Palermo and the charming western Sicily Taste and Slow Italy - Trasimeno Travel Sas, Via Novella 1/F, 06061 Castiglione del Lago, Perugia. Tel. 075-953969, Fax 075-9652654 www.tasteandslowitaly.com - info@tasteandslowitaly.com
Day 01 Arrival at the airport of Palermo. Meeting with the tour leader and transfer to the hotel in Erice by private bus. If it is not too late in the day, you will have the opportunity to visit the enchanting Erice accompanied by the tour leader. Situated at the top of a mountain -at 750 meters above sea level- it has a wonderful view on the valley below. In clear days you can also see the Etna Volcano on the horizon. It is one of the most popular tourist destination in Sicily. Erice hosts the Ettore Majorana Centre for Scientific Culture: funded in 1963, it has become an excellent pole of scientific researches on an international scale. Today it is an important catalyst of cultural initiatives. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel. Day 02 Erice After breakfast, departure with the tour leader to reach the harbor of Trapani by private bus for a boat trip of the Aegadian Islands. Meeting with a local barcaiolo (ferryman). Departure for an half-day trip to the wonderful islands of Favignana and Levanzo with a pleasant lunch on board accompanied by a nice glass of wine. Egadi In the afternoon, walking tour of Trapani. Get to know one of the most attractive streets in the city: Via Garibaldi. It is flanked by churches and palaces dating to the 18th century, such as Palazzo Riccio di Morana, Palazzo Milo and the Church of Badia Nuova one of the oldest churches in Trapani. At the end of the street admire the Cavarretta Palace, also known as the senatorial palace: the magnificent façade consists of two orders adorned with columns and statues and it is crowned by two big clocks. Next to it, the Clock Tower which dates back to the 13th century. Return to Erice. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 03 A day totally immersed in archeology. After breakfast, departure with the tour leader and the private bus to Segesta, Selinunte and Alcamo. First stop: Segesta. Segesta Under Greek rules, the ancient Segesta soon ranked among the leading towns of the Mediterranean basin. In the 5th century B.C. it was the biggest rival of Selinunte. The archeological area of Segesta is overlooked by the majestic silhouette of the Doric temple -one of the most perfectly preserved monuments to survive from antiquity. It stands in grand solitude on a hill surrounded by a deep valley. The theatre was built in the 3rd century B.C. during the Hellenistic period, while the area was under Roman domination. It consists of a perfect semicircle with a diameter of 63 meters located on a rocky slope. Beyond the tiers of seats facing west towards the hills, to the right, you can see the bay of Castellammare. Every two years, in summer, the theatre is revived by throngs of spectators eager to savour the great Classical tragedies and comedies so beloved by the ancients in a timeless setting. Second stop: Alcamo. Free lunch and walking tour. Third stop: Selinunte. It is one of the most extraordinary and one of the greatest archaeological areas in the world. The ancient name Selinus comes from the Greek Selinon, a sweet-smelling herb that was found here by the Greeks. Worldwide known as one of the most beautiful archaeological areas and the greatest example of the classical period, it spreads over 270 hectares. Selinunte Tasting session of the typical brown bread -Slow Food Organization product- in Castelvetrano. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. Day 04 Sicilian culinary school, Marsala and the salt works. After breakfast, departure with the tour leader and the private bus for an exciting and pleasant lesson of Sicilian cuisine. Learn how to cook the popular Sicilian cous cous and enjoy a delicious lunch with typical dishes. In the afternoon, visit of the wonderful salt works of Marsala. The road that takes you from Trapani to Marsala, along the lagoon that hosts Mozia, is flanked by salt pans which offer a spectacular
Saline di Marsala view: squares of water divided by narrow strips of land forming an irregular and multicolored chessboard. In places, the profile of a windmill may be discerned, a reminder of the past when they were used for pumping the water and grinding the salt. The sight is even more striking in summer when the salt is ready to be collected: the pinkish hues of the concentrated saline contained in the outer pans vie with those towards the centre of a deeper color, while the innermost, now dry, sparkle in the sunshine. According to your preference, you will have the opportunity to taste the Marsala wine main product of the area- in the wonderful wine cellars of Donnafugata (or another cellar), or to visit Motia, a tiny island in front of the salt works of Marsala. Thanks to its geographical position close to Africa- Motia was an unavoidable transit port towards Spain, Sardinia and the centre of Italy: it soon became one of the most prosperous Phoenician colonies in the Mediterranean basin. Return to Erice for overnight stay in the hotel. Day 05 After breakfast, departure with the tour leader to reach Palermo by private bus. On the way to Palermo, you will have the opportunity to see the wonderful Riserva dello Zingaro, between San Vito lo Capo and Scopello. The natural reserve consists of a sharp line of Dolomitic calcareous rocks that extends in the western part of the Gulf of Castellammare, along the eastern side of Capo San Vito peninsula, on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Take a nice walk in an unspoiled natural setting. Free lunch in the surroundings of Scopello. Few kilometers away from Castellammare del Golfo, at the top of a hill that overlooks a green valley ending on the sea, you will find Scopello -a small and quiet village which dates back to the 17th century. Few inhabited houses, a paved tiny square, a drinking trough, an ancient arch and a lot of peace and quiet: this is what you will certainly appreciate of this timeless place, where everything seems so far and unreachable! Scopello Enjoy the local cuisine based on fish, pane cunsatu and cassatelle. Arrival in Palermo in the late afternoon. Accommodation, dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 06 After breakfast, guided tour of Palermo - the chief town of Sicily. Palermo embodies the very essence of Sicily. It is the most Arabic city in Italy, as it can be seen in the monuments and in the main worship buildings. The multiethnic past is also reflected in its rich gastronomy. Must sees: During the centuries, the Cathedral of Palermo has been temple, a mosque and a church. It is thought to be built on an ancient temple dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In 831, after the Saracen invasion, the Moors decided that it was too beautiful to raze it to the ground: they began to use it for their religious ceremonies, turning it into a mosque. They called it Gami. With the Norman Conquest of Palermo, the mosque went back to the Christian faith becoming a Christian church: between 1100 and 1200 they started to renovate it, giving it a Byzantine aspect. In the inside, you can find a part of the rich Treasure of the Cathedral of Palermo. Palermo - Cattedrale The Cappella Palatina is located in Palazzo dei Normanni, the seat of the regional parliament of Sicily. The palace is a very old building -it probably has Arabic origins. The Regional Archeological Museum Antonio Salinas is one of the most important museums in the Mediterranean basin. The remains that it hosts on two different floors run through many centuries of history. The local markets of Palermo are timeless places. They have preserved the glamour of the ancient culture. Each year the Ballarò and Vucciria markets where the colors and smells of Palermo and of the whole of Sicily meet the stallholders and attract a significant numbers of tourists. Free lunch. In the afternoon, departure with the tour leader by private bus to reach Monreale. Monreale with its 30.000 inhabitants- has developeed around the majestic and wonderful Cathedral. Guglielmo II started building the Norman Cathedral in 1174, in an absolutely desert area. This choice -influenced by political reasons and personal rivalries between the Norman King Guglielmo II and the English archbishop Gualtiero Offamilio- affected the subsequent evolution of the city. Return to Palermo. Dinner and overnight stay. Monreale
Day 07 After breakfast, departure with the tour leader and the private bus for a guided tour of Bagheria and other small villages at the foot of the Madonie mountains. Between the striking gulfs of Palermo and Termini Imerese, Bagheria -15 kilometers far from Palermo- is renowned for its stately 17th century palaces and its elegant and sumptuous baroque villas which used to be the summer residences of Palermo s aristocrats. You will start the tour from Villa Cattolica, the seat of the Gottuso Museum. Then, visit the most famous villa in the city: Villa Palagonia. Villa Palagonia Built in 1715 by Prince Gravina, it was then enlarged by his exuberant nephew Ferdinando: he crowned the walls with numerous statues with a grotesque and sometimes even monstrous aspect. In fact, the ancient residence is also known as the villa of the monsters. Free lunch. Departure to Cefalù. Built on a promontory overlooked by a sheer cliff, Cefalù still preserves its ancient aspect. It has developed around the Cathedral which was commissioned by Ruggero II. See the charming maritime suburb, with its old houses overlooking the sea and its long stretch of beach with fine sand, one of the most beautiful beaches in the northern coast. Cefalù Departure to Castelbuono. Visit of a popular confectioner s shop. Few kilometers away from the sea, Castelbuono has developed at the foot of the Madonie mountains. The surrounding valley has been inhabited since the Neolithic era: it is rich in Greek, Roman, Arabic and Byzantine remains. In 1316 Francesco I dei Ventimiglia built a castle here as his residence. Return to Palermo. Dinner and overnight stay. Day 08 After breakfast, departure with the tour leader by private bus to reach the airport. End of the services.
Tour Information: The tour will be available with a minimum of 16 paying participants The tour can be changed according to airport and flights schedule Round trip flights reservation available Booking cancellations insurance available Services Included: 8 days, 7 nights in a 3/ 4 star hotel in HB Tour leader for the whole duration of the tour Local guide for the visit of Trapani, Segesta, Selinunte, Palermo, Monreale Private bus with driver for the whole duration of the tour Private boat to Egadi islands tour with small lunches Marsala wine tasting sessions in hystorical cellar One Sicilian cooking class and lunch A salt tasting session in Marsala A tasting session of the typical brown bread (slow food) Not included: Anything which is not expressly mentioned in the list above Travel health insurance Baggage insurance Entrance fees Tips and personal expenses DAY ITINERARY MEALS 1 Arrival and transfer to the hotel in Erice D 2 The Egadi islands (Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo), tour of Trapani B - L - D 3 Segesta, Selinunte and Alcamo B - D 4 Cooking lesson and visit the salt pans in Marsala B - L 5 Transfer to Palermo, stop in San Vito lo Capo, the Riserva dello Zingaro and Scopello B - D 6 Guided tour of Palermo.Tour of Monreale B - D 7 Bagheria and Villa Palagonia, Cefalù and Castelbuono B - D 8 End of services B B = breakfast L = lunch D = dinner Taste and Slow Italy - Trasimeno Travel Sas, Via Novella 1/F, 06061 Castiglione del Lago, Perugia. Tel. 075-953969, Fax 075-9652654 www.tasteandslowitaly.com - info@tasteandslowitaly.com