Our first stop is the Valley of the Temples, a significant UNESCO World Heritage site. Immerse yourself in a two-hour audio-guided independent walking tour, exploring iconic structures such as the Temple of Hera, the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Hercules, and the Temple of Zeus. Agrigento, with origins dating back to 582 B.C., was founded by Rhodian-Cretan colonists from neighboring Gela. While legend attributes its founding to Daedalus and Icarus fleeing from Crete 'by air,' historical records trace the city's rise under Phalarides, the first tyrant, and later under Theron, who expanded its influence over northern Sicily as far as Himera.
In the afternoon, our journey continues to Piazza Armerina for an independent visit to the mesmerizing Mosaics Floor at the Roman Villa of Casale, a UNESCO Heritage site. Dating back to the 4th century AD, this villa, forgotten over time, was unveiled through 20th-century excavations. It stands as the supreme example of a luxury Roman villa, featuring approximately 3500 square meters of floor mosaics. Believed to be the residence of an upper-class member of the Roman Empire, the villa's mosaics, celebrated among antiquity scholars, depict the opulence of that era. The independent visit inside the Roman Villa provides an immersive experience, with informative boards in every room.
Our journey then takes us to Taormina, with drop-off arrangements to be agreed upon based on prevailing traffic conditions.