Program

First day: Catania, Ragusa – Night in Ragusa

Arrive at the airport of Catania, meeting with the driver and transfer to Ragusa. Accommodation in the reserved rooms.

We will spend the afternoon in Ragusa Ibla. Definitely a jewel of architecture with its medieval lanes, churches and palaces that are among the most beautiful late-Baroque buildings, decorated with burlesque masks and golden stone laces. Dinner at the resort.

Accommodation: 5-stars Resort
Meals included: Dinner

Second day: Vittoria, Val di Noto – Night in Ragusa

In the morning we will go to a beautiful wine company and have a visit, with the winemaker, of the winery, the cellars, and the amphorae room with dozens of jars buried in the floor. It is impressive: the company use clay amphorae, a material that does not give any characteristic flavor and they produce also a wine fully fermented and aged in amphorae. But let’s let the owner himself tell us the whole story.  Have a tasting of 3 wines, including a DOCG, accompanied by bread, ragusano cheese, olives, baked ricotta and muffins.

In the afternoon you will attend a cooking demonstration lesson given by a Michelin-starred chef in the kitchen of the restaurant in Ragusa Ibla.

After the lesson, dinner will be served in the beautiful restaurant. For those not wishing to cook let’s have a relaxed afternoon wondering in Ragusa Ibla and join the ‘chefs’ for dinner.

Accommodation: 5-stars Resort 
Meals included: Dinner

Third day: Modica – Night in Ragusa

The morning will be dedicated to Modica: as you walk along the streets you will first of all notice the steps, which are a characteristic of the town. We will taste the famous chocolate produced here: the history of modician chocolate dates back in the past, when Modica was related with Spain and consequently with the ancient civilization of Mexico, the Aztec.

In the afternoon, you will have the chance to have a unique hands-on cooking lesson, held in the old flour mill of the resort, dealing about the Grain Chain, Bread and Pasta making.

Accommodation: 5-stars Resort 
Meals included: -

Forth day: Piazza Armerina – Night near Agrigento

Today you will go through the very navel of Sicily to visit in Piazza Armerina, the Villa del Casale, a Roman villa built in the first quarter of the 4th century, containing the richest, largest and most complex collection of Roman mosaics in the world.

Later on we will go to a resort set in a working olive oil farm, a green oasis where selected olive trees, some of them over hundred years old, grow thanks to the ancient passion of the owners. The resort is the beautifully restored old farm furnished with antiques and family heirlooms.

The landlady, Silvia, is an excellent cook and she will provide a cookery classes on site, teaching you how to prepare and cook typical Sicilian dishes including cannoli. Let’s sit together all around the big table and taste what we have cooked.

Accommodation: 4-stars Resort
Meals included: Dinner

Fifth day: Agrigento – Night in Palermo

Today we will visit the Valley of the Temples, the largest area of Greek buildings outside Greece, listed as a World Heritage Site. Well, the numerous temples erected in the fifth century BC, were not built in a valley but along the crest of a mountain. Following the ancient principle (Greek as well as roman), all the constructions face the East so that the rising sun would first illuminate the statue of the Divinity, as a font and principle of life. Leaving towards Palermo, we will stop to taste a speciality slow food Presidium, the black bread of Castelvetrano. Dinner will be served in the beautiful restaurant of the hotel.

Accommodation: 5-stars Hotel
Meals included: Dinner

Sixth day:  Palermo, Monreale – Night in Palermo

The morning will be dedicated to a private themed walking tour of the historic center around the ‘Leopard’ writer, Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. Later we will visit the most colorful fruit and fish market of Palermo and taste Sicilian street food.

In the afternoon your local guide will show you the Monreale Cathedral, a pearl of Arab Norman art. Bible stories are represented with unique mosaic work on the walls and ceiling of the cathedral while the pillars of the monastery are covered with tiny golden plaques. The cathedral as well as the monastery are a breath taking and leave people to gasp in solemn silence. Back to your hotel. Evening at leisure to explore local restaurants.  

Accommodation: 5-stars Hotel 
Meals included: -

Seventh day: Erice, Segesta – Night in Palermo

Riding along the coastline from Palermo then turning into the Sicilian heartland, passing through vineyards, wheat fields you eventually arrive to Mount Erice. The city built on top was once dedicated to the goddess of Love, Venus. Some claim that is was Aeneas who found it, escaping from Carthage, to other however it dates back to Phoenician times. Today it is a lovely medieval town. Lunch in a special place overlooking the saltworks.

A tortuous and fascinating street brings you to Segesta, offering a perspective of the temple that will remain impressed. It is a perfect example of the Doric school. Visit of the Temple and the Theatre.

Back to your hotel. Farewell dinner.

Accommodation: 5-stars Hotel 
Meals included: Dinner

Eight day: Leaving

On the way to the airport, we will drop by the bay of Mondello, we will have a delicious ice cream, to say arrivederci.

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 form www.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:

If different conditions apply, they will be specified in the booking process.