Spring & Fall 2021 hosted by - Facci Italian...
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Day 1: Palermo Arrival at the Palermo airport where a member of our team will welcome you to the island. You will then check-in at a 4-star hotel, located right in the city center. The area is well renowned for its luxury stores, yet it is surrounded by greenery, like the English Garden. After a welcome reception, you will have dinner at an unforgettable restaurant with a selection of Mediterranean meals. Day 2: Arab and Norman Influences in Sicily After breakfast, you will meet for a guided tour of the unique city of Palermo, visiting the colorful Capo and Vucciria Markets, the Cathedral, and the Martorana Church. At lunch you will experience the Palermitano street food with a tasting of arancini ( fried rice balls stuffed with vegetables, cheese or meat ) and other specialties. You will then explore the small town of Monreale to see where the Arab-Norman art and architecture reached the pinnacle of its glory with the Duomo, depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments all in breathtaking golden mosaics. You will then return to Palermo to relax before dinner. Dinner will be in a 17th-century palace home to the Duchess Lanza Tomasi and her husband, the adopted son of the Prince Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa celebrated author of The Leopard. You will view the original manuscript and the actual costumes used in the film. Afterwards you will be invited to join the family table for an unforgettable Gattopardo-style dinner. Day 3: Saline and Erice Today you are heading to Segesta for a visit of the most unique Greek Temple in Sicily and the old acropolis. Later in the morning, you will be visiting Erice, a mysterious medieval town made famous in ancient times as the birthplace of Venus. Here, you will taste the variety of local sweets that Erice is known for at a delightful pastry shop owned by a former nun, Maria Grammatico. You will have the afternoon to wander the town’s cobblestone streets and to have lunch at your leisure. You will be free to walk up to a local ceramic workshop and to the castle to enjoy the view of the island of Favignana on a clear day. Afterwards, you will visit an old salt mill – the Saline Ettore and Infersa – to learn how salt is extracted using a technique dating back to the Punic times. You will see the salt pans and the windmills dotting the landscape. The Salt Museum will provide you with a sweet and salty tasting of different salts paired with various fruits. Following the visit, you will drive to your 4-star hotel for check-in. It is a beautiful resort in the hallmark of the hospitality of Firriato family, one of the most famous ambassadors of Sicily for its fine wines and oils that are sold throughout the world. You will enjoy dinner at the outdoor terrace with a remarkable panoramic view. Day 4: Food and Wine Breakfast will be followed by an optional cooking class for those interested. A wonder chef will teach you about Sicilian herbs, their use, availability and history. You will partake in a glass of special wine, expertly paired with one of the course. If you do not want to join the demonstration, you can relax by the pool or enjoy free time in the hotel lovely setting. Late in the morning, you will visit a winery near Sambuca di Sicilia for a wine tasting. Lunch will be served there in a 16th century baglio, featuring local specialties plus wines to match the menu. In the late afternoon you will return to the hotel and have some time to relax by the pool. Dinner will be at the very typical fisherman’s restaurant , right on the beach, featuring tuna carpaccio and octopus salad. Day 5: Agrigento, Valley of the Temples Check out and transfer to Agrigento, one of the classical world’s greatest cities. You will begin with a guided tour of the archeological museum as well as a magnificent archeological site, which dates back to the 4th and 5th centuries BC. You will see are some of the largest and most well- preserved Greek temples outside of Greece. You will also visit the lovely botanical garden, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After the tour you will dine al fresco under beautiful old trees in the old Greek Garden. In the afternoon, you will proceed to the Ragusa area. Your hotel is inside Passport to Sicily! Experience Paradise in the Mediterranean hosted by Breathtaking View from Venus Castle Near Trapani Vineyard Etna Temple Ruins Spring & Fall 2021
Transcript of Spring & Fall 2021 hosted by - Facci Italian...
Day 1: PalermoArrival at the Palermo airport where a member of our team will welcome you to the island. You will then check-in at a 4-star hotel, located right in the city center. The area is well renowned for its luxury stores, yet it is surrounded by greenery, like the English Garden. After a welcome reception, you will have dinner at an unforgettable restaurant with a selection of Mediterranean meals.
Day 2: Arab and Norman Influences in Sicily
After breakfast, you will meet for a guided tour of the unique city of Palermo, visiting the colorful Capo and Vucciria Markets, the Cathedral, and the Martorana Church. At lunch you will experience the Palermitano street food with a tasting of arancini ( fried rice balls stuffed with vegetables, cheese or meat) and other specialties. You will then explore the small town of Monreale to see where the Arab-Norman art and architecture reached the pinnacle of its glory with the Duomo, depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments all in breathtaking golden mosaics. You will then return to Palermo to relax before dinner. Dinner will be in a 17th-century palace home to the Duchess Lanza Tomasi and her husband, the adopted son of the Prince Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa celebrated author of The Leopard. You will view the original manuscript and the actual costumes used in the film. Afterwards you will be invited to join the family table for an unforgettable Gattopardo-style dinner.
Day 3: Saline and EriceToday you are heading to Segesta for a visit of the most unique Greek Temple in Sicily and the old acropolis. Later in the morning, you will be visiting Erice, a mysterious medieval town made famous in ancient times as the birthplace of Venus. Here, you will taste the variety of local sweets that Erice is known for at a delightful pastry shop owned by a former nun, Maria Grammatico. You will have the afternoon to wander the town’s cobblestone streets and to have lunch at your leisure. You will be free to walk up to a local ceramic workshop and to the castle to enjoy the view of the island of Favignana on a clear day. Afterwards, you will visit an old salt mill – the Saline Ettore and Infersa – to learn how salt is extracted using a
technique dating back to the Punic times. You will see the salt pans and the windmills dotting the landscape. The Salt Museum will provide you with a sweet and salty tasting of different salts paired with various fruits. Following the visit, you will drive to your 4-star hotel for
check-in. It is a beautiful resort in the hallmark of the hospitality of Firriato family, one of the most famous ambassadors of Sicily for its fine wines and oils that are sold throughout the world. You will enjoy dinner at the outdoor terrace with a remarkable panoramic view.
Day 4: Food and WineBreakfast will be followed by an optional cooking class for those interested. A wonder chef will teach you about Sicilian herbs, their use, availability
and history. You will partake in a glass of special wine, expertly paired with one of the course. If you do not want to join the demonstration, you can relax by the pool or enjoy free time in the hotel lovely setting. Late in the morning, you will visit a winery near Sambuca di Sicilia for a wine tasting. Lunch will be served there in a 16th century baglio, featuring local specialties plus wines to match the menu. In the late afternoon you will return to the hotel and have some time to relax by the pool. Dinner will be at the very typical fisherman’s restaurant, right on the beach, featuring tuna carpaccio and octopus salad.
Day 5: Agrigento, Valley of the Temples
Check out and transfer to Agrigento, one of the classical world’s greatest cities. You will begin with a guided tour of the archeological museum as well as a magnificent archeological site, which dates back to the 4th and 5th centuries BC. You will see are some of the largest and most well-preserved Greek temples outside of Greece. You will also visit the lovely botanical garden, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After the tour you will dine al fresco under beautiful old trees in the old Greek Garden. In the afternoon, you will proceed to the Ragusa area. Your hotel is inside
Passport to Sicily!Experience Paradise in the Mediterranean
hosted by
Breathtaking View from Venus Castle Near Trapani
Vineyard Etna
Temple Ruins
Spring & Fall 2021
a natural reservation area, complete with a golf course and a unique Mediterranean environment. A welcome dinner follows in the impressive wine bar with the best selection of the DOCG wines from the town of Vittoria.
Day 6: ModicaYou will savor a relaxed morning before heading to an award-winning botanical garden featuring the most rare and unique Mediterranean herbs and plants. Private chefs will lead you into a cooking class, and an appetizing and colorful lunch experience. In the afternoon, you will visit Modica, one of the most interesting baroque towns in Sicily. Modica is famous for its traditional chocolate production which originates from ancient Aztec recipes. You will visit the most famous and oldest chocolate factory in Sicily, learning how they make their amazing products. Later on you will come back to the beautiful resort to enjoy the swimming pool and the Mediterranean lush garden. In the evening you are set to enjoy a fisherman restaurant right by the water.
Day 7: Noto and SyracuseCheck-out and travel to Noto, the UNESCO Baroque Heritage site. While walking into this open-air museum, you can stop at a cafe for a Sicilian pastry and great coffee. Next, you will be on your way to Ortigia, the oldest part of Syracuse, to explore the fish market and to browse in some of the quaint
cheese and spice shops. In the afternoon, you will meet our guide to explore town – one that rivaled Athens as the most powerful Greek city and is still imbued with Greek influences. The tour of Ortigia includes the Jewish area and the Miqwah which dates back to the 5th century BC. In the evening you will reach your hotel nearby Taormina, and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in the historic center.
Day 8: Mt. Etna and TaorminaThis morning you are set to explore the incredible wine country that surrounds Mt. Etna! The volcanic explosions have enriched the soil and added a unique taste to the wines. You will visit
one of Sicily’s most notable vineyards for a tasting of four different wines, four varieties of olive oil, and a light lunch with Mt. Etna as our picturesque backdrop. You will then drive to Taormina, the lively coastal town known for its famous Greco-Roman theater overlooking the sea. The day is yours to enjoy at your leisure. You may find yourself on Corso Umberto, a pedestrian shopping street in the town, taking the funicular to enjoy the beach, or getting lost as you meander around the impressive Villa Comunale, with its English garden. There is a lovely passeggiata (walk) along the Corso which leads to a beautiful terrace overlooking the Duomo, where we will meet for a farewell cocktail party.
Day 9: Buon Viaggio!At this time you may choose to return to the US or inquire about other sites to visit. We are happy to help extend your trip and show you more of Italian culture.
Donnafugata Castle
Book Your Sicilian Escape [email protected] • (267) 575-7074 • www.nicheitaly.com
Palermo
Trapani
Palermo
Agrigento
Menfi
Saline Ettore E Infersa
Erice
Modica
NotoRagusa
Siracusa
Catania
TaorminaPorta Catania
Mt. EtnaEnna
Caltanissetta
Messina
Sicily
