Sicily with Friends

Special tour of Sicily

 
Day 1 Arriving Catania - Taormina
Arrival in Catania Airport and welcome by our tour escort.
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 ( if your arriving is scheduled in the morning). 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.

Proceed 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 4* . Welcome dinner at the restaurant . Overnight  BB, D

Day 2 Taormina – Messina - Cooking class in a special manor house
Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the morning in Taormina relaxing and visiting the town on your own.
Lunch on your own.
Early afternoon : Departure to Castroreale for our staying at a manor house. A little manor immersed in greenery, in the heart of Sicily, far from the frenetic city life. It offers its guests the unique chance of staying in a bio-architectonic structure managed with human warmth and simplicity.
Stop in Messina , "The gate of Sicily", just five kilometeres  separate Messina from the mainland Italy. In the ancient time was given the name of Zancle by the Greek for the sickle-shaped harbour. It's hard to imagine that a devastating earthquake leveled Messina in 1908. Also during the World War II the town was subjected to several intensive bombing raids. Passing some point of interest such us the church of San Francesco, the Fountain of Neptune, the tour will proceed to the National Museum. From here the tour will continue passing the City Hall, the Church of the Annunziata dei Catalani and Piazza Duomo. The astronomical clock is the most interesting component of the 60 mts. high bell-tower to the left of the Cathedral.
Transfer in our manor to check in.
The Manor is a charming, ancient ochre-walled building consisting of 10 comfortable rooms, each with different decorative features and furniture, provided with a private bathroom, and small balcony with a view over the hills, the swimming-pool or the garden.
Participate at our first : Cooking class
Your instructor, Chef Mrs Jannelli will teach you to prepare the family recipes passed down to her by her grandmother. You will learn how the marriage of three kitchens: Sicilian , French and Holland has created a cuisine as intriguing and complex as Sicily’s own baroque heritage. The cooking class will be followed by a dinner . Overnight at the manor ( BB , D)

Day 3 One day in the Aeolian Islands
“On day in the Aeolian Islands” is an extraordinary and unforgettable experience. We offer a wide range of opportunities and activities to fulfill the needs and requests of all guests. Sports and adventures programs, cultural entertainment, relax and leisure in some of the most charming places of the Mediterranean.
Morning - Vulcano
With a private car we arrive in Milazzo Port
Transfer by hydrofoil to Vulcano, the island that gave its name to every volcano.
- Option 1: walking guided excursion on the top of the inactive volcano. The walk to the impressive crater (400m) is on easy and wide paths. The views are spectacular.
- Option 2: shopping tour of the island and swimming on the beach

Lunch: “Les Sable Noirs” in Vulcano is an exclusive restaurant. In its terrace overlooking the black volcanic beach and the sea, guests will have the opportunity to taste a superb cuisine based on genuine food and typical Aeolian recipes.
Afternoon : Transfer by hydrofoil to Lipari, the biggest island of the Aeolian archipelago.
- Option 1: tour of the island by bus and walking guided visit to the village and its famous archaeological Aeolian Museum.
- Option 2: a scooter will be at disposal of each guest for a free and exciting ride visiting its beautiful coast and the village.
17h30 : Transfer by hydrofoil to Milazzo and come back at the hotel with a private transfer
Dinner on your own ( BB, L)

Day 4 : One day with fisherman and cooking class
This morning , you are invited to cruise the spectacular coastline of Northwestern Sicily with one of Capo d’Orlando’s fishermen aboard his colorful fishing boat. The rugged coastline contains marvelous caves and rock formations.
The Excursion is organized with stops to swim  in the enchanting blue sea during the breaks that fishermen usually have several miles away from the coast.
Picnic lunch prepared by Manor House. Here you will have the chance to swim and fish.
After such a day on the boat, nothing better than a : cooking class prepared with fresh fish (vegetarian dishes on request) and white Sicilian wine in a private and beautiful Villas with a fantastic view on the Coast. Back at the manor house. Overnight ( BB, packet lunch , D)
Day 5 : Ceramic Class – Cefalù- Madonie Park
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 6 : Polizzi – Cooking class- Madonie Park
After the breakfast we’ll transfer in Polizzi generosa , a small village , surrounded by cheerfull countryside and green pastures
11h00 : guests will have a half-day cooking lesson in a old Sicilian family. The host will teach them to prepare some of the most popular and essential recipes according to the local tradition. Lunch at our new “friend’s” .
Afternoon : visit of Polizzi Generosa 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 the Park's Museum. During the walk through the town's medieval streets, guests will have a break for a sampling of typical sweetmeats.
Return to the farmgouse . Dinner and Overnight ( BB, L, D)

Day 7 : Ricotta cheesemaking – Palermo
After the breakfast we will leave the farmhouse by van and go up to the surrounding hills to see the best view of the Madonie Park . From there we will proceed to one of the oldest traditional cheese factories and watch the production of old-fashioned ricotta , fresh cheese produced in this area
Proceed to Palermo
Lunch on your own. Chech in at the hotel 4*
Afternoon : 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.
Free time to do shopping
Evening : before to get our typical restaurant for our special Farewell Dinner , we’ll stop in one of the most beautiful palaces in Palermo :Palazzo Alliata to have a cocktail
Palazzo Alliata 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, Overnight in the hotel ( BB , D)

Day 8 Departure
Morning: breakfast in hotel. Transfer to the airport in Palermo, assistance with check-in and departure to the USA.


Price x person in double room:
Base 2 pax
Price € 3700  per person for double occupancy, € 3965 for single occupancy

Base 4 pax
Price € 3055 per person for double occupancy ; € 3315 for single occupancy

Base 6 pax
Price € 2.150,00 per person for double occupancy ; € 2.350,00 for single occupancy

Base 8 pax
Price € 2800 per person for double occupancy ; € 2925 for single occupancy



Tour Includes:
• English speaking driver and guide for the whole tour
• Transportation by private car or minivan  for the whole tour
• Accommodations: 4* hotel and converted 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
• Cocktail + visit of Palazzo Alliata
• Private visit of Palazzo Biscari
• Visits and excursions as listed in the program, with helpful information about locations provided by our driver
• 3 cooking classes as listed in the program
• Ceramic demonstration
• 1 ricotta cheesemaking
• Boat Tickets x Aeolian Islands : Milazzo/Vulcano / Lipari / Milazzo
• 2 special excursions on the Aeolian Islands at choice
• Excursion on a fisherman boat
• A packet lunch on day 4
• A special lunch at “friend’s”
• 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
 

Inquire for prices, advise number of people and dates.