The Best of Sicily: Itinerary
ITINERARY
Day 1: Monday (10/6)
Welcome to Palermo
If you haven’t already, you will transfer from the airport and check-in to the NH Collection Palazzo Sitano Hotel. Check-in is available from 3pm.
5:30pm
Welcome drink in the hotel reception
6:30pm
Walk all together to the restaurant for our first Sicilian Dinner.
Arrival Notes:
When you arrive in Palermo airport, your driver will be waiting just outside the baggage claim exit doors. They will be holding a sign with your name. If you cannot find your driver, then hop on the airport wifi and send me a whatsapp message and I will help you.
Regardless of which day you are arriving, Ashley and I will be waiting for you in the hotel, to help you check-in.
Dinner Notes:
The dinner will be down by the port in a waterfront restaurant so we can enjoy the view. The menu will be 2-3 courses ala carte so you can choose the dishes that you like the best. Water and some wine will be included.
Day 2: Tuesday (10/7)
Palermo
Breakfast
9:00am – meet in hotel reception
Full Day Walking Tour with break for lunch
A melting pot of culture in more ways than one, Palermo’s 2700 years, influenced by Greeks, Romans, Arabs and the Norman Conquest, weaves
a rich historical and cultural tapestry evidenced in part by its Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau churches, palaces and buildings. Explore the historical center with our tour guide Cetty Spotto. After lunch we will finish up the tour at the Palermo Cathedral Complex.
We will finish up around 3:30pm. You can make you own way back to the hotel, exploring and shopping in Palermo.
Meet Our Tour Guide – Concetta ‘Cetty’ Spoto
Cetty holds a degree in architecture from the University of Palermo. After her graduation, she moved to the United States where she attended a course in interior design at the New York School of Visual Arts. After many years in Boston and New York, where she worked for several architectural firms, Cetty has returned to Sicily, her native land, and now leads cultural tours in Palermo and beyond. Her walks are infused with her interests in architecture and the history of arts.
Day 3: Wednesday (10/8)
Cooking with a Duchess
Breakfast
8:15am Meet in reception. At 8:30am, the Duchess will be picking us up in taxis and taking us to the food market to do some shopping for our lunch.
8:30am to 3/3:30pm Cooking Class
We will go to the market all together, visit the terrace, and then, after a coffee break, the group will divide in two. Group A prepares half the menu while group B takes a tour of the Palazzo with my assistants. At around 11:30 group A and B swap roles and then the 2 groups reunite for lunch.
PALAZZO LANZA TOMASI
The eighteenth-century Palazzo Lanza Tomasi overlooks the splendid bay of Palermo. In 1849 the Palazzo was purchased by Prince Giulio Fabrizio Tomasi di Lampedusa. Giulio Fabrizio, an amateur astronomer, will be the model for the protagonist of Il Gattopardo (The Leopard), the famous novel written by his great-grandson Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. The Palazzo was the author’s last home until his death in 1957, and houses his historical library, documents and furnishings of his family and the original manuscript of The Leopard.
Day 4: Thursday (10/9)
Cefalu and Monreale
Breakfast
9:00am Be ready to hop on our private bus, once again with Cetty as our tour guide for the day. We will first visit Cefalu with an easy walking tour to visit the highlights including the Cathedral. You will have plenty of time to enjoy this seaside town and have lunch before we depart for Monreale.
Drive times:
Palermo – Cefalu 1.5 hours
Cefalu – Monreale 1.5 hours
Monreale – Palermo 30 minutes
We will be back at the hotel around 5:30pm.
Meet Our Tour Guide – Concetta ‘Cetty’ Spoto
Cetty holds a degree in architecture from the University of Palermo. After her graduation, she moved to the United States where she attended a course in interior design at the New York School of Visual Arts. After many years in Boston and New York, where she worked for several architectural firms, Cetty has returned to Sicily, her native land, and now leads cultural tours in Palermo and beyond. Her walks are infused with her interests in architecture and the history of arts.
Day 5: Friday (10/10)
Corleone
Breakfast and Check-Out
7:45am Load our bags on the bus
8:00am Departure for Corleone – drive time approximately 1.5 hours
10:00am
Corleone Beyond the Mafia with AddioPizzo
Discover this picturesque village in the middle of the Sicilian countryside, enjoy the warm hospitality of the people and their effort to struggle against the Mafia.
The guided tour led by an activist of “Corleone Dialogos”, a local association engaged in various social and cultural activities, will retrace the history of Corleone from the late nineteenth century. It runs through the city center and ends in the “Laboratory of Legality”. Here you can admire the works of the Sicilian painter Gaetano Porcasi, which focus on the history of the Mafia and the Anti-mafia movement.
1:00pm Free time in Corleone for lunch
2:30pm depart for Agrigento approximate drive time 2 hours.
4:30pm Check-in and relax
7:00pm Dinner at the hotel on the veranda* with a view of the temples (*weather permitting)
ADDIO PIZZO TRAVEL
Sustainable Tourism for those who say NO to the Mafia
This is an opportunity to understand, first hand, the most important moments, people and places of the Anti-Mafia movement. We want to show our visitors the real face of Sicily, above and beyond stereotypes and tourist traps. We want to restore dignity to our country and raise the profile of the people who are fighting for change. We want our guests to be captivated by this experience so that they may have the same enthusiasm as us.
Our tour operator emerged from Addiopizzo as an extension of the ethical consumer strategy against the pizzo it specifically targets the tourism sector. This grassroots Anti-Mafia movement was founded in 2004 by a group of young people under one slogan: an entire people which pays pizzo is a people without dignity. The strategy used by Addiopizzo in its work is wholly innovative: ethical consumerism against the pizzo. People’s selective purchases support businesses which do not give in to the extortionate demands of the Mafia and openly side against them. Addiopizzo urges society to commit to change and encourages a collective cultural revolution against the Mafia.
HOTEL FORESTERIA BAGLIO DELLA LUNA
https://www.bagliodellaluna.com/
Day 6: Saturday (10/11)
Valley of the Temples
Breakfast
Be ready with bags out the front at 8:20am
Check-out and be ready to put our bags on the bus. We have a short drive to the entrance of the Valley of the Temples where we will meet out local guides.
9:30am – 12:00pm
We will split into two groups – a fast group and a slow group. We will make our way through the famous sites and temples to end up at the archaeological museum where our tour guides will explain the significance of the collection.
12:30pm
Free time for a quick lunch. There is a bar/restaurant just across from the museum called The Promenade dei Templi – sandwiches, pizzas, pasta etc
At 1:45pm we want to be back on the bus which will be waiting nearby. The drive to Siracusa is approximately 2 and a half hours and we will make a stop along the way to ‘stretch our legs!’.
5:00pm Check-in
6:30pm
Meet in the hotel reception. Tonight we will be dining at the Macallè Sicilian Bistrot | Ristorante in Ortigia. Chef Maurizio Moceo will be putting togther a 3 course menu for us based on fresh seasonal produce.
https://www.ristorantemacalle.com/
Day 7: Sunday (10/12)
Siracusa
Breakfast
8:45am Full Day Tour of Syracuse
With your local licensed guide and archaeologist, walk through the park of the Neapolis to admire one of the largest of all surviving Greek theatres, a Roman amphitheater built to allow for gladiators ‘sporting’ activities, which the Greek theater could not accommodate, and the Ear of Dionysius, a huge cavern shaped in a way that gives it surprising acoustic properties. A great many legends are associated with this cave.
In Ortigia, we stop at many important sites such as the ruins of the Apollo temple, the famed Arethusa fountain and the Piazza del Duomo, certainly one of the most suggestive Italian Baroque piazza. The cathedral structure rests on the fluted columns that pertained to a 5th century B.C.E Greek temple. Strolling the quiet streets of Ortigia, you will revel in front of splendid architectural edifices of Roman, Byzantine, Gothic-Catalan, Norman and Renaissance origins.
This tour is completed with the superb archaeological museum Paolo Orsi, which displays an important and well organized collection of items covering the late prehistoric period up to the Magna Grecia era, as well as the Catacombs of San Giovanni, a rare example of early Christian hypogeic tombs. These extensive catacombs, which were adapted from a disused Greek aquaduct, were very probably in use prior to Constantine’s Edict of 313. Tradition has it that St Paul preached there. An altar is said to mark this event.
The order of our visit has been changed, we will do all of the archaeological sites in the morning. There will be a break in the middle of the tour for lunch between the archaeological sites and the walking tour of Ortigia.
Tour Guide: Alessandra
Meeting point: h. 9 am Main entrance of the Neapolis archaeological park, via Ettore Romagnoli 96100 Siracusa
Map: http://bit.ly/1nZu12L
I have asked the guide to adapt the tour to our group. We will use our bus to visit the sites that are outside of the center in the morning (Neapolis, the Archaeological Museum, and Catacombs). The bus will bring us back to the center and after some free time for lunch we will continue the tour on foot in Ortigia.
Meet in reception at 8:45am. The bus ride will take approximately 5 minutes.
Day 8: Monday (10/13)
Free Day - Siracusa
Breakfast
Free day to explore Siracusa, shop and enjoy the coast. After yesterday’s full day tour, you should be Ortigia experts! You will be able to visit the sights that weren’t included on the tour and enjoy the narrow streets of this historic and charming town.
36 Hours in Syracuse, Sicily by NYT
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/05/travel/what-to-do-36-hours-in-syracuse-sicily.html?unlocked_article_code=1.eE8.kzQa.GLKk89f_VfFI&smid=url-share
This is from 2019 so some of the shops or restaurants may no longer be open however sights and sites of course have not changed!
Where to East in Ortigia, Syracuse by food author Elizabeth Minchilli
https://www.elizabethminchilli.com/2021/07/where-to-eat-in-ortigia-sicily/
Day 9: Tuesday (10/14)
Noto & Marzamemi
Breakfast
Meet in reception at 10am to get on the bus.
We will drive to Noto, Sicily’s stunning Baroque town, where Ashley will guide us around the sights and explain the history that lead to Noto’s incredible architecture and how this influenced other areas in Sicily.
Today will be a relaxing day. You will have plenty of time to explore Noto on your own, enjoy lunch and do some shopping.
Meet back at the San Niccolo Cathedral at 3:30pm to walk together back to the bus. Our next stop is the characteristic and quaint fishing village, Marzamemi.
We will get dropped off close to the village. I have some maps which will show you the location of our dinner restaurant so you can stroll through the streets in your own time and make your way to our waterfront restaurant for dinner at 6:30pm.
We will hop back on the bus at around 8:30pm. The drive back to the hotel is about 1 hour.
Day 10: Wednesday (10/15)
Wine Tasting
BREAKFAST AND CHECK-OUT
9:15am Put bags on the bus and depart for Benanti Winery
11:00am Wine Tour and Lunch
For wine enthusiasts and for those who want to discover the uniquely specific character of wines originating from different slopes of the Etna D.O.C..
This interactive experience provides a deep understanding of Etna’s history, vine growing and winemaking. The experience includes a guided tour of the Estate and vineyard and the guided tasting of 5 Benanti wines originating from different Contradas (including one non current vintage), along with a full gourmet lunch created by our Resident Chef, a graduate of the famous ALMA school with experience in Michelin-starred kitchens.
This is an interactive experience that provides a lasting understanding of Etna’s history, vine growing and winemaking and an opportunity to hone your tasting skills.
2:00pm Leave for Taormina (approx. drive time 1 hour)
3:00pm Check-in to the Hotel Metropole and Villa Conrad (booked exclusively for us)
https://www.hotelmetropoletaormina.it/
https://www.hotelmetropoletaormina.it/villa-conrad.php
Free evening to explore Taormina
BENANTI WINERY
https://www.benanti.it/
The Benanti name represents a profound respect for Etna’s wine vocation. In fact, the volcano and its terroir present an important heterogeneity, which makes each slope or area particularly suitable for one grape variety over another. Mount Etna stands more than 3,000 meters high. Its slopes show substantial differences for winegrowing, including variable exposures, temperature range, altitude, volcanic soil, brightness, rainfall, rate ventilation, influence of the sea, and farming systems.
The DOC area, semi-circular in shape, extends from north to southwest in a clockwise direction, with an elevation that, depending on the slope, varies from 450 to 1050 meters above sea level.
TAORMINA RESTAURANT SUGGESTIONS
Day 11: Thursday (10/16)
Taormina & Cannoli Making
BREAKFAST FOR EVERYONE AT HOTEL METROPOLE
9:30am to 11:30am
Our tour guides will meet us in the reception of Hotel Metropole. I have booked two guides. We will have one slow group and one fast group! In the end, both groups will see the same things, just at a different pace.
WALKING TOUR – PEARL OF THE IONIAN SEA. The atmosphere is truly unique, with charming streets, lively squares, and historic monuments revealing the soul of this ancient city.
Traces of its rich and layered history are especially visible around the impressive Greek-Roman theater, symbol of the town for its enchanting position overlooking the Naxos bay and Etna, one of the most breathtaking spot in Sicily, described and painted by many writers and artists for centuries.
Founded by the Greeks in 358 BC, Taormina originally developed around an Agorà, the heart of public life in ancient times. Today, the remains of this square can still be seen along the road leading to the theater, though parts of it were later covered by structures of the Roman Forum.
As you explore the area, you’ll encounter fascinating ruins of sacred and public buildings, including the Temple of Aphrodite, the Roman Thermal Baths, and the Odeon. Not far from these ancient landmarks, near Corso Umberto I, stands the majestic wall of the so-called “Naumachia” – a Roman terrace that once served as the dramatic backdrop to a large pool.
The tour also includes visits to Taormina’s most important Medieval buildings, offering a unique opportunity to witness the city’s architectural and cultural transformation over the centuries.
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3:00pm to 4:30pm
CANNOLI MAKING CLASS
Our chef will teach you how to prepare the crispy shell that you will knead with your own hands, how to fry the dough and how to prepare the delicious cream to fill it. At the end of the course you will taste the real Sicilian cannolo, prepared by you as true Sicilian pastry chefs.
Ristorante Pizzeria Porta Messina
MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Df2WQjkYJBs4rKm4A
Meet Our Tour Guide – Annalisa
I was born in Switzerland, but I grew up in Sicily and lived for several years in different cities of Italy, studying and working as an archaeologist specialized in Prehistory. I have been involved in several archaeological excavations in Italy and abroad, and I’ve collaborated with Universities, museums and associations, dealing with teaching, workshops, and the organizations of events. Traveling and living in different places allowed me to connect with different people, and cultures. After years of a somewhat nomadic life, I heard the call of my island and I decided to come back to Sicily. Here, as a tour guide, I can share my knowledge and passion through stories and details on many aspects of the Sicilian culture, that can become a memorable part of your journey.
- MA Degree in Humanities
- Postgraduate Diploma in Prehistoric Archaeology
- PhD in Cultural Heritage
And our second tour guide will be – Elena
I have devoted my studies to Cultural Heritage and Art History. In particular, I focused on the world of contemporary art and its fascinating relationship with the territory. Born and raised in Palermo, I lived for a few years in Ravenna and then Bologna to pursue my university studies. My family is originally from Piana Degli Albanesi, famous for its Arbëreshë language community. My travel and internship experiences have also led me to spend time in Greece and Cyprus, confirming my love for the Mediterranean and its thousands of years old history. Back in Sicily, I decided to get my tour guide license to pass on my love for the cultural heritage. I have always loved sharing the places I lived in with friends and fellow travellers, transmitting values and exchanging points of view. Another aspect of my culture that I love to share is the language. I have been teaching Italian to foreigners since 2018, a passion born long before, during my university years.
- Master’s Degree in Visual Arts
- Bachelor’s Degree in Cultural Heritage
Day 12: Friday (10/17)
Free Day & Farewell
BREAKFAST FOR EVERYONE AT HOTEL METROPOLE
FREE DAY
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7:00pm
FAREWELL DINNER
Meet in the hotel reception at 6:45pm (10 minutes walk)
One last dinner all together. I have booked the Terrazza CutìLùDissi Restaurant for us. It has views of the sea and a menu that includes both seafood and other dishes. Choose your own meal (2/3 courses) from the menu and enjoy one last evening in Sicily.
CUTILUDISSI RESTAURANT
https://www.cutiludissi.it/
Trip Advisor Reviews
Day 13: Saturday (10/18)
Departure
Breakfast
FOR THOSE OF YOU GOING TO THE AIRPORT, YOUR DEPARTURE TIME WILL BE 3 HOURS BEFORE YOUR FLIGHT. EVERYONE GOING TO CATANIA WILL BE DEPARTING AT 10AM.
I will reconfirm everyone’s information during the first week of the tour to make sure the drivers have the correct departure times and flights &/or hotels.
I will meet you in reception to make sure your drivers arrive and you get off to the airport on time.
Drive Time to Catania Airport – approx. 1 hour
Drive Time to Central Catania – approx. 1 hour
