Piazza Armerina

Walking tours

Follow in the footsteps of the Greeks and Romans on a day trip where your transport is taken care of for you. Discover some of the finest Roman mosaics in the world at the Villa Romana del Casale. Learn all about the Valley of the Temples archaeological site with a licensed local guide. Meet your driver in central Palermo and be taken straight to Piazza Armerina, where you will explore the Villa Romana del Casale independently. Marvel at the luxurious 4th-century villa, home to an influential Roman family. Take your time to examine its exquisite mosaic flooring. Continue to Agrigento for a guided tour of the magnificent Valley of Temples, built by the Greeks in the 5th century BC. See the ruins of temples, necropolises, houses, streets, and everything else you'd expect to find in an ancient city. Finally, return to the meeting point in Palermo.

On this guided tour, bear witness to the wealth and luxury of the daily lives of 4th-century patricians in the late Roman age. Dive into the culture and history of the late Roman Empire while you admire ancient mosaics. During your visit, see the baths, guest quarters, and private rooms. Begin your tour when you meet your guide outside the entrance to the villa and enjoy the convenience of fast entry with your skip-the-line ticket. Your first visit is to the thermal baths. Feel the enveloping warmth of the caldarium and cool off in the frigidarium, fed by the Gela River. Continue your tour while you appreciate the beauty and vividness of the intricate mosaics. Throughout the villa's rooms, gain insights into the cultural activities of ancient Rome. In the baths, imagine the shouts of the spectators at a quadriga race of four-horse chariots. Next, wander towards the guest apartment. Here, enjoy scenes of daily life, including fishing activities, hunting, and banquets. Feel the hunters’ anticipation in the “Little Hunt” mosaic. In the dining room, imaginethe enchanting sounds of Orpheus playing his lyre as animals gather around him. Venture further to explore the grand public halls where the villa received "clientes." Marvel at the mosaic known as the "Great Hunt," which shows a monumental map of the Roman Empire. Watch as a lioness attacks a hunter, as an elephant boards a ship, and a ship sails through the waves. Finally, enter the private rooms belonging to the "domina" and "dominus" of the villa. See how the wealthy owners slept, ate, and conducted daily business in this palatial complex. Learn more from your guide about who may have owned the villa before concluding your tour.

Drive to the southern coast of Sicily in a comfortable and air-conditioned vehicle to explore and learn about the history, culture, and art found in Sicily in the Valley of the Temples and Villa Romana del Casale.  Begin with a visit to the majestic archaeological area of the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pindar, the Greek poet, and writer described it as “one of the most beautiful cities of those inhabited by mortals”. Famous for its seven well-preserved temples, the Valley of the Temples is dedicated to various divinities including Juno, Hercules, Hephaestus, and Athena. The visit to the Valley of the Temples is a wonderfully memorable experience that allows you to delve into the Greek culture and history that has been woven into Sicily.  After strolling through the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, you will stop to enjoy a delicious brunch, made of Sicilian street food, water, and wine before traveling to Piazza Armerina. Found in the heart of Sicily, Piazza Armerina is home to the splendid Villa Romana del Casale a majestic imperial villa originally the property of a powerful Roman family. At the villa, you will find the best conserved in-situ Roman mosaics in the world.

Join this tour of Agrigento and Piazza Armerina so you can see two of Sicily’s most famous historical features: the Valley of the Temples and the Villa Romana del Casale. Situated just outside Agrigento, the splendid Valley of the Temples archaeological park consists of 8 separate temples and various other ruins built between about 510 BC and 430 BC including: the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Heracles, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the Temple of Hephaestos, the Temple of Demeter, and the Temple of Asclepius. Aside from the latter, found on the banks of the Akragas River, all are situated in the same area on the rocky crests south of modern-day Agrigento - not really in a valley at all. Your second stop is Piazza Armerina, situated deep in the Sicilian hinterland, at 721 meters above sea level, this is one of Sicily’s most frequented tourist spots. This area is known for the famous Villa Romana del Casale, which was originally intended for use as a hunting lodge in the middle of the 4th Century AD by a Roman patrician but is now home to some of the best-preserved examples of Roman mosaics. These extraordinarily vivid and intricate mosaics, probably produced mostly by North African artisans, deal with a range of subjects, ranging from Homeric escapades and mythological scenes to portrayals of daily life, including the famous tableau of girls exercising in their ancient bikinis. It's a must do stop on your trip to Italy.

Depart Catania and travel to the hilltop city of Agrigento, known for the ruins of the ancient city of Akragas. Discover the well-preserved ruins of the Valley of the Temples, including the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Temple of Juno and Temple of Concordia. See the former theater used for the assembly of free citizens at the Ekklesiasterion, along with 3 sanctuaries and the necropolises of Montelusa, Moses and Pezzino. Continue to Piazza Armerina in the Erean Mountains and marvel at the stunning mosaics in the ruins of a Roman nobleman's residence at the Villa del Casale.

Drive to the southern coast of Sicily in a comfortable and air-conditioned vehicle to explore and learn about the history, culture, and art found in Sicily in the Villa Romana del Casale and Caltagirone. Found in the heart of Sicily, Piazza Armerina is home to the splendid Villa Romana del Casale a majestic imperial villa originally the property of a powerful Roman family. At the villa, you will find the best conserved in-situ Roman mosaics in the world. After strolling through Villa Romana del Casale you will stop to enjoy a delicious brunch, made of Sicilian street food, water, and wine before traveling to Caltagirone. Caltagirone is a beautiful Sicilian city renowned for its craftsmanship and stunning architecture. Famous worldwide for its artistic ceramics, the city offers breathtaking panoramic views from its charming streets and historic squares. Among its top attractions is the famous Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte, a staircase adorned with colorful tiles, which is an iconic symbol of the city. Caltagirone perfectly blends culture, art, and history, making it an ideal destination to experience the authentic beauty of Sicily. Please note that the tour may be subject to changes due to unforeseen circumstances, including weather conditions, operational requirements, or other factors

Full-day driving service from Catania to Piazza Armerina and Agrigento, return to Catania Between Roman and Greek Empire in Sicily: visit in the morning the Villa del Casale in Piazza Armerina and get amazed by one of the richest and largest collections of Roman mosaics in the world. Spend the afternoon walking through the astonishing Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, best expression of the Greek culture in Sicily. An excellent driving service will bring you to both location effortlessy, so that you will have the chance to customize your visit on your own. After experiencing Piazza Armerina and Agrigento, get transferred back to your pickup location in Catania

Discover the Roman Villa Romana del Casale in the town of Piazza Armerina in Sicily, one of the most precious jewels left by the Roman civilization in Sicily. Enjoy a guided tour of the villa, which probably belonged to Valerio Massimiano, a powerful patrician of the empire. Admire the spectacular mosaics as you relive the history of the greatest empire with scenes of daily life, depictions of heroes and deities, hunting scenes, and games.  Then stroll through the 48 rooms of the domus, of which the peristyle floor is made entirely from mosaic with drawings of European and African animals. Walk through the garden which is enriched by a large fountain composed of 3 pools, covered in marble on the outside and mosaics on the inside. Enter the Great Hall Corridor with 2 columns depicting female figures to symbolize the 2 peripheral provinces of the empire. Next, pass into the oval-shaped triclinium or dining room and see the private rooms which were reserved for domestic people. Continue the tour with a visit to the room that depicts 10 girls in bikinis playing various sports: throwing a discus, playing with a ball, exercising with weights, and cross country. Then marvel at the Basilica and its polychrome marble floors. Enter a bedroom with a rectangular alcove and mosaic decorations depicting theatrical masks and the famous central medallion with lovers. Access the domus baths with the Frigidarium and the Tepidarium. The guided tour ends in the Circus Hall which was used as a gym. Admire the mosaic reproduction of the Circo Massimo in Rome.

Enjoy two of the most iconic spots in Sicily on a full-day tour. Accompanied by an audio guide, explore the Valley of the Temples housing the ruins of sacred Greek temples. Visit the Villa Romana del Casale to see extensive examples of vivid Roman mosaics Start from the center of Catania, where your driver will welcome you in a comfortable air-conditioned van. Head to your first stop, the Valley of the Temples Archaeological Park in Agrigento. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its well-preserved Doric temples dedicated to Greek divinities. Wander back into ancient times as you walk through Greek ruins during your 2h30 hours at this site. Next, head to Piazza Armerina, yet another UNESCO-listed site. Visit the Villa Romana del Casale, an imperial villa with the world's best-preserved Roman mosaics. Marvel at its mosaic floors, walls, columns, and coins. Over the course of 1.h30 hours, explore this historic masterpiece.

The tour will start from one of the meeting points located in Palermo or Mondello beach area. The driver will pick you up and will start driving in direction of Piazza Armerina (approximately 2 hours and half from Palermo). Upon arrival, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the visit of the amazing Roman Villa of Casale, that belongs to the Unesco Heritage. Built on the 4th century AD, the Villa was later forgotten and only in the 20th century excavations revealed the whole building. It is the supreme example of a luxury Roman villa (about 3500 square meters of floor mosaics) and was probably the residence of a member of the upper class of the Roman Empire. The mosaics discovered here are celebrated among scholars of antiquity. The visit inside the Roman Villa will be done independently: approximately 1 hour or 1 hour and half, depending the number of visitors inside the Villa. Every room has information boards. Admission fee not included: at the moment the price is Eur 10 per person for Adult. Then we will drive approximately 2 hours before reaching the Valley of the Temples of Agrigento. The walking tour of the Valley of the Temples will be done with a licensed Guide. Admission fee not included: at the moment the price is Eur 10 per person for Adult. This archaeological site belongs to the Unesco World Heritage since 1997. The visit of the Valley of the Temples covers the Temple of Hera, the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Hercules and the Temple of Zeus. Agrigento, according to legend, was founded by Daedalus and his son Icarus after they had fled from Crete “by air”. Historically, however, its origins date back to 582 B.C. when it was founded by Rhodian-cretan colonist from the neighbouring Gela who named their city Akragas after the nearby river of that name. It rapidly increased in size, importance and military strength under Phalarides, the first tyrant, and later under Theron, who extended his sway over northern Sicily as far as Himera. Agrigento was a city of artists and illustrious personages, amongst whom the philosopher Empedocles. Pindar defines it as “the most beautiful of mortal cities” and, in fact, in the Vth century B.C., those famous temples, whose beauty we still admire today, were built. Later we will drive back to Palermo.