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Sicilian Saunter
offered by supplier M08242 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 7
day(s)
Group Size: 2
- 14
people
Destination(s):
Italy
Specialty Categories:
Food & Wine
Hiking & Trekking
Season: September
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 3195 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 3345 US Dollar (USD)
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There are two sides to Sicily's raw beauty: One is its rocky coastline, and the other is its mountainous interior. Explore both as you hike along seaside trails and over craggy ridges where traces of ancient civilizations stimulate the imagination. Each afternoon features a line-up of stellar Sicilian wines, from native Nero d'Avola to new Cabernet to eye-opening Marsala.
2010 departure dates: September 26 - October 2
Highlights:
- Hiking: 3-4 hours on rocky trails, gravel roads, and paths. Hilly terrain. Partial van support.
- Wine estates: Planeta, Donnafugata, De Bartoli and more.
- Greek ruins at the archaeological parks of Selunite and Monte Adranone.
- Byzantine mosaics at the cathedral of Monreale.
- Sea-salt produced the ancient way, at the saline of Marsala.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: The mosaics of Monreale.
When Palermo was the richest city in Europe in the 1100s, its outskirts provided hunting grounds for royalty. In 1166 the Norman King William II built a magnificent cathedral overlooking this fertile valley. Today the Cathedral of Monreale remains one of the masterpieces of Byzantine art, with floor-to-ceiling glistening gold mosaics. We begin with a visit to this spectacular church and cloisters. Then after lunch, we drive towards the southern coast of Sicily and our first hotel, a countryside agriturismo near Sambuca. For our afternoon warm-up hike, we'll go to the archaeological park on Monte Adranone and walk amidst the remains of a Greek colony from the 6th C. B.C. At 1000 meters altitude, this colony had a view of the distant sea, where rival civilizations roamed the Mediterranean. The day concludes with a wine tasting and an Introduction to Sicilian Wine before dinner at the hotel. Includes: (D).
Day 2: Planeta and the rebirth of Sicilian wine.
For years, Sicily produced bulk wine, much of which was sold to France and northern Italy for blending into table wine. Today, Sicily has a whole new wine culture, with smaller, family-run wineries aiming for quality, not quantity. Planeta, founded in the mid-1990s, was one of the pioneers, first putting the wine-world on notice that Sicily could produce top-notch chardonnays and merlots, then introducing native grape varietals like nero d'avola. Today we hike in the hills surrounding the Planeta estate, going through wooded parks, past vineyards, and up gravel roads overlooking Lago Arancio-Lake Orange, once surrounded by orange groves before vineyards came to dominate the landscape. Our hike's destination is the winery itself. We'll enjoy lunch at the Planeta winery and a tasting of their wines. After time to relax at the hotel, dinner will be in the town of Sambuca. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 3: The Greek ruins of Selinute.
Selunite is a vast archaeological park in southwestern Sicily that features the remains of a once-powerful Greek colony, including three well-preserved Greek temples. We'll hike through Selunite, marvel at the ancients' engineering skills, and ponder the ephemeral nature of world powers before asking the eternal question, "What's for lunch!?" After refueling, we'll head to the port town of Marsala, where we'll have a tour and tasting at Donnafugata. Named after a character in Gattopardo (The Leopard), this top-notch winery is consistently among the Tre Bicchieri winners for its international blends and its nectar-like passito, Ben Rye. After settling into our hotel in the historic center of Marsala, we'll have a private dinner at the Baglio Hopps wine estate. As the courses keep coming, we'll taste their portfolio of wines, from refreshing white Grillo to nutty dry Marsala Riserva. Includes: (B), (D).
Day 4: Marsala and the Salt Ponds.
Along the western coast of Sicily, a steady sea breeze and protected coves have made this an ideal spot for havesting sea salt. Since ancient times, Sicilians have used evaporation ponds and windmills to crystallize salt from the sea. We'll visit the saline and see how they work, then take a boat to a nearby island, Isola Lunga, for an easy hike amidst prickly pear and Mediterranean scrub. After lunch at a great local trattoria, we'll return to Marsala for free time in town. Marsala is a lovely little city with Sicilian baroque architecture, an archaeological museum, and good shopping. Then it's on to De Bartoli, the winery that has reinvented and resurrected marsala as a praise-worthy meditation wine. We'll see how marsala is made using the solera system, then sample De Bartoli's array of dry wines, marsalas, and passito from Pantelleria. Tonight dinner is on your own in Marsala. Includes: (B).
Day 5: Hike around Mont Cofano.
Today we explore the area of Monte Cofano, a Mediterranean promontory lush with flora and fauna. This promontory was a Phoenician base several centuries before Christ and its settlements endured into the new millennium. Our hike goes around the promontory, partially on the sea and past some old settlements. Post-hike, we'll have a tour and tasting at either Tenuta di Serramarrocco or Fondo Antico, both examples of Sicily's new-wave wineries. We'll then settle into our final hotel, near Trapani. Dinner is in the seaside village of Bonagia, once the center of Sicily's tuna fishing industry. Includes: (B), (D).
Day 6: The Island of Marettimo.
Off the western coast of Sicily are three small islands. Today's hike is on the most scenic, Marettimo. We'll take a ferry from Trapani to the island and wander through its single, white-washed town. Then we'll hike to an ancient Norman fortress at the tip of the island, following a path that weaves in and out of the rocky cliffs, always in view of the turquoise sea. We'll hike back to town for lunch, then return on a mid-afternoon ferry. An optional wine tasting at the hotel will highlight other up-and-coming wineries in Sicily. Our farewell dinner is at the hotel. Includes: (B), (D).
Day 7: Arrivederci.
A shuttle to the Palermo airport and assistance with your travel plans. Includes: (B).
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- All wine tastings.
- Breakfast buffets.
- All dinners (with wine) except one.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Italy
Local Culture
Food & Wine
Hiking & Trekking
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