TOUR of SICILY-EAST SIDE/2021 8 days

An experience more than a journey. 

A universe, where the art of the ancients was able to express itself at its best and where

the dawn of a new civilization did not necessarily mean the decline of the previous one.

An incredible succession of profound suggestions: timeless architectural jewels,

naturalistic areas apparently far from civilization, flavors of local tradition, they weave a canvas to compose a colorful, unique and emotional picture. An experience of light and colors in the heart of a millenary civilization full of contrasts that always bases its development on primary activities and in which the art of stone carving has acted as a common denominator over the centuries.

Arrival at the airport in Catania, meeting with your private driver and transfer to Syracuse. Here we will meet the local guide to visit the interesting archaeological area, just outside the city, and the its historic center, one of the most beautiful in Italy. Since 734 BC, when the Corinthians arrived and founded the ancient Syraka, the city has always played a fundamental role in the events of the Mediterranean area, so much so that it is a sought-after conquest of practically all the civilizations of the area. The fascinating Greek Theater (still home to spectacular staging), the Roman Amphitheater, the Latomie, the mythical Ear of Dionysus are the remains of a millenary culture, which have come down to us still rich in charm. After leaving the park, Giovanni, one of the most accredited chefs in Sicily, awaits us in Ortigia, to reveal the secrets of some of the culinary products typical of this land. We will get to know them starting from the zero ingredients to finally taste them. The historic center of the city, Ortigia, offers its guest a suggestive de of streets, alleys and squares overlooked by splendid buildings. Ortigia is a place to be enjoyed slowly by strolling around (both day and evening). The imprint is decidedly baroque. Of rare beauty Piazza Duomo, which amazes for the perfect chromatic and architectural harmony of its people elements, including the Duomo, built on the remains of a temple, the Benevantano palace, with its fascinating facade, the church of Santa Lucia, patron saint of the city, with inside the splendid canvas of the deposition of Saint Lucia, by Caravaggio. 

The walk that continues with the mythical Arethusa spring, where the papyrus grows luxuriantly, ends in what was the Jewish quarter, where the largest Jewish bath in Sicily (miqveh) was miraculously saved. The atmosphere of the bathroom will be one of those memories that we will hardly get out of our heads. Accomodation in hotel in Ortigia, dinner and overnight stay. 

Breakfast at the hotel and day dedicated to the far south of the island. First stop in Noto,

beautiful baroque city,  called the "stone garden".

It was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693, maintaining all the characteristics of the typical baroque.

Val di Noto has grown using local stone instead of expensive marble together with the remarkable ability to exploit the morphology of the land and particulary the hills to obtain a natural theatrical effect and all this without the intervention of the architect.

The local stone, among other things, crumbly, blond, golden, gives buildings a warm and fruity aspect. The scenographic staircase of the Cathedral dominated by the mighty dome and the balconies of Palazzo Nicolaci among the most beautiful in Italy, give us the idea of ??how this art is expressed at high level. 

At the end, transfer to Bonivini for the visit and a brunch at one of the most famous wineries in Sicily, where we will experience the rurality of the Sicilian landscape then a relaxing walk through the protected oasis of Vendicari, one of the most beautiful nature reserves on the island. 

Visiting Vendicari means immerse yourself in a naturalistic context of rare charm, among traces of Hellenic and medieval ruins as well as old tuna traps. Here many and rare migratory birds find shelter before the great crossing to the warmer lands of Africa. Adjacent to the reserve, Marzamemi, one of the most picturesque seaside places

of southern Sicily. Visit to the only charming seaside village, today open to visitors and well preserved.

In the past, its tonnara, set of shaped nets that are used for bluefin tuna fishing, was competing to that of Favignana in the west side od the island facing Marsala.

Transfer back to the hotel and dinner in a restaurant in Ortigia.

Breakfast and transfer to Ragusa, always part of the territory of

Val di Noto. During the transfer we will notice the peculiarities of this area of ??Sicily: the famous dry stone walls that are lost on the horizon, old stone farms and centuries-old carob trees (the carob tree is, together with the olive tree, the vine, the wheat, an integral part of the Sicilian territory since ancient times;).

The first stop will be Scicli, a pleasant town surrounded by hills that seem to protect it, which has almost entirely preserved its Baroque layout; in fact, there are countless palaces with splendid balconies and precious richly carved portals; incredible the succession of churches and oratories with beautiful facades. Walk in the small and charming old town and then transfer to Modica for a roundup of typical appetizers in a "trattoria". Among the most picturesque cities of the province, located on some rocky spurs of the Iblei (mountainous plateau, of tectonic origin, located in the south-eastern part of Sicily) the town is divided in two areas: higher Modica, stretched along a quarry, is characterized by numerous houses that climb on the rocks and by the bulk of the monumental church of San Giorgio, another symbol of the Baroque in Val di Noto and lower Modica, further down the valley, features two main axes overlooked by the most important monuments of the city including the Cathedral of San Pietro.

Modica is now a simple town but in the past was a glorious baroque town: the county of Modica was a very powerful region between 500 and 600 AD under the Spanish domination.

Ancient glories recognized by UNESCO, which in 2002 gave the town the title of "World Heritage Site".  Modica is also the city of chocolate and a tasting will make us appreciate the characteristics of this particular food whose recipe comes from the Aztecs. Accommodation in hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast and departure to visit the suggestive Donnafugata castle, an imposing residential villa preceded by a wide avenue at the sides of which there are the warehouses, stables and

dwellings of the peasants. Of the 122 total rooms only some can be visited but they are enough to understand the sumptuous and suggestive atmosphere of the time. The park, where various exotic plants find their natural habitat are enriched by a neoclassical construction, a labyrinth and artificial caves. It is probable that the Donnafugata park is not completely unknown to us, given its use in many film sets.

Light lunch in a restaurant and transfer to Ragusa Ibla.

Ragusa must be discovered without haste while walking among its

characteristic alleys with splendid views. The portal of San Giorgio, the first jewel that the visitor encounters when arriving in Ibla, let us imagine the beauty of the town before the earthquake, which today instead shows itself with its late Baroque appearance. The Cathedral of San Giorgio, majestic and fascinating at the same time, with the characteristic lines typical of the baroque in Val di Noto is  Symbolizing the architectural style of Ragusa.

Return to the hotel, dinner in a starred restaurant in Ibla and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for the center of the island, or Piazza Armerina, where, among pines, elms, poplars and hazelnuts is located the monumental complex known as the "Villa Romana del Casale", a luxurious patrician residence dating back to the 3rd and 4th centuries BC. and today elected by Unesco "World Heritage Site". 

Meeting with your local guide who will tell about the late Roman villa, having a particular plan consisting of four groups of rooms with galleries, peristyles, courtyards and thermal rooms that with over 3,500 sqm. of mosaic floors, offers one of the most extraordinary and extensive known texts of decoration mosaic of the time. Not to forget the unexpected "bikini room" or the colorful room of the great hunting that give us the feeling of being among the pages of a book. At the end we will move in Caltagirone, the city of majolica.
But first, among the verdant hills around the town, we will be guests of a winery born from a new generation returned to agriculture to follow standards of quality and respect for the environment. Visit to the cellar and small brunch. Caltagirone has a highly scenographic position, emphasized by interventions architectural and urban planning of great quality, the infinite vastness of the views, the wealth of buildings, the animation and movement of streets, stairways and squares are the main features that for centuries have attracted travelers from all over. The Scala di Santa Maria del Monte is the monument par excellence is with its 142 steps decorated with colorful

majolica. Climbing the ladder is a bit like throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain the inhabitants say. Walking through the alleys it will be easy to meet some open workshops where you can see the patient craftsman intent in the production of real ceramic jewels. Transfer to Giardini Naxos, hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast and transfer to Taormina, certainly the most famous tourist resort on the island.

The town is famous for its enchanting position overlooking the sea in the background of Mount Etna and for the fine architecture of its buildings. The Theater is of considerable artistic and cultural Greek Roman appeal, still used today. The town should be enjoyed slowly to admire its enchanting views from the characteristic alleys and why not, for a bit of shopping in its elegant boutique. Free lunch and in the afternoon and visit to the Alcantara gorges, a naturalistic site resulting from a millenary geological process with a strong landscape impact. Return to the hotel, free dinner and overnight stay.

Today we will dedicate the whole day to His Majesty Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe.

We will start with the South side, the most popular of the two sides, which will already show us the uniqueness of the volcano. Very ancient and more recent flows that follow one another, overlap, alternating with stretches of luxuriant vegetation. The most intense black, the most brilliant green crossed from a winding road that will make us reach an altitude of 1,800mt. Once there, we cannot lose the ritual of walking around the circumference of the lower volcano of the Silvestri Mountains, from which you can admire, among other things, an immense panorama over the plain of Catania. From an altitude of 1,800 mt it will be possible to reach 2,900/3,000mt through the cableway, 4x4 vehicles and the mountain guide who will take a short walk at high altitude to admire particular volcanic phenomena (payment on the spot).

At the end, we will go down towards Milo and stop for a brunch in a 19th century winery located in a suggestive position at the foot of the volcano. From here we will continue to the north side of Etna, to reach the entrance of the path that will take us to the Sartorius Mountains. 

A spectacular trek through the vegetation of mid-mountain and the peaks of the ancient Sartorius volcanoes; a unique day, full of breathtaking landscapes in the shadow of "iddu" or "a muntagna", as Etna is called by its inhabitants.

Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay,

Soon after the breakfast and, with luggage in hand, we leave the hotel to go to Catania. Today more than ever Catania is a living example of how a natural force such as Etna can be the same time source of destruction and wealth. Rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1693, using lava stone, it has a typically baroque appearance that softens the dark color of its palaces. 

We will immediately start with the popular soul of the city, namely the picturesque open-air fish market, called the "piscaria" fish market, a riot of colors and smells.

Then we will continue with the monumental part: the imposing cathedral in the scenic square of the same name, the elegant via Etnea, now the city's living room, the spectacular via dei Crociferi and the Bellini theater are just some examples of the artistic jewels of this city. One of the city's historic bars is definitely worth a stop to taste the typical rotisserie together with some sweets. Our journey ends in beauty, among the splendor of Palazzo Biscari, the most prestigious noble palace in Catania, a splendid example of the late Baroque style. We will be welcomed by Prince Ruggero Moncada himself, a noble family of Catalan origin and presumed Bavarian derivation, with branches in Spain, Sicily and Mexico, who will show us his home room by room: maybe not all since the building has almost 600 .... 

Then transfer to the airport, in time for boarding.

• private car available (Mercedes E class or Vito or similar) for the entire duration of the inclusive tour of food and accommodation for the driver, parking, tolls

• English speaking driver

• 2 BB c / o 5 * hotel in Syracuse

• 2 BB c / o 5 * Hotel in Ragusa

• 3 BB at 4/5 * Hotel in Giardini Naxos / Taormina

• cooking class with one of the most renowned chefs of Sicily in Syracuse;

• 1 dinner (3 courses) at the hotel in Syracuse;

• visit and brunch in a famous winery in Noto;

• dinner in a prestigious restaurant in Syracuse;

• tasting of typical appetizers in a tavern in Modica;

• 1 dinner (3 courses) at the hotel in Ragusa:

• light lunch in a restaurant in Donnafugata;

• dinner in a starred restaurant in Ragus;

• visit and brunch in the cellar in Caltagirone;

• 1 dinner at the hotel in Taormina / Giardini Naxos;

• visit + brunch in the 19th century cellar on Etna;

• rotisserie and pastry tasting in Catania;

• water with all meals;

• visit with aperitif to a noble palace in Catania accompanied by the owner prince;

• local guide service FD (max 8 hours) for: Syracuse, Noto / Marzamemi, Donnafugata / Ragusa, Modica / Scicli, Etna, Taormina / Gole; 

• HD local guide service (max 4 hours) for: Catania;

• HD local guide service (max 2 hours) for: Piazza Armerina (Villa Romana del Casale), Caltagirone.

• any city taxes to be paid locally;

• entrances to sites and monuments;

• wine with meals;

• anything not expressly mentioned under "the fee includes".