SICILY

DISCOVERY TOUR

SICILY

HISTORY, CULTURE,

ARCHITECTURE & CUISINE

DISCOVERY TOUR

9 Days / 8 Nights

October 4 - 12, 2020

Starting From $6,475

Mount Etna

Bourque Architecture in Modica

Noto

Join us for a specially designed trip to sensational Sicily as we immerse ourselves in the island's culture treasures for 9 days, visiting in early October, the best time of year to visit the island!

We'll discover Sicily's fascinating and complex history... its rich and unique culture... the magnificent architecture... the island's natural beauty... and delicious Sicilian cuisine. We'll travel from Palermo to Agrigento to Siracusa... visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites with local historian guides... having gastronomic meals, a cooking class with a local chef, olive oil & chocolate tastings... seeing the lush countryside... experiencing the captivating culture... engaging with local people. Sensazionale!  

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We'll begin in Palermo, Sicily's bustling historic capital city, which has been dominated by different civilizations and ruled by different conquerors for over 25 centuries. With our local Sicilian historian guide we'll be introduced to the special sites that make up this marvelous and diverse city. We'll see stunning architecture, examples of a social-cultural syncretism between Western, Islamic and Byzantine cultures.... including Palermo's and Monreale's Baroque churches and ancient palaces which make up Arab-Norman Palermo, included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

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We'll have a Sicilian cuisine day. With a Palermo chef we'll start the day sampling some of Palermo's best street food, discovering some of the town's best hidden spots... a perfect way to familiarize ourselves with Sicilian cuisine. We'll visit Ballero Market, Palermo's biggest food market where our chef will tell us about seasonal foods, how to buy fresh fish, vegetables, dry fruits and all the basic ingredients of the Mediterranean diet. For lunch we'll be guest at our chef's home where we'll be served a buffet of traditional dishes of Palermo in a traditional way: antipasto, primo platto, secondo platto and dessert, along with wines from a natural Sicilian winery. Our chef will explain everything about her kitchen and secrets she uses to prepare dishes.

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We'll travel south to Agrigento for an amazing archaeological experience at the Valley of Temples. With our local historian guide we'll explore Sicily's most dramatic archaeological site of standing ancient Greek temples, including visiting Temple of Zeus, the largest in Sicily.

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We'll head east across the island to Siracusa, stopping on the way for a tasting session and lunch at an olive oil farm that has over 10,000 olive trees and voted "The World's Best Olive Oil" for four years in a row by the New York olive oil competition. The owner of the farm will delight us with a wonderful lunch with typical receipts from this corner of Sicily, using vegetables plucked straight from the  .

We'll visit Piazza Armerina to tour Villa Romana del Casale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With our local historian guide we'll visit this famous villa, part of a 3rd-4th century AD estate, to view the villa's exceptionally beautiful mosaics that have been preserved for centuries. 

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We'll discover Siracusa with our local historian guide for walking tour of its Baroque historical center. For over two centuries Siracusa was considered to be one of the most powerful cities in the world. We'll visit the ancient archaeological park, admire the Greek theater and see Ear of Dionysius.

We'll take a day-trip with our local historian guide to visit three of Sicily's most beautiful Baroque architecture villages -- Noto, Ragusa and Modica -- to see their natural beauty and golden stone architecture. In Modica, famous for chocolate making, we'll take time to visit one Sicily's most famous chocolate shops for a tasting session.

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We'll take a day-trip to visit Mount Etna, at 3,329 feet that it is Europe's highest volcano. Afterwards we'll enjoy a special eno-gastronomic adventure - we'll have Sicilian cooking class and lunch to discover Etnan cuisine with a local chef. After cooking we'll enjoy our meal and Etna vineyard wines paired with the dishes we make. We'll try some of the best crus that the Mount Etna complex wine region produces, which is one of the most interesting and dynamic wine regions of Europe. Mount Etna is a volcano of tastes. The many eruptions over the centuries have created extremely fertile soil, which extends from the rocky shores of the Mediterranean to the highest slopes, in a great variety of micro-climates. Characteristics of the region's soil reflect in the unique taste of fruits, vegetables and grapes. Our chef will prepare a buffet lunch table for us with famous Eastern Sicilian dishes and explain them to us. An enologist will tell us about the wines that this complex wine region produces. It will be an extraordinary gastronomic experience!

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And we'll travel to Taormina for a guided tour of the enchanting small resort town that was originally built by the Greeks in the 3rd-century  BC.

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The tour includes many extras... a welcome reception to get to know other guests on the tour... a farewell dinner with traditional Sicilian cuisine and wines... transportation between the airports and the hotels.

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Each evening we'll enjoy traditional Sicilian gastronomic cuisine meals... dining at personally selected restaurants.

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We'll stay in premiere/signature/luxury hotels -- three nights in Palermo, one night in Agrigento, and four nights in Siracusa -- luxurious environments to relax and unwind.

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There will be personal free time for... exploring & shopping on your own... taking leisure walks... rubbing shoulders with locals... enjoying the Sicilian sunshine... relaxing.

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Optional before breakfast group pleasure walks are organized for travelers who want some morning exercise before starting their vacation day.

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The Sicily Discovery Tour Is Designed To Provide:

• A fabulous vacation experience exploring Sicily's cities, villages and countryside...  discovering Sicily's history, culture, architecture, natural beauty and cuisine.

• Friendly and fun small group environment limited to 15 persons. Enjoy the camaraderie and begin friendships with like-minded travelers.

• Many activities -- private tours with local historian guides visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites... learning about Sicilian cuisine, enjoying delicious Sicilian gastronomic meals and having a hands-on cooking class with a local chef... olive oil & chocolate tasting sessions... seeing the island's beautiful countryside and landscape... and more!

• Free personal time for individual sightseeing... relaxing... shopping

• Optional group morning pleasure walks led by WalkEurope president, Tom Harter.

• Recommended restaurants should you want to explore on your own, yet everyone is invited to join local-cuisine group meals.

• Concierge service & support – fully escorted tour, personal & customized service for a WORRY-FREE vacation!​ 

What's Included:​

• Eight nights in personally-selected premiere/signature/luxury hotels -- elegant environments to relax and enjoy your Sicily visit. 

• Daily Sicilian breakfasts.

• Welcome Reception with Sicilian wines.

• Sicilian lunch hosted by a Palermo chef in her home with traditional dishes of Palermo served in a traditional way: antipasto, primo platto, secondo platto and dessert; with wines from natural Sicilian winery. 

• Etnan cuisine cooking class with a local chef, followed by lunch and pairing with Etna vineyard wines.

• Olive oil tasting and lunch at an olive oil farm.

• Modica chocolate tasting session

• Farewell dinner with traditional Sicilian cuisine and local wines.

• Palermo & Monreale City Tours -- with a local historian guide learning about and seeing Arab-Norman Palermo, UNESCO World Heritage Sites - visiting the magnificent churches and palaces, including Monreale Cathedral.

• Palermo Cuisine Day -- with a local Palermo chef learning about Sicilian cuisine, visiting local shops, sampling Palermo street food, and visiting Ballero Market, Palermo's largest outdoor food market.

• Tour of Agrigento's Valley of Temples, Sicily's most dramatic archaeological site of standing ancient Greek temples, including visiting Temple of Zeus

• Tour of  Villa Romana del Casale with a local historian guide to see the exceptionally beautiful mosaics that have been preserved for centuries, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,

• Walking Tour of Siracusa -- to see the Baroque architecture historical center, ancient archaeological park, Greek theater and Ear of Dionysius.

• Day-trip with a local historian guide to visit three of Sicily's most beautiful Baroque architecture villages - Noto, Ragusa and Modica.

• Visit to Mount Etna, Europe's highest volcano. 

• Tour of Taormina.

• Sicilian local professional guides.

• Admission to all museums, gardens, palaces and villas.

• Morning pleasure walks - optional before breakfast group walks.

• Airport transport - between airports & hotels.

• Ground transportation for all group activities and day trips.

• Concierge service & support - tour personally escorted by WalkEurope president, Tom Harter.​ 

Arrival & Departure Cities:

Arrival City: Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Departure City: Catania, Sicily, Italy

Trip Cost:

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Premiere/Signature/Luxury Hotels:

• $6,475 – 9 days / 8 nights per person in double occupancy shared hotel room. Tour cost does not include airfare.

• Added cost for private single room hotel accommodation option - $1,350

Space Is Limited -- Reserve Early!

Small Group Tour. Limited to 15 persons.

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Please Note: WalkEurope strives to operate according to our published itinerary. However, in the event of unforeseen circumstances beyond our control or opportunities that would enhance the itinerary, adjustments may be necessary. Hotels and itinerary are subject to changes. Tour is subject to meeting eight person participation.