Day 1: Catania
Arrival in Catania airport. Pick up the car and transfer to Catania. Accommodation in hotel 4* centrally located Palazzo Cerami/ Romano house. In the afternoon sightseeing of Catania with our local guide and tasting of the Typical drink «chioschi».
Day 2: Between myth and Baroque: The Coast of Cyclopes & Acireale
After breakfast, free morning at disposal to explore Catania market by your own. Lunch at leisure. In the afternoon meet your guide and departure to the beautiful coast villages of Aci Castello, to discover the Norman Castle and the fishing village of Aci Trezza. Proceed with the visit of the beautiful baroque town of Acireale, where after lunch you can taste a typical ice cream or a «granita» . Return to Catania. Dinner at leisure and overnight.
Day 3: Siracusa, Wine tasting and lunch, Noto
Breakfast, check out and departure to Siracusa. Here you will find our local guide, who will accompany you during an interesting excursion of the Greek archeological site and Ortigia.
Proceed with a visit to a small winery producing the famous red wine “Nero d’Avola”. Together with the wine you will taste also some local specialities including the olive oli produced in the estate. In the afternoon proceed toward the baroque town of Noto.
Accommodation in «masseria» or country house in Noto area. Dinner at leisure and overnight.
Day 4: Pantalica – Palazzolo Acreide
Breakfast and meeting with the guide for the visit to the UNESCO Site of Pantalica. which contain over 5000 tombs cut into the limestone between the 13th and the 7th century BC. Before the hiking you will stop in a local traditional cheese factory, where you can experience the production and taste some cheese.
Lunch at leisure before the visit to the ruins of the Greek colony of Akrai and the Medieval and Baroque town of Palazzolo Acreide, listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As both part of the World Heritage List of UNESCO, Palazzolo Acreide and the protohistorical site of Pantalica represent the key to the understanding of the settlement dynamics of human beings in the Hyblaean plateau. We will visit the most important architectural and archaeological treasures of the Hyblaean plateau of Syracuse, which is entirely framed by an enchanting natural landscape made of an impressive protohistorical rocky necropolis, Greek civil and religious architecture, Paleochristian catacombs, Byzantine rocky churches, and medieval and Baroque buildings.
Day 5: Natural Reserve of Vendicari
After breakfast, you will have a walking tour in the Natural reserve of Vendicari, where you will be immersed in the beautiful landscape of the Eastern coast. Check out and departure. Arrival in Modica, accommodation and free time at disposal. Dinner at leisure and overnight.
Day 6: Ragusa & Scicli
Breakfast. Meet your guide. During a walk among nature, we will look at the signs of the most ancient origins of Ragusa. These signs are inscribed in the limestone: pre-historic tombs, latomies, country dwellings, mills, and ancient prisons. All these elements are visible from Vallata Santa Domenica that is an urban park which retraces the old road connecting Upper Ragusa to Ibla. Then, we will have a walk in the historical centre of Ibla in order to admire the religious buildings that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
Afternoon guided tour is in Scicli, another historical and artistic jewel of the Val di Noto. The city pearl of Hyblaean Baroque, designated as world heritage by UNESCO, is dominated by three hills. Our walk will start among the monumental streets of the lower city, with its churches and its near Baroque Palaces. Then we will reach the path that leads to the religious complex that dominates the entire city.
Return to Modica, dinner at leisure and overnight.
Day 7: Modica chocolate cooking class & Trekking in the Cava d’Ispica with visit to Olive Mill
After breakfast, time to relax. In the late afternoon reach Modica for a chocolate cooking class.
Modica, the capital of one of the most important feudal states in Southern Italy Modica is the only city in Sicily with a chocolate making tradition which goes back to the 17th century. You twill discover the local ancient method to make chocolate Then you will have a sweet dive into the world of the “Modica Chocolate” by visiting a local laboratory where you will assist to a show cooking before tasting the “food of the Gods”. Lunch at leisure in Modica.
In the afternoon meet your guide and departure for an archaeological trekking in Cava d’Ispica, a fascinating canyon within the Hyblaean Mountains, which was inhabited from the prehistoric period to the 1950s. After trekking among prehistoric rock-cut tombs and medieval rupestrian settlements.
Return to the hotel and overnight.
Day 8: Agrigento, the Temple Valley
Check out and departure to Agrigento. Here you will visit the amazing Valley of Temples with our expert guide.Proceed to Menfi town and accommodation in a wine resort immersed in the beatiful countryside of Western Sicily.
Day 9: Menfi, Walking in the vineyard
After breakfast, meet the local producer for a visit of the winery and atsting of locally produced wines and a typical lunch. Time at leisure and overnight.
Day 10: Trapani, Erice & cookies class, visit to Saline
After breakfast, departure to Trapani where you will meet your guide. Visit of the centre, transfer to Erice and free time at leisure for lunch. Proceed with the visit of Erice, including a stop to a famous confectionery where you will be involved in a cookies’ laboratory. In the late afternoon stop for a visit to “ Le Saline” where you can have an aperitif at the sunset (not included).
Return to the hotel and overnight.
Day 11: Palermo
Breakfast. Free time at leisure and departure to Palermo. Arrival , accommodation in hotel and day at disposal to discover the city by your own.
Day 12: Visit of the local market and street food tasting+ Best of Palermo
After breakfast, meet your guide for a visit to the local market and taste some of the most popular street food. Proceed with a walking tour in the beautiful Palermo. Here you will discover the jewels of the Arab-Norman culture, the ancient core of the city, the art and magic of the Sicilian stuccos.
In the evening free time for dinner and overnight.
Day 13: Palermo – Cefalù – Etna Wine Tasting
After breakfast , check out and departure to the East side. Not to be misses a stop in Cefalù – here you will find some of Sicliy’s finest beaches side-by-side with one of its greatest Arab-Norman architectural masterpieces. The squares, streets and churches of this medieval town seem to come out from a postcard. Take your time to visit the XII C Cathedral with its unique mosaics (listed in the UNESCO Worl Heritage Sites)
Indulge in a slow and relaxing walk along the little port – lined with fishing boats and the lungomare (seafront promenade) popular among locals for the passeggiata (evening stroll).
Time at disposal for a fish lunch while admiring the Nebrodi islands.
Proceed with your drive towards Mount Etna.
Here you will discover the volcano wines at the winery Tenuta Cavanera. Check in and accommodation.
After a guided tour of the cellars, you will enjoy a wine tasting. Here you will have time to relax admiring the beautiful landscaper around the resort. Dinner at leisure and overnight.
Day 14: Etna trekking & wine tasting
After breakfast, meet your guide for a thrilling experience in the nature. You will experience a trekking on the volcano and visit another local winery for a tasting (possibility of having light lunch). Return to the resort and time at leisure. Overnight.
Day 15: Departure
Breakfast, check out and departure to Catania airport. End of the services.
PRICE from 2850 euro per person in double room
