Depart the USA today on board overnight flights to Catania, Italy. Enjoy a full meal service as well as in-flight entertainment.

Upon arrival at the Catania International Airport (CTA) and after collecting our luggage, we will be met by our pilgrimage director and driver as we board a private motorcoach for our journey to the city. We will check-in at our hotel, with time to rest and unpack. Mass will be celebrated at the hotel in a private meeting room. After, we will have a festive group welcome dinner served with local cuisine. After dinner, free time to observe the all-night procession in honor of St. Agatha, part of the city’s 3-day festival in honor of its patroness. Overnight in Catania. (D)

Following breakfast we will make our way to the center of Catania, the Piazza del Duomo, where we will witness the incredible celebration of the feast of St. Agatha. Today marks the anniversary day of her martyrdom in Catania under the reign of the Emperor Decius. She was subject to interrogations and unspeakable tortures and then “died in prison while in prayer to God.” In the city center we will see her famous statue being carried by men through the streets on a silver ferculum. Following, we will visit the mighty Metropolitan Cathedral, a Baroque and Norman gem named after the saint. After lunch on our own, the procession will continue from the Archbishop’s Palace with VIP representatives. Our walking tour will include part of the procession route, with majestic Baroque churches, streets, squares, fountains, gardens and picturesque alleys of the Centro Storico. We will enjoy a celebratory group dinner together at dusk. Overnight in Catania. (B, D)

Following breakfast and hotel check-out, we will depart for Syracuse. We will start our visit with the Archaeological Park in Piazza Pancali. We will see the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, a Doric sanctuary from the 6th-century B.C. Next we will make our way to the Neapolis district, where there are the remains of the Greek theatre, the Roman amphitheatre, the great altar of Hiero, and the Cordari cave. We will continue then with the ancient nucleus on the island of Ortigia, a natural fortress. We will admire the Cathedral of the Nativity of Mary. We will see other important churches that include San Giovanni alle Catacombe with its crypt of San Marziano, and the Church of Santa Lucia alla Badia. Here we will celebrate Mass. Free time for lunch on our own. Next we continue to the Baroque city of Noto and then to Ragusa for hotel check-in and dinner. Overnight in Ragusa. (B, D)

After breakfast and hotel check-out, we depart for Agrigento. Morning visit to the Valley of the Temples, where we find the remains of the ancient city of Akragas. We will admire the temple of Juno, the one of Concordia, and the temple of Hercules. Free time for lunch on our own. In the afternoon, we will visit the historic center of Agrigento with the Cathedral of San Gerlando, patron saint of the city. Here we will have Mass. We will also see the Sanctuary of San Calogero, the co-patron of Agrigento. Dinner and overnight in Agrigento. (B, D)

Breakfast and check-out of our hotel. This morning we will transfer to Erice with a drive through the Saline di Nubia, along the Via Del Sale, an oasis for birds, where among windmills and sea salt it is not uncommon to spot pink flamingos. Arrival in Erice, an enchanting medieval village, nestled on the top of Monte San Giuliano. Walk through the village, visit the majestic Erice Cathedral for Mass. We will also see King Federico’s Tower, first built during the 4th century. Visit the church of San Martino and walk to the castle. Free tasting of the famous “Genoese” at the Grammatico pastry shop. After a relaxed lunch, we will continue to Segesta to visit the well-known archaeological park with its acropolis. After, we continue our bus ride to Palermo for hotel check-in and dinner. Overnight in Palermo. (B, D)

Following breakfast, we will transfer to Monreale. We will start with a visit to the imposing Arab-Norman cathedral of Monreale, where we will have Mass. Lunch on our own. We will set out then for Cefalù, a picturesque town on the sea where the imposing Cathedral stands as an exquisite example of church construction from the Norman period. It was consecrated in 1267 with architectural elements from various influences: a fascinating mix of styles that include the Norman-Arab-Byzantine. We will continue our walk through the medieval hamlet, making our way by bus to return to Palermo. Return to our hotel for dinner. Overnight in Palermo. (B, D)

Breakfast at our hotel. We start with a visit to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Norman Palace with the precious Cappella Palatina enclosed within. Time for lunch. Next, we will take a leisurely afternoon walk in the historic center of Palermo covering the most important highlights of the city: the Piazza dei Quattro Canti, the center of the Baroque city, Piazza Pretoria, and the 16-century Camilliani Fountain. We will continue our walk to Piazza Bellini to visit the Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio (La Martorana), the church of San Cataldo, and the Monastery and Church of Santa Caterina. Final farewell dinner in Sferracavallo. Overnight in Palermo. (B, D)

With vivid memories of our time in Sicily, we will eat an early breakfast, check-out of our hotel, and transfer to Palermo International Airport (PMO) for our flights home. (B)