In the morning you go on tracks of the ancient Elymian people as far as the ancient town of Calatafimi of Arab origin. Just a few kilometers from here, you arrive in Segesta where you can easily imagine what it was like to live in Sicily in ancient times. Segesta's history is intertwined with its arch-rival Selinunte. It offers the visit, on the cliff, to the 5th Century Doric Temple held up by 36 columns and the Hellenistic Theatre ? carved in the rock ? overlooks the splendid view from the top of Mount Barbaro at an elevation of 400 meters above sea level.

Taking into consideration all the Greek sites and temples existing in Sicily, we encourage you to see Segesta during your stay in Sicily, not only for the structures themselves, but for the beautiful and natural setting. Then you reach Erice, ancient Punic and Greek town (about 751 meters above sea level) on the mountain that has the same name. Surrounded by ancient walls, it is a labyrinth of clattered old stone streets and medieval churches adorned by beautiful buildings. In the historical center you will visit the Matrice with its marvelous bell tower and the Balio. There are some ancient Elimi and Phoenician walls around the north eastern side of the city, and two castles: Pepoli Castle - with foundations dating from Saracen times - and Venus Castle, dating from the Norman era but built on ruins of the ancient Temple of Venus.

The first stop this morning is to Agrigento town to admire the fascinating and famous Valley of the Temples. Agrigento was founded as Akragas around 582 BC by a group of colonists from Gela. In the historical center of the city, the Romanesque Gothic Cathedral, built during the 14th Century, still displays some of its medieval character, as does the 13th Century Church of San Nicola. In the Valley of the Temples - which UNESCO included in the list of the World's Heritage - are the ruins of numerous temples but also necropolis, houses, streets and many other remnants of an ancient city. The Temple of Concord, built around 440 BC, which is still in good condition, and is illuminated at night, is a sight to behold. A number of telamons (large segmented stone columns in the form of human figures) have been preserved.

Then you reach Sciacca less than an hour's drive west from Agrigento. Sciacca is a picturesque seaside town built on rocky hills that overlook the splendid beaches and the Mediterranean Sea midway between Marsala and Agrigento. It has several interesting churches and monuments but it is best known for its numerous artisan ceramics shops, thermal baths and beautiful beaches. Also it is famous for its elaborate Carnival festival, which is the Acireale's Carnival as one of the best in Sicily. Time for lunch and some wine tasting in a winery of this area which is rich in vineyards where they produce excellent Sicilian wine.

The city of Selinunte proper, known as the "Acropolis," is situated on high land overlooking the Mediterranean Sea which is about 20 meters below. Its an Archaeological Park and the biggest in Europe. It is famous as one of the most important cities of Greek Sicily for a period of about 2 Centuries, when it was one of the most progressive Greek cities in Sicily.

The western Sicilian territory is located in the very heart of the Mediterranean sea. On the feet of Mount Erice and on the seaside, stands the town of Trapani hugging the coast towards the south and from Paceco to the Stagnone lagoon ? departs the salt way. The sea represents a very special climatic conditions of a low and sandy coast and the cradle of the salt marshes is the most important cultural element of the route. The salt marshes are characteristic of the western coast for centuries, with their salt storehouses covered with terracotta tiles which are inhabited by migratory birds in autumn and spring. In old times, the salt marshes represented a real productive industry which offered work to a large number of the population. The whole of the economy was based on the production and exportation of the sea salt.

It is possible to visit the museum of ?Salt Activity?, plunged between the windmills and the lagoon and its islands, which has now become a nature reserve. In the heart of lagoon between ?Lunga? and ?Santa Maria? islands is located the Phoenician-Punic isle of Mozia with its archaeological finds and the ?Whitaker? museum. This museum is rich in archaeological pieces from the 5th and 6th Century BC, among which the "the young man in tunic" is featured, a statue discovered in 1979 and which since has commanded attention of the world. Mozia and its unique museum provide a rare unspoiled glimpse into Sicily's Phoenician past. On this route, you can also sample typical wine of Marsala from this region, or travel the town's historic centers or take a trip boat around the isles of the archipelago.

Considered Sicily's "Baroque City," Noto is located about 35 kilometers southwest of the city of Syracuse and is famous for the beautiful 18th Century baroque buildings and churches. The town of Old Noto was completely destroyed in the extremely violent earthquake that struck Eastern Sicily in 1693. The present Noto was rebuilt from scratch, and almost entirely in the Baroque style which is the prevailing style of building in Sicily at the time.

From the town's gate, known as Porta Reale, built in 1838 depart Noto's grand main street, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, which offers an architectonic overview that is unique in the world for the unity and harmony of Baroque style that is truly splendid, the emphasis being the natural beauty of the rose color of the stone used to build the town.

Then we lower ourselves in a north-African atmosphere on the extreme edge of Europe. Marzamemi is a small town of fishermen with a metaphysical beauty, built around an old tuna fishery. A plaza surrounded by fisherman's houses, and the little church of Francesco, built by the Princes of Villadorata. The little harbor of balata with warehouses full of fishing nets and scieri (barges used for the fishing tuna), long golden beach is what you will see today at beautiful Marzamemi.

With a Hop on Hop off tour of Palermo, you will enjoy an exciting visit to the city. Starting from the terminal outside the Politeama Theatre, overlooking the square of the same name, you will drive in front of the Massimo Theatre one of the most capacious and famous opera house in Italy, was built at the end of the 19th century by the architecs Gian Battista and Ernesto Basile. It is a building of neo-classical inspiration, continuing towards Piazza Quattro Canti and the nearby Vucciria Market.

The tour continues towards the botanical gardens, passing near Palazzo Steri. After a quick glance of the central station, you will find yourselves in the vicinity of the Royal Palace was built by the Arab emirs around the IXth century, but they abandoned it soon. It was then restored and transformed by the Normans into a sumptuous palace.Frederick II of Hohenstaufen created here the 1st Poetic School, but after his death the palace began to decline and this went on for about three centuries.

Things changed when the Spanish chose it as their residence, but they modified it according to their taste. Since 1947 the Palace is the seat of the Regional Sicilian Assembly., the Flea Market and the Cathedral, before stopping at the port and then returning to the terminal.