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Treasures of Western Sicily 6D/5N
Start in Palermo, a town lush with gardens, citrus trees, and lovely architectural structures like the domes of San Giovanni degli Eremiti and the gold of the palatine Chapel but also full of the noise of the markets and the smell of fried arancini. Visit Monreale with its Duomo and travel at the foot of the Madonie to Cefalù, whose historical center is a net of narrow roads paved with stones suddenly opening to reveal the wide duomo, in one of the important oenological areas of Sicily. A long road brings us then to Agrigento, its magnificent Valley of the Temples dedicated to the harmony and divinity of the Greek-Roman gods. The tour continues with the silent and lush landscapes of the Belice to Selinunte, a jewel of Magna Graecia which has been standing for more than 2000 years. Marsala is next with an ancient history of Punic, Greek and Roman ships but also with the flavors of the famous liquoroso wine made here. Not far from Marsala, facing Mothia, the Phoenician island, are found fascinating salt-works sites amid a spectacular landscape of enormous light-reflecting lakes heavy with high salt concentrations. Finally visit Erice, its medieval suburb still maintaining its ancient forms in intact condition and Segesta, archaeological site of great importance.
Agrigento - Ancient Akragas covers a huge area, much of which still unexcavated today, but the famous is the Valley of Temples (a misnomer as it is actually a ridge rather than a valley). This comprises a large sacred area on the south side of the ancient city where seven monumental Greek temples in the Doric style were constructed during the 6th and 5th centuries BC. Now excavated and partially restored, they constitute some of the largest and best-preserved ancient Greek buildings outside of Greece itself and are listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The best-preserved of the temples are two very similar buildings traditionally attributed to the goddesses Juno Lacinia and Concordia with the latter temple remarkably intact, due to its having been converted into a Christian church in 597 CE. The area around the Temple of Concordia was later re-used by early Christians as a catacomb, with tombs hewn out of the rocky cliffs and outcrops. The other temples are much more fragmentary, having been toppled by earthquakes long ago and quarried for their stones
Sicily Salt Marshes - The region of Trapani and Marsala is famous for more than wine and seafood. Hera re to be foind some of Europe’s oldest salt marshes, and is still home to some of the windmills once used to drain water from the containing ponds where water condensates. Drawing salt from water remains a slow process with an evaporation procedure utilising the flat marshlands and the long, dry Sicilian summers. The technology of salt extraction was already known to the ancient Egyptians, and its use in Sicily dates back at least to the time of the Greeks and Romans, the windmills, however, were a medieval development. The trade flourished and by the nineteenth century, Sicilian sea salt was exported to European countries as far away as Norway and Russia. Today it is flourishing again because many cooks prefer sea salt to that harvested from other sources and the trace elements which give it a special flavour, perfect for fish recipes.
Tour Operation
Transportation:
- Self Drive - For those wanting to explore this region at their own pace as it allows you to be mobile at all times, to stop whenever you want, to visit to your heart’s content. It is also the Best Value available as to cost
- Chauffeur Driven - When only the best will suffice, an exclusive chauffeur-driven limousine will provide the ultimate in service and luxury. Our English-speaking experienced drivers still know what it means to give polite and reliable service, you will find them responsible, caring, discreet and completely dedicated to your enjoyment.
Accommodation: A great variety of properties are available, from quaint small hotels to deluxe accommodation including boutique properties and castles, to suit every taste and budget. Our experts will suggest the best properties for you in each region as required by your itinerary.
Visits: You will have the opportunity to visit local companies and producers where the most distinguished regional specialties are produced and see where the most famous grapes have been grown, with the opportunity to walk among the vineyards - local producers and wineries will be suggested depending on your itinerary
Restaurants: We have carefully selected regional restaurants where you will have the opportunity to experience and taste the very best of the cuisine specific to each region.
Possible Visits on the program: Vini Corvo, Vini Tenuta Rapitalà, Vini Duca di Salaparuta, Vini S. Anastasia, Vini Planeta, Vini Baglio Hopps, Vini Donnafugata, Cantina Florio, Saline Ettore e Infersa, Olio Titone, Vini Ceuso
Suggested Daily Itinerary by Area:
- Discovering the wonders of Palermo - Palermo is a town lush with gardens, citrus trees, and lovely architectural structures This Sicilian capital, painted by the 7th – 8th.century landscape artists, has had to deal with careless destruction and an unrestrained growth. Due to its contrasts, Palermo is best appreciated in a slow and careful manner. Your diligence will reward you in the treasures this town has to offer: the domes of San Giovanni degli Eremiti, the noise of the markets, the smell of arancini, the gold of the palatine Chapel, the architectural inlays of the Zisa, the taste of pane ca’ meusa in front of San Francesco, and the musicality of the theater Massimo. There is also the Martorana, San Cataldo, Santa Maria della Catena, the harbor and the splendid Cathedral of Monreale. In the evening we will arrive at our hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
- Tastings and… Cefalù - After breakfast we proceed east in the direction of Messina. At the bottom of Madonie, at the beginning of a valley that opens to the sea, is wonderful winery. It is submersed in history and offers excellent hospitality with a tasting following our tour. We will then return to the sea to visit Cefalù. Its historical center is a net of narrow roads paved with stones, but then suddenly opens to reveal the wide duomo square with its high, dazzling bell towers. After lunch, based on the local cuisine, we will enjoy a relaxing walk before returning in the direction of Palermo. . After the junction of Caccamo, with its castle, we will reach the outskirts of Bagheria, adorned with elegant and ancient villas. Casteldaccia houses the center of one of the most important groups of the oenological history of Sicily. Our visit will impart remarkable information, as intense as the wines that we will taste. In the evening we will arrive at our hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
- Towards the South… archaeology and wine - A long road brings us to the South: Agrigento, its Cathedral and the magnificent Valle dei Templi (Valley of the Temples), dedicated to the harmony and divinity of the Greek-Roman gods, primarily Giunone, Ercole, Demetra and Kore, the Dioscuri. This is an amazing leap into the ancient history of an area where Hellenic idioms were spoken. This is also an opportunity to taste a delicious caponata or some filled, smoked swordfish. The tour continues with the silent and lush landscapes of Belice, beloved by the Gattopardo. We will visit a fascinating winery before visiting the temple of Selinunte. This jewel of the Magna Graecia has been standing for more than 2000 years. From here there is a wonderful vista of the sea. In the evening we will arrive at our hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
- Getting off in Marsala - After breakfast Marsala will welcome us. Marsala has a lot to reveal - an ancient history of Punic, Greek and Roman ships, the beautiful historical center situated around the cathedral, and the flavors of the famous liquoroso wine from the splendid the wine cellars. Then there is the Moorish culinary tradition offered in one of the local inns. With our tastings and walks, the day will pleasantly flow by like a good Reserve wine. In the evening we will arrive at our hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
- Oil and salt - The Saline Ettore e Infersa is a fascinating salt-works site. Not far from Marsala, facing Mothia, the Phoenician island, in the lagoon of Stagnone, this spectacular landscape holds enormous light-reflecting lakes heavy with high salt concentrations. We will see the harvested heaps of precious salt protected from the environment by terracotta crocks. You can also witness the three giant wind mills grinding the crystals rich in iodine, magnesium and potassium. Salt and oil are the ideal Mediterranean seasonings, and from the olive trees of Trapani the precious extra virgin olive oil is produced by a small but famous olive press. In the evening we will arrive at our hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
- Erice, Alcamo and Segesta - After breakfast, the day begins under the guidance of two exceptional treasures of art and archaeology of Western Sicily. The church of Assunta d’Erice is a Gothic jewel of inimitable beauty, and its medieval suburb still maintains its ancient forms in intact condition. However, Segesta is an archaeological site of great importance. Located high on the ditch of torrente Pispina, is the well-maintained Doric temple, while in front a hill rest the ruins of the ancient city and the 60 meter theater. Later we will visit a beautiful wine cellar that is located in an ancient borough at the bottom of the town, and produces Alcamo DOC. In the evening we will arrive at our hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Contact us for your Own Itinerary
