SICILY | anticoitaliantravel

SPRING IN SICILY
JUNE 2023

Life in Sicily is lived in Technicolor. Conversations take place in the sing-song dialect of the south, as vendors in the open air produce and fish markets hawk their wares. Greek, Roman, Arab, and Norman influences can be seen throughout the art and architecture left behind by the many cultures who once called Sicily their home.

Our Spring In Sicily tour takes you to across the northern coast visiting Trapani, Marsala, Favignana, Enna, Cefalu, and the Mt. Etna area to enjoy some of the very best culinary gems the island has to offer such as pistachios, couscous, fish, almonds, citrus, granita, gelato, volcanic wines, Marsala wine, and more. The Easter procession in Trapani is sure to be a highlight, and one of the most ancient in Sicily. Sail to Egadi Islands, make pasta high above the sea in a mountain village with locals, and sip some of the best wines produced in the black soil of Mt. Etna's vineyards. Venture into this beautiful island with us in 2023.

DAY 1 WELCOME TO SICILY!

We will meet you at Palermo Airport and transfer to our hotel, Badia Nuova, in the historic center of Trapani, for 4 nights. Get settled in and enjoy aperitivo before we head to dinner to experience North Africa's influence on Sicilian food.

MARSALA & THE SALT FLATS

We take visit Marsala for a tasting of the town's famous wine at Florio, then visit Trapani's salt flats. Cooking class learning to make couscous and other traditional western Sicilian dishes.

FULL DAY IN PALERMO

Eat your way through the Ballaro market. This is a day of discovering Sicilian street foods including fried favorites such as arancine, pane e panelle sandwich, baccala, sfincione, or be really daring and try a local delicacy, pane ca meusa, (spleen sandwich!)! Free time to visit historic monuments before we meet for dinner in Palermo.

SAIL TO FAVIGNANA

Morning departure by ferry from Trapani to the island of Favignana to meet our fishermen. Board the boat and navigate the crystal clear waters of the Egadi Islands, and pull up the fishing nets to see what the day's catch is. Our captain will dock beach side and prepare you a delicious seafood lunch while you swim or relax on the beach. Tonight, dinner in Trapani.

TRANSFER TO VITTORIO

Road trip to the south eastern side of the island stopping at an olive grove in Castelventrano then on to visit the ancient ruins of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. Tonight we transfer to Baglio Occhipinti, an organic agriturismo in the Cerasuolo vineyards. Dinner at the agriturismo.

4 NIGHTS AT BAGLIO OCCHIPINTI, VITTORIA

The owners of Baglio Occhipinti invite you to walk through the vineyards and olive trees or take a dip in the swimming pool inside the Arabic garden, and pick the oranges, mandarins and figs from their trees. Located in the heart of the vineyards of "Cerasuolo di Vittoria", this property is a peaceful haven that is a great base for our excursions to Noto, Ragusa, and Modica.

WINE TASTING & ENCHANTING RAGUSA

Taste some of the region's shinning star wines today, Frappato and Nero d'Avola, along with a light lunch. We will explore surrounding villages before returning to our hotel, then dinner at Michelin Star Locanda Don Serafino tonight.

Lunch on your own today in Noto with free time to shop and explore.

Visit one the world's best pastry shops hidden in the village's backstreets. On to Modica where we will taste chocolate created from the ancient recipe which was originally brought to Sicily by Spanish monks. Dinner tonight in local trattoria.

TRANSFER TO MONACHI DELLE TERRE

We will spend two nights at the foot of Mt. Etna at this 18th century manor, one of the oldest wine estates in Sicily. Relax in the infinity pool overlooking the vineyards or enjoy aperitivo on your own private terrace. Tonight Taormina under the stars.

APRIL 22 PASTA MAKING WITH THE CICALA FAMILY

Today we head into the hills of Sicily to make a local type of pasta with the Cicala family and enjoy lunch together. Dessert demo and tasting with Pastry Chef Gianluca Gugliotta. Think granita and brioche, creamy gelato, and handmade confections. Walk it all off in Savoca, the mountain village where scenes from the Godfather were filmed.

APRIL 23, MT. ETNA WINE & BRONTE

Wine tasting on the northern slope of Mt. Etna at the highly coveted Frank Cornelissen's bio-dynamic winery. Visit Bronte for a lunch of pistachio everything! Dinner in local trattoria.