Bella Sicilia Tour Itinerary 2008
(Itinerary is subject to change with or without notice. Sequence of daytrips may vary. Final itinerary will be given to travelers prior to the start of the trip.)
Thursday Day 1 | Benvenuto! : Welcome!
Arrival in Catania Airport, where our private driver will pick us up and take us to a family-run B&B in a villa on a hilltop overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the Eolian Islands off the North coast of Sicily. Check-in & dinner with homemade specialties.
INCLUDED MEALS: DINNER.
Friday Day 2 | Oro di Sicilia : Sicily's Gold
After breakfast we head west towards the charming town of Santo Stefano di Camastra, known for the brightly hand-decorated ceramics. Following the quick stop, we'll head to Castelbuono, a small town in the inland, known for the vineyards of Nero d'Avola grapes, where we visit a historic wine-maker for a guided tour of the estate and group lunch with wine tasting. Then, afternoon guided visit of the highlights of Cefalu', a picturesque Medieval town with narrow streets and beautiful churches, among which the Norman Cathedral with some of the most beautiful mosaics in all of Italy. We'll return to the villa for dinner and a folkloristic dance show!
INCLUDED MEALS: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER.
Saturday Day 3 | Sole d'Oro & Acqua Blu : Golden Sun & Blue Waters
Today we head out by ferry boat for a mini-cruise to the Aeolian Islands, an archipelago made of 7 islands. In particular, Lipari, one of the largest, is the most charming with its medieval borough and Castle surrounded by walls. Enjoy some free time to explore and to have lunch on your own on the island. As the intense blue waters rejuvenate our senses, we continue to the island of Vulcano, dedicated by Greeks to the ancient god of fire, boasting a spectacular active volcano, which covers most of its territory. Enjoy free time on the famous “spiagge nere” (black beaches) made of volcanic ash, natural hot spring pools, or a relaxing walk in nature before we head back to the villa for dinner and overnight stay.
INCLUDED MEALS: BREAKFAST, DINNER.
Sunday Day 4 | Di Terra e Mare : Of Land and Sea
This morning we visit a Sicilian cheese-maker with a live demo on how to make Sicily's most traditional tasty cheese, the provola al limone and smoked provolone, followed by tasting and group lunch. Then, onto the Castle of Federico II d'Aragona in Montalbano Elicona. We'll then head back to the villa for a cooking class with traditional dishes before our last group dinner in this beautiful place.
INCLUDED MEALS: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER.
Monday Day 5 | Storia Antica e Tradizione
Today we head East and stop in Taormina, a hilltop town of Greek origin, known for its wonderful views of the Ionian Sea and elegant streets, a popular destination amongst ancient nobility. We'll visit the city's most important landmark with breathtaking views of Mt. Etna: the Greek Theater. Wine tasting at a local vineyard, followed by group lunch. Afternoon excursion to Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano! Group dinner & overnight stay.
INCLUDED MEALS: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER.
Tuesday Day 6 | Sapore di Sale, Sapore di Mare
After checkout, we head towards the small town of Piazza Armerina, in the central part of the island, where we'll have a group lunch. Then check-in at a beautiful family-owned countryside estate just outside the town, immersed in gentle hills of vineyards and orange trees. We continue for a guided visit of the ancient “Villa Romana del Casale”, known for its amazingly preserved original mosaics. Then Enna, a small town surrounded by olive and almond trees, golden wheat fields, with a quick stop and visit of its historical center, showcasing an extraordinary intertwining of civilizations: Greek, Roman, Carthaginian. Group dinner at the villa.
INCLUDED MEALS: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER.
Wednesday Day 7 | Ceramica e Mosaici : Ceramics and Mosaics
Today’s daytrip will leave you astonished, as you admire in awe the bright blues and yellows of the world famous hand-painted tiles of Caltagirone Majolica. A guided stroll through the historical streets of Caltagirone, characterized by Sicilian Baroque and the grand staircase of 142 steps of hand-decorated tiles. We’ll stop at a local ceramic shop to see how they are created. Enjoy lunch on your own and free time to explore or shop. Dinner at a local trattoria.
INCLUDED MEALS: BREAKFAST, DINNER.
Thursday Day 8 | Barocco Siciliano : Sicilian Baroque
Visit of the ancient city of Ragusa and its Baroque center, Ragusa Ibla. Lunch today is on your own. Afternoon visit of Modica and Noto with free time to admire the stunning Baroque style, which characterizes these towns, as much as the production of almond milk, marzipan, and other almond sweets! Therefore, we cannot avoid a visit to a historical pastry-shop with tasting of their local products, of course! Tonight's group dinner will include local folk dances & music at the farm.
INCLUDED MEALS: BREAKFAST, DINNER.
Friday Day 9 | Splendore Greco : Greek Splendor
Departure for the beautiful Agrigento with a guided visit of the historical medieval center the Romanesque Gothic cathedral, built during the fourteenth century, and the thirteenth-century Church of San Nicola. We'll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then onto the ancient Valle dei Templi (valley of the temples), where wonderful Greek structures dating back to 580 B.C. overlook the deep-blue sea of Sicily's southern coast. Some free time before we head back to the farm for group dinner and overnight stay. Reserve time to pack your bags for morning check-out.
INCLUDED MEALS: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER.
Saturday Day 10 | Tempo e Gloria Passata : Past Time and Glory
After check-out, we head for an exciting trip to the coastal city of Siracusa, the birthplace of the ancient mathematician Archimedes and the meeting point of many civilizations, the Greek, Roman, Norman, Byzantine, Arab, among others. View the blending of architectural styles, from the ancient Roman amphitheater to the splendid jewel of the Baroque: the Duomo. Free time & lunch on your own. We'll stop at the grotto named the Ear of Dionisius, known for its amazing acoustics, then onto the fortress-town on the island of Ortigia, where once again we see various artistic styles mingle through its buildings and landmarks, before heading to Catania for dinner & overnight stay in a hotel in the historical center.
INCLUDED MEALS: BREAKFAST, DINNER.
Sunday Day 11 | Tra Leggenda e Mito : Between Myth and Fact
After breakfast we'll enjoy a guided visit of Catania's historical center with time to shop and relax before the last evening in Sicily. Catania is a wonderful city full of life and urban sounds, surrounded by citrus trees (lemons and oranges) overlooking the Ionian Sea. Enjoy lunch on your own and a stroll in this vivacious, bustling city, where you can savor the local specialties such as the well-known granatina, cannoli, and marzipan sweets.
INCLUDED MEALS: BREAKFAST.
Monday Day 12 | Arrivederci Sicilia!
Check-out from Catania hotel and transfer by private van to Catania International Airport for departure flight (transfer included). Say ciao to this wonderful island.. at least until next time!
INCLUDED MEALS: BREAKFAST.
For $4,850 per person all of this Included in the Bella Sicilia Tour!
5-Night stay in a family-owned and operated villa in on the North-East Coast overlooking the Islands + 4-Night stay in Luxury countryside estate outside Piazza Armerina, on the central inland + 2-Night stay in 4-Star historic hotel in downtown Catania for a trip totaling 12 Days/11 Nights.
Included meals: All Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 10 Dinners. (Included meals are shown at bottom of the description for each day).
Included beverages: bottled water and 2 glasses of wine per person (choice of red or white) with included lunches and dinners.
Privately escorted transportation with professional private driver in comfortable air-conditioned vans. Full-time service of Nada's Italy tour leader throughout the trip (in most cases, it's Nada!).
Daily excursions include:
Ragusa, Catania (with local guide), Cefalu' (with local guide), Aeolian Islands of Lipari & Vulcano, Mount Etna, Taormina (with local guide - includes entrance fee to Greek amphitheater), Agrigento's 'Valle dei Templi' (with a local guide - includes entrance fee), Siracusa, Villa Romana del Casale (includes entrance ticket)
Pick-up from the Catania International Airport (does not include: transfer back to airport, airfare or any other personal travel expenses).
Maximum 12 travelers per tour!
Maps for each town visited + Sicily guide book + Italian Travel Phrase Book.
Activities include: Visits to 2 Vineyards (including Nero d'Avola), Visit of a traditional Sicilian Provolone cheese-maker, Visit of a traditional Sicilian Pasticceria (pastry-shop), all followed by tasting of local products.
1 Hands-on Cooking Class featuring local Sicilian Dishes.
Local VAT taxes and government fees, gas, highway tolls, city access licenses and permits, parking fees.
Learn basic Italian before your trip! Receive an Audio CD set with 10 lessons by Pimsleur.
Customer loyalty Reward: receive a $300 credit towards any future trips you take with Nada's Italy!
No bag limit! (Most tours have a 1-bag limit per person).
TOUR PRICE: $4,850 per person (includes taxes & fees) based on double occupancy. A single-supplement for this trip is $900. No hidden costs!
TO REGISTER: please download the Trip Registration Form by clicking on the link on the previous page. Form must be completed and returned with deposit to be officially registered for this trip. The tour price is locked-in the moment your balance is paid, regardless of exchange rate fluctuations and other cost increases.
What's Not Included in Tour Packages
Trip price does not include airfare and anything that is not specified to be included. Price does not include any personal-related expenses, or travel-related expenses outside of the scheduled itineraries. The food & wine that is included is what is presented during meals, all other items ordered by traveler including wine and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are not included in tour price. Trip price does not include optional tips to restaurants nor to tour personnel such as drivers, maids, etc. These gratuities are given at sole discretion of each individual traveler and are not required for participation in tour.
