Sicily & Malta Mosaic with WTMJ’s Steve Scaffidi

October 3, 2025

– October 16, 2025

14 Days

Cheers to Travel Savings with Fox Group Vacations: Deposit by May 6, 2025, and receive $250.00 off per person!

WTMJ’s Steve Scaffidi and Fox World Travel invite you to join a fascinating tour of Sicily & Malta. The Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, French, Germans, Spanish, Italians, and even the British have left an impression on the gorgeous island of Sicily. It shows in its diverse architecture, unique culture, and multinational cuisine. As you trace the sparkling coast from the flamboyant capital city of Palermo to the ultra-chic Taormina Riviera, you can expect stunning archaeological treasures, ancient works of art, and a warm welcome at every turn. As an additional bonus, you’ll explore the beautiful island of Malta. With a history spanning millennia, you’ll see impressive historic sites and temples, along with stunning coastal views, crystal-clear waters, and picturesque harbors. You’ll find a cool gelato on every corner too!

Daily Itinerary

Your journey begins at Chicago O’Hare, where you will board your overnight flight to Palermo, Italy.

Relax and enjoy your day. This evening meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a wonderful welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Meals: Welcome Dinner
Hotel: Mecure Palermo Centro Hotel or similar

Today take a guided sightseeing tour that includes the Church of Immacolata and a visit to the cathedral. Enjoy a scenic drive to Monreale for a panoramic view of the Conca d’Oro and a visit to the Norman Cathedral. The story of the splendid Monreale Cathedral began as Arabs took control of Palermo. They transformed the cathedral into a mosque and banished the Bishop of Palermo from town. Not wishing to venture too far from his beloved cathedral, the bishop settled in a small village in the hills overlooking Palermo, the site of modern-day Monreale. There, he built a modest church to keep the flame of local Christian worship alive. Today the cathedral is known for its stunning mosaics that cover an area of over 64,500sq ft.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Mecure Palermo Centro Hotel or similar

Visit Erice where you will have free time to browse. Then on to Marsala where you will visit a salt mill en route to Mazara del Vallo. Lagoons, salt pans and windmills can be found along the coastline near Marsala. Learn all about the production of salt when visiting one of the original salt mills. While in Marsala you will be treated to a lovely wine tasting.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotels: Mahara Hotel & Wellness or similar

Start with a guided sightseeing in Mazara Del Vallo that includes the cathedral and a walk in the Old Town. Make a photo stop in Sciacca at the panoramic viewpoint. Then on to Agriento where you will take a guided walking tour at the Valley of Temples. The ruins of Akragas remain Sicily’s most amazing archaeological site. The impressively well-preserved Tempio della Concordia sits in a spectacular setting upon a ridge where it served as a beacon for homecoming sailors and today draws enthralled visitors to revel in the remarkable Valley of the Temples.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Della Valle or similar

Explore the extraordinary example of Roman power in one of the most luxurious villas of its kind in the Italian countryside. Marvel at the magnificently preserved mosaics that embellish the Villa Romana del Casale, designed and installed by African mosaic workers and the strength of the Roman influence and power throughout the Mediterranean region. Take a guided tour in Piazza Armerina. Visit the Villa Romana del Casale with the largest and most complex collection of Roman mosaics in the world.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Poggio Del Sole Resort or similar

Visit an authentic Carrettieri workshop and learn everything about this ancient art. The craftsmanship involved in creating
these carts is highly esteemed, and the tradition has been passed down through generations. Sicilian cart painting is
considered a unique form of folk art, recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Take a guided walking tour that includes the city’s oldest district, the Ibla, the 19th-century gardens of Giardini Iblei, and St. George Cathedral. Visit an authentic Carrettieri workshop. The balance of your day is at your leisure to explore more!

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Poggio Del Sole Resort or similar

Discover the extraordinary evidence of history found at Neapolis Archaeological Park of Siracusa. The stars of this show are the magnificent ancient ruins of the Greek Theatre and remarkable Roman Amphitheatre which are revered as one of the greatest archaeological sites in all of Italy. Walk along Corso Vittorio Emanuele to admire San Nicolò Cathedral. In Syracuse enjoy a guided visit to the Archaeological Park features the Greek Theatre and the Roman Amphitheatre.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Mercure Siracusa Prometeo or similar

Visit Catania and take an orientation walk with free time to browse in Piazza del Duomo and Via Etnea. Catania is an ancient port city on Sicily’s east coast. It sits at the foot of Mt. Etna, Europe’s tallest volcano. The city’s wide central square, Piazza del Duomo, features the whimsical Fontana dell ‘Elefante statue and richly decorated St. Agata Cathedral. Nearby, La Pescheria weekday fish market is a rowdy spectacle surrounded by seafood restaurants. Take a scenic drive en route to Taormina Riviera with free time this afternoon and evening.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Hellenia Yachting Hotel or similar

Visit Savoca and take an orientation walk followed by a Granita (semi-frozen drink), and brioche tasting at Bar Vitelli. Not quite the same as sorbet, the Sicilian invention of granita is Sicily’s take on frozen concoctions that varies with the delightful tastes of lemon, mandarin orange, jasmine, almond, mint, coffee, or berries. A frozen blend of Sicilian pistachios is also a tempting way to enjoy this traditional treat. Then on to Taormina Riviera for an orientation walk followed by free time for lunch. Later enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Hellenia Yachting Hotel or similar

Take a flight from Catania to La Valletta Airport in Malta. Start with an orientation walk which includes the Barakka Gardens. Enjoy superb views over the whole of the Gran Harbour, with the Three Cities in the background from the Barakka Gardens. Perched atop the Grand Harbour, these colonnaded gardens were created in 1661, and were actually the private gardens and exercise grounds of the Knights of the Langue of Italy, whose auberges lie very close by.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Mercure St. Juliann’s Malta or similar

Stop in Rabat the city famous for its catacombs. On to Mosta with its stunning Roman Catholic church with a unique architectural history. With a final stop in Mdina where you will walk through the “Silent City” and take in views of the ancient walls. When the capital city was moved out of Mdina, the city was left uninhabited. It was considered a ghost town, and the “silent city” nickname was born. There will be an opportunity to enjoy a glass blowing demonstration.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Mercure St. Juliann’s Malta or similar

Maybe visit the little island if Gozo, home to the oldest freestanding structures in the world, the 5,500-year-old complex of the Ġgantija Temples. Locals claim the site was built by giants or as they are called “Ggantija.” This evening reminisce about the wonderful experience and memories made with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Mercure St. Juliann’s Malta or similar

Your tour ends today with a group transfer to the Malta airport and your flight home.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotels, activities, and daily itinerary are subject to change.

Tour Highlights

Premium Tour Experiences Include:

• Visit Monreale Cathedral with its stunning mosaics covering 64,500 sq ft.
• Explore the coastline near Marsala and learn about the production of salt while visiting on of the original salt mines
• Visit the ancient ruins of Akragas, one of Sicily’s most amazing archaeological sites
• Take a guided visit to the Villa Romana del Casale with the largest and most complex collection of Roman mosaics in the world
• Visit an authentic Carrettieri workshop and learn about this ancient air which is considered a unique form of fold art recognized by UNESCO
• Enjoy a guided visit of Archaeological Park which features the Greek Theatre and Roman Amphitheatre
• Explore Catania, the ancient port city on Sicily’s east coast
• Enjoy Granita a semi frozen drink, a Sicilian invention
• Learn about the “Silent City’s” history in Mdina where no cars are allowed
• Enjoy a free day in St. Jullin’s located on the northern coastline of Malta

Fox Tour Manager! *

A Tour Manager from Fox World Travel will accompany the group, offering peace of mind as you travel!

We’ll also have a professional Insight Tour Director and local driver/guides for transfers and included experiences!

Hotel Accommodations

Hotel accommodations for 12–nights:
- 2-nights Palermo
- 1-night Mazara Del Vallo
- 1-night Agrigento
- 2-nights Ragusa
- 1-night Syracuse
- 2-nights Taorminia Riviera
- 3-nights St. Julians

Includes: all hotel service charges, taxes, and luggage handling

Dining

Daily Breakfasts
6 Dinners

Transportation

• Round-trip air from Chicago to Palermo and return from Malta to Chicago including air taxes and fees
• Round-trip airport/hotel transfers in Palermo/Malta (when purchasing our air-tour package)

Pricing

Air & Tour Only Package

Airfare Included
Guided Tour & Inclusions

$6,347.00

*Prices are per person, based on double occupancy

Tour Only Package

Purchase Your Own Air
Guided Tour & Inclusions

$4,847.00

*Prices are per person, based on double occupancy

Flights from Chicago O'Hare

Departure Flight - October 3, 2025

Lufthansa #435 depart Chicago (ORD) at 9:40PM and arrive in Munich (MUC) at 1:10PM (4OCT)

Lufthansa #1916 depart Munich (MUC) at 3:10PM and arrive in Palermo (PMO) at 5:10PM

Return Flight - October 16, 2025

Lufthansa #1311 depart Malta (MLA) at 12:40PM and arrive in Frankfurt (FRA) at 3:25PM

Lufthansa #432 depart Frankfurt (FRA) at 5:20PM and arrive in Chicago (ORD) at 7:55PM

It’s hard to find someone as well-versed in the political realm as Steve Scaffidi, who hosts WTMJ N.O.W. on weekdays from 9 a.m. to Noon CST.

Steve worked his way up the ranks of local government in his hometown of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, holding the titles of 3rd District Alderman and Common Council President before eventually becoming Mayor of Oak Creek from 2012 to 2017. He helped rally his community in the wake of the tragic Sikh Temple mass shooting in 2012, representing Oak Creek and more broadly, Wisconsin on an international scale by bringing awareness to the tragedy that struck his community.

His background in communications began long before this pivotal moment. He spent 17 years working for The Nielsen Company and is the owner of a Milwaukee-based point-of-contact marketing firm called Marketpoint Media.

Steve joined the WTMJ team in 2017, blending his wide range of skills to provide thoughtful commentary and analysis while appealing to a wide range of people across the political spectrum. On WTMJ N.O.W., he focused on news, opinions and why it matters to Wisconsin communities while still having some fun with pop culture and current events. Above all else, divergent opinions are welcome on his show — a refreshing distinction in Milwaukee radio.

He is also the host of two other podcasts: Decision Wisconsin, WTMJ’s flagship political podcast feed, and Scaffidiology, a home for him to explore the topics that are worth diving into but don’t necessarily align with the primary mission of WTMJ N.O.W.

Steve is a proud Packers season ticket holder who makes the case that being a season ticket holder and a shareowner gives him extra credibility on Packers takes.

Important Information

Single Supplement: $715.00 (limited single occupancies allowed)

Initial Deposit: $400.00 per person

Fox Professional Fee: Package price includes a $50.00 non-refundable Professional Fee per reservation. Fee will be charged at the time of deposit and will show as an additional payment from Fox World Travel.

Final Payment Date: No later than June 25, 2025

Not Included: ETIAS Visa (when implemented), Airline flights on land-only packages, airline luggage fees if applicable, gratuities for airport porters, tour guides, motorcoach drivers, meals (other than those included in the package), optional excursions, travel insurance and any items of a personal nature.

*Terms: Minimum of 30 travelers required for the tour to operate and send a Fox World Travel tour manager to accompany the group. In the event the minimum number is not reached, the tour may still include a professional, local guide in destination. Hotels, experiences, and daily itinerary are subject to change.

Group Air: A minimum of 10 passengers is needed for the group air. Flights are currently pending. The air-inclusive package includes air that has not yet been assigned, the identity of the carrier, which may include the carrier`s code-share partner, will be assigned and disclosed at a later date. Price includes approximate air taxes and fees. Air package pricing is subject to change until contracted due to the volatility of airfare costs. Checked luggage fees may apply. Frequent Flier miles may not be available to group air travel. Fox World Travel has no control over flight or equipment changes, seat assignments, delays, or cancellations. Airline tickets will be non-refundable once issued. Changes will be subject to a fee plus any fare difference. Additional restrictions may apply. Pricing and flight options from other cities available upon request.

Optional Insurance: For peace of mind, we recommend purchasing travel protection insurance. Your travel advisor can discuss options with you, including medical expense coverage, pre-existing medical condition exclusion waivers, trip cancellation, trip delay, lost, delayed, or damaged baggage and more. To cover pre-existing conditions, most policies must be purchased within 14 days of making your initial deposit. Travel protection insurance prices are based on your age and the trip cost

Cancellation Penalties:

From date of deposit to June 25, 2025: Initial deposit of $400.00 per person
June 26 to July 29, 2025: 50% package price cancellation fee + applicable airline fee
July 30 to August 28, 2025: 75% package price cancellation fee + applicable airline fees
August 29, 2025 to 0 days prior to travel: No refunds

Fox World Cancellation Fee of $100.00 per reservation will apply in addition to any Fox Group Vacation or vendor cancellation penalties. Air tickets are non-refundable once ticketed.

You will receive customized, informative travel documents containing trip details and helpful packing and planning information.

Note: Daily Itinerary is subject to change. Order of sightseeing may change throughout the itinerary. Substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to uncontrollable factors.

RESPONSIBILITY: We and any sponsoring organizations act only as agent for the suppliers of travel services such as airlines, hotels, car rental companies, tour operators, restaurants, sightseeing companies, entertainment providers, and cruise lines (the “Suppliers”). We are not responsible for the acts or omissions of the Suppliers that cause losses or damages arising from physical or emotional injury, property or other economic damage, consequential damages, or monetary losses, or arising from any other causes beyond our control. We reserve the right to make any changes in the itinerary deemed necessary, and also the right to decline or retain any person as a member of the Trip. If you choose to arrange your own transportation for any portion of the Trip, we are not responsible for any arrangements or associated costs should there be a change in date that requires changes or cancellation to transportation arranged by you. We are not responsible should there be any changes with vacation hosts, tour managers, or entertainment. You grant to FWT and its designated agents the right to acquire and use the audio, photographic, video and other portrayals of your image, likeness, and voice in any medium of any nature whatsoever, including the Internet, for the purpose of trade, advertising, sales, publicity or otherwise, without compensation.

We will make reasonable attempts to accommodate the special needs of disabled travelers, but we are not responsible in the event we are unable to do so nor are we responsible for any denial of services by Suppliers. The American with Disabilities Act is only applicable within the United States and facilities for disabled individuals are limited outside its borders. Most transportation services, including a touring motor coach, are not equipped with wheelchair ramps. We regret we cannot provide individual assistance to a vacation participant for walking, dining, getting on and off motor coaches and other vehicles, or other personal needs. A qualified and physically able companion must accompany travelers who need such assistance and must assume full responsibility for their well-being. Motorized scooters are unsuitable for most vacations.

We have no special knowledge regarding the financial condition of the Suppliers, unsafe conditions, health hazards, weather hazards, or climate extremes at locations to which you may travel. For information concerning possible dangers at destinations, we recommend contacting the Travel Warnings Section of the U.S. State Department at (202) 647-5225 or www.travel.state.gov. For medical information, we recommend contacting the Centers for Disease Control at (877) FYI-TRIP or www.cdc.gov/travel. You assume full and complete responsibility for checking and verifying any and all passport, visa, vaccination, or other entry requirements of your destination(s), and all conditions regarding health, safety, security, political stability, and labor or civil unrest at such destination(s). You hereby release us from all claims arising out of any problem covered in this paragraph. You agree that the courts in Winnebago County, Wisconsin will be the exclusive jurisdiction for all claims brought by you or us, and you hereby submit to the personal jurisdiction of those courts.

We work vigilantly with the Suppliers to maintain integrity of the price you were originally quoted and placed on deposit. There may be certain circumstances where your vacation may be subject to a price increase prior to full payment due to a supplier or government issued surcharge. Prices will not increase after you make full payment, except for charges resulting from increases in government-imposed taxes or fees, fuel surcharges, exchange fluctuations or any combinations of these. Fox World Travel will make a reasonable attempt to contact you prior to issuing charges.

Sicily & Malta Mosaic with WTMJ’s Steve Scaffidi

Daily Itinerary

DAY 1: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3 – Depart USA

DAY 2: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4 – Welcome to Palermo

DAY 3: SUNDAY OCTOBER 5 – Sicilian Specialties Palermo

DAY 4: MONDAY OCTOBER 6 – Sweet & Salty Sicily – Palermo - Erice - Marsala - Mazara Del Vallo

DAY 5: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7 – Timeless Temples – Mazara Del Vallo - Sciacca - Agrigento

DAY 6: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8 – Ancient Artistry of Sicily – Agrigento - Piazza Armerina - Ragusa

DAY 7: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9 – Historic Streets & Sweets – Ragusa

DAY 8: FRIDAY OCTOBER 10 – World Stages – Ragusa - Noto - Syracuse

DAY 9: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11 – Coastal Treasures – Syracuse - Catania - Taormina Riviera

DAY 10: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12 – Frozen in Time – Taormina Riviera Excursion to Savoca

DAY 11: MONDAY, OCTOBER 13 – Gardens and a Grand Harbor – Catania - La Valletta, Malta - St. Julian

DAY 12: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14 – Catacombs and Silent Cities – St. Jullian: Excursion to Rabat - Mosta & Mdina

DAY 13: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15 – Home of Giants – St. Jullian - Enjoy a free day to explore the city

DAY 14: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16 – Return to USA