Castelbuono visit and Sicilian dinner in the Madonie Mountains

Sicily Godfather tour

'We're going to make you an offer you can't refuse'. Well, this used to be Mafia country, after all. In fact, Hollywood descended on this part of the world to film scenes for the Godfather trilogy, so this tour will take in two Sicilian mountain villages that made it onto the silver screen and to relive some of the the most famous scenes.

The Godfather Half-Day Guided Tour with Transfer from Taormina

Relive some of the Godfather scenes on the spot, walk down in the alleys in Al Pacino's footsteps and enter the Church seen in the film.

Taormina City by See Bus Ticket - Blue or Red Line

See the sights around Taormina with the freedom to hop-on and hop-off all day long with just one ticket. Travel between Taormina, Giardini Naxos, Isola Bella, Letojanni and Castelmola on both the Red and Blue Lines. There's a multilingual audio commentary, and the frequency is hourly for both lines. At the Castelmola stop, enjoy a complimentary tasting of almond wine.

Panarea & Stromboli Boat Tour from Taormina

The volcanic islands of Stromboli and Panarea are the stars of the show on this full day excursion. You'll explore these island beauties just off the coast of Sicily with plenty of free time to sightsee at your own pace and witness the famous active lava flow by night.

Full-day Valley of the Temples and Scala dei Turchi tour

Two of Sicily's highlights are in the spotlight on this full-day tour. You'll visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Valley of the Temples, an archaeological site that's loaded with what's left of seven 2,500-year-old shrines, including the Temple of Concordia – it's ranked as one of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world. Afterwards, you'll head to one of the top ten most unique coastlines as named by TripAdvisor – Scala dei Turchi. Giuseppa, one of our expert local guides, says “the Valley of the Temples is landscaped with lots of flowering almond trees, another staple of Sicily, that will really add something extra to the photos you take here.”First up is one of the largest archaeological sites in the world, the immense Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. It packs in the remains of seven temples perched on a high ridge, all of which you'll see, including the ruins of the Temple of Zeus and Concordia Temple at the end of the Sacred Way. The temples here are over 2,500 years old, so there are a lot of pages in the history books to uncover. You'll be given headphones to hear your guide, too, so you won't miss any details.Afterwards, you'll make your way to the bright white Scala dei Turchi, a natural limestone staircase that is dug into the cliffs and weaves its way down to the sea. You'll have some time to unwind and go for a swim before heading back to the hotel.

Guided tour through the alleys of Modica and Ragusa Ibla from Syacuse

Starting with a scenic journey, this tour takes you to the baroque heart of Sicily. Discover Ragusa Ibla and Modica, two towns famed for their layered beauty, from humble homes to aristocratic palaces and ornate churches. In Ragusa Ibla, marvel at the Gothic-Catalan portal of the ancient Church of San Giorgio. Continue to Modica, a town best explored on foot, with its maze of steps leading past historical houses to the majestic Cathedral of San Giorgio, a World Heritage Site.

Walking tour through Sicily’s Medieval town of Cefalu

This is your chance to get under the skin of Cefalu. The Medieval town knows how to draw a crowd, with pastel-painted houses lining a sweeping bay and a huge limestone cliff delivering a dramatic backdrop. But on this two-hour walking tour, your guide will spill the beans on what it's like to be a local here, living and breathing among the striking Arab-Norman architecture and winding alleyways. As well as seeing the big hitters, like the cathedral, the old bathhouse and the seafront promenade, you'll get insider tips on which trattoria's serve the best arancini and where the most authentic souvenirs can be snagged.

Traditional Sicilian cooking class from Cefalu

Inside a traditional Sicilian home, you'll be welcomed with an aperitivo and the cosy buzz of a real family kitchen. After settling in, you'll roll up your sleeves for a hands-on cooking class, learning authentic recipes with fresh ingredients and plenty of guidance from your host. As evening draws in, you'll sit down with the group to enjoy the meal you've made together, complete with local wine and a classic dessert. Before you head out, you'll receive handwritten recipes so you can recreate the experience at home.

Cefalu walking tour with Sicilian nibbles and Prosecco

Along one of Sicily's rare sweeps of sandy beach sits Cefalu, a Medieval city with a maze of alleyways that were made for a walking tour. You'll meet your local guide and begin your three-hour tour in the historical centre. One of the biggest draws of Cefalu is its distinctive Arab-Norman architecture. You'll see it for yourself as you wonder by Cefalu Cathedral, the old bathhouse and the fortified walls around the marina. Head up La Rocca, an enormous limestone cliff, and walk the path there for a new perspective overlooking the town. You'll round off the trip with some local delicacies, served with a chilled glass of Sicilian Prosecco.

Castelbuono visit and Sicilian dinner in the Madonie Mountains

Swap Cefalu's buzzy seaside scene for the simple pleasures of hill-top towns and farm estates in the Madonie Mountains. The beaches and coastline blur into olive groves and rural valleys as your bus makes the scenic journey to Castelbuono in the late afternoon. Mirco, an expert local guide, explains the significance of the town, “Castelbuono has always been a crossroads between the mountains and the sea — which is why you'll see so many layers here, from Norman walls to Baroque churches, all wrapped into a living town.”You'll have around an hour and a half to wander the narrow stone streets, where every archway frames another impressive view of this Medieval town. Among the palazzos and historic churches, though, the crowning glory of Castelbuono has to be the 14th-century fortress, Castello dei Ventimiglia. It's now open as a museum, so as well as taking time to appreciate the slower pace of the town and perhaps grabbing a gelato, you can take a look around the castle's exhibits of timeworn treasures and contemporary art collection. Mirco adds, “The Ventimiglia family built this castle to control the mountain routes. Today, it tells a very different story – from ancient archaeology to modern Sicilian artists.”In the evening, you'll head to Tenuta Luogo Marcese, a rural, agritourism-style farm estate. Sit on the terracotta-tiled terrace and enjoy a relaxed three-course dinner of seasonal Sicilian dishes, all prepared with local ingredients. Best of all, dinner comes with views of the sun setting over the Madonie hills.