The Best of the Mediterranean (port-to-port cruise):

Included in tour package:<ul><li>Day trip to Gozo</li><li>Ragusa and Modica</li><li>Guided tour of Catania</li><li>Mount Etna</li><li>Ortygia</li><li>Noto</li><li>Mdina and Rabat</li></ul>

Located on the banks of the Ionian Sea and dominated by Mount Etna, you&rsquo;ll discover vast squares, wide streets, and lava-rock buildings in the splendid city of Catania. Its historical and artistic heritage is just waiting to be discovered. As well as ruins from the ancient city, the town boasts a wealth of fine baroque architecture. We&rsquo;ll visit the city on foot to discover its abundant treasures: the Roman theater and Odeon, wonderfully typical piazzas, and the many baroque churches and palazzi. We&rsquo;ll have a visit to the cathedral, which has been destroyed several times by eruptions and earthquakes. Its current design dates back to the 16th century. After, you&rsquo;ll have some free time before we return to the port.

PLEASE NOTE

<ul>
	<li>The order of the visits can change.</li>
	<li>Times are approximate.</li>
</ul>

Guided tour of Catania

Etna is the highest volcano in Europe but also the most active in the world, with an altitude of 3,330 meters (10,925 ft high), it erupted almost a hundred times during the 20th century. We&rsquo;ll follow a scenic road along the mountains and cross the villages of Giarre, Santa Venerina and Zafferana. When we reach 1,950 meters (7,000 ft), we&#39;ll take a walk towards the &quot;Silvestri&rdquo; craters and enjoy the desert moon atmosphere. From there, we&#39;ll enjoy a wonderful view over the gulf of Catania.

PLEASE NOTE

<ul>
	<li>The order of the visits can change.</li>
	<li>Times are approximate.</li>
</ul>

Mount Etna

Leaving Valletta, we&rsquo;ll head to Cirkewwa where we&rsquo;ll catch a ferry for Gozo. Although it is part of Malta, this island is more rural and is known for its scenic hills. We&rsquo;ll arrive in Mgarr Harbor and head towards Xaghra, home to the Ggantija megalithic temples. These two giant temples are the oldest of the temples of Malta, and date back to between 3600-2500 BCE, making them older than both Stonehenge and the pyramids of Egypt. We&rsquo;ll then visit the laid-back city of Victoria&mdash;also known as Rabat to the locals&mdash;and its gorgeous cathedral (exteriors only) dominating the view on the hill. We&rsquo;ll enjoy lunch during our excursion. After, we&rsquo;ll discover remains of the Azure Window, a 92-foot (28 m) limestone natural arch that collapsed completely in March 2017, as well as the bay of Xlendi. We&rsquo;ll return to the large island of Malta by ferry.

PLEASE NOTE

<ul>
	<li>The order of the visits can change.</li>
	<li>Times are approximate.</li>
</ul>

Day trip to Gozo

Totally destroyed by the 1693 Sicilian earthquake, the current town of Noto was built on the left bank of River Asinaro, about 8 miles from the previous town. We&rsquo;ll enjoy a lovely stroll through the historic center taking in the characteristic architecture of the golden-yellow limestone buildings. On the right above the piazza Immacolata, we&rsquo;ll come across the Church of Saint Francis Immaculate at the top of an impressive staircase. Opposite the splendid cathedral in town, there is the Palazzo Ducezio, which houses the Municipal Hall. We&rsquo;ll visit the cathedral, whose facade incorporates baroque motifs and classical elements. Inside, the three aisles of the church are divided by tall pillars, and in the chapel at the end of the right aisle is the silver urn of San Corrado, the patron saint of the city.

PLEASE NOTE

<ul>
	<li>The order of the visits can change.</li>
	<li>Times are approximate.</li>
</ul>

Noto

One of the most fascinating cities in Sicily awaits us today. The 2,700-year-old city of Syracuse played a key role in ancient times when it was one of the major powers of the Mediterranean world. You'll visit Ortygia, the small island that is the historical center of the city. You'll come across the majestic ruins of the Greek Temple of Apollo, the Piazza Archimede, and the Piazza Duomo, an elliptical open space lined with harmonious and impressive buildings.PLEASE NOTE<ul><li>The order of the visits can change.</li><li>Times are approximate.</li></ul>

Ortygia

We&rsquo;ll leave from Pozzalo Harbor for Regusa, where you&rsquo;ll discover two cities in one: modern Regusa rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake and ancient Hybla Heraia. The city&rsquo;s architectural gem is the Duomo of San Giorgio, a mid-18th-century cathedral with a magnificent neoclassical dome and stained-glass windows. The town&rsquo;s public park, the Giardino Ibleo, is a great place to stroll. We&rsquo;ll then head to Modica. Rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake, Modica is now a lively and dynamic city with over-sized churches and steep stairs running from the bottom of the village to the top of the slope. The city is built around a junction of steep valleys, with the oldest part of town, Modica Alta (&ldquo;Upper Modica&rdquo;) on a ridge and Modica Bassa (&ldquo;Lower Modica&rdquo;) along the valley floor. It is particularly famous for its chocolate, but that is not what certified it as one of the area&rsquo;s UNESCO-listed baroque towns. PLEASE NOTE<ul><li>The order of the visits can change.</li><li>Times are approximate.</li></ul>

Ragusa and Modica

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CLASSIC EXCURSIONS PACKAGE

Included in tour package: Day trip to Gozo Ragusa and Modica Guided tour of Catania Mount Etna Ortygia Noto Mdina and Rabat

CLASSIC EXCURSIONS PACKAGE

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The Best of the Mediterranean (port-to-port cruise):

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