the largest city in the ancient world. There are many reminders of the city’s Greek past. See the ancient quarter of Neapolis, the Teatro Greco, Temple of Apollo, the Ear of Dionysius, and the Arethusa Fountain. Also, don’t miss the city’s cathedral. The remains of the 5th century BCE temple of Athena were incorporated into a new Baroque structure in 1728.
• Splendidly situated, Taormina has snowcapped Mt Etna on one side and sandy beaches far below. It also offers glimpses of antiquity. Its famous Greek theatre was begun in the 3rd century BCE and rebuilt by the Romans.
• The Greeks built their lovely temples at Selinunte during the high classical period of the 5th century BCE. It subsequently became one of the great city-states of Magna Graecia. One of its temples rivals the Parthenon in Athens for size and beauty.

Odyssey offers small group Sicily tours.

Two of Odyssey’s tour programs to the islands of the western Mediterranean visit Sicily. The first also takes in Malta, Corsica and Sardinia . This Mediterranean islands small group tour is perfect for the mature traveller looking to discover Sicily and the other islands of the western Mediterranean. Or follow in the footsteps of the brilliant but troubled Italian painter, Caravaggio, on Caravaggio’s journey, an escorted small group tour of Malta, Sicily and mainland Italy. Born Michelangelo Merisi in the city of Milan in 1571, Caravaggio became one of the most famous painters of his time and one of the most influential.

Tours of Sardinia

There is evidence of human settlement in Sardinia from at least 150,000 years ago. A significant population of early agricultural villages evolved around 8000 BCE. Its prosperity was partly due to obsidian. This is a hard black glassy volcanic rock excellent for making sharp tools and arrow-heads. The Mediterranean peoples highly prized obsidian, and exported it throughout the region. Bronze Age Sards also mined, worked and exported copper. The most remarkable innovation in this era is the construction of the first nuraghe, circular defensive towers built of dressed stone. Over 7,000 still exist in Sardinia today. As well as the nuraghe, if you choose to travel to Sardinia, don’t miss the following sights:

Cagliari, the capital

Sardinia’s capital, Cagliari, stands on Sardinia’s best harbour, with an easily defensible hill above and a fertile plain behind. The picturesque Stampace quarter in the lower town is best known for the church dedicated to Cagliari’s patron, Sant’ Efisio. The fortified Castello contains a Pisan tower, a pink Baroque cathedral, and the 18th century university. Next to the cathedral stands the former viceroy’s palace, and on the highest point stands the Torre di San Pancrazio, dating around 1300. Nearby are the National Archaeological Museum and the Pinacoteca or art gallery.

Highlights of a trip to Sardinia

• Don’t miss Su Nuraxi du Barumini , the largest nuraghe site. It has four towers, a massive curtain wall, and a network of narrow passages and stairways. A cluster of round stone huts, forming a large village, tightly surrounds the whole tower.
• Nora is Sardinia’s best example of a Roman provincial city. It has paved streets over a sewage system, a forum, temples, a theatre, baths, and a medical centre dedicated to the Greek god of healing, Aesclepios.
• Driving around the wild and rocky Capo Spartivento and the southern coast, perfect for a day’s outing.
• Sailing around the Archipelago of La Maddalena. The archipelago is now a national park because of its natural beauty and rare flora and fauna. A small archaeological museum displays a Roman shipwreck.
• Explore Nuoro, set in a spectacular setting at the foot of Monte Ortobene. The old quarter is a charming maze of lanes and contains the Museum of Sardinian Life and Popular Traditions. This features clothing, jewellery, furniture, tapestries, musical instruments, carnival masks and figures used in traditional festivals.
• Drive around the Gennargentu Mountains, now a National Park. Its forests are the habitat of golden and Bonelli eagles, royal kites, European vultures, wild cats, boar and mouflon (mountain sheep).
• Visit Sassari, Sardinia’s second largest city. It still contains Catalan gothic palazzi and Baroque churches. The oldest, Santa Maria di Betlem, founded in 1106, is older than the town itself. The cathedral, San Nicola, was rebuilt in the 15th century in the Catalan Gothic style, and an exceptionally beautiful Baroque façade was added in the 18th century.
• Alghero overlooks a bay with lovely beaches, but perhaps its finest feature is its surviving medieval walls, especially the sea walls with their seven towers.

Tours of Corsica

Corsica lies about 150 kilometres southeast of the French mainland in the Mediterranean sea, 70 kilometres from mainland Italy, and 15 kilometres north of Sardinia. It has a high, craggy coastline, and a mountainous interior covered with forest and scrub (maquis), cut by fertile valleys. In Southern Corsica, Corsican farmers grow crops in the rich valley soils, including grapes, other fruit, vegetables, olives and tobacco. Sheep graze in the mountains – wool and cheese are important exports – and fishing produces sardines. The rugged scenery, wonderful sea views, beautiful beaches and colourful villages have made Corsica tours highly attractive. Don’t miss these highlights:

Ajaccio, the capital

Corsica‘s largest town has palm trees, cafés and yachts, and looks like a typical French Mediterranean resort. A citadel founded by the Bank of St George in 1492 overlooks the city. Since World War II, tourism has become Ajaccio‘s most important economic activity, largely because it’s the birthplace of the most famous Corsican ever – Napoleon. He was born in a grand mansion now called the Maison Bonaparte . It suffered many vicissitudes after the family vacated it hurriedly in 1793. The French government restored it after they finally acquired it in 1923. The lovely Palais Fesch Musee des Beaux Arts is also linked to Napoleon. Cardinal Joseph Fesch, Napoleon’s step-uncle, had a large collection of art which he bequeathed to the city.

Beautiful landscapes

• The Golfe de Porto is one of Corsica’s most famous landscapes, and a UNESCO World Heritage site listed nature reserve. Visitors have the opportunity to see seagulls, cormorants and sea eagles. The clear waters, beautiful beaches , with their islets and inaccessible caves, host a rich marine life.
• Driving the picturesque road that follows the coast around the narrow mountainous peninsula of Cap Corse . It boasts spectacular cliff scenery with wonderful sea views, weathered watchtowers guarding its coves and fishing villages, and maquis covering the hillsides.
• Don’t miss a visit to Bonifacio. Built on a narrow peninsula, Bonifacio’s upper town rises above sheer cliffs, surrounded by immense fortifications. The upper town has a single entrance protected by eight gates and a drawbridge.
• Founded in the 5th century BCE by Greeks from Syracuse, Porto-Vecchio disappeared in the Dark Ages due to pirates and malaria. The Bank of St George rebuilt it in 1540. Porto-Vecchio is set on a magnificent harbour and is a busy port and holiday resort. The old town high above the port still has its Genoese walls.
• The Greeks, Carthaginians and Romans all used the port of Propriano, on the Golfe de Valinco. Its vulnerability to pirate raids led to its decline into a fishing village. It revived in the 19th century as a ferry and commercial port, and more recently as a tourist destination. Its main attractions are beautiful beaches, good sailing and diving sites.
• The little harbour of L’Ile Rousse, flanked by red porphyry rocks, has three sandy beaches and the mildest winters in Corsica. It resembles the French Riviera, with its plane trees and palms, covered market and restaurants, and games of boules. Just behind the little town are three charming old villages, all with Romanesque and Baroque churches and ruined castles.

Ancient historic sites

• Neolithic farmers occupied Filitosa from 6000 BCE, then invaders around 3500­-3000 BCE created the first menhirs. When the torreens (tower­builders) conquered Filitosa in about 1300 BCE, they destroyed most of the menhirs by incorporating them into the walls around the three towers they built. Therefore, Filitosa is one of the most important prehistoric sites in Europe.
• Calvi was originally a Roman port. The citadel’s ramparts and three mighty bastions loom over the harbour. Inside is the Genoese governor’s palace and the cathedral of St John the Baptist, rebuilt in 1570. With its yacht marina on the bay and snowcapped mountains in the background, Calvi now flourishes as a holiday resort.
• Often a refuge for bandits, Sartene was also notorious for vendettas until the mid-19th century. Visit the 16th century Hotel de Ville, formerly the palace of the Genoese governors. Behind it lies the old Santa Anna quarter, a web of alleys and steep steps. Its jumble of dark stone houses and noblemen’s mansions evoke medieval Corsica.

Other historic sites

• Corte was the capital of Corsica on three occasions. In 1765 Pasquale Paoli founded the island’s only university here, at the site of the proclamation of Corsica’s constitution. In the heart of the old town is Place Paoli, with a 19th century statue of the hero. Corte’s citadel has one surviving tower. The French Foreign Legion occupied the rest from 1962-1983, and this is now the Museum of Corsica.
• Bastia was the capital of the island under the Genoese. The Vieux Port (old port) is perhaps the most atmospheric part of the town of Bastia. The Citadelle, or Terra Nova, is beautifully restored. It contains the Palais des Gouverneurs, and the Corsican Museum of Ethnography and History. Here you can see the ancient Genoese dungeons of the palace.
• The Vandals once exiled a bishop named Florent to an old Roman and Byzantine town, now named Saint-Florent. A local cult grew around his grave, which, despite the theft of his relics to Treviso a few centuries later, continued. Its outstanding monument is the Romanesque cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, isolated in a field just outside the little town. Saint-Florent’s citadel, built in 1439, is the only large round tower in Corsica. Although British bombardment in 1794 reduced it to ruins, it has recently been restored.

Which is warmer Crete or Cyprus?

Is cyprus or crete bigger.

For questions about the islands of the Eastern Mediterranean, take a look at some of our other articles:

Greek Islands and Cyprus: Discovering the Eastern Mediterranean

Crete history for travellers

History of Santorini

Bronze Age Islands of the Eastern Mediterranean

If you’re interested in Malta Crete or Cyprus or any of the other Greek Islands , you should think about joining our group tour of the Eastern Mediterranean.

About Odyssey Traveller.

Odyssey Traveller also has a Loyalty Program for regular travellers. Membership of the alumni starts when you choose to take your first international small group tour with Odyssey Traveller. To see the discounts and benefits of being a Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Diamond alumni member with us, please see this page .

For more information on Odyssey Traveller and our educational small group tours, visit and explore our website. Alternatively, please call or send an email. We’d love to hear from you!

FAQs about Malta Sicily Sardinia & Corsica

What is the most beautiful island in the mediterranean.

There’s not an easy answer to this, as Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and Malta are each stunning in their own way.

Sardinia is famous for its stunning scenery, beautiful beaches and granite peaks.

Sicily offers beaches, mountains, and the famous active volcano, Mount Etna.

Malta also has a sparkling Mediterranean coast, including the famous Blue Grotto sea cabin, while make sure to read on for more detail about Corsica’s rugged scenery old town the Scandola nature reserve and list of fabulous beaches to walk along when on your Corsica tour .

Sardinia or Corsica?

Why not visit both – and Malta and Sicily too? Odyssey offers Corsica and Sardinia tours as part of our tour program taking in the islands of the western Mediterranean: Malta, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica .

Which is better Malta or Cyprus?

It seems unfair to pit these two beautiful and very different islands against each other – it’s safe to say, they’re both must-see destinations! After you’ve ‘done’ the islands of the Western Mediterranean, think about joining Odyssey’s tour of the Eastern Mediterranean islands: Santorini, Crete and Cyprus in order to come to your own conclusion.

How do I get from Malta to Sicily?

While you can fly from Malta to Palermo (Sicily’s capital and largest city), most travellers opt to take the ferry. Virtu Ferries operates a service which operates twice daily, and takes a quick 1 hr and 40 minutes.

How long is ferry from Sicily to Sardinia?

There is currently only one company (Tirrenia) operating ferries from Sicily to Sardinia. The ferry operates once a week, with a sailing time of around 12 hours. In order to save time, our tours choose to fly between Sicily and Sardinia, which takes just over an hour on a direct flight.

How do you get from Rome to Sardinia?

There are several ways to get from Rome to Sardinia. Several ferry companies operate this route, though on average, trips take between 8-9 hours. You can also get on a car ferry if you’re planning on driving, which takes about 7 hours. Another option is to fly, which generally takes around 50 minutes and, if you go with a budget airline, is cheaper – while ferry trips tend to cost around 140 euro, a flight with a budget provider such as Ryanair is generally around 70 euro.

How wealthy is Malta?

Malta is pretty average in wealth among European countries. In 2013, it was ranked as the 15th wealthiest member of the European Union, out of a total 28 members. It was also ranked 19th in the world in a 2018 Prosperity Index report.

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A Sicilian Odyssey 2021

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• Discover cultural footprints forever present... Over the centuries
• the island of Sicily was colonized by the Greeks
• Normans and assorted others before becoming part of Spain
• then the Bourbon Kingdom
• and finally part of Italy. And today...Vestiges of the ancient Greeks and Romans entice in Agrigento and Taormina... the presence of the Normans lingers in Palermo... a distinctive style of Sicilian architecture began in the Baroque Valley centuries ago and flourishes today... Byzantine and Arab art mingle with Italian influences... taste impressive wines from grapes grown in volcanic soil... all for a taste of the authentic Sicily. Join us for an odyssey through time as you discover a history book of experiences
• authentically engaging and always enlightening
• as you become a part of Sicily’s extended family.

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• TAUCK EXCLUSIVES – Private lunch at a Baron’s palazzo in Siracusa with a wine tasting from the family vineyard and dinner and an art tour with the son of a baroness at their private villa in Palermo Visit to Palermo's grand Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, the largest opera house in Italy Visits to the Sicilian Baroque UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Noto and Ragusa Ibla A tour, lunch and tasting at a local winery

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Dates & Availability

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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Tauck Reviews & Ratings

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My husband and I went on the Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles Trip jn October 2022. This was our third Tauck cruise with Ponnant but our first post covid and the...

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It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.

In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.

Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.

Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.

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