Food and Wine Tour of Sicily

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Food and Wine Tour of Sicily

 8 Days\ 7 Nights

1st DAY – ARRIVAL (CATANIA)
Independent arrival at Catania Airport and self transfer to the Hotel in Catania. Accommodation. Welcome cocktail, dinner and overnight in Hotel.

2nd DAY – ETNA/TAORMINA
After breakfast at hotel you will meet the driver guide. Crossing suggestive landscapes, rich of different kinds of vegetation, at your own you will reach the height of 2.000 meters to explore the highest active volcano in Europe: Mount Etna. Surrounded by ancient craters, you will be charmed by a suggestive panorama of the Ionic Coast. At our suggestion, You will visit  the “Silvestri Craters” and the recent lava flows of 2001/2002. We will then stop in a local wine cellar to visit its vineyards and for wine tasting, including a selection of Sicilian specialties. Lunch on your own. In the afternoon, proceed to Taormina, the Pearl of the Ionic Sea, where, at our suggestion besides visiting the Greek Theatre, the Duomo and the Belvedere, you will have the chance to go shopping among the typical small streets of this nice town. Back to the hotel in Catania, dinner and overnight.

3rd DAY – MODICA/RAGUSA
Breakfast at the hotel and depart to Ragusa area, where at our suggestion you will visit an olive-mill to learn the process of oil production. You will also have the chance to taste extra virgin olive oil and other local products (olives pickled in oil, tomatoes, bread, pesto sauces, jams, Nero d’Avola wine). Proceed to Modica, part of UNESCO Heritage Sites, for a pleasant walking tour by your self in the charming historical centre rich of chapels, churches, monasteries and Baroque palaces. Free time for lunch. Stop in a local laboratory to taste the famous chocolate deriving from an ancient Aztec recipe and to learn how it is produced. Proceed to Ragusa and,  at our suggestion, visit of the enchanting historical centre “Ibla”, rich of Baroque palaces and churches. Accommodation at hotel in Ragusa area. Dinner and overnight.

4th DAY – AGRIGENTO
After breakfast at the hotel you will have the chance to discover Sicily through its wine-growing areas by visiting the vineyards and olive groves of a renown local winery; after the visit of the winery and vineyards you will enjoy a tasting of 4 local wines and a selection of extra-virgin olive oils. After the visit, depart to Agrigento. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon, you will discover at our suggestion the ancient city of Akragas, visiting the Valley of the Temples: the Temple of Juno, Concord, Heracles, Zeus, Castor & Pollux. Accommodation at the hotel in Agrigento area, dinner and overnight.

5th DAY – MARSALA/ERICE
Breakfast at the hotel and depart to Marsala, known all-over the world for the production of its dessert wine. Visit at our suggestion of the city centre, with its Duomo, the Church and the Fountain of Purgatorio and the Palazzo VII Aprile. Next stop will be at Donnafugata Winery for wine tasting. Before leaving, you will enjoy a panoramic tour to see the panorama offered by the Stagnone Lagoon, a marine area with salt ponds and windmills. Proceed to the medieval town of Erice, where you will be charmed by a beautiful view to the West Coast and Egadi Islands. Stop in a local pastry shop to taste the typical Erice pastries made with almond paste. Accommodation, dinner and overnight in Palermo area.

6th DAY – PALERMO tasting of typical street food/MONREALE
After breakfast, the whole morning will be dedicated to a guided tour through the traditional food markets in Palermo (Capo, Ballarò, Vucciria). During this walking tour you will taste the main samples of street food of the city: sfincione, panelle, crocchè, arancine, pane con la milza, Sicilian cannoli and local dessert wines such as Zibibbo, Marsala and Sangue Siciliano. In the afternoon, depart to Monreale to visit at our suggestion the wonderful Arab/Norman Cathedral and Cloister. Back to the hotel, dinner and overnight.

7th DAY – CATANIA with Sicilian pastry making
After breakfast, depart to Catania, where you will take part to a pastry class to discover Sicilian patisserie. Guided by an expert in Sicilian Cuisine and Culture connoisseur, you will prepare some of the pastries that have made Sicily famous: Sicilian cannoli, Minnuzze of St Agatha, mustaccioli, teste di turco, rame (typical of All Souls’ Day), cudduri (Easter cakes) and honey crispelle (usually prepared on St Joseph`s day). The pastry-making class also includes tasting accompanied by sweet wine, almond milk and juices. In the afternoon, short walking tour by yourself in Catania city centre: the Duomo Square with its Cathedral and the Elephant (symbol of the city) made of lava stone, the Baroque Via Crociferi. Accommodation at the hotel, dinner and overnight.

8th DAY - DEPARTURE
Breakfast at your hotel and self transfer to Catania Airport.
For those who leave in the evening it is possible to arrange an optional private excursion to Siracusa, to visit the Archaeological Park of Neapolis and the Island of Ortigia (extra charge).

GROSS RATES
Adult rate in double room: € 1.990,00 per person
Supplement for single room/double room in single occupancy: € 230,00

In/out private transfers from/to Catania Airport available on request

DEPARTURE DATES (*)
14 June
12 July
23 August
13 September
11 October
25 October
15 November
13 December

HOTELS

Romano House Hotel**** or similar
Poggio del Sole Resort**** or similar
Baglio della Luna**** or similar
Hotel Porta Felice**** or similar

CANCELLATION POLICY

Up to 61 days prior to arrival: no penalty
From 60 to 40 days prior to arrival: 10% penalty
From 39 to 30 days prior to arrival: 30% penalty
From 29 to 16 days prior to arrival: 50% penalty
From 15 to 8 days prior to arrival: 10% penalty
From 7 days prior to arrival to no show: 100% penalty

(*) The scheduled dates are available up to 20 days before arrival. It is possible to request the tour on different dates of departure (availability is subject to reconfirmation)

THE RATE INCLUDES
- Accommodation in 4 stars hotels in Classic double room
- Car or minivan (depending on the number of participants) + English speaking driver for 6 days, from day 2 to day 7
- 7 dinners in hotel, beverages not included
- 1 “Street Food” experience + lunch in Palermo
- 1 pastry-class in Catania, assisted by a professional expert + tasting
- Tasting of typical pastries in Erice
- Visit of an olive-mill in Ragusa area and tasting of local products
- Chocolate tasting in Modica, including the visit of a chocolate laboratory
- Visit of a winery with wine tasting in Marsala, on Mount Etna and in Ragusa area
- Driver meals and lodging
- 1 guided visit with English speaking local guide in Taormina (2h)
- 1 guided visit with English speaking local guide in Agrigento (Valley of the Temples) (2h)
- 1 guided visit with English speaking local guide in Monreale (2h)
- VAT

THE RATE DOES NOT INCLUDE
- - All lunches (except on day 6)
- - In/out transfers (available on request)
- - Entrance tickets for museums/monuments (to be paid on the spot)
- - Beverages
- - Porterage at hotels
- - Insurances
- - City taxes (where compulsory, to be paid at the hotel)
- - Flights from/to Sicily
- - Tips and extras in general
- Anything not mentioned under “The rate includes”

NOTES

For organizational reasons, the above itinerary may be reversed or modified without notice. In any case “Newtravelservices  t.o.” ensures the visits and excursions mentioned on the journey

The tour operates with min. 2 participants

Pre/post nights on request