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Itinerary
Walking & Cooking in Sicily
DAY 1
Arrival at Palermo airport and transfer to Marsala, accommodation in a typical Baglio, a villa recently restored and converted into a charming and exclusive little Agriturimo. Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 2 Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro
Breakfast at the Baglio. Transfer to the “Riserva dello Zingaro” a really paradise for nature and sea lovers. Created in 1980, the reserve features several well-maintained paths, six beaches and diverse flora and fauna. You will adventure through the guided naturalistic paths and exploring the Mediterranean landscape.
Picnic lunch. In the afternoon transfer to the medieval town of Erice. Settled by the ancient Elymians, this enchanting hill town is an important historic site associated with fertility goddesses. Tasting at Pastry shop Maria Grammatico and free time to relax or dinner in a typical restaurant. Return at Baglio and overnight stay.
DAY 3 Island of Mothia
Breakfast, meeting with your guide and departure for the Salt Road and its Salt Pans located on the coastline between Trapani and Marsala. Locals extract the salt from the seawater following the same procedure used by the ancient Greeks and Phoenicians who once colonized this part of the Sicily. In the middle of the pond you will see the small Island of Mothia, one of the most important Phoenician settlements in the Mediterranean region. Weather permitting, you will take boats to arrive on the island. Walking tour of Mothia. Come back to Marsala and lunch on your own. In the afternoon you will visit the Florio Winery, today an historical brand not only for Sicilian wine making, but also one of Italy’s great classical wines, one of the leading and most popular wines in the world. You will visit the Museum of Agriculture and the ancient “Bottaia”. Finally you will taste delicious Sicilian wines. Come back to the Baglio, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 4 Cooking class and olive oil
Breakfast and departure for Menfi where you’ll visit the Tenuta Ravidà. This is an old patrician family whose roots date back to the 13th century. Until the mid 1700s they were based in the western Sicilian town of Trapani and held high positions in the governments of the Kingdom of Sicily. The family acquired the estate of "La Gurra" in mid-1700 and began to produce mainly cork, wine and olive oil. The olive oil was already known for its excellent quality. Meeting with Natalie Ravidà, the author the famous “Season of Sicily” a cookbooks on Sicilian gastronomy. Cooking class and lunch at Villa. In the afternoon you will visit the farm and taste their olive oil. Relax in the garden. Dinner on your own. Return to the Baglio and overnight stay.
DAY 5 Archaeological walk
Breakfast and departure for Agrigento. Accommodation in a charming hotel and meeting with your guide. Today you visit, with an interesting archaeological walking, the Valley of the Temples and the Archaeological Park of Agrigento. Along the “Sacred Way” you will admire the Temple of Hercules, the Temple of Concord, and the Temple of Juno. Finally, you will visit the wonderful Garden of Kolymbetra, an old water reservoir of the Greeks and finally the unknown Tempio of Vulcano. Picnic lunch. Come back to the hotel (we suggest to dinner at hotel) and overnight stay.
DAY 6 The True Sicily
Breakfast and departure for Sant’Angelo Muxaro, an enchanting little village near Agrigento. You will meet your guide and start with him an archaeological walk through the nature and the largest Tholos Tomb in Sicily. Finally, surrounded on all sides by the genuine Sicilian atmosphere, you will taste some of the finest Sicilian specialities. The guide will take you to a bakery to taste hot bread with extra virgin olive oil and oregano, and home made cookies. Then you will visit the house of Shepard to taste soft pecorino cheese and the ricotta cheese, still warm. This walking itinerary really take you far from the classic tourist route. In the late morning you will have a funny cooking class in a typical private country house to learn how to prepare Sicilian bread and pizza (sfincione) with traditional typical ingredients as pecorino cheese, olive oil and sardines. Dinner with pizza and hot bread with olive oil and oregano! Come back to Agrigento and overnight stay.
DAY 7 Archaeological walk
Breakfast and departure for Siracusa, one of the highlights of a visit to Sicily. The ideal way to view Syracuse is on foot, wandering slowly among the gold-tinted palaces, bell towers and its archaeological area. You will visit the major archaeological sites, including the famous Greek Theater, “The Ear of Dionysius,” and finally walking tour on Ortigia Island to admire the architectural splendour of ancient medieval streets, baroque structures, and classic churches as the Duomo, built upon the old temple of Athena.
Lunch on your own. In the afternoon transfer to Mount Etna and accommodation at Tenuta San Michele, an ancient estate located on the slopes of the volcano Etna. The Baron Scammacca del Murgo’s f arm, is surrounded by beautiful vineyards and has a panoramic view of both Mt. Etna and the sea. Typical dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 8 Adventure on Volcano Etna
Breakfast and departure to explore the Volcano Etna, largest active volcano in Europe, you will admire a unique combination of nature and the uncontrollable essence of fire. Our walk options are weather dependent and may include an exploration to the recently craters of Monte Nero and the Bottoniera, or through the Linguaglossa pine forest, crossing a corridor of lava flow. Here you can go and visit the crater of 2001-2002 by cable-car (not included and weather dependent). Picnic lunch.
In the afternoon return to Tenuta San Michele. Before dinner meeting with the owner Pietro Scammacca to visit the winery and taste their best wines as Etna Rosso, Etna Bianco and the extraordinary Murgo Brut. Overnight stay.
DAY 9 Relax and Shopping
Breakfast and transfer to Taormina. Walk through the historical centre of this beautiful town, famous for its Greek-Roman Amphitheatre and its enchanting view of the Ionic Sea and Mt. Etna. Free time to visit the city and enjoy shopping. Lunch on your own.
In the afternoon you will admire the famous Cyclops Coast with Acitrezza, Acicastello and its Medieval Norman Castle built in 1076 on a prehistoric basalt lava terrace. As you gaze out over the Ionian Sea, you’ll admire the Rocks of the Cyclops, imposing, spiky shards of black lava that rises up from the water. We suggest to dinner in a typical restaurant fish based. Overnight stay.
DAY 10 Arrivederci!
Breakfast and transfer to Catania airport.
Price per person in double room (Self drive version) - minimum 2 passengers
- in Euro or US$* (rate varies depending on the exchange rate)
Based on 2 passengers: €
1.498 per person
Based on 4 passengers: € 1.360 per person
Based on 6 passengers: € 1.263 per person
Supplement for car rental or
for private English speaking driver on request
The price includes
- 2 Buffet Breakfast + 2 Half Board at Agriturismo **** - Marsala
- 2 Buffet Breakfast at Hotel Domus Aurea **** - Agrigento
- 2 Half Board + 2 Buffet Breakfast at Tenuta San Michele - Mount Etna
- Tourist Guides at Riserva dello Zingaro, Mothia and Salt pan, Valley of the Temples, Sant’Angelo M. and M. Etna;
- All Cooking lessons with lunch/dinner, beverage included;
- Visit and tasting at wineries and pasty shop;
The price doesn’t include
- Entrance fees and tips;
- Transfer; car rental
- Picnic lunches;
- Insurances.
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