FOOD AND WINE GRANDTOUR OF SICILY
DAY 1: CATANIA
Arrival at Catania Airport and coach transfer to our hotel in the surroundings of Acireale/Giardini Naxos.
Depending on the time of arrival, we will have the possibility of visiting “Cyclops Riviera” (Riviera dei Ciclopi), a 12-kilometer coast located north of Catania that stretches from Acireale to Aci Castello.
Accommodation in the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 2: ETNA AND TAORMINA
After breakfast transfer to Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe at 3,295 meters and also one of the most active in the world.
Stop for a lunch in a farmhouse where we will taste simple, authentic local cuisine.
In the afternoon, we will continue the excursion with the visit to Taormina, its historic centre along with the antique site of the Greek Theater.
Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 3: VIZZINI AND CALTAGIRONE
After breakfast, we will head towards Vizzini, the town where the Sicilan writer Giovanni Verga lived and worked for a long time. The Vizzini area was used by the writer as the setting for his famous novel “Cavalleria Rusticana” (literally “Rustic Chivalry”) and his masterpiece “Mastro Don Gesualdo”.
Stop for lunch with local products in a farmhouse and enjoy an afternoon excursion to Caltagirone.
We will visit the historic centre and a pottery workshop. Caltagirone is renowned for its ceramic art and Sicilians speak about “Caltagirone style” to refer to ceramic pottery characterized by ornate traditional motifs using a decorated by using a limited palette.
After the visit, transfer to our hotel near Piazza Armerina, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 4: PIAZZA ARMERINA AND AGRIGENTO
Breakfast in the hotel and bus transfer to Piazza Armerina, where we will visit the wonderful “Villa Romana del Casale”, home to some of the best-preserved and extensive examples of Roman mosaics spread over around 3500mt.
After a lunch stop in a restaurant, we will continue the tour with the visit of Agrigento and its splendid Archaeological Park: the Temples Valley.
Later, drive to our hotel in the surroundings of Agrigento, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 5: SELINUNTE AND MARSALA
After breakfast, we will continue the tour with a visit of the Archeological Park of Selinunte, the largest in Europe. Following, drive to the region of Marsala, visit of a wine cellar and eat a light lunch based on typical products and local wines. Marsala is well known for its production of sweet wine and salt pans.
In the afternoon we will visit the beautiful historic centre of Marsala and admire the signs of the many dominations: Roman, Norman, Spanish and Arabs.
Accommodation in a hotel in the Marsala region, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 6: TRAPANI SALT PANS, ERICE AND SEGESTA
After breakfast we will leave the hotel and visit one of the ancient salt pans set along the Marsala-Trapani Salt Way Road.
Soon after, drive to Erice where we will enjoy a typical lunch based on couscous and other local specialities.
Afternoon visit of Segesta and its solitary temple in Doric style, one of the best-preserved temples of the Mediterranean area.
After the visit, transfer to our hotel near Palermo, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 7: PALERMO AND MONREALE
After breakfast, we will visit Palermo, a city rich in monuments from the Arab-Norman period: the Cathedral, the Royal Palace with the precious Palatine Chapel and the Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti.
Stop in a typical old Focacceria (typical street food), where we will enjoy a lunch based on specialties from Palermo.
In the afternoon, transfer to Monreale, summer residence of the Norman Kings, where we will admire the splendid Cathedral and Benedictine Monastery
Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 8: DEPARTURE
Breakfast in hotel and transfer to Palermo airport.
