Artisan Tour of Sicily

Day 1 Arriving. Arrival in Palermo airport and welcome by our tour escort .
Transfer to Palermo city and check in at a charming four star hotel. Afternoon: transfer to Monreale, ancient village near Palermo, famous for its wonderful Norman Cathedral and the adjoining cloister, architectural masterpieces of King Roger II.

Welcome dinner at Baglio Conca d'Oro Restaurant, a 16th century paper mill built by the Spanish noble family De Spuches, with a duo of classic music . The building was recently restored and reconverted into a charm hotel-restaurant. Dinner in the elegant restaurant room "Le Absidi", After dinner, sightseeing tour of "Palermo By Night". Return to the hotel and overnight. ( BB , D)

Day 2 SEGESTA / ERICE . Morning: breakfast in hotel.

Departure to Segesta , ancient village in the Western part of Sicily , and its magnificent greek Theatre and Doric Temple , masterpieces of Greek architecture in Sicily. Transfer to Erice, a nearby medieval town, located at the top of the homonymous mountain set 751 meters above the sea level and overlooking the whole Western region, the Mediterranean Sea and the Egadi Islands. Walking visit of its characteristic historical centre. Marzipan shaping & painting demonstration. Lunch on your own.

Check In at Hotel: a magnificent country manor near Trapani: Tonnara di Bonagia. A tour by private boat along the coast Dinner at the hotel. Overnight ( BB; D)

Day 3 : Culinary Tours : Marsala / Frantoio

Departure for Marsala, a town on the Western coast famous for its wine production.A brief visit to the Cantine Pellegrino for a tasting of Marsala Wines, conducted by an expert. Transfer in a farm house to have our : Oil Tasting : visit an Olive Oil Frantoio followed by a lunch. On the way to come back at the hotel we’ll do a fascinating visit to the salt pans of Trapani shows us the method for making sea salt. Back to the hotel . Dinner on your own. Overnight. ( BB , L)

Day 4 Agrigento / Caltagirone

Morning: breakfast in the hotel. Departure to Agrigento to visit the beautiful Valley of the Temples, one of the most representative sites of Greek civilization in the Mediterranean area. Visit to the Temple of Hercules, the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Castor and Pollux and the wonderful Temple of Concord.  Lunch on your own in Agrigento. Afternoon: travel to Caltagirone, today considered the capital of Sicilian ceramics, nicknamed the “Faenza of Sicily” . It belongs to the province of Catania, but from a cultural and geographical point of view it belongs much more to the province of Ragusa and aspires to become an autonomous province itself. Its name is derived from the Arab (cal'at ghiran: castle of vases).

Check in at the farmhouse. Dinner and overnight ( BB, D)

Day 5 Ragusa / Syracusa and the Papyrus processing

Morning : breakfast in hotel and departure for Ragusa for a visit. Ragusa is really two towns combined into one municipality in 1926. Lower Ragusa, known as Ragusa Ibla, or simply "Ibla," was the ancient city, rebuilt after suffering heavy damage due to the infamous 1693 earthquake that devastated southeastern Sicily. Upper Ragusa, or Ragusa Superiore, is the main part of the new city built on the ridge across from the old city of lbla after the earthquake. Due to the fact that upper Ragusa was built in the early 1700s, most of its churches and main buildings were thus constructed in the Baroque and Neo-Classical Styles. Most of the city's history deals with the old city of Ibla.

Transfer in Ispica and have a brunch in a marvellous country Villa of a noble family : Baroness Bruno

Afternoon : transfer in Siracusa , which during the Greek Age was one of the more powerful cities on the island. Visit to the archaeological zone: the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Ear of Dyonisus and the Latomie. Walk through the historical center on the Ortigia Island to admire the Cathedral, the Aretusa fountain and the ancient streets. Stop in a Papyrus shop. One of the most popular craft products in Siracusa is papyrus paper: the area around the Ciane River is the only one in Italy where this rare, valuable plant grows. Paper is still made from papyrus today, following ancient methods that were invented many centuries ago by the Egyptians. The paper can be bought plain, or painted, with subjects that are mostly of Greek or Egyptian inspiration. We’ll follow the processing of papyrus paper in one shop, starting from the stalks of the plant and finishing with the paper. Time for shopping.

Check in at the hotel : our marvellous country villa in Syracusa. Dinner on your own . Overnight ( BB, L)

Day 6.  At Leisure

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Taormina . Taormina has been an exclusive Sicilian hotspot, since the beginning of the 19th century, and is where many noble and rich families of Northern Europe spent winter due to its mild climate. Nowadays, Taormina is famous for its "dolce vita" life style, its beautiful beach, and its shops. Check in at the hotel .

Day at leisure . Lunch on your own. Late afternoon : transfer to Tenuta San Michele, an ancient estate located on the slopes of the volcano Etna. The farm, which belongs to the noble family of the Baron Scammacca del Murgo, is surrounded by extensive vineyards and has a panoramic view of both Mt. Etna and the sea. Mt. Etna is the highest volcano in Europe. The climate and the volcanic soil help give wines a unique mineral taste typical of the region around Mt. Etna. In Tenuta San Michele they produce some of the best wines of the area: Etna Rosso, Etna Bianco and the extraordinary Murgo Brut. Wine tasting and guided visit to the wine cellar with a member of the family. Dinner in the farm with folk music ( BB , D)

Day 7 Mt. Etna / Catania and the Lava Stone works

Morning: breakfast in hotel. Excursion to Mt. Etna. Departure to Rifugio Sapienza, located 1.900 m. above sea level, where it will be possible to visit the small, inactive Silvestri craters. From Rifugio Sapienza, proceed by jeep up to 2.500 m. under the main active craters for an optional walking excursion accompanied by a volcanologic conductor. There visit the site of the last big eruption of 2002. Back to Rifugio Sapienza. 

Lunch in a farm house belongs to a noble family : Barone Bonajuto. Learn about Sicilian Carts at Domenico di Mauro whose workshop lies at the base of Mt Etna . he’s the torchbearer of the Sicilian Tradition. Stop in Catania, the second biggest town in Sicily, a true lively town with a Baroque-style charm. Known as the the "black-city" from the dark colour of the façades of the building made by the black lava stone. Visit of its most important monuments and to its colorful fish-market. Walking visit and stop in Palazzo Biscari the most magnificent private building in Catania, is unique in terms of structure, outlay and decoration. Received by Baroness Nicoletta Moncada. Stop in a shop very known x the Lava stone production. The craft objects made from lava stone following traditional techniques. Continue our visit with the Bonajuto’ Chapel where we’ll have a cocktail

Back to the hotel and dinner on your own.

Overnight. ( BB , L)

Day 8 S. Stefano di camastra – Cefalù

Morning : Breakfast in hotel. Departure to Santo Stefano di Camastra, a town-museum with old, modern and architectural works, as well as paintings and sculptures. The city offers some public decorations characterized by a monumental structure. Here an indissoluble bond between urban culture and arts of ceramics is to be found. Have a ceramic demonstration

Transfer to Cefalù : lunch in a typical restaurant.

Afternoon : visit of Cefalù , famous for its rich historical centre (the Norman Cathedral and the medieval quarter) as well as for its beautiful beach and blue sea. Transfer to Madonie Park . Check in at the country villa . Dinner on your own (BB, L).

Day 09 Cooking Lesson: The Cuisine of the Country/The Madonie Park – Olive oil and the Embroderies production

Morning: breakfast in the farm. A part of the morning is free to relax by the pool or in the garden. At 11:00 : guests will have a half-day cooking lesson in the farmhouse. The owner of the farm will teach them to prepare some of the most popular and essential recipes according to the local tradition. Lunch at the Farm. Transfer to Polizzi Generosa , a small village, surrounded by cheerful countryside and green pastures. Polizzi lies in the Madonie Mountains' Natural Park. This internal region between the Northern Coast and Central Sicily has a wealth of ancient small villages, where many people still live according to the Sicilian traditions. Visit to Polizzi Generosa, Visit to the Park's Museum. During the walk through the town's medieval streets, guests will have a break for a sampling of typical sweetmeats. We’ll visit a private “Shop” where embroideries and laccets are made. Embroidery is an ornament carried out through needlework usually on cloth even using precious materials like gold, silver and precious stones. The art of embroidery is one of the most ancient and widespread among primitive peoples. This art was used to decorate formal dresses to wear in ceremonies since it was a sign of distinction as it is related in many ancient books

Special dinner in a private House.

Overnight ( BB , L D)

Day 10 PALERMO and the Puppet show shop

Morning: breakfast in hotel. Half -day visit to this ancient town that has been a crossroads for civilization in the Mediterranean for ages and ages. Here, visit and seek out signs of its ancient "grandeur": the Norman Palace and the Palatine Chapel, the church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti, the Cathedral, Quattro Canti square, etc. Walk through the streets of the historical center, and visit to the town's popular Vucciria market. Lunch on your own in town.

Afternoon : Stop in a famous artisan of Puppet : Cuticchio

“One of the most typical objects of all are the famous “pupi”, puppets which UNESCO has declared to be “masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity”. The “pupi” are the characteristic Sicilian marionettes that the “pupari”, the master puppet show experts, use to put on shows of the medieval knights actions, inspired by the French “Chansons de Geste” and “Orlando Furioso”. You may see a marionette being created by true artists, who are part carpenters, part blacksmiths, part painters but, most importantly, actors. The Palermo pupi are 80 cm high, they weigh about 15 kg (keep that in mind when you are buying one!) and wear sparkling armor on a wooden and clay body and their faces are painted with very strong expression, to emphasize their role in the shows.”. Free time to do shopping. A special Farewell Dinner in one of the most beautiful palaces in Palermo: Palazzo Ajutamicristo. It takes its name from Guglielmo Ajutamicristo, baron of Misilmeri and Calatafimi, who had it built for his family between the years 1495 and 1501. A banker of Pisan origin, he had grown rich over a few decades trading in Sicilian cheese and cereals. Having got tired of his castle in Misilmeri, he had long wanted to build a "Domus Magna", which would do justice to his wealth and grace the city of Palermo. Palazzo Ajutamicristo is located in the heart of the historical centre of Palermo, just a few steps from other important monuments and close to the main means of transportation. Reception is personally taken care of by the Palazzo's owners. Guests are free to wander in the XV century loggia or the garden terrace, "Cortile del Petrosino", which open towards two ample courtyards, full of exotic palms, oleanders and banana trees. Overnight in the hotel ( BB , D)

Day 11 Departure

Morning: breakfast in hotel. Transfer to the airport in Palermo, assistance with check-in and departure to the USA.

Inquire for prices, advise number of people and dates.

Tour Includes:

• English speaking driver + Tour escort speaking anglish for the whole tour

• Transportation by private car for the whole tour

• Accommodations: 4*hotel and reconverted farm houses in rooms with private bathroom with shower

• Half-board (breakfast + dinner or lunch ): meals in hotel or in typical restaurants and farmhouses as per program

• Particolar dinner + visit of Palazzo Ajutamicristo

• Marzipan shaping & painting demonstration

• Oil Tasting and visit of Olive Frantoio

• Visits and excursions as listed in the program, with helpful information about locations provided by our driver

• 1 cooking lesson as listed in the program

• 4 visits in Artisan shops in Sicily

• Folk Music

• Private visit of Palazzo Biscari

• Visit Cappella Bonajuto + cocktail

• 2 visit in a cellar + wine tasting

• Ceramic demonstration

• 2 free x you

• All taxes

Tour Does Not Include:

• Airfare

• Drinks during meals

• Meals not mentionned

• Entrance fees to archaeological sites and museums

• Tips and extras of any personal nature