WESTERN SICILY SPRING 2024

Our adventure begins when we meet at our beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of Palermo. You have time to introduce yourself and meet your fellow guests before we head out for a wonderful evening together. Tonight, you have your very first tantalizing taste of some of what this incredible city has to offer. We tour Teatro Massimo together - it’s the third largest in all of Europe and has a spectacular auditorium waiting for us.

Enamoured by the theater's bright lights, we head off to a local wine bar nearby for aperitivo just as the locals do. Open since 1946, we sample our very first Sicilian wine together and get to know each other.With appetites opened (the original purpose of this Italian custom), we head to a fabulous restaurant to feast on local specialties including eggplant caponata, swordfish involtini, and garlic clams in perfectly cooked spaghetti, all washed down with crisp local white wine.

• MEALS: Welcome aperitivo, Dinner with wine
• ACTIVITIES: Teatro Massimo visit
• ACCOMMODATION: Palazzo Santamarina Palermo – check in from 3pm

This morning we are off to one of the prettiest towns on the Tyrrhenian Sea - Cefalù. This tiny town has one of the most charming views over azure water and soft sand towards the whitewashed buildings and imposing rocky promontory beyond. Enjoy some freetime to wander the Medieval streets, explore the Norman cathedral, and stop for a granita.

All that exploring has worked up an appetite so we meet again for a delicious lunch at a restaurant nestled at the foot of the spectacular Norman Cathedral. Arabic flavours mingle against Greek and Italian influences with dishes of fish falafel, pasta with anchovies, saffron and wild fennel, and plenty of sweet and sour aubergine on the menu. Enjoy catching up with the group and sharing your impressions about this wonderful town over glasses of local white wine.

This afternoon, we head back to Palermo, but not without a stop at an 18th century Villa known as the ‘Villa of Monsters’. This one-time Royal residence was commissioned by Prince Ferdinando Francesco I. Together, we’ll find out just how this noble villa got its name…

Back in Palermo for the evening, we head out for a traditional Sicilian cooking class with some young local women in their home. The memories of this experience, and the recipes you learn, are the perfect souvenirs to take home. Together we roll up our sleeves and learn to make typical dishes like pasta al forno, arancine, cannoli, cassata and more. We hope you’re in the mood for a digestive too - we’ll be learning how to make the real authentic Sicilian limoncello.

After our hands-on cooking class, enjoy the fruits of our labour with a delicious home made feast accompanied by matched local wine.

• MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch with wine, Dinner with wine
• ACTIVITIES: Cooking class and Villa of Monsters guided visit
• ACCOMMODATION: Palazzo Santamarina Palermo

When in Palermo you must visit its two famed markets - the Capo and Ballaro. Fascinating sights and smells of freshly caught fish, just picked fruit and vegetables, vibrant Sicilian citrus, spices and wood-oven baked bread are just some of the delights that await us. We enjoy tastings along the way as we chat to local vendors and explore some of our guides other favorite foodie places in town - hint, pastry and the local nuns are involved. Have some time to relax back at the hotel, indulge in a siesta or hit the pavement for some shopping - the choice is yours this afternoon on our final day in Palermo.

Later this afternoon, we meet for a leisurely historical walk through mesmerizing Palermo. Our local guide will bring its Arabic/Norman roots to life and enchant us with stories of King Roger II, the Palazzo Royale and its extraordinary private chapel, and the impressive cathedral that holds the remains of the city’s patron saint Rosalia. We continue our walk to meet a very unique artisan preserving a centuries’ old Sicilian tradition - the Opera dei Pupi (Puppet shows). Telling the stories of Charlemagne and his knights as they fight for religion, glory, and love, the puppets themselves are works of art. Together we venture to a prolific puppeteer to understand a little more about this uniquely Sicilian art form.

Inspired by the stories, legends, and people of this fascinating city, this evening we head for a fun aperitivo in a lively palazzo near Palermo’s old Vucciria Market, where there is plenty of music and atmosphere. Soak in the scenes of Palermo nightlife with your new friends before we head to our final dinner in town.

• MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner with wine
• ACTIVITIES: Food tour with tastings, afternoon historical tour, puppeteer workshop visit
• ACCOMMODATION: Palazzo Santamarina Palermo

Today we head west and continue on our journey of Sicilian discovery making a stop at one of the region’s absolute must-see towns - Monreale. Prepare to be impressed by breathtakingly beautiful Monreale Cathedral, as our local guide provides important context and its multicultural symbolism. It is perhaps the very best example of Sicily’s Arab/Norman heritage in the whole region.

Next, we head onwards but not without a stop at a local farm for lunch with incredible views overlooking the Gulf of Castellammare. This family-run estate has produced organic extra virgin olive oil, organic wine, and fruit and vegetables for generations. The matriarch of the family is an American who moved to Sicily many years ago and has written some beautiful narratives on life in Sicily. We enjoy a tour of the property and interesting conversations with our hosts before sitting down to a lovely organic homemade lunch with wines from the estate.

In the afternoon, we make our way to Trapani - known as the city of salt. This pretty coastal town lies at the foot of Monte Erice. We check-in to our coastal boutique hotel where you have free time to relax or go for a walk through the old town where you can find gorgeous fountains, historical city gates, the fish market and marvellous churches. We meet again this evening to explore gorgeous Trapani together. It’s all about fish couscous here, so we'll try te with perfectly paired local wine.

• MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch with wine, Dinner with wine
• ACTIVITIES: Monreale cathedral visit and tour, Organic farm visit
• ACCOMMODATION: Dimora Botteghelle Trapani

We hope you like surprises, because we have plenty in store for you. Today we explore one of the most beautiful islands in the Egadi archipelago. These mountainous islands are surrounded by crystal clear waters and are full of the freshest of seafood - especially tuna. We meet our local guide who shares tales and stories of the ancient tuna fishing ritual on the island. Enjoy some free time to soak up the views, pop into little boutiques, or relax on the beach.

We meet up again for a typical Favignana style lunch and enjoy both dried and smoked tuna. It is the specialty of the island after all. After a few magical hours in Favignana, we set sail for the capital of sweet wine - Marsala. This town is famous for fortified wine. We indulge in the number one thing to do here - wine tasting - and enjoy a wander in the vineyards at one of the most historically important wineries in the area.

Heading back to Trapani, look out over the iconic salt pans of the West. In the summertime, there are giant mounds of white salt that are used to preserve tuna fresh from the sea. Take some time this evening to relax after a big day. We all meet up a little later for another delicious dinner together to reflect on our wine experiences thus far.

• MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch with wine, Dinner with wine
• ACTIVITIES: Island visit with tonnara tour, Winery visit and tasting
• ACCOMMODATION: Dimora Botteghelle Trapani

Have you got a sweet tooth? Indulge your cravings with a unique pastry making lesson this morning. We set off for medieval Erice, renowned for their dolci. Our teacher today is a local woman with ‘the’ pastry shop in the atmospheric hilltop town. Together, we make the famous Genovesi Ericine, a buttery shortcrust pastry filled with lemon scented pastry cream, and all kinds of deliciousness. It’s the perfect sweet start to our morning.

Armed with pastry making skills we can’t wait to show off back home, we take a leisurely drive to the beach one last time. This isn’t just any beach though - it’s an ancient seaside village and jaw droppingly beautiful. Our secret beach town is nestled between gorgeous faraglioni (seaside stacks), Mediterranean pine trees and crystal clear waters that lap around the shore. It has an important tuna fishing history that has left its mark on the culture.

Our destination though is surely the best seat in town - lunch at a very local restaurant on the terrace overlooking the incredible view of the sea and surrounding mountains dotted with prickly pears and pines. We feast on bowls of lemony linguine with the freshest red tuna of our lives, busiate pasta with earthy aubergine, and zingy sides of fresh vegetables. Of course, all paired with glasses of local Catarratto Bianco white wine.

After a few magical hours at this seaside treasure, we head back to Trapani. Here you have time to relax back at the hotel or go and explore and do some shopping. This evening, we head off for our final dinner in Trapani together. Sit back and relax over an atmospheric dinner together as we take in the view and toast to all the beauty that Western Sicily has to offer.

• MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner with wine
• ACTIVITIES: Pastry class, Erice and Scopello town visit
• ACCOMMODATION: Dimora Botteghelle Trapani

On our final full day on tour together we're bound for Segesta and her ancient ruins. We drive through the mountainous landscape until suddenly out of nowhere the ancient Segesta temple appears. Dating back to around 400BC, prepare to be amazed by the well preserved ruins that are still standing millenia after they were built.

Our local guide shows us the temple and amphitheatre ruins and brings them to life. We learn about its origins and more about the very early indigenous people - the Elymians- who lived here. We pause for a moment to sit on the hill and take in this incredible landscape together - Sicily really is breathtaking!

Inspired by our morning visit, we head off to a nearby winery and olive grove with a spectacular view over the surrounding countryside. You might spy Mozia Island and even Marsala, as well as Mount Erice and its Medieval village. Look out for the Egadi islands, with Favignana and Levanzo too. Sit back and enjoy Sicilian hospitality and the vineyard’s local wine. After a tasty lunch, we return to Trapani to meet a ‘last of his kind’ artisan who creates spectacular jewellery and sculptures and we have the opportunity to meet with him and understand his craft a little more.

Back in Trapani, you have some free time for final shopping, sightseeing, photo taking and relaxing before our final evening and dinner together with stunning sunset views. Raise a glass as we ‘brindisi’ (toast) new friendships and memories to last a lifetime.

• MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch with wine, Dinner with wine
• ACTIVITIES: Segesta visit, Erice visit, artisan visit
• ACCOMMODATION: Dimora Botteghelle Trapani

Enjoy one last view of gorgeous Trapani over a delicious breakfast this morning. With heavy hearts, we pack our bags and checkout, determined to find our way back to Sicily one day, even if just in our memories. Group departure transfers to Palermo airport or train station will be arranged for a morning departure.

MEALS: Breakfast
TRANSFER: Private transfer to Palermo airport or train station

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