SACRED ITALY

A Special Tour to SICILY
Hosted by Kathleen McGowan
October 15 – 21

Kathleen unexpectedly discovered she has a maternal Sicilian grandfather born in the town of Corleone, Palermo. So, you can join Kathleen on a very personal journey as she sets foot on her heritage homeland for the very first time.

This one-week Tour to beautiful Sicily features the eternal crossroads of the Mediterranean, the gorgeous island of Sicily continues to seduce travelers with its dazzling diversity of landscapes and cultural treasures. It is the great melting pot of the ancient world. Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Normans, French and Spanish have left their mark and contributed to its rich heritage. Whether in the classical perfection of Agrigento’s Concordia Temple, the monumental rubble of Selinunte’s Columns or the rare grace of a dancing satyr statue rescued from Mazara del Vallo’s watery depths, reminders of bygone civilizations are everywhere. Sicily is also a delectable layer-cake of culinary influences, Sicily’s ancient cuisine continues to rely on a few key island-grown ingredients: shellfish and citrus, tuna and swordfish, pistachios, almonds and ricotta. Sicily’s varied landscape makes a dramatic first impression. As if its classical heritage weren’t formidable enough, Sicily is bursting at the seams with later artistic and architectural gems. In a short walk around Palermo you’ll see Arab domes and arches, Byzantine mosaics and Norman palace walls. Circle around to southeast Sicily and you’ll find yourself stumbling upon the evocative remains of Arab and Norman castles. These cultural riches remain one of the island’s most distinctive attractions.

Plus we will have an exciting tour up to Mount Etna, a “Godfather” tour, and visiting many places featured in the “White Lotus” TV series.

Your Host on the Journey

Kathleen McGowan is a record-breaking bestselling author whose work has been translated into 50 languages. Her visionary fiction series is based on two decades of research into the contributions of women to history and spirituality, and includes the instant New York Times bestseller, The Expected One, and its bestselling sequels, The Book of Love and The Poet Prince. Kathleen is known internationally for her dynamic television and public appearances.

INCLUDES

  • 6 night’s accommodations
  • Hotel service charges and taxes
  • Breakfast every day
  • 1 lunch
  • 4 dinners
  • Transfer on arrival by touring coach (see Catania departure time below)
  • Transportation in Sicily by coach
  • Sightseeing as per itinerary
  • Sightseeing entrance fees

SPECIAL FEATURES

  • A Norman Castle visit that features 50,000 square feet of mosaics
  • View the breathtaking Valley of the Temples
  • Travel to the top of Mount Etna, Europe’s highest volcano
  • A “Godfather” Tour where you visit the actual places & sites from the Godfather movies
  • A Sicilian vineyard visit for lunch and wine tasting
  • Dinner at a wonderful outdoor Taormina restaurant
  • Farewell to Sicily “Cooking with the Duchess” dinner

SICILY EXTENSION ITINERARY

Taormina, Sicily1st Day, Wednesday, October 15: In Taormina, Sicily (B/D)
Arrival on your own in Catania and please be at the Catania Airport by 1pm to meet Kathleen and board your coach for Taormina. After checking into your hotel and a bit of time to refresh, we will have a special ‘Welcome to Sicily’ dinner at our hotel.

 

 

 

2nd day, Thursday, October 16: In Taormina. Godfather Tour (B)
Castello Degli SchiaviWe depart this morning for our Godfather tour that will take you back in time to discover the ancient and sunny Sicilian villages chosen by Francis Ford Coppola as the setting for the film “The Godfather.” The first stop is Bar Vitelli in Savocathe Castello degli Schiavi, nicknamed “Villa Corleone”, where you will have the opportunity to relive the famous scenes of the film, read the original documents of the production, admire photographs taken during filming, and become protagonists being immortalized with photos and videos in those same places, recreating the famous scenes from “The Godfather.” The second stop is Savoca, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, where you can visit the famous Bar Vitelli, where Don Micheal Corleone asked for the hand of Apollonia. You will conclude our tour with a visit to the Church of San Nicolò, where the wedding scene between Michael Corleone and Apollonia was set. With this tour you can relive the magic of the film and discover the hidden beauty of Sicily! Afterwards, back to your hotel where you have the balance of the day free on your own to relax and experience some of the wonderful restaurants in Taormina for lunch and dinner.

3rd day, Friday, October 17: In Taormina. To Mount Etna & Wine Tasting Lunch (B/L)
Mount Etna volcanoAfter breakfast, start your day by traveling to the top of Mount Etna, over 5,000 feet high. It’s the highest and the most active volcano in Europe. You will visit the Silvestri Craters, five extinct craters and enjoy their panoramic scenery. Then experience a special treat as you have lunch and a wine tasting at the Mount Etna vineyards. The vineyards are a unique wine growing area that has gotten a lot of attention recently. Its dark volcanic soil, high elevation, snow-topped mountains for five months of the year and the Mediterranean Sea nearby, create singularly distinctive wines. It was featured in the show White Lotus. Afterwards return to Taormina with a stop at the ancient Greek-Roman Theatre. Dinner on your own this evening.

4th day, Saturday, October 18: In Toarmina. Excursion to Siracusa (B/D)
Today visit Syracuse (Siracusa in Italian) to visit the most beautiful Greek colony of Sicily. This area attracted the philosopher Plato and the Apostle Paul. At one time, its naval fleet was feared throughout the Mediterranean. Here our visit will include the famous Latomie of the Garden of Paradise, the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, and the Ear of Dionysius known for its extraordinary acoustics. Lunch is on our own at a local restaurant on try some of the street market lunch stalls. Then continue with a visit to the island of Ortigia, the small baroque old city center of Siracusa, built by the Aragonians. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon. In the evening have dinner in the town at the Restorante Kiste.

5th day, Sunday, October 19: To Palermo via a tour to Agrigento (B/D)
Departure to Palermo via Agrigento where you will be visiting one of the most important Greek historical sites in the world: the breathtaking Valley of the Temples, including the largest Doric temple in the world and the Temple of Jupiter. Even travelers who have visited Athens and Delphi in Greece are awed by the gigantic yet graceful Greek structures that have survived 24 centuries of tormented history. Continue to Palermo with a late afternoon arrival. Dinner at our hotel.

 

6th day, Monday, October 20: In Palermo Tour to Monreale. Farewell Dinner “Cooking with the Duchess” (B/D)
Depart for Monreale, slightly south of Palermo on a panoramic upland overlooking the Conca d’Oro and the Oreto River valley. We visit the Cathedral (Santa Maria la Nuovo) which began in 1174. This cathedral was built at the order of William II. The interior walls of the Cathedral are completely decorated with 50,000 square feet of precious Byzantine mosaics. You return to Palermo to get ready for your Private Farewell dinner. We leave our hotel for a special afternoon, “Cooking with the Duchess.” It’s not simply a Sicilian cooking lesson in an extraordinary location, but we will be doing it in a fabulous 18th century Palazzo by the sea, the last home of Prince Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, author of the world-famous novel The Leopard. What better cooking lessonsurroundings to begin a captivating journey into the wondrous world of Sicilian culture and food? The Duchess of Palma will accompany us to the organic gardens on the luscious terrace to pick fresh herbs, flowers and lemons that will enhance both the flavors and the uniqueness of our dishes. Then in the welcoming kitchen, we will create a mouthwatering Sicilian menu under the Duchess’s expert guidance. Afterwards we’ll enjoy the fruits of our labor in the comfort of the Palazzo’s elegant dining room. White-gloved waiters will serve you the delicious Sicilian dishes you have created. Back to our hotel for a well-deserved rest.

7th Day, Tuesday, October 21: Optional Tour Ends (B)
Transfer  on your own to the airport

Please Read the Terms and Conditions for this Tour.

** Bonus! SAVE! You will receive a 5% discount if ALL payments are made by check or money order. This discounted price is noted below in red.

*Special No Interest + No Payments for 6 Months Plan Now Available!
RMC Travel now offers the “PayPal Credit” Plan (Click here for details)

PRICING

INCLUSIVE PRICES FOR ONE WEEKS SICILY TOUR October 15 -21 (LAND ONLY)

Price Per Person
Per Person Double Occupancy: $2,699 by check or money order, $2,799 by credit card
Per Person Single Occupancy:  $3,299 by check or money order, $3,429 by credit card

Payment Schedule

FIRST NON-REFUNDABLE PAYMENT (Due as soon as possible to ensure a place on the tour)
Per Person Double or Single Occupancy: $800 by check or money order, $850 by credit card

BALANCE as per your invoice is due in full on or before August 1, 2025.

If you have already registered online and require access to the PayPal payment page, click here.

Travel Insurance

As travel professionals, Body Mind Spirit Journeys highly recommends travel insurance. Sometimes unexpected circumstances can arise. A sudden emergency just before or during your trip could spoil your vacation and deplete your resources.

We have recently seen some of our valued travelers lose not only their non-refundable deposits, but also their entire tour payments because they hoped they would not need trip cancellation insurance.

You should protect your trip investment and yourself in regards to health, property and trip payments. That is why we provide you with an easy way to contact BMSJ’s preferred insurance provider, Allianz Global Assistance. If you need additional information or have questions, please call Allianz directly at 1-800-284-8300, and refer to code F025323.

BMSJ will be sending you additional details and a brochure with your confirmation on trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

 

 

 

 

 

*No Payments + No Interest if paid in full in 6 months. Click here for details.

 

 

Photo credits:
Desenzano Church Front by Manfred Heyde I, Manfred Heyde [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Castello degli schiavi: Andrej Antipin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bar Vitelli Savoca: Jeanne Griffin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Path over the volcano crater, Mount Etna: Mstyslav Chernov, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cathedral Monreale: Derbrauni, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons