Highlights
About the location
Menfi stands on the Porto Palo foothills jutting out into the Sicilian sea opposite Africa and overlooking Porto Palo, a fishing village and quaint summer resort that once served as a harbor for the Greek colony of Selinunte. The long, sparsely populated coastline has 8 km of beaches with characteristic dunes and wild lilies in the sand. It's an unspoiled place, surrounded by vineyards and washed by the clean water of the sea: Menfi has held the European Blue Flag for 16 years and has gained a reputation as a pristine bathing resort and its beautiful natural landscape.
About the Estate
This hilltop working estate first appears to be a typical rural hamlet surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. Your hosts are top Sicilian wine producers who are attentive to every detail. Its fourteen rooms, each with a private terrace, and accented with the scent of the olive grove make it a truly inspiring place.
About the nature paths
Three routes full of surprises among flora, fauna, old wells, springs and historic vines.
The main route, offers a surprising biodiversity and begins from the old houses in the middle of the Nero d'Avola vineyard. The whole path is accented with many points of interest from the perennial plants indicated with small labels to old wells dating back to 1689.
Travelers often spent the night at the Ulmo baglio or the little Arab fortress of Mazzallakkar, of which the ruins are still visible on the edge of the lake. As the gates of the fortress and the baglio were closed at a certain time, late arriving travelers climbed the footpath up the mountain and took shelter in a recess of the rock near the spring called La Segreta. La Segreta restored travelers and their horses with its pure water. Another path also begins at the same place as La Segreta, but then diverts to a path that runs through the middle of the vines.
About the wineries
The original winery of the family stands on the banks of the Arancio Lake, near the town of Sambuca di Sicilia. Inside, at ground level, are the fermentation vats, while below are the barrels for maturing the best selections of Chardonnay and Fiano. Its overall capacity is about 1,200 barrels. The winery is devoted to the production and maturation of the white wines Alastro, Cometa and Chardonnay.
Programma
First day: Palermo, Menfi.
Arrive at the airport of Palermo or Trapani, meet your driver and transfer to Menfi.
According to your flight schedule it is possible to add a visit to Mothia, a tiny island just off the coast north of Marsala that was once the home of a Phoenician colony. The road is inspiring too: it is the salt road, a truly unique scenery with shelter for migration birds, windmills and the so called salt houses (mountains of salt covered with tiles).
Arrive at Menfi and accommodation in a refined wine estate, a place where you can easily take time out and relax. A walk through the vineyards and then you will be welcomed in the big dining room where guests sit together round the 30-seat dining table.
Second day: Menfi, walk through the countryside, Cooking.
Whether you are an amateur, a gourmet or a passionate food lover, food is a key to discover and understand Sicily, so we suggest to take a cooking class held by the resident chef and one of the owners, guardians of the Sicilian culinary tradition; it will be a funny and true Sicilian experience. Then sit down together and enjoy the dishes you have prepared.
Guided walk of 2.4 km length (about 1 hour)in La Segreta nature footpath, a route whose name comes from the wood which rises above Ulmo and the valley of Lago Arancio. It was also one of the halts on the ancient road which once linked Sciacca and Palermo. You will be fascinated by the stories about the travellers who used to spend the night here to rest during their journey.
Third day: Cycling, Bathing, Mazara del Vallo, the Dancing Satyr.
Today we will cycle on a bike path converted from the old disused railway line. The route, 5 km, goes through the vineyards andoverlooksthe beautiful beaches awarded by more than 16 consecutive “Bandiere Blu” for the cleanliness of the sea.
In the afternoon visit the small town of Mazara del Vallo, a real casbah, this being the most 'Arabic’ Italian town, it will be nice wondering among its narrows streets.
Later, you will admire the "Dancing Satyr" found in the waters of Mazara del Vallo. This bronze statue, expression of the Hellenistic tradition, represents a satyr member of Dionyses’orgiastic court. He dances in a blowing whirlwind causing his hair to wave. It is touching. Dinner at the Resort.
Forth day: Sciacca, Selinunte Temples
Our morning will be spent in Selinunte, the Europe's biggest archaeological park and, once, the most important Greek colony in the eastern coast of Sicily, full of temples, sanctuaries, fortifications and sculptured metopes. Light lunch at the resort.
In the afternoon we will visit Sciacca, a nice village famous for the pottery. We suggest to have dinner in a very popular restaurant around here right on the beach.
Fifth day: Leaving
Transfer to the airport. This journey comes to an end. Hope you enjoyed it.
Date & Quote
The present itinerary is available year-round on request.
Quote: on request
Including:
- 4 overnight stay & breakfast
- Bikes for the bike path at the old disused railway line
- Private first class air-conditioned minibus & English speaking driver
for the transfers and the visits in the program
Not Including:
- Flights
- Personal Expenses
- cooking lesson + lunch
- drinks & meals
- Museum Entrance Tickets
- Everything not mentioned as included
- City taxes to be paid on spot
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:
Up to 60 days 10%
from 59 to 31 days 30%
from 30 to 21 days 50%
from 20 to 01 days 100%
before arrival date
no show 100%
If different conditions apply, they will be specified in the booking process.