2024 Celebrates Roots Tourism ▾
For those of you with Italian heritage, Philítaly will guide you on an emotional journey tracing your origins. Roots Tourism 2024 is an Italian State Department/Foreign Affairs (Ministero degli Affari Esteri) funded initiative promoting the search for one's roots in Italy. It encourages you and members of your party to explore your Italian cultural origins. Philítaly brings you on a customized travel experience bridging you to the past, exploring life traditions and stories, enjoying authentic food and wine, and retracing the footsteps of your ancestors, through a guided and curated cultural journey. Find the already prepared viaggio that's right for you or create one of your own with Philítaly.
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Sigma Nu and friends in Sicily (SOLD OUT)
April 4 to April 12, 2024
Starts in Palermo and also visit Monreale, Agrigento, Catania, Taormina, Siracusa, Ortigia, Trapani, Montalbano Elicona and Cefalù.
Did you know Kingdom of Two Sicilies existed until the Unification of Italy in 1870? This trip of a lifetime in Italy will explore the rugged, yet refined and beautiful island of Sicily, which at one point had Naples (Napoli) as its capital. Many cultures from the Mediterranean, and elsewhere, have made Sicily what it is today. From Argigento and its amazing and intact Greek temples, to still active volcano Mt. Etna, and the highly popular Taormina and its spring aroma, you will no doubt arrive back home refreshed, inspired and full of wonderful memories. Were love, honor and truth inspired by ancient Greek or Roman civilizations, or both? Come find out! Many of the previous Philitaly travelers requested this trip specifically. They were the Sigma Nu alumni group, however in this trip all are welcome.
You will be guided by an Italian insider, Phil of Philítaly. He will leverage his Italian language, access to family and friends to show you the real Italian “day in the life”, and take you to places off the beaten path.
Click here to see article the national fraternity wrote about our previous trip ▾
8 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS
04/04/24 - 04/12/2024
Purchase your flight on your own to have more control over possible changes. Choose a flight from the closest airport with non-stop flights to the Italian hub city where the group meets. If you are not close to a city with non-stop service to the hub in Italy, we suggest you take a domestic flight to the US city that offers non-stop service to Italy hub or fly to a European city with layover to the hub city in Italy where the group meets.
Consider travel insurance for peace of mind to protect land, air and trip cancellation as well as medical service and evacuation insurance. Click here to view options for comprehensive insurance, not just for flight cost, like most airlines sell.
EXPLORING THE SUNNY ISLAND OF SICILY
8 Days and 8 Nights on the Island of Sicily:
Day 0
Travel overnight from US or early morning from a European city
Day 1, Thursday April 4, 2024
Afternoon/Evening
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Flight from Rome to Palermo, arrive late afternoon and meet your private driver outside baggage claim
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Arrive at Hotel Mediterraneo Palace a very central hotel in the historic center of Palermo
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Dinner with the group in the hotel restaurant
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Self-guided evening walking tour
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Sleep at Hotel Mediterraneo Palace Palermo
Day 2. Friday, April 5, 2024
Morning
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Wake up to a delicious breakfast in the hotel
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Meet your tour guide at Piazza Indipendenza
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Visit Palermo Cathedral
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Continue to historic center
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View Quattro Canti
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Piazza Pretoria, home of the municipality of Palermo
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Teatro Massimo, among the largest theaters in Europe
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Free time in via Maqueda, the most famous street in Palermo with its shops and fast food
Afternoon/Evening
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Free time for lunch on your own
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Guided tour of the Cathedral of Monreale among the most beautiful Cathedrals in Europe with exquisite mosaics
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Dinner with the group
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Sleep at Hotel Mediterraneo Palace Palermo
Day 3, Saturday April 6, 2024
Morning
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Wake up to a delicious breakfast in the hotel
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Depart for Agrigento Valle dei Temples one of the most representative archaeological sites of classical Greek civilization and one of the largest in the world. Declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1998, the Valley of the Temples Archaeological and Landscape Park extends over 1300 hectares (approximately 5 square miles) where you can walk through centuries of history.
Afternoon/Evening
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Free time for lunch on your own
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Guided tour of the Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina Villa Romana de Casale is an supreme example of a late-imperial Roman luxury villa included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the gates of Piazza Armerina, in the suggestive valley of the Gela River on the slopes of Monte Mangone, this is one of the most prestigious monumental testimonies of the late ancient period in the Mediterranean, the Villa Romana del Casale, built in the 4th century AD. and decorated with enchanting mosaics considered the most beautiful and best-preserved of their kind.
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Dinner with the group in hotel restaurant
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Sleep at President Park Hotel Acicastello
Day 4, Sunday April 7, 2024
Morning
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Wake up to a delicious breakfast in the hotel
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Excursion to Mount Etna also known as Mongibello, an active volcano present in the area, which fascinates visitors daily with its continuous eruptions.
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Take the cable car and 4x4 GIP vehicles for a fantastic excursion where we can reach the highest point at the top, approximately 1923 meters.
Afternoon/Evening
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Free time for lunch on your own in the Etna area.
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Depart for Taormina known as the Pearl of Sicily, arrive and take guided tour of the medieval village, a popular destination for many VIPs in the summer. Among the alleys and streets of the historic center, we will visit the most important and best-preserved ancient monument in Taormina which is the theater. It was built on a wonderful panoramic point, from which you can admire the mass of Etna and the Ionian Sea. On some steps the name of Philistide is engraved, the wife of Hieron II, the tyrant of Syracuse who most likely built the Taormina theater in the 3rd century BC. The building was rebuilt in Roman times and more precisely in the 2nd century AD.
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Dinner with the group in hotel restaurant
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Sleep in President Park Hotel Acicastello
Day 5, Monday April 8, 2024
Morning
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Wake up to a delicious breakfast in the hotel
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Meet your tour guide and visit Siracusa, starting from Archeological area Neapolis which is comprised of; Hieron’s altar, the Greek Theatre, Roman Amphitheatre, Latomie of Paradise and Dionysius’ ear.
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Visit Ortigia where we will admire the Santa Lucia bridge, Temple of Apollo, Piazza Archimede, Diana Fountain, Piazza Duomo, town hall, Cathedral (exterior only), seafront, Aretusa fountain.
Afternoon/Evening
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Free time for lunch on your own in Ortigia
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A spectacular boat excursion where you will have the opportunity to see Ortigia from along the coast, we will see two beautiful caves, you will have the opportunity to swim for about 15 minutes and pass under the famous Umbertino bridge.
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Travel to Catania by private motor coach
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Dinner with the group at a fish Restaurant in Catania
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Sleep in Agrigento Hotel della Valle
Day 6, Tuesday April 9, 2024
Morning
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Wake up to a delicious breakfast in the hotel
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Depart for Palermo by private motor coach
Afternoon/Evening
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3 hour cooking class, where you will have the opportunity to see and learn how to cook the specialties of Palermo and its street food and then taste these specialties for lunch.
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Bike excursion in the historic center of Palermo led by one of our guides
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Continue to Palermo and enjoy a fish-based dinner in Sferracavallo
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Sleep at the Hotel Mediterraneo Palace in Palermo
Day 7, Wednesday April 10, 2024
Morning
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Wake up to a delicious breakfast in the hotel
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Depart for Erice, an ancient medieval village that offers a panoramic view of the coast
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Walk through the cobbled streets of the historic center
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Enjoy a famous tasting of almond paste desserts at the Grammatico Bar
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Visit the Castle of Venus (ticket not included)
Afternoon/Evening
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Lunch in a restaurant in Erice
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Continue to Trapani with its historic center characterized by narrow streets and Baroque style buildings. Visit to the salt pans of Trapani and its windmill
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Free time for dinner on your own in Palermo
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Sleep at the Hotel Mediterraneo Palace Palermo
Day 8, Thursday April 11, 2024
Morning
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Wake up and have breakfast in the hotel
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Depart for guided tour of Montalbano Elicona and walk through the alleys of the historic center visiting the churches (Maria SS della Provvidenza, Santa Caterina, Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta and San Nicolò Vescoco, Sprito Santo), the noble portals, and the Norman Castle – Swabian – Aragonese (ticket not included)
Afternoon/Evening
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Free time for lunch on your own
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Continue with guided tour of the ancient Greek fortress of Cefalù
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Arrive by private motor coach to the ancient Arab quarter of Giudecca
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Walk along the ancient walls of the 4th century BC
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Cultural stop at the ancient Pescara gate and overlooking the fishermen's pier, location of numerous films, including Nuovo Cinema Paradiso
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Visit the Medieval Wash House, an ancient public wash basin of probable Arab origin
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Visit the Norman Arab cathedral, with the splendid mosaic icon of Christ Pantocrator, a UNESCO heritage site
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Visit the Cathedral Towers and Museum and its cloister with twin capitals
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Walk through the ancient Francavilla district, built in the Rogerian era, which still retains its medieval characteristics unchanged today
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Relax in Piazza del Duomo
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Dinner with the group in restaurant in Palermo
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Sleep at the Hotel Mediterraneo Palace Palermo
Day 9, Friday April 12, 2024
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Wake up to a delicious breakfast in the hotel
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Early morning transfer by private motor coach from Hotel Mediterraneo to Palermo Airport and arrivederci! Until your next adventure with Philitaly.
Choose another Philìtaly Adventure to explore below
EXPLORE CENTRAL SOUTH ITALY
March 20-28, 2025
Starts in Rome and also
visit Vico Equense, Amalfi, Ravello, Paestum, Battipaglia, Pompei, Campobasso, Oratino and Agnone.
A group of curious travelers interested in places off the beaten path and not known to tourists, where the culture, food, wine and music are regionally preserved.
EXPLORE CENTRAL SOUTH ITALY
May 1-9, 2025
Starts in Rome and also
visit Vico Equense, Amalfi, Ravello, Paestum, Battipaglia, Pompei, Campobasso, Oratino and Agnone.
A group of curious travelers interested in places off the beaten path and not known to tourists, where the culture, food, wine and music are regionally preserved.
EXPLORE CENTRAL SOUTH ITALY
November 7-15, 2024
Starts in Rome and also
visit Vico Equense, Amalfi, Ravello, Paestum, Battipaglia, Pompei, Campobasso, Oratino and Agnone.
A group of curious travelers interested in places off the beaten path and not known to tourists, where the culture, food, wine and music are regionally preserved.
THE SPLENDORS OF CENTRAL AND
NORTHERN ITALY
June 25-July 4, 2024
This is a suggested itinerary for one or more people traveling. It can be modified by the travelers and price modified accordingly.
Starts in Rome and also
visit Ravenna, Ferrara, Bologna, Florence, Assisi and Farfa.
Customized experience for a private group.
Learn more about Playing for Pizza ▾
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Playing for Pizza: A Novel by John Grisham Published in 2012
American National Football League third string quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, Rick Dockery becomes a national laughing-stock after what is considered the worst performance in NFL history. No other NFL team wants him after he is cut by the Browns.
Against all odds he lands a job as the starting quarterback for the Parma, Italy Mighty Panthers. The Parma Panthers are happy to have Rick, wanting an NFL player and not being selective about which former American NFL player they choose.
For Rick, not knowing anything about Parma and not speaking a word of Italian, a series of adventures ensue bringing with it a few surprises.
EXPLORE CENTRAL SOUTH ITALY
September 13-21, 2024
Starts in Rome and also
visit Vico Equense, Amalfi, Ravello, Paestum, Battipaglia, Pompei, Campobasso, Oratino and Agnone.
A group of curious travelers interested in places off the beaten path and not known to tourists, where the culture, food, wine and music are regionally preserved.
PAST TRIPS
O SOLO MIO - For solo or small group traveler(s)
Dates selected by client
Open to the public, an experience you define for yourself or a small group of travelers.
