General Information

Duration:

9 Days

Location Start:

Palermo airport

Location Finish:

Catania airport

Phone:

+390957652696 ext.309

Fax:

+390957652696 ext.319

Payment Types:

• Cash
• Credit Card
• Cheque
• Travellers cheque
• Paypal
• Wire Transfer

We Speak:

English

Last updated: 08/30/2007

Itinerary

Day 1

Day 1 (Saturday) Palermo You are greeted at Palermo airport and transferred to your hotel. Upon arrival, time to unpack and rest, or own exploration of the town. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Dinner at local restaurant.

Day 2

Day 2 (Sunday) Monreale Dome & Valle dello Jato WineryAfter breakfast, we will show you where the Arab-Norman art and architecture reached the pinnacle of its glory with the Dome of Monreale, launched in 1174 by William II, with its golden mosaics ceiling representing scenes from the Old and New Testaments. Then, driving across the country side, we’ll soon arrive in the Valle dello Jato, an important Sicilian site where strong and rich perfumed wines are born, with their complex structure and long persistent finish. The white wines have powerful citrus fruit and floral notes on the nose, typical of the grapes of Catarratto, Grillo, Viognier and Chardonnay. The red wines are elegant and full of flavors of savory red berry fruits, which are typical of Nero d’Avola, Merlot and Syrah. On arrival, visit to the winery and tasting of local wines. Lunch at the winery. This afternoon, we continue to the Custonaci-Trapani side. Light-dinner at hotel.

Day 3

Day 3 (Monday) Erice, Olive Oil Factory & Cooking ExperienceFollowing breakfast, we will be transferred to Erice, the medieval hill town. In Erice we’ll visit a lovely pastry-shop to taste local marzipan and almond-based candies, made from recipes developed generations ago. Then, we continue to a great Olive Oil Factory, to visit the oil mill and enjoy an olive oil tasting. Later, we’ll meet the Country-Chef. The Chef will teach us how to prepare some of the most representative recipes of the culinary tradition of the province of Trapani, such as "Pasta alla Trapanese & Involtini alla Siciliana". All of us will help preparing the dishes for the light-lunch.

Day 4

Day 4 (Tuesday) Salt Way Road, Marsala & Menfi WineryThis morning, we’ll drive across the romantic Salt Way Road, where we’ll admire the saline-saltpans and the huge windmills. We soon arrive in Marsala, home of the world-famous Marsala Wine and main town for wine-production. Transfer to an important Sicilian winery for visit and wine tasting. Then we’ll continue to Menfi to reach a Sicilian Baglio-Winery. The Baglio, located on a promontory, overlooks the Vallone, through which, in the homonymous land lying to the north-east of Menfi, runs the San Vincenzo River. The Baglio is surrounded with 12 hills contained between the Belice valley natural reserve and the Carboj valley, degrading towards the Mar d’Africa. The landscape is characterized by the alternation of vineyards, olive groves, citrus orchards, brooms and daisies, carobs and a valuable variety of prickly pears from Santa Margherita del Belice. Light-lunch will be in the Baglio. In the afternoon, we depart to Agrigento whose history dates back to 580 BC. Tonight we will enjoy a panoramic tour to the Temples Valley by night, a unique and stunning view of the magnificent cluster of Greek ruins.

Day 5

Day 5 (Wednesday) Sant’Angelo Muxaro & the Sicilian Pane Cunsatu and Country PizzaThis morning we will depart to the country town of Sant’Angelo Muxaro. Obviously, one who has never been here can’t but be surprised and pleasantly awed when, from the provincial road that from Agrigento meanders into the inland along curves, twists and bends between mountains and hills, will find himself almost immediately in front of a unique and spectacular view. On a lonely hill, in the centre of the valley of the river Platani and surrounded by wild and harsh vegetation, a handful of houses lie on the sheer slope of the hill itself: this is the small town of Sant’Angelo Muxaro. On arrival, we meet Donna Concetta. She will teach us Pizza and Bread preparation. Simple light-lunch to taste Sicilian Pizza and Pane Cunsatu, a typical home-made bread with olive oil, pecorino cheese. During the afternoon, brief visit to the little city centre and local shops to admire the elderly men who weave the traditional straw-fruit-baskets. In the afternoon, back to Agrigento.

Day 6

Day 6 (Thursday) Piazza Armerina & Caltagirone This morning departure to Piazza Armerina, a spectacularly sited town lying inland in central Sicily. Here, we visit the famous Roman hunting lodge from the 4th century B.C. Its fine mosaics, displayed inside the villa, are the most spectacular in Sicily. Then, we continue to Caltagirone, famous for Sicilian pottery. Time at leisure for shopping. Later on, departure to Ragusa, the heart of Sicilian baroque. Tonight, dinner at local trattoria, to taste the local Ravioli alla Ragusana.

Day 7

Day 7 (Friday): Ragusa, Chocolate in Modica & Baroque in Val di NotoThis morning, walk in the historical town of Ragusa Ibla, which hosts a wide array of Baroque architecture, including several stunning palaces and churches. Later we depart to Modica. The city is situated in the Iblean Mountains and, along with Val di Noto and Ragusa; it is part of UNESCO Heritage Sites in Sicily. The economy of the area is principally based on the dairy cheese & agricultural producing olives, carobs, legumes, cereals; an extraordinary and unique product is the famous Chocolate of Modica, produced with an ancient and original Aztec recipe. On arrival, transfer in a local restaurant where we will see a chocolate cooking demonstration and tasting. Light-Lunch will be at local restaurant. This afternoon we will continue to the lovely Noto, famous for its fine honey colored buildings of the early eighteenth century, considered among the main masterpieces in the Sicilian baroque style. Time at leisure. Later departure to Catania.

Day 8

Day 8 (Saturday) Taormina & Etna Winery In the morning, transfer to Taormina. On arrival, own visit to explore the town or time at leisure for shopping. During afternoon we drive across the country side, and we reach the largest volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world. Much of the surrounding landscape is covered with solidified lava. Thanks to this lava and the volcano minerals, the wine in this area is really unique and different from other Sicilian wines. On arrival, transfer to a local winery: this estate also produces a local preserve and a great olive-oil with lemon/garlic/pepper. Enjoy a delicious Farewell Cocktail & Sicilian Snacks. Later, back to Catania.

Day 9

Day 9 (Sunday) CataniaTime to say goodbye to Sicily while as we are transferred to Catania Airport (CTA) for our return flight.

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Buffet continental breakfast daily

Exclusions -

Airport Transfer done h 8:00PM to h 7:00AM clients have to pay the night-use supplement Euros 20.00 per person each way

Extras -

9 days /8 nights - Palermo (1 night) Trapani country side (2 nights), Agrigento (2 nights), Ragusa (1 night), Catania (2 nights). Departure: GUARANTEED (with a minimum of 4 signed). Small size group: Maximum 12 clients