Tour
Tours, weekends and day trips include properties representing
the excellence of food and wine tourism in Sicily.
Whether a charming historic hotel or a new wine resort, on the seaside or in the countryside inland, or a Michelin
awarded-chef restaurant and winery, each provides a unique experience.
Their unmatched hospitality offers the demanding traveler a rewarding taste of local food and wine,
rich in Sicilian tradition and innovation.
The Sicilian Baroque : Admire and Taste
Travel Type: Guided Tour for 2 min or small pre-formed groups 18 max
Transportation: Private first class Vehicle & Driver
Guide: Driver-guided + Local Guides as per program
Period : year round - on request
Duration: 6 nights/7 days
Short description
For food lovers who want to savor every place they visit
Dine on gourmet meals in Michelin-star restaurants
Admire the grinning masks of the Sicilian Baroque Style
Follow the trail of the Greeks and Romans in Sicily
Highlights
About the Location
The Val di Noto area was completely destroyed by the massive earthquake of 1693 and then rebuilt in a Sicilian unique baroque style that changed the South-East face of Sicily. Sicilian Baroque style, with its grinning grotesque masks and angelic cherubs has a certain flamboyant character.
About the Resort
About the nature footpaths
The Vendicari Nature Reserve was established in 1984 and offers a mixture of lagoons, sand dunes, sandy and rocky beaches, making it an ideal habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna. This is a perfect place to have walk amidst the wild beauty of nature in a really wild atmosphere as well as a wonderful day on the beach in the summer.
Programma
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.
On a narrow winding street that connects Ragusa Ibla with Ragusa Superior is the church of Santa Maria delle Scale. The two halves are separated by the Valle dei Ponti, a deep ravine crossed by four bridges. Not so far there is a special place, a restaurant awarded with two stars of “Michelin Guide”, here we will have dinner.
Accommodation: 5-stars Resort
Meals included: Dinner
Second day: Syracuse. Night in Ragusa
After breakfast we will lead to Syracuse, visit the Greek Theatre and the Dionysus Ear, and have a guided walk through the streets of its historic center, Ortigia. We will see the market, the Arethusa fountain, the Dome, Palazzo Bellomo, the Castle of Maniace, one legend after another. Later have a relaxed afternoon on your own, wondering around the island, doing some shopping and admiring some of the great views on the sea. Light dinner in the resort.
Accommodation: 5-stars Resort
Meals included: Dinner
Third day: Vendicari, Marzamemi, Noto. Night in Ragusa
A place which is a not-to-be-missed place for those travelling in this area and if the weather is fine, is Vendicari Nature Reserve. It is a reserve instituted in 1984, a mixture of lagoons, sand dunes, sandy and rocky beaches, ideal habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna. The perfect place to have a nature walk in a really wild atmosphere.
A few kilometers far, there is a small charming village of Arabic origin, Marzamemi. In the centre of the village, opposite to the old ’tonnara’ of Principe di Villadorata, lies a plant for the conservation of fish, tuna and swordfish, we will visit it and listen to a fascinating explanation: from the Phoenicians to the Greeks, the Romans and the Arabs fish processing is a tradition in Marzamemi.
In the afternoon you will have a walking in the beautiful town of Noto which is an example of the all Sicilian version of baroque.
Accommodation: 5-stars Resort
Meals included: -
Forth day: Caltagirone, Piazza Armerina. Night in Ragusa
Today you will go through the very navel of Sicily to visit Caltagirone, the city famous for the production of pottery and for the 142-step monumental Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte, built from 1608 in the old part of the town. The peculiarity is that each step is decorated with different hand-decorated ceramics, using styles and figures derived from the millennial tradition of pottery making.
Leaving towards Piazza Armerina, visit with our local guide 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.
Accommodation: 5-stars Resort
Meals included: -
Fifth day: Modica, Scicli. 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. Visit St. George Church, taste the famous chocolate: 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.
We will have lunch tasting the cuisine of another popular awarded restaurant. In the afternoon, we will visit Scicli, another one of the seven UNESCO cities in the Val di Noto.
Accommodation: 5-stars Resort
Meals included: Lunch
Sixth day: Palazzolo Acreide, Akrai, Wine Tasting. Night in Ragusa
A day in Palazzolo Acreide combines the beauty of the archeological Greek heritage with fine examples of Baroque architecture.
We will visit the Akrai Archeological Park, with the theatre, the latomie, the bouleuterion the meeting place for the senate, the agora and Aphrodite's temple.
Palazzolo Acreide, as the whole Iblean area, was completely destroyed by the earthquake and then rebuilt in the same location in the baroque style. We will visit the cathedral of Saint Niccolo, the church of Saint Paul, the church of Saint Sebastian, Palazzo Zocco and Palazzo Judica Cafici.
Today we will have a visit and wine tasting in an excellent winery of the area.
The beautiful dining room of our resort will be the place for our farewell dinner.
Accommodation: 5-stars Resort
Meals included: Dinner
Seventh day: Leaving
Transfer to the airport. This journey comes to an end. Hope you enjoyed it.
Date & Quote
Year-round. Quote: on request
Including:
- 6 overnights stay in resort
- 1 visit to winery with wine tasting
- 1 dinner with tasting menu 4 courses in Michelin star restaurant
- 1 light dinner at the resort
- Farewell dinner at the resort
- 1 Lunch in Trattoria
- Excursions and Visits as per program
- Private first class air-conditioned minibus/bus for the whole program
- Local english speaking guide for the visits as per program
Not Including:
- Flights
- Personal Expenses
- Museum Entrance Tickets
- Drinks at Meals
- Everything not mentioned as included
- Local taxes
Special departure May - The ‘Infiorata’ in Noto
The third weekend in May the city of Noto features flower "mosaic" pictures made of flower petals.
The exhibit consists of many individual flower works spread out on Corrado Nicolaci Street, a street in Noto lined with wonderful palaces. On Friday the artists begin their creations so they can be admired over the weekend. Then on Monday children are allowed to run through the flowers, destroying the works representing the theme of creation by the older forces and destruction by the young so that renewal can take place.
Artists work with a special organic soil to outline a scene on the sidewalk which is filled in with specially prepared flower petals, along with other organic seeds and dried legumes.
Booking & Cancellation Policy
Terms & conditions
1)GENERAL INFO
Except otherwise specified, all the excursions include the service of a licensed English speaking driver-escort. The driver escort is a driver authorized to drive guests while providing basic cultural andhostorical inofrmations. However he is not a guide, the only professional authorized by Italian lawto guide visits in sites and archaeological sites
2)MINIMUM PARTECIPANTS
Except otherwise specified, each regular tour is guaranteeed with a minimum of 2 partecipants.
3)VALIDITY
All prices are valid from Jan 1st to Dec 31st 2019.
4)CURRENCY AND TAXES
All prices are in EURO including VAT and taxes.
5)ENTRY AND EXTRA FEES
Entry fees and meals (ifnot otherwise specified) are not included.
6)RESERVATION
All the information regardingthe travellers should be given at time of booking using the booking form.
7)DEPOSIT
The advance sale (10% deposit) will be paid in cash at your accommodation at time of booking.
8)PAYMENT
The balance will be paid to our driver escort by cash or credit card.
9)CANCELLATION AND PENALTIES
Following penaties will apply for cancellations made:
1)up to 7 days prior the service: 25% cancellation fee (including 10% advancesale)
2)from 7 to 4 days prior the service: 50% cancellation fee (including 10% advancesale)
3)from 3 to 1 days prior the service: 100% cancellation fee (including 10% advancesale)
4)no show: Booking & Cancellation Policy (3)100% cancellation fee (including 10% advancesale)
LICENCE – LIABILITY AND JURISDICTION
Private Sicily di Lai Viaggi SRL
Piazza S. Francesco di Paola 23/24/25 – 90138 Palermo - Italia
Telephone 0039 091 583728
P.IVA 00772170825
Licence n.13.C.1987
Third-party public liability insurance issued by UNIPOL ASSICURAZIONI , Policy No 40168762
In the event of a dispute concerning the terms of this contract, the court of law of Palermo, Italy, will have sole and exclusive jurisdiction.