Spiritual Jewels in the Mediterranean - Cyprus • Sicily

April 28 Mon    Departure from Canada

April 29 Tue     Arrival Larnaca Airport Cyprus.  Take taxi to the Hotel LARCO Best WESTERN Larnaca, where this extra and optional night hotel has been reserved for you. Dinner on your own. Overnight hotel.

 April 30 Wed      Larnaca-Nicosia (Lefkosia)- Limassol

After Breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide at 08:30 am for departure.  Visit St.Lazarus and then transfer to Nicosia. Visit the St. Johns Cathedral and its impressive frescos and we will take a walking tour of the Old City's main streets inside the 16th century CE Venetian Wall. We'll arrive at the Cyprus Archaeology Museum which showcases the best archaeological finds from the island. Transfer to Choirokitia for a Haloumi Cheese demo and light lunch. Drive to Limassol for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

 May 1 Thu        Paphos/Limassol

After breakfast today, we journey to Paphos yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site on our itinerary and Cyprus' main tourist resort on the western shores of the island. We enjoy a short stop at a local fruit plantation, tasting freshly made lemonade and freshly sliced fruits.

The main part of Paphos town is also known as Ktima which lies uphill from the harbour.  We visit the archaeological site Nea Pafos, dates to the 4th century BCE.  The Agora (which contains the Odeon) and Asclepion (the healing centre and altar of the god Asclepius) date to the 2nd century CE when the city was at its zenith under Roman rule. The glittering mosaics found in palatial villas (some of the finest in the world) also date to this period and testify to the city's opulence. The villas of Dionysos, Theseus, Aeon and Orpheus near the harbour feature the finest, exquisite artistry of the mosaics.  The local Byzantine Museum offers a display of icons. Enjoy a short stop at a local fruit plantation, tasting fresh lemonade and sliced seasonal frusits. We visit Kourion, archaeological park (mosaics and Agora), after lunch at a local tavern, we and have a short stop at Aphrodites birth place. Freetime at the harbor in the seaside village of Episkopi. Visit the Tomb of the Kings and return to Limassol for dinner and overnight.  (B, L, D)

 May 2 Fri          Troodos Mountains- Larnaca

After breakfast, we have a full day in the mountains. We visit St. John Lambadistis Byzantine Church, and Kykkos Monastery, where we will admire the icon of the Virgin Mary painted by St. Luke.  Enjoy lunch at a local tavern, and then visit the St. Nicolas Byzantine Church. Drive to Lefkara and visit Lefkara village, famous for its lace and other handicrafts. Dinner and overnight in Larnaca. (B,L,D)

 May 3 Sat         Bellapais Monastery- Shipwreck museum –Kyrenia- Larnaca

After breakfast we start our tour with the lovely village of Bellapais, and visit the world famous 13^th century Bellapais Monastery.  We then go to Kyrenia town, and visit the Kyrenia castle.  We will see the animation rooms and the shipwreck museum, which houses the oldest ship.  We walk in the picturesque Kyrenia Harbour. Free time on your own for lunch or coffee, and shopping.  Return to Larnaca for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

 May 4 Sun        Salamis/Monastery of St. Barnabas/Famagusta-Larnaca

We head to North Cyprus today. We will first visit the enchanting St. Barnabas Monastery and Archaeology Museum.  It is an important monastery near Famagusta, dedicated to St. Barnabas, the patron saint of Cyprus. It houses a museum with early Christian artifacts.  We continue to ancient Salamis. Our visit to Salamis also includes the necroplis where some 150 tombs from the 7th century BCE are scattered over a wide area, the theater, the gymnasium, baths, market place and other city ruins.  We'll stop in the Old Town of Famagusta, encircled by massive walls and bastions.   Our particular focus is the Church of the Greeks, the second largest church in the town which during the medieval period served as the Cathedral of the Greek Orthodox community. Explore the historic center, including the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque (formerly St. Nicholas Cathedral), which has rich historical connections to the Crusades, and the Othello Tower (which is under construction, visible only from outside), and see the Venetian Palace. Enjoy free time on your own for lunch.  Return to Larnaca for dinner and overnight.  (B,D)

 May 5 Mon       Departure- Nicosia-Athens-Sicily arrival

Transfer to the airport for departure to Palermo for A 3911 flight to Athens at 7:30. Arrive Palermo at 18:20 with AZ1795.

**Meet your tour manager at the airport of Palermo.  Transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

 May 6 Tue        Palermo-Monreale –Segesta- Palermo

Breakfast and a gem of a day. The morning is centered on the Piazza della Vittoria, one of the city’s major squares, where some of Palermo’s most remarkable buildings are to be found. The first stop is the Norman Royal Palace and the Palatine Chapel, the perfect illustration of that miraculous Norman combination of Latin, Byzantine and Arab culture. Close by is San Giovanni degli Eremiti, a Norman church decorated with Arabic domes and an exquisite Romanesque cloister. A short walk will take you to Palermo Cathedral and its fascinating mix of architectural styles. 

After lunch, you will travel the small distance out of Palermo to experience the beauty and grace of Monreale Cathedral, with its glorious 12th-century mosaics covering over 1 1/2 acres of wall space and its cloister, perhaps the most magnificent in the world. Visit the ancient Greek city of Segesta with its majestic 36-columned, 5th-century BC temple and stunning Greek theater.  Meeting at hotel at 19:00 with Dr. Armando Antista. Dinner and Overnight in Palermo. (B,D)

 May 7 Wed       Palermo-Piazza Armerina -Taormina 

Breakfast. In the morning, move to Piazza Armerina. Enjoy a guided visit of the Villa Romana, (Roman Villa) belonging to the UNESCO heritage. Lunch in a typical local trattoria. Continue driving to Taormina. “Taormina is a landscape where you seem to find everything created on the earth to seduce the eyes, the spirit and the imagination.” (Guy de Maupassant). In the afternoon, enjoy a guided visit of Taormina, including the Greco-Roman theater.  Dinner and Overnight in Taormina. (B,L,D)

 May 8 Thu         Syracuse

Breakfast. Full day excursion to Syracuse (1 ½ hrs drive from Taormina). Visit the Church of St. John on site where Paul preached, followed by a visit to Ortigia Island with its famous Cathedral. Visit the Archaeological Park with spectacular Greek Theatre and 2^nd century Roman Amphitheatre in the afternoon.  Return to Taormina area for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

 May 9 Fri         Departure

Breakfast. Transfer to the Catania airport for departure home. (B)

• One way flight from Larnaca to Palermo

 2 nights in Limassol, Mediterranean Beach or similar

• 3 nights in Larnaca, Best Western LARCO or similar
• 2 nights Palermo, Hotel Garibaldi or similar
• 2 nights Taormina, Vello D'Oro hotel or similar
• Daily breakfast and dinners 
• Lunches on April 30, and May 1,2,3  A/C bus transportation
• English speaking licensed guide according to program
• Whispers
• Entrances and reservations for sites and museums according program
• Local city taxes
• Entrance fees to all sightseeing as per itinerary
• English–speaking licensed tour guide throughout the itinerary
• English speaking assistant during transfers
• 1 group transfer upon arrival day APril 30 in Larnaca and 1 group transfer upon departure in Catania May 9
• Service charges and local taxes to hotels

• Roundtrip international airfare from Calgary-Cyprus Larnaca,
departure from Catania, Sicily –Calgary

• All lunches and all Drinks, except for lunches included above
• Tips to tour guides and drivers, waiters
• All personal expenses, Travel and Health Insurances, any other item not mentioned above
• **Citizens of ALL countries are responsible for checking their own countries’ visa regulations for travel for Italy
• Any item not specified under “Included items”
• Any transfer aside for the main group transfer