Villa Romana And Temples, 11 Hours

Villa Romana and Temples, 11 Hours, 11 hours, rated 4.7 across 476 traveller reviews.

Overview

This day trip from Palermo packs two of Sicily's big ancient sites into a single long outing: the Roman Villa Romana del Casale near Piazza Armerina and the Greek Valley of the Temples at Agrigento. Transport by air-conditioned vehicle is arranged for you, and a licensed local guide walks you through the Valley of the Temples. The villa, by contrast, is explored independently, with no guide included there.

The day starts at a central Palermo meeting point beside Hotel Politeama, from which the driver heads straight to Piazza Armerina. You wander the 4th-century villa and its mosaic floors at your own pace before transferring to Agrigento. There the guided tour covers temples, necropolises, houses and streets from a Greek city of the 5th century BC, after which the group returns to the original meeting point in Palermo.

It suits travellers who want to cover both UNESCO sites without hiring a car, and who can cope with long transfers between stops. Reviewers repeatedly describe the day as well organized and a good way to see two major sites at once, with praised drivers and site guides.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet in central PalermoThe group meets at Hotel Politeama, Piazza Ruggiero Settimo, Palermo. There is no hotel pickup for this tour.
2. Transfer to Piazza ArmerinaA long drive on board an air-conditioned vehicle with a multilingual driver.
3. Villa Romana del CasaleExplore the 4th-century villa and its mosaics independently. No guide is provided here, and entry is paid separately. One reviewer reported an audio guide was available for an extra charge.
4. Transfer to AgrigentoThe vehicle continues to the Valley of the Temples site.
5. Guided Valley of the TemplesA licensed local guide leads the tour through the temples and other ruins of the ancient Greek city. Entry is not included in the tour price.
6. Return to PalermoThe tour ends back at the original meeting point in the city.

What To Expect From The Tour

Here is what to know before booking, based on the listing and on what travellers have reported after taking this exact tour.

• Long travel days. The listing warns that the tour includes long transfers between sites. One reviewer noted an early start is needed to cover the distance.
• Comfortable shoes. The listing recommends comfortable shoes and comfortable clothes. Both sites involve walking, and one reviewer noted there is roughly a two-hour stop at the villa.
• Guide only at Agrigento. A guide is included for the Valley of the Temples only. At the villa you explore on your own; one reviewer chose to pay extra for an audio guide there, so consider that option if you want commentary.
• Bring food money. Food and drinks are not included. One reviewer ate during the villa stop, where several shops on site sell food, so budget for lunch and snacks.
• Good drivers and guides. Reviewers consistently praise the drivers and the site guides by name, describing them as safe, informative and friendly.
• Entry fees add up. Entry fees are excluded from the tour price.

Common issues. The main complaints are practical rather than about the sites themselves. Some travellers say clearer information on entrance fees and exactly what is included would help, and one reviewer felt the order of the two stops worked better in reverse. The villa portion has no live guide, which disappointed at least one visitor, and the long drives and early start make for a tiring day. Entry fees, food and drinks are all extra.

Common Questions