9 days
Wines & Culture of Sicily

Day 1: Palermo

Upon your arrival at the Palermo Airport, you will be transferred to the hotel, free of charge. After you check-in to your accomodations, enjoy a welcome cocktail and meet your guide. Dinner will be at the hotel. After dinner, you will go on a panoramic tour, Palermo by Night. Return to the hotel and retire for the night. (BB,D)

4-Star Hotel: Residenza d'Aragona

Day 2: Palermo and the Corvo Wines

This morning you will breakfast at the farm before your transfer to Palermo. The morning will be spent with a guided visit to the characteristic hot spots of "Palermo Arabo-Normanna", "Palermo Barocca" and Monreale. Stroll through il Mercato della Vucciria, one of the oldest and most frequented fresh produce markets in the city.

Lunch on your own.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Corvo Winery and taste their production. Today Corvo is not only a historical brand for Sicilian wine-making, but also the producers of Italy's great classical wines, one of the leading and most popular wines in the world. After your return to the hotel, you will have dinner in a restaurant. Overnight at hotel. (BB,D)

Day 3: Erice, Marsala Wines and Donnafugata Cellars

Breakfast will be at the hotel this morning. Then, transfer to Erice, a magnificent medieval city nestled in a picturesque setting that rests untouched apart from the days its guests spend visiting its ancient churches and rich historic city center.

Visit the Antique Convent Pastry Shop in via Guarnotti, one of the most renowned Sicilian bakeries. There, enjoy a taste of the fine Erician pastries first created within the convent walls and, as a special treat, sample some of the characteristic almond dough desserts filled with candied lemon. Afterwards, take a guided walk down the narrow streets of the ancient town.

Next, transfer to Marsala, a city famous for the production of its namesake wine. Stop in Donnafugata Winery, where you will have a guided tasting of 4 wines, in the charming "Sala delle Botti", combined with bread, olives, tuna, arancini, focacce and local cheeses.

 

In the afternoon, you will briefly visit the Cantine Pellegrino for a tasting of Marsala Wines, conducted by an expert.

Check-in at the hotel for rest and relaxation. Dinner will be on your own before you retire for the night. (BB,L)

4-Star Hotel: Baglio Oneto

Day 4: Agrigento, Piazza Armerina and the Cellars: Tenuta del Nanfro

Breakfast will be at the hotel this morning. Depart for Agrigento for a guided visit of the extraordinary Valle dei Templi ("Valley of the Temples"), a masterpiece that stands testament to Greek art in Sicily. Afterwards, continue on to Piazza Armerina.
Lunch on your own.

In the afternoon, take a guided tour of the Villa Romana del Casale, built during the imperial age and famous for its precious Roman mosaics, which constitute some of the best conserved in the entire Mediterranean basin.

Transfer to nearby Caltagirone, the Sicilian capital for ceramic artistry, and stop over at the wine cellars of the Antica Tenuta del Nanfro for a guided visit and tasting of typical vintages from the area: Nero d'Avola and the Cerasuolo di Vittoria.

Following the visit, you will register at the accomodations provided by the Agriturismo, Villa Tasca. The establishment is surrounded by a vast open territory dedicated to the cultivation of orange and lemon orchards. Enjoy an authentic evening meal at Agriturismo, whose exceptional kitchens showcase typical regional cuisine and local produce. Retire for the night. (BB,D)

Hotel: Villa Tasca