SICILY

Discover the Beauties and Traditions of
SICILY
April 11 – 18, 2016
Live an authentic experience in Sicily will all your senses with us!
We will discover some of the region’s incredible art treasures, charming landscapes and incredible
food.
We will immerse ourselves in the fascinating land boasting six UNESCO World Heritage Sites and
will find out more about the influences left by ancient Greeks and Romans, Arabs and Normans.
We will change accommodation every night, so that we can have a proper experience at each hotel or
resort that we can share with our clients.
Monday April 11, 2016
Upon arrival into Palermo Airport, collect your luggage and proceed to the arrivals hall where
you will be picked up for your private transfer to the Hotel Villa Igiea.
We will then enjoy a welcome lunch all
together before a guided tour of Palermo in
the afternoon. You’ll be enchanted by
Palermo’s wide boulevards, the traditional
Sicilian Old Quarter, and baroque palaces.
Admire the city’s main highlights including
the so-called Quattro Canti (the Four
Corners), Palermo’s extravagant baroque
square. The square is ringed by four
buildings with baroque sculptures that
depict the Four Seasons, Spanish kings, and
the patron saints of four old quarters of the
city. See the twelfth-century Cathedral,
housing a pantheon of royal tombs.
We will then get ready for an exclusive dinner at Palazzo Alliata, noble home of a local
aristocrat.
Tuesday April 12, 2016
Today we will enjoy a full day private tour at
the discovery of the enchanting towns of
Segesta and Erice. We will first stop at
Segesta archaeological park. As the major
Greek city in western Sicily, ancient Segesta
was besieged and conquered by Dionysius
and Agathocles, and eventually fell to the
Romans. Here, you will see this beautiful
Doric temple, dating from the fifth century
B.C., perched on a hill of wild fennel.
Although never completed, it is in an
excellent state of preservation, and
commands a majestic setting from its
position.
Lunch will be served at the Baglio Soria estate.
Our day continues with a short visit in Erice, a wonderful and mysterious medieval town
perched on a hilltop at 2000 feet with sweeping vistas of the western Mediterranean Sea.
Walking through the cobblestoned streets you will smell a variety of aromas emanating from
the numerous pastry shops for which Erice is famous, and see the Norman Castle and the
Duomo.
We will then continue towards our next accommodation, the Verdura Resort.
Rest of the day at leisure.
Wednesday April 13, 2016
After breakfast, departure for a wonderful
hike in the Val Di Kam escorted by our
private guide. At the end of the tour stop in
the narrow lanes of Sant'Angelo Muxaro, a
little village near Agrigento. Here we will
enjoy a delicious pani cunzatu, a local bread
served with special olive oil as well as a
typical light lunch.
including folk music and overnight stay.
In the afternoon will visit the Verdura
Resort and then we will transfer to the
Masseria Agnello for our Sicilian dinner
Thursday April 14, 2016
After breakfast, head over to Regaleali the
famous estate of the Tasca d’Almerita family
located in the center of the island. Eight
generations of the Tasca family have been
involved in the creation of some of Italy’s
best wines from 500 hectares of land in the
heart of Sicily.
The Tasca family will share their history,
wine and authentic Sicilian cuisine with us.
In the afternoon, transfer to Agrigento for
your visit to the beautiful Valley of the Temples, one of the most representative sites of Greek
civilization in the Mediterranean area. Here, you will enjoy a guided tour of the perfectly
preserved Temple of Concord.
Our accommodation for the night will be the Hotel Baglio della Luna.
Friday April 15, 2016
Departure to Modica where we can admire
picturesque lanes and arrows streets, with
plenty of old workshops and the beautiful St.
George’s Church. We will learn the secrets of
the Modican chocolate, that is produced
with just two ingredients, namely cacao and
sugar.
After our chocolate tasting and lunch, we
will transfer to Ragusa Ibla for an afternoon
walking tour of the city.
We will then check-into the Locanda Don Serafino where we will also enjoy a sublime dinner
at their 2 Michelin star restaurant.
Saturday April 16, 2016
Today we will leave in the morning for a
guided tour of Noto including a pastry
tasting at Caffè Sicilia.
Our lunch will be served at the Country
House Villadorata, before we move to
Siracusa for a guided tour of the city with the
Archaelogical Park and the island of Ortigia.
At the height of its power, it dared to take on
both Carthage and Rome. At one time, its
wealth and size were unmatched by any
other city in the ancient world, and today it
is one of the richest historical sites in
Europe. You will see remarkable Greek and
Roman ruins, including the cave called "The
Ear of Dionysius," because of its unusual
shape, resembling a human ear. You will also enjoy the elegant island of Ortigya, where you
will admire the architectural splendor of ancient medieval streets, baroque structures, and
classic churches as the Duomo, built upon the old temple of Athena.
Dinner at a local restaurant included and overnight stay at the Country Hotel Ramo d’Aria.
Sunday April 17, 2016
No wine tour of Sicily is complete without a
deep understanding of the trendsetting
wines of Mt. Etna. We will visit to the
Cottanera winery, one of the gems of the
volcano’s fine winemaking, for a wine tasting
and light lunch.
Then will continue to Taormina and our
final dinner will be at our hotel’s restaurant,
the San Domenico Palace, overlooking the
breathtaking views of Mt. Etna.
Over the centuries, the city of Taormina has
lured poets, writers and painters. Be
mesmerized by the beauty of the Greek-Roman Theatre with the sea and Mount Etna in the
background.
Monday April 18, 2016
Transfers to Catania Airport.