Sicily
Dates:
- Make our own date! Anytime in 2013
- July 6th to 13th
- for 2014...
Small groups 10 to 28 MAX!!!
Price:
$2,995.00 per person
Itinerary for 8 day, 7 night
Day 1 – Arrive in Catania, Sicily
Jump straight into Sicilian life with a walking tour of Catania historic center and free time to shop and explore before we head down to Hotel Castello Camemi to relax and meet for our welcome dinner. (D)
Day 2 – Chocolate, Cheese & Baroque
This day is dedicated to some of the best products of Sicily. Our first stop is for chocolate, to visit Modica where they have been processing chocolate for four centuries using the methods of the ancient Aztecs passed on to them by the Spanish colonies. After our demonstration/ tasting, we are off to Ragusa to watch the tradition of making the sweet ricotta cheese used to make cannolis. After a light lunch we will take a walking tour of Ragusa Ibla, a UNESCO site known for it rich architecture. Stopping in front of the Duomo, we’ll enjoy a taste of their specialty--- homemade ice cream. Last stop of the day is Castello Donnafugata guided tour, then free time in the gardens before dinner at a local trattoria, before returning to the hotel. ( B,L,D)
Day 3 – Siracusa & Caltagirone
We will begin at Mansion Palazzo Beneventano, where we have been invited by the owner himself, to tour his home and his town of Siracusa. Next, we’ll head north to Caltagirone, a town that makes some of the best ceramics in all of Sicily, to see a demonstration and tour the town before heading back to the castello for dinner prepared by our chef. (B,D)
Day 4 – Taormina & Etna
From the Sea to the Mountains
We'll spend the morning in the gem of Sicily, full of beautiful views, charming streets, and best shopping in Italy! After a relaxing morning, we’ll head to Mt. Etna, right to the TOP (weather permitting) traveling by 4x4 to see the sunset as we taste some of Etna's fine vintage wines. Slightly down from the mountain we’ll stop to have dinner with the locals and back to the castello. (B,D)
Day 5 – Agrigento & Palermo
Today we’ll say good bye to the south and head to the largest city on the Island. On the way we will stop in "The Valley of the Temples" to be guided through this extraordinary Greek city. After lunch we will travel north to Palermo,and check-in to our hotel in the heart of the old city. You’ll have the night on our own. (B,L)
Day 6 – Marsala , Salt road & Erice
Our day begins at Florio Marsala, with a private tour of the cellars and tasting of one of the oldest and largest producers of Marsala wine. Next, up the road, we’ll stop at the salt-pans where they still collect the salt from the sea. After a visit to the wind mill and salt museum, we will break for lunch. Our next stop will be to enjoy the views at Erice, where on a clear day you can see Africa! Right outside is a charming medieval town , Trapani with narrow labyrinth of paved lanes and alleyways, known for its pastries "Marzipan" and its rugs and throws weaved using the " Frazzata" technique. We’ll explore via walking tour and have plenty of free time for shopping. (B,L)
Day 7 – Palermo & Monreale
Our last day , we’ll explore the richest part of Sicily, Monreale. We’ll end our tour in style with a 4 hour tour of the city stopping and tasting along the way. Free time, then back to hotel for our goodbye dinner. (B,D)
Day 8 – Transfer
to the airport goodbye Sicily (B) Palermo
For those who chose the 2 day add-on Saturday and Sunday your transfer to the airport will be on Monday.
Places of Interest
Agrigento
– Archaeological Area
Founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C., Agrigento became one of the leading cities in the Mediterranean world. Its supremacy and pride are demonstrated by the remains of the magnificent Doric temples that dominate the ancient town, much of which still lies intact under today's fields and orchards. Selected excavated areas throw light on the later Hellenistic and Roman town and the burial practices of its early Christian inhabitants.
Piazza Armerina
– Villa Romana del Casale
Roman exploitation of the countryside is symbolized by the Villa Romana del Casale (in Sicily), the centre of the large estate upon which the rural economy of the Western Empire was based. The villa is one of the most luxurious of its kind. It is especially noteworthy for the richness and quality of the mosaics which decorate almost every room; they are the finest mosaics in situ anywhere in the Roman world.
Aeolian Islands
The Aeolian Islands provide an outstanding record of volcanic island-building and destruction, and ongoing volcanic phenomena. Studied since at least the 18th century, the islands have provided the science of vulcanology with examples of two types of eruption (Vulcanian and Strombolian) and thus have featured prominently in the education of geologists for more than 200 years. The site continues to enrich the field of vulcanology.
Val di Noto
– Late Baroque Towns
The eight towns in south-eastern Sicily: Caltagirone, Militello Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo, Ragusa and Scicli, were all rebuilt after 1693 on or beside towns existing at the time of the earthquake which took place in that year. They represent a considerable collective undertaking, successfully carried out at a high level of architectural and artistic achievement. Keeping within the late Baroque style of the day, they also depict distinctive innovations in town planning and urban building.
Syracuse
– The City and
the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica
The site consists of two separate elements, containing outstanding vestiges dating back to Greek and Roman times: The Necropolis of Pantalica contains over 5,000 tombs cut into the rock near open stone quarries, most of them dating from the 13th to 7th century B.C. Vestiges of the Byzantine era also remain in the area, notably the foundations of the Anaktoron (Prince's Palace). The other part of the property, Ancient Syracuse, includes the nucleus of the city's foundation as Ortygia by Greeks from Corinth in the 8th century B.C.