Sicily Discovery & MasterExperience!

(8 days / 7 nights: Sun-Sun)

Programme & Itinerary

www.ItaliaSpeciale.com

DAY ONE – Sunday

Palermo

• Arrival and Meet in Palermo, either at airport or Hotel in the centre
• Transfer to our charming accommodation in the very heart of Palermo welcomed by our wonderful Hosts 
• Dependant on time of arrival, leisurely introduction to Palermo
• Dinner and evening at leisure in Palermo

DAY TWO – Monday

Monreale – Palermo Markets & Quarters – Art & Theatre

• This morning, after breakfast, visit to nearby Monreale and its stunning Norman-Byzantine Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an amazing example of that artistic and architectural fusion of cultures that Sicily is famous for
• Typical lunch in Monreale
• Our journey of discovery continues with a guided walking experience through the fascinating quarters of Palermo, a true cultural immersion in its history spanning over 2700 years!
• Our walk will include Palermo’s mesmerizing architecture and heritage from the Phoenicians to the Romans, from the Byzantine influence to its Arab and Norman domination
• Chance to wander around Palermo’s typical markets, visit an Art Gallery or enjoy an opera at the imposing Teatro Massimo
• Late afternoon Aperitivo followed by evening at leisure in Palermo

DAY THREE - Tuesday

Erice – Segesta & Temple – Sicilian Cooking Masterclass I - Palermo   

• After breakfast, we set off to visit the charming village of Erice, where myth, history and culture blend in a marvellous way
• Our walk through Erice will guide us through the cobbled streets and alleys that inspired the poet Virgil for his poem Aeneid
• Visits will include Erice’s fortified walls, quarters and churches and castles built in the most beautiful architectural variety, with special attention to the Spanish Quarter and the Norman Castle of Venus, all overlooking stunning views
• After a late morning Aperitivo and a visit to the woven carpet and artistic ceramic shops, we carry on to reach the ancient town of Segesta
• Segesta offers an amazing glimpse into the culture of Ancient Greece through its impressive and well-preserved V-century BCE Temple and Theatre, a breathtaking leap into a glorious history
• After a typical light lunch, visit to the Temple and the archaeological site
• Later this afternoon, a very special treat…sleeves up for a hands-on Cooking Masterclass with Chef to disclose the some of the secrets behind a few Sicilian staple dishes!
• Our class will cover the most delicious Sicilian preparations and recipes under the guidance of our passionate Chefs, followed by dinner to sample the fruits of our labour!
• Return to Palermo for a good night’s rest!

DAY FOUR - Wednesday

Corleone & Mafia Myth & Legend – Cooking Masterclass II – Agrigento

• After breakfast, we say goodbye to our hosts in Palermo and start a very special day ahead through Sicily
• Our first destination is the famous (or infamous?!) town of God Father memory Corleone  for a true in-depth experience of Sicily’s mafia between myth, legend and reality
• Arrival in Piazza Falcone Borsellino to meet with our local guide and start our personal Walking Tour
• Introduction to Corleone’s intriguing Mafia origins with several famous stops along our walk throughout its fascinating historical old town
• We will then take off an a panoramic drive to reach Corleone’s highest mountain point and visits to several Norman and Arab sites
• Lunch will be at a local Trattoria, but our hosts will welcome us to our second Cooking Masterclass that will feature Sicily’s most traditional dishes!
• After lunch, we head towards the coast and reach Agrigento, among Sicily’s most important cultural and historical experiences!
• A Greek settlement dating back millennia, Agrigento was among the wealthiest colonies of Magna Graecia
• Check-in at our lovely hotel followed by dinner and evening at leisure

DAY FIVE - Thursday

Agrigento & The Temple Valley – Ragusa

• This morning will feature a guided visit through Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples, a breathtaking visit of Sicily’s most notable Temples, Churches and Acropolis
• Lunch will be excellent fish caught locally at one of Agrigento’s best restaurants, well known by the locals!
• Our destination this afternoon is the beautiful Baroque town of Ragusa
• After we have checked into our stunning Hotel, a former Convent partially carved in the mountain, a late afternoon guided Walking Tour to explore its mythological aura and the beautiful architecture
• Evening at leisure in Ragusa

DAY SIX - Friday

Cheese Tasting – Modica & Chocolate Tasting – Noto – Siracusa & Ortigia Island

• After a leisurely breakfast enjoying the stunning views that Ragusa offers, departure to reach the nearby town of Modica, renowned for its excellent chocolate production
• En-route stop for an amazing local cheese-tasting experience with our great Hosts
• Our  stroll around Modica will be complemented by a local chocolate tasting followed by lunch based on local traditional recipes and native flavours
•  We will then reach the beautiful town of Noto, that will welcome us with its stunning Baroque architecture
• After a short visit, time to reach Siracusa, the 2,700 year old town founded by the Greeks and the birthplace of famous mathematician and scholar Archimedes
• Extremely rich in history, Siracusa offers an amazing combination of Greek and Roman Amphitheatres and Catholic Basilicas
• Our Hotel will be on the exclusive Ortigia Island, the original Siracusa, followed by a lovely evening walk to discover its intriguing history and dinner

DAY SEVEN - Saturday

Siracusa – Sicily Coast – Giardini Naxos - Taormina

• After breakfast, guided visit through Ortigia and, time permitting, to the Greek Amphitheatre in Siracusa
• Lunch will be a very local experience in the Ortigia Market!
• Departure along the coast as we head towards Taormina on a beautiful drive that will also offer a glimpse of Mount Etna in the background
• En-route stop in the lovely fishing town of Giardini Naxos to enjoy stunning views of the Ionian Sea
• Arrival at hotel in Taormina and evening at leisure for shopping, people watching and dinner in town

DAY EIGHT – Sunday

Taormina – Options & Departure from Catania Airport

• After breakfast, visit to Taormina’s beautiful Greek Amphitheatre
• After lunch, drive South along the Sicilian Coastline to Catania Airport….arrivederci Sicily!!
• OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS & EXPERIENCES (to be quoted separately):

• Mount Etna Volcano Experience
• Cefalù en-route to Palermo (in case of flight out of Palermo airport)
• Reach Palermo for flights

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Highlights & What's included for

“Sicily Discovery & Experience”

€3395 eur pp 

• Guests:  min 4 / max 7
• Starting point: Palermo Airport / Centre on Day One
• Ending point: Catania Airport on Day Eight OR CHOSEN OPTIONALS (quoted separately)
• Fully escorted by our Leader and Hosts
• Accommodation 8 days / 7 nights in selected 3Superior and 4 Star venues that deliver a true feeling for the area / city / town :
  • 3 nights in Palermo
  • 1 night in Agrigento
  • 1 night in Ragusa
  • 1 night in Siracusa / Ortigia Island
  • 1 night in Taormina
• Single Room Accommodation
• An exciting and unique journey of discovery through the very best of Sicily
• Hands-on Cookery Classes at our highly selected venues under the guidance of our Chefs
• Foodie Experiences:
  • Hands on Masterclasses with Chefs in Segesta and Corleone
  • Tastings of Traditional Sicilian specialties
  • Foodie Experiences as mentioned in Itinerary
• All restaurants and venues are highly selected and offer the most special Abruzzo1 & ItaliaSpeciale Experiences!
• All lunches + 2 dinners included as per the program with highly selected wines from Sicily as part of the ItaliaSpeciale Experience

A word on Tipping

At Italia Speciale and Abruzzo1 our mission is to assure only the best experiences possible around Abruzzo and Italy through our highly selected network of Partners and Hosts, all committed to delivering the highest standards of knowledge and service to our guests. We do this by nature and soul, as proud as we are of our proposals and our people. Tips are never expected and always come as a nice bonus for our partners.

A token of gratitude. Ideally your Host should collect €75 eur in cash per guest on Day 3 to cover all tips that deserve to be shared among all Partners. Tips are not compulsory by any means, and should be given exclusively for high quality service.

Payment: Bank Transfer + bank charges | Credit Card: +3.5% | Cash: €150 EUR discount