The northern Sicilian coast

Northern Sicily boasts a spectacular coastline, with hidden coves and crystal-clear waters set between towering cliffs. It is also home to one of Sicily's largest nature parks: the Parco delle Madonie, offering magnificent walks with breathtaking views and total tranquillity. After all this natural beauty, the need for civilisation is felt and it's time to visit the authentic fishing villages. In Cefalù, you can taste the fresh fish of the day while admiring the majestic cathedral...

Day 1 : Departure to Palermo

You will arrive at Palermo airport and collect your rental car. You'll drive on to your first Caractère hotel in Palermo. You can choose between a real city stay or a luxury hotel just outside the city. You will visit Palazzo dei Normanni, the San Domenico church which is the showpiece of Baroque in Palermo and dive into the Catacombe dei Cappuccuni.

Day 2 : Monreale and San Vito Lo Capo

Wake up in Palermo and drive on to Monreale to visit the duomo with its impressive mosaics and Benedictine monastery. Then drive along the breathtaking Golfo di Castellammare to San Vito Lo Capo.

Day 3 : The Via del Sale and Erice

The road between Trapani and Marsala is lined with salt flats that offer a stunning sight with the silhouette of a windmill here and there. Make sure to stop in Nubia for the small but fascinating salt museum. Visit Erice, named after the mountain on which this town was built and go back to antiquity, where the temple was dedicated to Astarte and later to Aphrodite and Venus.

Day 4 : Selinunte and Sciacca

These stops are absolutely unmissable on this trip. Selinunte, ancient Selinus, was founded in 650 BC and in its vast expanse is the largest archaeological site in Europe. The temple of Hera is an imposing settlement with its 21 Doric columns still standing today. Afterwards, drive on to Sciacca, where people used to live in caves and this can still be observed today.

Day 5 : Cefalù

Enjoy a day in this picturesque town with its magnificent golden Romanesque Duomo and the ruins on 'la Rocca', a steep mountain with breathtaking views from the top.

Day 6 : Panoramic tour in Parco delle Madonie, the Sicilian Apennines

Today, you will explore this grand natural park, passing numerous authentic medieval villages like Castelbuono, Geraci Siculo, etc. These seem to crown the mountains of Le Madonie like eagle's nests.