Valley of the Temples and Villa Romana del Casale Day Trip from Taormina

Highlights

After meeting your guide in the center of Taormina, head off to Agrigento, located on Sicily's sunny south coast. Pull right up to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Valley of the Temples, an incredible archeological spot on a hill that dates back to 430 BC. Pay the admission fees and then begin strolling around with your guide, navigating the labyrinth of relics and ruins. Drink in the numerous sites, including the temple of Castor and Pollux and the Temple of Concord, an exemplary Classical monument. Then stop and marvel at the Temple of June, Temple of Jove, and the most ancient ruin on the site, the Temple of Hercules. Take a break for lunch inside the Valley of the Temples (at own expense) and then hop back on the coach for the drive to Piazza Amerina to see the incredible Villa Romana del Casale, an old hunting lodge that is home to the planet's biggest collection of Roman mosaics. Take some time to study the mosaics, some of which depict every day scenes from centuries past. Go inside the hunting lodge (at own expense) and wander around the rooms. Linger in the thermal baths for a while trying to imagine what daily life was like here over 2,000 years ago. Walk through the dining hall and courtyard. Gawk at the awesome mosaics, especially the 'bikini girls,' which your guide will offer an intriguing explanation about. Learn about the history of the lodge and how it was hidden thanks to a 12th-century landslide that buried it. Stroll around the lodge, taking in the preserved art and architecture and then hop back on the coach for the journey back to Taormina.

Summary

After meeting your guide in the center of Taormina, head off to Agrigento, located on Sicily's sunny south coast. Pull right up to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Valley of the Temples, an incredible archeological spot on a hill that dates back to 430 BC. Pay the admission fees and then begin strolling around with your guide, navigating the labyrinth of relics and ruins. Drink in the numerous sites, including the temple of Castor and Pollux and the Temple of Concord, an exemplary Classical monument. Then stop and marvel at the Temple of June, Temple of Jove, and the most ancient ruin on the site, the Temple of Hercules. Take a break for lunch inside the Valley of the Temples (at own expense) and then hop back on the coach for the drive to Piazza Amerina to see the incredible Villa Romana del Casale, an old hunting lodge that is home to the planet's biggest collection of Roman mosaics. Take some time to study the mosaics, some of which depict every day scenes from centuries past. Go inside the hunting lodge (at own expense) and wander around the rooms. Linger in the thermal baths for a while trying to imagine what daily life was like here over 2,000 years ago. Walk through the dining hall and courtyard. Gawk at the awesome mosaics, especially the 'bikini girls,' which your guide will offer an intriguing explanation about. Learn about the history of the lodge and how it was hidden thanks to a 12th-century landslide that buried it. Stroll around the lodge, taking in the preserved art and architecture and then hop back on the coach for the journey back to Taormina.

Tour info

Duration

12 hours

Why take this tour?

Explore two of Sicily’s top UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Valley of the Temples and Villa Romana del Casale – on a day trip from Taormina, led by a local guide! After getting acquainted with Ancient Greek monuments and ruins at the Valley of Temples in Agrigento, visit the town of Piazza Armerina to see a staggering collection of Roman mosaics inside Villa Romana del Casale, an ancient hunting lodge. All entrance fees are payable locally.

What’s included?

Air-conditioned vehicle
Local guide in Agrigento
Tour escort/host
Food and drinks
Entrance fee to the sites (approx 20 euros) - (free for EU citizens under 18 years with a valid ID)
Entry/Admission - Valle dei Templi
Entry/Admission - Villa Romana del Casale

Things to know

Before you book

Duration: 12h
Mobile tickets accepted
Instant confirmation

Covid Policy

Guides required to regularly wash hands
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized

- We also remind you that access to passengers with a fever equal to / greater than 37.5 ° or flu symptoms is prohibited. - It is mandatory to use the mask to access the means of transport in addition to the regulatory distances

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Operator Website

Operated by:

SAT Group Tours

About operator:

SAT Group, Tour Operator & Transportation Company based in Taormina, is the ideal solution for exploring Sicily, a region where art, history and culture blend to perfection with the landscape and give rise to a unique universe. With guaranteed departures from Taormina, Giardini Naxos and Letojanni, SAT Group offers the most extensive program of multilingual tours towards the major Sicilian destinations, including daily visits to Mount Etna, all the most important cities of art and two cruises to the Aeolian Islands. Not only that! A section apart is dedicated to the activities related to gastronomy with the successful Sicilian Cooking Class and the Pizza Making Class, two real best sellers of the past seasons. With over 30.000 passengers per year, SAT Group has gained the experience and the know-how that guarantee the quality of all tours and activities, by using only professional staff trained in-house. Discover Sicily with SAT Group!