Remains and Flavours of Sicily Tour, Italy departing from Quebec

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The Vestiges et saveurs de Sicile tour at a glance

Vestiges et saveurs de Sicile (Sicily's Ruins and Flavours) is an 8-day, 7-night Club Med Discovery tour that circles Sicily, in Italy, starting and ending in Palermo. Part of the Cultural Treasures theme, it links the Palatine Chapel and Monreale Cathedral, the Doric temple of Segesta, the medieval village of Erice, the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, the baroque of Ragusa Ibla, Syracuse and Ortigia, the Silvestri craters of Mount Etna at 2,000 m, then the theatre of Taormina. You stay in four 4- and 5-star hotels, in Palermo, Marsala, Ragusa Ibla and Catania. Full board with a drinks package runs from dinner on day one to breakfast on day eight, along with air-conditioned transport, visits and French-speaking local guides.

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What is the itinerary from day one to day four?

On the first day, you settle into Palermo. The second is devoted to the city and to Monreale, 18 km away: the Palatine Chapel and its golden mosaics, Monreale Cathedral and its cloister, then the Capo market, where vendors call out their prices between stalls of citrus and swordfish. On the third day, the road passes the Doric temple of Segesta, alone in the hills, climbs to the medieval village of Erice and ends in Marsala, 159 km on, with a wine tasting. On the fourth day, you cross the island through the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento to Ragusa Ibla, some 260 km.

And from day five to day eight?

The fifth day leads from Ragusa to Syracuse, where you visit Ortigia, the Greek theatre and the Ear of Dionysius, before reaching Catania, 148 km away. The sixth day belongs to Etna: you walk on the Silvestri craters, at 2,000 m above sea level, then descend to Taormina and its Greco-Roman theatre, before returning to Catania. On the seventh day, you head back to Palermo via Piazza Armerina and its third-century Roman mosaics, 260 km in all. On the eighth day, you have free time in Palermo until your departure.

Which Sicilian flavours do you taste along the way?

The tour lives up to its name. In Marsala, you taste the wine that made the town famous. In Ragusa Ibla, a cooking workshop teaches you to make arancini, the stuffed and breaded rice balls eaten all over the island. Nearby, in Modica, you taste the cold-worked chocolate that is the town's pride. And at the Capo market in Palermo, you see what Palermitans put in their baskets. The meals, included every day, introduce the cooking of each region you cross.

Which hotels do you stay in during the tour?

The tour uses four addresses: the 4-star Palazzo Liberty Unique Hotel in Palermo, the 4-star New Hotel Palace in Marsala, the 5-star Relais Antica Badia in the heart of baroque Ragusa Ibla, and the 4-star Malavoglia Inn in Catania. Two cities serve as a base for two nights or more, which makes for more relaxed mornings. Hotels of an equivalent category may replace these depending on the departure, and your advisor confirms the exact list.

What is included and what costs extra?

The package includes full board, from dinner on day one to breakfast on day eight, with a drinks package at every meal, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, the scheduled visits, French-speaking local guides, taxes and service charges. International flights, transfers between the airport and the hotel, extra drinks, tips and travel insurance are added. Your advisor books the transfers with the flights so your arrival in Palermo goes smoothly.

How is the group guided?

The format adjusts to the number of travellers. From 6 participants, a French-speaking tour leader stays with the group from start to finish. From 1 to 5 participants, a driver-guide accompanies you, which gives the trip an almost private feel. At the major sites, French-speaking local guides take over for the visits. The tour runs in a small group, and you quickly find yourself among curious travellers sharing meals.

Who is this tour designed for?

It is made for travellers who love history and good food, and who want to see the whole island in a week without driving. The pace is brisk, with several days of 150 to 260 km on the road and good walks on the ancient sites and on Etna. It appeals to couples, friends and solo travellers who prefer to travel with company.

When should you go to Sicily and how do you get there from Quebec?

Spring and fall are the most pleasant seasons for walking the sites and climbing Etna, with soft light and mild temperatures. Summer is hot and sunny, ideal if you extend at the beach. Your advisor tells you which departures are offered. You reach Palermo on flights from Montreal, with a connection. To prepare your trip, see our Sicily travel page and our Italy travel guide. A valid Canadian passport is required, and your advisor checks the entry requirements at the time of booking.

Which Club Med resort pairs well with this tour?

The most logical choice is Club Med Cefalù, on the island's north coast, east of Palermo: you finish the tour, then settle by the sea for a few all-inclusive days. If you have less time, the Escapade sud de la Sicile fits Syracuse, Ragusa and Agrigento into 4 days. Other resorts await among our Club Med resorts in Europe.

Why book this tour with AquaTerra?

Voyages AquaTerra is part of the Voyages Synergia network, winner of the Club Med Excellence Award 2025. Our advisors arrange the flights, transfers and extension stay for you, and compare this tour with the other Club Med tours in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, such as Légendes des dieux in Greece. See also all our Club Med Discovery tours.

Call 1-866-628-6241. You will reach someone who knows this tour and has time for you. We look together at what is available on your dates, we choose the right departure, and we stay on the line throughout your trip. That is the difference between booking alone in front of a screen and travelling with someone behind you.