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Day
1: Catania airport - Arrival
Welcome and transfer to the agritourism (9 miles from Noto) immersed in the Sicilian countryside. Accommodation in the rooms. "Zero kilometres" dinner
Day
2: Siracusa full day
After breakfast (zero km), we visit the characteristic market of Ortigia in Siracusa, full of colors and sounds. Followed by a tour of Ortigia (Temple of Apollo, Piazza Archimede, Piazza Duomo, the Cathedral, the Arethusa fountain. Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon visit the archeological park of Neapolis (archaeological park, Roman amphitheater, ear of Dionysius) and the catacombs of S. John, second only to to those in Rome but, probably surclass them in beauty. Return to the farmhouse. "Zero kilometres" dinner
Day
3: Etna and Taormina full day
(Zero km) breakfast and departure for Mt Etna (Etna Sud) up to 1800 metres. During the tour you will appreciate the beautiful landscape of various lava flows, brooms, chestnuts, grapes. We will reach Rifugio Sapienza, short walk to admire one of the famous "Silvestri” craters and lava flows of the many in a lunar landscape. Stop for shopping and lunch on your own. Then, on to Taormina. Here, we will visit the historic center with the beautiful ancient Greek Theater, Corvaja Palace, Odeon, C.so Umberto and enjoy the incredible views and panoramas. Return to the farmhouse."Zero kilometres" dinner
Day 4: Ricotta cheese experience, Noto, Roman Villa del Tellaro and Tonnara
Today, we drive to a dairy farm. There you will watch while ricotta is produced over the fire and experience the almost magical moment when milk becomes cheese. Breakfast with hot ricotta cheese, bread, olives, cheese salami and a good glass of wine. Then visit Noto, European capital of Baroque and heritage site since 2002, one of the most beautiful cities of Sicily. The beautiful old town, where you can admire several civic and religious monuments such as St. Chiara, SS. Savior, Cathedral St. Nicholas, Palazzo Ducezio, Via Nicolaci balconies with incredible palace Nicolaci Montevergini Church, Church of St. Dominic Fountain of Hercules and community theater. Lunch at the historic tavern in the city.
Later, we visit the recenty opened Roman villa of Tellaro, unique example of a museum that houses a Roman villa, with some very prestigious mosaics. Then we drive to Marzamemi and Portopalo, two towns in the southernmost tip of Sicily that still retain their charm of seaside villages. Taste tuna derived products, cherry tomatoes and admire the oldest tonnara in Europe. Return to the farmhouse. "Zero kilometres" dinner
Day 5: Donnafugata Castle, Ragusa Ibla and Modica (full day)
(Zero km) breakfast. First stop at the Donnafugata Castle, a splendid aristocratic residence and then in Ragusa: its historic center of Ibla offers a glimpse of Sicily that is now difficult to find. In fact walking through the streets to Piazza Duomo is like diving into the past ... in a place with the an atmosphere reminiscent of "The Leopard". Admire the portal of S. Giorgio, the beautiful Iblei gardens, piazza Pola with the beautiful facade of S. Joseph and Piazza Duomo with its splendid baroque facade and the neoclassical dome of St. George. Lunch with typical dishes from Ragusa.
In the afternoon, we visit Modica, a town that lies between two quarries on the bed of a river, buried in the last century. This Baroque pearl is known not only for its architecture, but also for having given birth to Salvatore Quasimodo, Nobel laureate for Poetry. The most interesting monuments are the churches of St. George, St. Peter and Mary of Bethlem. Sample the famous chocolate and local products ("mpnatigghie" sweets). Return to the farmhouse. "Zero kilometres" dinner
Day
6 Visit of a local farm, Palazzolo Acreide and Pantalica (full day)
After breakfast (zero km), we visit a family farm that produces jams, preserves, carob decoction, mustard, capers, pate. Then, we drive to Palazzolo Acreide, an ancient Greek colony that was founded by Syracuse as a defensive outpost. Visit the archaeological area with its beautiful greek theater, the bouleuterion, the shrines, the quarries. Today the most interesting monuments are the Baroque churches of St. Paul, St. Sebastian, SS. Annunziata and the Caruso and Judica palaces. Not to be missed the Casa - Museo, a local ethno-anthropological mseum created by Antonio Uccello where there are different testimonies of the Sicilian peasant. Lunch.
Finally, we go to Pantalica, a UNESCO Word Heritage site, surrounded by the towns of Ferla and Sortino, Pantalica is a nature reserve and one of the
largest necropolis in Europe with over 5,000 tombs carved directly out of the rock. See the Byzantine church and Anaktoron or Prince Palace. "Zero kilometres" dinner at the farmhouse
Day
7: Farm life and departure
Take a relaxing walk or experience life on the farm by taking part in some acticities (depending on the season):
- care of the vines, grapepicking, wine production, (Nero d'Avola, Syrah, Grillo, Chardonnay, Catarratto, Moscato di Noto, Cabernet Sauvigno
- preparation of bread with natural yeast (in Sicilian, "criscenti")
- picking olives
- preparation of cheese, mozzarella, ricotta
- picking carobs
- care of the garden and fruit trees
- Preparation of tomato sauce and sun-dried tomatoes
- tending animals: sheep, rabbits, Nebrodi black pigs, Girgentana goats, chickens, donkeys..
- milking the cows
- plowing, sowing, threshing
Transfer to Catania airport and departure
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