Valley of the Temples and Villa Romana del Casale from Taormina

Two UNESCO sites in one day: Greek temples, then Roman mosaics

A full-day tour from Taormina to Sicily's Valley of the Temples and Villa Romana del Casale, led by a local guide in English, Italian or German. The route covers the ancient Greek monuments of Agrigento in the morning, then moves to Piazza Armerina to explore the Roman hunting lodge and its staggering collection of mosaics. Hotel pickup and air-conditioned transport are included; entrance fees are paid locally.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Valley of Temples and Villa Romana

• Travel from Taormina to Valley of the Temples
• Visit the Valley of the Temples with guide
• Travel to Villa Romana del Casale
• Visit the Villa Romana del Casale
• Return to Taormina

The Experience

How do you fit two major UNESCO sites into a single day from Taormina? The tour handles the logistics: hotel pickup, the drive to Agrigento, and a local guide who walks you through the Valley of the Temples and explains what you're standing in front of. The Greek monuments here span centuries—temples to Athena, Heracles, Concordia and Zeus—and the guide anchors them in time and context instead of leaving you to guess. After the temples, the route moves inland to Piazza Armerina and Villa Romana del Casale, a fourth-century hunting lodge whose rooms are almost entirely covered in mosaics: hunting scenes, mythological figures, athletes, daily life frozen in tile.

The day runs twelve hours door-to-door, which is long but necessary—the two sites are separated by distance and each demands time to walk through properly. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle, which matters on a Sicilian summer day when you're moving between archaeological zones. Entrance fees to both sites are paid when you arrive (roughly 20 euros total; EU citizens under 18 with valid ID enter free), so there's no advance payment or ticket hassle. The guide is multilingual, so the commentary comes in English, Italian or German depending on the group.

Winter departures require a minimum of twelve people to run; if the group doesn't meet that threshold after confirmation, you'll be offered an alternative date or a full refund. Public transport options exist near the pickup point if you prefer to meet the tour there instead of at your hotel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Taormina.
• air-conditioned transport between the sites.
• a local guide in English, Italian or German leading you through both the Valley of the Temples and Villa Romana del Casale.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by SAT Group

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, Italian or German, so the commentary is accessible if you understand one of those languages. If you need a guide in a different language or prefer to explore the sites on your own, look for a self-guided option or a tour with a guide in your language.

Traveler reviews

4.18★★★★★★★★★★

139 verified traveler reviews

5 ★67

4 ★45

3 ★17

2 ★5

1 ★5

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What's actually inside the Villa Romana del Casale that makes it worth the drive?

Villa Romana del Casale is a fourth-century Roman hunting lodge whose interior rooms are almost entirely covered in mosaics—hunting scenes, mythological figures, athletes and daily life rendered in tile. It's one of the most intact collections of Roman mosaics in the world, which is why it's a UNESCO site.

How much time do you spend at each location?

The itinerary covers both the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento and Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina, with the guide leading you through each. The full day is twelve hours from pickup to return, which accounts for travel time between the two sites and time to walk through both properly.

Do I need to book entrance tickets in advance, or do I pay when I arrive?

Entrance fees are paid locally when you arrive at each site, not in advance. The cost is roughly 20 euros total for both sites; EU citizens under 18 with valid ID enter free.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide is multilingual and leads the tour in English, Italian or German depending on the group composition.

Is the drive from Taormina manageable, or is it a full road day?

The tour is twelve hours total, which includes hotel pickup, the drive to Agrigento, the Valley of the Temples, the drive to Piazza Armerina, Villa Romana del Casale, and the return to Taormina. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle, so the drive itself is comfortable; the length reflects the distance between the two sites and the time needed to see both properly.