Day 1: Palermo airport - Buseto Palizzolo
Arrival at Palermo airport and transfer to Buseto Palizzolo, a little town in the heart of Western Sicily. Welcome dinner at an agriturismo.
(Dinner included)

Day 2: Buseto Palizzolo and Fontanasalsa
Today will be spent in Western Sicily taking part in a cooking course and visiting an olive-oil press. The Chef will show you around and help you pick up fresh vegetables. Then, he will teach you how to cook some of the most typical and traditional dishes of the Trapani region such as "Cous-cous di pesce" to be tasted for lunch. In the afternoon, transfer to a nearby olive-oil press in the little town of Fontanasalsa. Taste local black-bread and olive oil. Back to Buseto Palizzolo for dinner.
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)

Day 3: Buseto Palizzolo - Erice- Saltpans- Marsala- Buseto Palizzolo
Transfer to Erice, once the seat of the fertility goddess Venus Eyrcina now a web of medieval cobbled streets. In a world-famous pastry shop, we will taste marzipan and almond cookies, made from recipes that go back to many generations ago. Time at leisure. Then, we will drive along the Via del Sale-Salt way to Marsala, in a landscape of saltpans and windmills. Upon arrival, we transfer to a local trattoria to taste typical local dishes such as Pasta alla Trapanese with fresh tomatoes. In the afternoon, we will visit a local Azienda Vinicola, a top Sicilian winery that produces award-winning wines. Taste different wines: the whites, appealing to the senses; the reds, with strong and intense identity, impenetrable colour, full and yet elegant and soft; the natural sweets, whose growing success is due to their capacity to please, their moderate alcohol levels and their versatility in matching foods. Then back to Buseto Palizzolo.
(Breakfast and lunch included)

Day 4: Buseto Palizzolo - Menfi - Agrigento
Departure to Baglio San Vincenzo, North -East of Menfi. This typical Sicilian winery is situated on a promontory that overlooks a valley, through which flows the S. Vincenzo river and is surrounded by 12 hills that lie between the Belice nature reserve and the Carboj valley. The landscape is dotted with vineyards, olive groves, citrus orchards, brooms, daisies, carobs and prickly pears. Here we will visit the cellars and taste local wines. Lunch will be in the Baglio. In the afternoon, we will drive to Agrigento, once one of the most thriving centres of Greek civilization, for a visit of the Valley of the Temples, a Unesco World Heritage site.
(Breakfast and lunch included)

Day 5: Agrigento - Sant'Angelo Muxaro - Agrigento
Day trip to the remote village of Sant'Angelo Muxaro in the interior parts of the Agrigento region. You will enjoy a scenic drive along an inner road with many bends and twists, through hills and distant mountains. (On a clear day you can even see Mt Etna, about 140 miles away!). The village is perched on hill overlooking the Platani river. Upon arrival, meet Mamma Concetta at her private country-home and learn how to prepare Pizza and Bread. Enjoy a light lunch based on Sicilian pizzas, "Pane Cunzatu" (fresh home -made bread dressed with olive oil and pepper) and pecorino cheese. After a short tour of the city centre, time at leaisure in the main square to make an acquaintance with the local people.
(Breakfast and lunch included)

Day 6: Agrigento - Piazza Armerina - Caltagirone
Departure to Piazza Armerina, in the middle of Sicily, to see the Roman Villa (3rd, 4rth century A.D.) at Casale with its 3.500 square metres of mosaic flooring giving an insight into the Roman way of living. Then, we will continue to Caltagirone, renowed for its ceramic ware and its impressive flight of 142 steps known as Scala S.Maria del Monte. Time at leisure for shopping. Accommodation and dinner at a local agriturismo.
(Breakfast and dinner included)

Day 7: Caltagirone - Ragusa - Caltagirone
Early wake-up-call to take part in a ricotta cheese demonstration . The Ricuttaru "ricotta cheese maker" will teach you how to prepare Ricotta, a soft cheese used in Sicily for a lot of dishes and sweets such as Ravioli, Cannoli and Sicilian Cassata. You will taste local bread with hot-ricotta-cheese. Another cooking lesson will take place in the agriturismo. You will learn how to prepare Cannolis, a typical Sicilian sweet famous all over the world. Light lunch at the agriturismo. In the afternoon enjoy a half day excursion to Ragusa, the capital of Sicilian Baroque. Walk in Ragusa Ibla, a beautifully preserved little town with peaceful streets. Dinner in a typical restaurant to taste Scacce and Ravioli. Overnight in Caltagirone.
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)

Day 8: Caltagirone - Mt Etna - Taormina and Catania
Drive to Mt Etna, the largest volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world. The lava terrain and minerals make the wine in this area really unique and different from any other Sicilian wine. Time at leisure to Rifugio Sapienza for a short-break and then transfer to a local farm and winery. Here you will visit the cellars and taste the local wine but also preserves and a great olive-oil blended with lemon, garlic and pepper. Enjoy a delicious light-lunch in this estate. In the afternoon, drive on to Taormina. Time at leisure for strolling in the main street and individual visits. Overnight in Catania. Farewell dinner in a renowned, centrally located, restaurant. (BB L D)
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)

Day 9: Catania
Breakfast and transfer to Catania airport.
(Breakfast included)

RATE PER PERSON BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY EURO 1.699- SINGLE EURO 1.950

Rates include:
- Airport transfers
- Buseto Palizzolo: three nights accommodation in first class agriturismo, standard room
- Agrigento: two nights accommodation in first class hotel, standard room
- Caltagirone: two nights accommodation in first class agriturismo, standard room
- Catania: one night accommodation in first class hotel, standard room
- Buffet continental breakfast daily
- Three visits to Sicilian cellars and Sicilian wine tasting
- Deluxe van/ mini-coach with Air Conditioning
- English speaking tour director/ driver as per program
- Three cooking lessons as per programme
- Welcome dinner with a choice of 2 set-menu at Baglio including ½ mineral water and ¼ local wine
- Farewell dinner with a choice of 2 set-menu at local restaurant including ½ mineral water and ¼ local wine
- One dinner at Baglio with a 3 course set-menu
- One dinner at local restaurant with 3 course set-menu
- One visit at an olive oil press with olive oil and black bread tasting
- One lunch at local restaurant with a 3 course set-menu
- Two light-lunches at Winery-farmhouse with typical dishes tasting
- Natural mineral water at included meals
- All sightseeing, tasting and excursions as specified in the itinerary
- Admission fees included for all sites and other activities as per itinerary
- Hotel & city taxes

Rates do not include:
- Intercontinental Flight
- Gratuities to Tour Director and/or Driver-Escort
- Porterage at airport
- Gratuities to Local Guide
- Beverages and meals not included in the program
- Travel Insurance


FIRST CLASS HOTELS AND AGRITURISMOS (FARMHOUSE RESORTS) FOR THIS TOUR:
Buseto Palizzolo: Baglio Fontana
Agrigento: Colleverde Park Hotel
Caltagirone: Colle San Mauro Agriturismo
Catania: Katane Palace Hotel
Hotels and Agriturismos might be replaced with similar ones (same classification)

Tour operator: Chat tours S.r.l.

further information and reservations