Programma

First Day:  Catania, night at the foot of Mount Etna .

We’ll arrive at Catania airport, meet our driver, and depart along a panoramic route to the resort.  First stop, after a few miles, is Aci Castello, a seaside town where we will visit a Norman castle perched on a rock above the sea.  This lava stone fortress also hides a small jewel of a garden.  We’ll next stop at Aci Trezza to see the shoals where Polifemo met his fate during battle against Ulysses.

The villages along the coast named after the Aci River are linked to the myth of the shepherd ACI who fell in love with the nymph Galatea.  However, the blindly jealous Polifemo, also in love with Galatea, killed Aci in a fit of rage.  The Gods, feeling sorry for Galatea, transformed the shepherd into a constantly flowing river, rejoined Galatea where the two remain in an everlasting embrace in the deep blue of the Ionian Sea.

Arrive at the resort.  Guided tour of the hundred of Mediterranean plants on the grounds.  Dinner at the resort restaurant.

Accommodation: 4-stars Boutique Hotel 
Meals included: Dinner

 Second Day:  Taormina,  night at the foot of Mount Etna.

“If anyone, remaining for only a few days in Sicily asked me: What must I see?  I would surely answer: Taormina” wrote Guy de Maupassant.

After a brief introduction to Taormina by our guide, you’ll have free time to explore the historic city center.  On the return road we’ll stop for a priceless jewel, the Castello di Calatabiano. We’ll take a steep cable car ride along an unforgettable panoramic route up/down to the castle’s well-maintained archeological site.  After a relaxing pause at the cafe, we’ll get back on the road to arrive at the Castagno dei Cento Cavalli (Chestnut Tree of a Hundred Horses).  The longstanding name of this tree is tied to tradition which states that Queen Joan of Aragona took refuge here with her entourage including one hundred horses under cover of the local forest during a storm.

Return to the resort for dinner.

Accommodation: 4-stars Boutique Hotel
Meals included: Dinner

Third Day:  Etna, night at the foot of Mount Etna.

Our morning will be dedicated to the “mountain”, which is how the locals refer to the volcano Mount Etna.  The trip up the mountain will be by bus till Rifugio Sapienza (1800 m. ), people can go till 3300 m. by the Funivia. Returning to the foot of Etna, we’ll reach a very interesting area that will bring us back in time:  Remains of a Greek and then Roman civilization, which the local vegetation has now transformed into a garden.  Around 1382 the lava covered everything preserving many treasures underneath only to be discovered relatively intact thanks, in part to the work of clearing the stone to plant grape vines.  Today the villa’s owner, a farmer and landscape designer, has created a three acre garden that respects and enhances the many traces of the past still evident: the catwalks of stone known as rasule, hand crafted irrigation canals called saj, and above all, volcanic rock as the main feature of the garden.   Naturally there’s the citrus grove.  Don’t forget that we are in Sicily.  It’s at this beautiful villa where you’ll have a Sicilian dinner.

Accommodation: 4-stars Boutique Hotel
Meals included: Dinner

Forth Day:  Etna, night at the foot of Mount Etna.

Catania will be the first stop of the day.  We will walk along the main street, Via Etna, the entrance to Villa Bellini, once private garden but now Catania’s public garden.  Look closely at this "labyrinth":  The habit of building intricate path gardens where guests could easily get lost was all the rage in Europe in the 1700s.  Then we’ll visit a historic building in Catania, home to a fashion studio-museum and with a uniquely Sicilian fashion designer who incorporates lava stone, obsidian, pottery, crystal, copper wire, paper, cork, roots into her fabric. 

Afterwards, we will visit a small jewel, a private garden around a neoclassical villa.  The various works of contemporary art in this garden combine with rare notes of Mediterranean species as well as rare tropical and subtropical plants, providing a garden rich with suggestions of the orient.  You can relax and enjoy the home cooked flavors offered from a delicious finger food menu at the end of the visit.  

Return to the resort in the afternoon in time for evening dinner.

Accommodation: 4-stars Boutique Hotel
Meals included: Light Lunch & Dinner

Fifth Day:  Syracuse.  Night in Ortigia.

We depart Etna for the city of myth par excellence, Syracuse. Along the way, one more stop in a private garden, created by Scipio and Maria Carla Borghese.  The owner will welcome you for a special drink while talking of the myths and legends of this exotic garden.  Legend has it that Hercules, son of Zeus, was brought here as a gift to Ceres, goddess of the harvest, and the skin of the Nemean lion that he defeated here created a lake that bears his name:  Lacus Hercules.  The lake has been renamed over the centuries; the Arabs called it Bevere, watering of flocks and fish hatchery.  Today it’s the Biviere Garden.

Arrive in Syracuse.  Check-in at our hotel in Ortigia, the historical center of the city.  Afternoon and evening to explore the city.

Accommodation: 4-stars Hotel
Meals included: -

Sixth Day.  Syracuse.  Night in Ortigia.

Syracuse is located on the outskirts of the River Cyane nature reserve.  Greek mythology has it that the river was created from the nymph Cyane, who was transformed into a natural spring because he tried to prevent the abduction of Proserpina.  A young Anapo fell in love with the nymph Cyane and after transforming his girlfriend, he changed himself into the river that today, at the end of its path joins the Cyane, a flows into the Great Harbour of Syracuse.  Along the banks of the river, which we cross with a small boat, grows the largest planting of papyrus in Europe.  This lush aquatic vegetation shelter many species of resident and migratory birds.

Enchanted, we visit the garden of a semi-fortified feudal property that belonged to the Marquis di San Giuliano for over 800 years.  The garden complements the structure of the late fifteenth century fortified farm and takes the place of the immense courtyard once used to grind grain and gather grapes and olives from the estate. This “Small Garden” is divided into four areas bounded by stone walls that make full use of the twill, or traditional irrigation channels of Arabic origin.  It includes an Arabian garden with ponds and water lilies, a tropical garden with palm trees and large specimens of cacti, a Mediterranean garden that combines rose and grapefruit, and finally a garden of filled with the aroma of helichrysum, lavender, thyme, sage, cistus, and myrtle.

Afternoon dedicated exploring archaeological area of Syracuse including, the Greek Theatre, the Ear of Dionysius, and the Latomie with our private guide.  Dinner in a historic Osteria di Ortigia.

Accommodation: 4-stars Hotel
Meals included: Dinner

Seventh Day:  Departure

Transfer to Catania Airport after breakfast. This tour comes to an end, hope you enjoyed it.

Date & Quote

Map

Booking & Cancellation Policy

HOW TO BOOK
You can initiate a booking by sending an enquiry by e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or telephoning us directly 0039 091 583728, or sending an enquiry online at our website formwww.privatesicily.it  . You will be contacted by a member of our staff within 48 hours (working days). We will send you a proposal and quote for the services required. Once we have receiced your written confirmation we will confirm all the service by issuing and sending via e-mail a pro-forma invoice. Please check this pro-forma invoice carefully as soon as you receive it and contact us immediately if there is any wrong information about you or the services confirmed.
GUARANTEED DEPARTURES
The tours marked as guaranteed departures will depart as scheduled with the minimum number of participants specified in each tour.  We will confirm the tour 30 days before the scheduled day. We try to make every departure work and only cancel when absolutely necessary and we may decide to operate a tour with less than the normal minimum number of people.
If your tour is cancelled because the minimum size group is not met, you will have the option to either transfer to another tour or receive a full refund of the deposit paid. 
PAYMENT
Usually to confirm your booking, we require a deposit of 30% of the total quote, and the balance is required 30 days before departure ; we will specify when different conditions apply in your pro-forma invoice.
CHANGES 
Any changes to your confirmed booking, must be notified us in writing.  Whilst we will endeavour to assist, we cannot guarantee we will be able to meet the requests.  Changes in party size which result in a decrease in the overall cost of the booking will be treated as a partial cancellation and our normal cancellation charges will apply.
CANCELLATIONS
Any cancellation should be made in writing (by e-mail).
Following penalties (% of total invoice) will be applied for cancellations made: