




Spiritual Jewels in the Mediterranean - Cyprus • Sicily
April 29 - May 9, 2025


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 13th 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 2nd 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)
Including
• 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
Excluding
• 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
Hotels



