Day 1 - PICK UP FROM CATANIA & FOOD TOUR

We start our wonderful Sicilian tour by picking you up from Catania and taking you into this beautiful city. Upon meeting our guide, you will be taken on a wonderful food tour, around the local market stalls, sampling different Catanese specialties, including desserts, made of the freshest ingredients. Here, you will have time to relax and take in the atmosphere, before continuing onto our beautiful hotel to enjoy our included welcome dinner. (D)

Day 2 - TAORMINA & DINNER WITH LOCAL FAMILY

We wake up fresh today and head for the most talked about town in Sicily, the picturesque, Taormina. This morning you are free to wonder around the tiny streets, shop at the boutiques, take in the views to Mt Etna and beyond, go for a swim at Isola Bella, or just laze around and enjoy the atmosphere, enjoying a granita at the world famous, Bam Bar. 

Later in the afternoon, we enjoy a traditional 4 course dinner, wine & coffee, made with love, in the home of a real Sicilian family. After a gorgeous evening spent, we head back to our hotel, satisfied & content. (B,D)

Day 3 - MT ETNA, BEE KEEPING FARM & LOCAL WINERY

Today we head inland, to one of the largest, most active volcanos in Europe, Mt Etna. This magnificent volcano standing at 3350m, a Unesco World Heritage Site, covers an area of 59,000 hectares of unique geology, flora and fauna, villages and farms, traditional methods of forestry, bee-keeping, wine manufacture, stonework and carpentry. Here, we will have a guided tour, explaining the small volcanic cones surrounded by ancient lava flows. The view beyond the mountain’s hundreds of subsidiary cones and craters, can extend across the whole of Sicily, the Aeolian islands and Calabria, which is spectacular. Later we will visit a local bee-keeping farm and taste real, homemade honey and typical products of the area. Later on, we enjoy lunch before proceeding to a wine tasting at a local winery. (B,L)

Day 4 - SIRACUSA, ORTIGIA & COOKING CLASS

Further south today to Siracusa and Ortigia. Today we meet up with our local private guide in Siracusa, who will take us on a walking tour around the city and across to the historic little island of Ortigia. Ortigia is the oldest and most historic part of the city and is connected to the mainland by three bridges.

It's gorgeous narrow streets and traditional architecture and ancient flowering balconies, can only be appreciated on foot. The tour ends at a local market, where we will collect a few ingredients, and proceed to our local chef’s private villa and have a cooking class. The kitchen is placed on the last floor of the villa and has a terrace observing Syracuse's historic centre. Later, we leisurely head back to our hotel for the evening. (B,L)

Day 5 - SICILIAN OUTLET VILLAGE & AGRIGENTO

Say goodbye to the East coast, as we head across and down to Agrigento. But before we get there, we can't go past the Sicilia Outlet Village. Spend a couple of hours wondering around the beautiful outlets of Gucci, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Furla, Hugo Boss, Armani and many more, in this beautiful relaxed atmosphere. 

Later on, we continue to our hotel in Agrigento for dinner. (B,D)

Day 6 - VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES & SCALA DEI TURCHI

Today we awake and head for the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO National Heritage site, where our guide will take us along the historic paths, amongst hundreds of almond trees. Once one of the most prosperous of the ancient Greek cities on the island, Agrigento presents a remarkable series of Doric Temples of the 5th century. You will see the “Temple of Hera”, the “Temple of Concordia” and the “Temple of Heracles”.

After our walk, we drive along the coast, to the spectacular ‘Scala dei Turchi’. The Scala is formed of limestone, giving it a characteristic white colour. It lies between 2 sandy beaches and accessed through a rock formation in the shape of a staircase, hence the name. The bright white colour resembles a snow covered cliff and you can walk to the very top to admire the gorgeous views over the sea. Free evening back at the hotel tonight (B)

Day 7 - DAIRY FARM & LOCAL WINERY

Off to visit a dairy farm in the countryside today, where we learn how fresh dairy products are made. The landscape is surrounded by beautiful olive trees and large palm trees, that will capture your heart. Here, we have the opportunity to taste test the freshly made, artisanal dairy products. 

Following the dairy farm, we continue onto a local winery, where we learn about the care and the processes of wine making. You will have time to admire the beautiful vineyards and aromatic barrels, while tasting a few of them, before sitting to a light lunch made with the local products. This afternoon we head back to our hotel to relax. (B,L)

Day 8 - ERICE, MONREALE & PALERMO

After breakfast, we head for Erice & Monreale. At 2,461 feet in altitude, this fairytale of a town of Erice, Monte San Giuliano, is a mix of myth and history, that was dominated for centuries, by everyone from the Elymians and Phoenicians to the Greeks and Romans, Normans and Vandals. We visit the church of San Martino, in Norman style, the Mother church, Sant'Albertino degli Abbati and the temple & castle of Venus. The views of the coast from the mountain are absolutely spectacular.

We then make our way to Monreale to visit its huge Norman Cathedral, proclaimed the Eighth Wonder of the World, because of its splendid Cloister in Arab-Norman style: admirable masterpieces of art, sculptures, and semi-precious stones. After a full day we check into our hotel in Palermo for our included dinner. (B,D)

Day 9 - PALERMO

Wake up in this beautiful baroque city of Palermo. One of the richest towns on the island for its history and art. We spend our half day tour covering the city and all its beauty. As we stroll along, we notice how the Baroque predominates and how there's a profusion of different architectural styles reflecting the city’s multicultural past, including an elegant opera house. This morning we visit the wonderful Arab-Norman Cathedral, the astonishing Martorana Church and the amazing Cappella Palatina, an example of how different cultures, religions and way of thinking, apparently incompatible can coexist. Continuing our walk we will admire the debated fountain in Pretoria Square, which is adorned with XVI century sculptures, stopping for a food surprise in the famous Antica Focacceria, San Francesco. Tonight, why not try some of the street foods at the local stalls for dinner. (B)

Day 10 - MONDELLO BEACH & PALERMO

Today you are free to wonder around, do some shopping, take in the local delights, or go to Mondello beach, where you can relax, go for a walk, or a swim in the crystal clear waters.

Enjoy your last night in Palermo, by taking in the night markets with the locals, or go to a traditional restaurant for dinner. (B)

Day 11 - TINDARI & AEOLIAN ISLANDS

Fresh & ready to continue our journey, we start making our way to the Aeolian Islands. First stop, Tindari. A famous destination for pilgrimages and amongst the locals, Tindari is located on the gulf of Patti. The Sanctuary of the black Madonna and black baby Jesus of Tindari, perched above the sea, dates back to 800AD. It is unknown how the madonna arrived here, but the locals embraced her and placed her in a tiny church overlooking the bay. Legend has it, that a miracle had occurred here between a mother & her baby & how the strange strip of sand, below, rose up to save it. This strip of sand is now its main attraction.

After a short stop here, we make our way to the port of Milazzo, where we board our ferry across to the first of our Aeolian islands, Lipari, for the next 3 nights. Time to relax and enjoy our included dinner tonight (B,D)

Day 12 - ISLANDS OF VULCANO & LIPARI

We wake up today on the beautiful Isole Eolie. This morning we head for the island of Vulcano. Vulcano is known for its sulphurous hot springs and upon arrival, you are suddenly hit with the strong smell of sulphur. Here you are free to walk around, bathe in the hot pools or relax & have lunch somewhere. After our half day on Vulcano, we make our way back to Lipari where you are free to relax by the pool, go to the beach, have an aperitivo or dine with the locals for dinner. (B)

Day 13 - ISLANDS OF PANAREA & STROMBOLI

Breakfast in the hotel and departure from the port of Lipari for a full day excursion to Panarea & Stromboli. First stop, Panarea, to visit the beautiful bay of Calajunco, above which lies the prehistoric village of Cape Milazzese. Maybe take a swim at  the Zimmari beach. Then the tour leaves for a scenic ride between the Isolotti, visiting the Cave of Lovers, to reach the harbour. Here you can have lunch, take a stroll through the elegant streets, visit the prehistoric village or have another swim. In the afternoon we continue to Stromboli. You will stop to admire Ginostra a small fishing village, then continue to see the Sciara del Fuoco, a steep slope with lava rivers and Strombolicchio, a gigantic rock. At sunset, the tour returns below the Sciara, where the sea meets the volcanic explosion in a symphony of reddish lapilli. 

Our farewell dinner will be in a local restaurant that evening, before sailing back to Lipari. (B,D)

Day 14 - FERRY ACROSS TO MILAZZO & END OF TOUR

Rise and shine today for our last day in Lipari. We leave on the morning ferry back to the port of Milazzo, where our Sicily tour ends. We hope you have enjoyed every moment of this incredible tour and we wish you all, a safe return home. Hope to see you again some time soon. (B)