Itinerary
On or Before Friday, April 11: Arrive Palermo. Recommend UAL direct from SFO to Rome, then island hopper to Palermo.
by 3:00 Friday, April 11: Check into hotel IBIS STYLES PALERMO CRISTAL, Address: Via Roma 477/A - 90139 Palermo. Dinner in Palermo with the group.
Saturday, April 12: 9:30 Driver meets group at hotel (leave bags at hotel) for drive to Porta del Vento, lunch at winery with winemaker. Stop in Monreale before return to Palermo, same hotel. Group dinner in Palermo.
Sunday, April 13: Free morning in Palermo - walk through Palermo's famous Sunday markets (start early - say 8 or 9 AM - or the best vendors will be sold out). Meet at hotel by 11:45 with bags packed for bus ride for Ayunta, then on to Etna hotel near Palmento Costanzo.
Monday, April 14: Immediately following breakfast, depart for Palmento Costanzo for our tour, tasting and lunch. Drive to early-ish dinner in Ragusa. After dinner, depart for hotel in bus.
Tuesday, Aril 15: After breakfast, depart hotel for Tasting at COS followed by lunch at a restaurant on the shore. Tour Modica and Scicli, end up in Ragusa.
Wednesday, April 16: Work back toward Palermo via Agrigento for a tour of the famed ancient temples. Driver and bus depart after dropping group in Palermo. Final group dinner in Palermo before heading back to hotel.
Thursday, April 17: Inidividual departures to airport or parts beyond.
Care to join us?
Check seat availability by clicking here.
- Total is $2,500/person, double occupancy.
- Single surplus is $500.
- Michelin star upgrade is $200.
- Airfare and airport transportation not included.
Sicilian Highlights, from Giuseppe LoCascio
Palermo
Founded by Phoenicians over 2700 years ago, this city has since been ruled by the Greeks, Romans, Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Spaniards, French (Angioins), and Bourbons before joining the Kingdom of Italy in 1860.
Not surprisingly, you'll find Palermo is a vibrant melting pot of old cultures bustling with a hip Mediterranean vibe. It's like Barcelona, Marseille and Istanbul combined, but with a touch of northern europe.
Its rich history can be seen in Palermo's many churches and monuments, each reflecting the different art and architectural influences exerted by these diverse cultures over the centuries:
Baroque: look for the Churches of Santa Caterina (below) or San Giuseppe dei Teatini.
Arab/Norman: Majestic examples of the Arab/Norman period can be found in San Cataldo, Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio, the Cappella Palatina or the Duomo of Monreale (image below, near our winery visit with Marco Sferlazza at Porta del Vento).
Art Nouveau and Neo-Classic style: The two major opera houses of Teatro Politeama and Teatro Massimo (below) are world-renowned examples.
Food Diversity: The same rich cultural diversity is reflected in Palermo's local cuisine, showing strong Jewish, Arab and Mediterranean influences. You'll find these and more represented in the city's street food scene (below), which Giuseppe describes as Palermo's most interesting fare.
Shipping Attractions: Palermo has its own "5th Ave" shopping district in Via Libertà, between Piazza Politeama and Piazza Croci, with many amazing shops.
Palermo is also the capital of Sicily (an autonomous Region within Italy), where the Sicilian Parliament (Palazzo dei Normanni, or Palazzo Reale) and Government are located.
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ETNA
The highest and most active volcano in Europe is also the home of the Etna DOC wine appellation. While wine has been made in this area for centuries and though Phylloxera never did much damage here (thanks to the sandy/volcanic soils), production fell drastically (like in many other parts of Europe) during and after the two World Wars. It wasn't until the late 1990s that a handful of visionary pioneers re-discovered the potential of this area.
The unique geographical position, the black volcanic soils, plenty of old vines, and the contrast between the mountain climate and Mediterranean influence have fueled a renewed interest in Etna's unique wines. In the past decade or two, the wines of Etna DOC have been launched onto the international stage with wines of incredible tension, elegance and character.
It is impossible to visit the wine country on Etna without noting a magnetic presence, an energy in the air that the locals refer to "Idda" or "A Muntagna", as the volcano is locally known.
We'll visit two wineries in this area - Ayunta and Palmento Castanzo.
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RAGUSA
Located in the south-eastern corner of Sicily, Ragusa is considered the "capital" of Sicilian Baroque architecture, along with the towns of Modica, Scicli and Noto.
An earthquake at the end of the 17th Century forced the population of Scicli to rebuild the city on the top of a neighboring hill (Ragusa Superiore), while the old town (Ragusa Ibla), remains a treasure trove of ancient Baroque buildings.
Our winery visit to C.O.S. will occur here, in the neighboring town of Vittoria.
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AGRIGENTO
Agrigento is home to one of the World's top archaeological sites, the "Valle dei Templi", rivalling Athens and Pompei. The Agrigento museum hosts one of the world's largest collections or Greek and Roman sculptures and vases.
Located in what used to be the initial settlement of Akragas, where the first Greek colonies arrived in the 6th century BC, it is today a collection of well-preserved temples, sanctuaries and tombs. We will be purchasing tickets for one of the park's group tours in advance of our trip.
After our visit to Ragusa and surrounding sites, we'll head back to Palermo for our final night and farewell dinner.
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Care to join us?
Check seat availability by clicking here.
- Total is $2,500/person, double occupancy.
- Single surplus is $500.
- Michelin star upgrade is $200.
- Airfare and airport transportation not included.