Heart of Sicily

This morning our local specialist will take us in one of Sicily most famous historical attractions, the Valley of the Temples, (UNESCO HERITAGE SITE) just outside of Agrigento. This splendid archaeological park consists of eight temples built between 510 BC and 430 BC. The Temple of Hera, Concordia, Heracles, Olympia Zeus, Castor and Pollux, Hephaestus, Demeter, Asclepius (the God of Medicine) they are all situated along a rocky crest below modern-day Agrigento. After lunch on your own we will continue for Scala dei Turchi (Turkish steps) they are bright white rocky cliffs gleaming brilliantly under the Sicilian sun as they rise from the blue Mediterranean Sea. Back to Castellammare, this evening is at your leisure to explore.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Early this morning we will head to the mountains to a family-run farm Antica Masseria to learn how to make our fresh Homemade Ricotta Cheese. This experience is well worth the early wake up as we savor these authentic Sicilian flavors for lunch. Later get ready for a very special sightseeing tour of this amazing coastline of the Mediterranean Sea to the Belvedere for a photo opportunity. Next, we will stroll through the village of Scopello where you will have time on your own to explore. This evening we will drive through the Sicilian countryside for this authentic Farm to Table Experience where we will enjoy homemade specialties and wines. Sit down for a unique, Sicilian dinner using produce that was grown on the hosts’ organic farm. Tour the farm, learn about life in Sicily, and have dinner together in this beautiful setting.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a relaxing morning, we are off to experience this afternoon at this Organic Farm where we will have the pleasure to stroll through the olive groves to Harvest the Olives. After a brief introduction on the olive trees and benefits of extra virgin olive oil, you are actively involved in laying the nets under the trees and harvesting the olives in the appropriate baskets and we will witness the pressing of the olives in our small oil mill. Once you have relaxed it is time to learn how to make Traditional Sicilian Bread, we will head to the GASTRONOMIC LABORATORY with “LE MANI IN PASTA”. We will learn every step and do them yourself from mixing the ingredients to kneading the dough with the help of our local housewife. After this extraordinary experience we will enjoy the tasting of the new olive oil with our hot homemade bread along with olives and olive pate’. We will complete this unique day with an authentic Sicilian Lunch with Wines. This will be the most memorable, fun and hands-on way to spend an afternoon in a local farm to enjoy an authentic culinary experience.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today we will leave Castellammare for a sightseeing tour of Erice. This medieval town sits 2400 meters above sea level. Enjoy the views of theTyrrhenian Sea from the hilltop and explore Erice’s charming medieval streets and square and pleasure your palate with traditional Sicilian desserts where you will have the opportunity to purchase local souvenirs and enjoy lunch on your own. The bus will take us along the coast of Marsala where lies this evocative landscape of Le Saline (shallow salt pools) and decommissioned mulini (windmills). The salt from these marshes is considered Italy’s finest. We will continue to the town of Marsala where we will tour this magnificent eighteen century Marsala Winery which will leave you speechless. The English guided tour will take us through this journey that will begin in front of these majestic giant wine barrels, built at the end of the nineteen century and still used for the refinement of Marsala. We will walk beneath 104 stone arches through the barrel vaults to see over 2000 small and large barrels of wine. After the tour we will reach the grandiose and elegant tasting room, where we will taste a range of their best wines paired with authentic gastronomic nibbles. Back to Castellammare, this evening we will meet for dinner at this authentic local restaurant with a beautiful view of the marina, while we savor a delicious Sicilian multi course meal with local wines included.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Transfers to the airport (based on departure times on the specified tour dates)
Ciao Ciao

Included Meals: Breakfast