Sicily's rich cultural and gastronomic heritage offers a hybrid of Italian, Greek, Albanian, Saracen and Spanish influenced cuisine. Our newly designed Sicilia Bedda Mia Culinary Adventure includes accommodations in unique Baglio Masseria Estates paired with outstanding food and wines. Come Immerse yourself in the culinary culture of Sicily and indulge your senses on this fabulous gourmet adventure!
Alcamo (2 nights), Erice, Trapani, Marsala (1 night), Mazzara del Vallo, Selinunte, Sciacca (1 night), Agrigento, Scala dei Turchi, Ragusa (1 night), Modica, Noto (2 nights), Avola. Syracuse, Catania, Linguaglossa (1 night), Tindari, Castelbuuno (2 nights)
Included Features
- 2 nights in Alcamo at the Baglio Passofondo Luxury Resort, a former 18th-century manor house converted into a luxury country resort & spa
- 1 night in Marsala at the Baglio Oneto Luxury Wine Resort, a former country house for royalty now a working wine estate and olive oil producer
- 1 night in Sciacca at the Rocco Forte Verdura Resort a formal ducal estate and now stunning golf resort
- 1 night in Ragusa at the Eremo della Giubiliana, a 12th century feudal estate converted to a luxury resort
- 2 nights in Noto at the Masseria della Volpe, a former 17th-century manor house converted to a luxury eco-resort
- 1 night in Linguaglossa at the Villa Neri Resort & Spa on the slopes of Mt. Etna
- 2 nights in Castelbuono at the 12th century Abbazia di Santa Anastasia
- Daily Buffet Breakfast
- Hands on Cooking Class with English instruction at the Baglio Passofondo
- Private visit to the historic wine cellars at the Baglio Oneto with a tasting of four wines and an EVO olive oil tasting accompanied with rustic snacks
- Visit the Castello Incantato to view the outdoor sculptures by “Filippu di li testi”
- Frato Nero Gourmet five course tasting dinner at the Eremo della Giubiliana's Restaurant
- Winery visit, wine tasting, and lunch at the Cantina Modica Nicolacci in Noto
- Winery visit, wine tasting with snacks at the Villa Neri's Wine Cellars
- Quattri Sensi Wine Tasting at the Abbazia Santa Anastasia
- Category CDMR FIAT 500 X 4 door five speed manual shift car rental for 8 days (Category CWMR PEUGEOT 308 Station Wagon for 3 to 4 people) including unlimited free mileage, taxes, and insurance
- Or private car / van with English Speaking Driver Semi-Escorted Option
Itinerary
DAY 1 – PALERMO / ALCAMO
Independent arrival at Palermo’s Falcone Borsellino International Airport Proceed to the Europcar Rental Office to pick up your preferred car rental, or upgrade to a private car / van with English Speaking Driver Semi-Escorted option. Self-drive to Alcamo located on the island’s western shore. Chosen by the Elimi, Roman and Byzantine Empires for its strategic location, Alcamo was called Alqamah by the Arabs who created the most important settlement of the city near the Castle. Throughout history the town has been always very politically active, even helping Garibaldi fight for the liberation of Italy in 1861. to your centrally located Trieste hotel. Check in and room assignment at the Baglio Passafondo Luxury Resort. The grandparents of the owner migrated to America in the 1920’s for a new life in America, never forgetting their Sicilian roots. They strove to instill in their children and grandchildren Sicilian traditions and to always remember their roots
DAY 2 – ALCAMO
Breakfast / Hands on Culinary Lesson/Lunch
Buffet breakfast at hotel and this morning partake in a private, hands on cooking class with English instruction at the Baglio’s Restaurant to meet your chef. Stroll over to the Baglio’s garden and select your ingredients for today’s hands on farm to table cooking class with English instruction followed by lunch with the days preparations. Balance of the day is at leisure.
DAY 3 – ALCAMO / TRAPANI / MARSALA
Breakfast / Wine & EVO Olive Oil Tasting
Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out. Self-drive to Trapani, a beautiful well preserved Baroque city. Stop for independent viewing of the recently restored Baroque treasures and perhaps sample the famous couscous alla Trapanese for lunch or explore the triangular walled city of Erice accessible by cable car which seems to hover above the clouds. Travel past the salt flats and windmills to Marsala, the western most town of the island. The town, rich in history and charm, owes its name to Arab influence: Marsa Allah, the port of God, has always been a city of fundamental strategic importance for routes within Mediterranean Sea. Check in ad room assignment at the Baglio Oneto Wine Resort. In the most scenic spot on the coast of western Sicily, rich with history and legends, among the green olive groves and vineyards, sweet mulberry trees, and sun-ripened prickly pears, lies an enchanted place, suspended in time, the original home to one of Italy's noblest families.
From the top of this panoramic hill, the sunsets will leave you at a loss for words, your senses overtaken by Sicilian scents, flavors, and hints of ancient memory. Time to freshen up before enjoying a private visit to the historic wine cellars at the Baglio with a tasting of four wines and an EVO olive oil tasting accompanied with rustic snacks.
DAY 4 – MARSALA / MAZARA DEL VALLO / SELINUNTE / SCIACCA
Breakfast
Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out. Self-drive to Sciacca, a quaint fishing village on the island’s southern coast. Perhaps stop in the fishing village of Mazara del Vallo, or explore the Greek ruins in Selinunte at your own pace. Check in and room assignment at the stunning Rocco Forte Verdura Resort. Welcome to the Verdura Resort: 230 hectares of sun-kissed Mediterranean coastline, countryside, spa and golf. Olive trees, orange groves and white-sand beaches. Tennis courts, water sports, championship golf and kids’ clubs. Infinity pools, thalassotherapy and the flagship Rocco Forte Spa.. Luxurious eco-architecture and organic ingredients, grown on our land. Verdura is an oasis, a center of wellbeing, escapism and indulgence set against backdrop of charming Sicilian villages, ancient Greek and Roman sites and golf club. Overnight.
DAY 5 – SCIACCA / AGRIGENTO / SCALA DEI TURCHI / RAGUSA
Breakfast / Frate Nero Tasting Dinner
Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out. Self-drive to nearby Mt. Kronos to visit the Castello Incantato with its fascinating outdoor sculptures and face carvings created by Benito Bentivegna fondly known by the locals as by “Filippu di li testi”.
Proceed along Siciily’s southern coast, passing Agrigento, the Scala dei Turchi and arrive in Ragusa, a Baroque gem. Check in and room assignment at the Eremo della Giubiliana, a former 12th century feudal estate that became a monastery and Knights of Malta enclave. Time to relax before enjoying a five course Frate Nero Tasting dinner at the Eremo’s acclaimed restaurant. Overnight.
DAY 6 – RAGUSA / MODICA / NOTO
Breakfast/ Wine Tasting with Snacks
Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out. Self-drive to the Baroque town of Noto situated on the island’s eastern shore passing the Baroque town of Modica renowned for its artisanal chocolate production. Stop at the historic family run Cantina Modica Nicolacci for a wine tasting followed by a rustic lunch with wine. Check in and room assignment at the Masseria della Volpe Eco Resort, an enchanting property perched on a hill overlooking the entire Val di Noto and two seas, still respects the heritage of the land and its traditions. Old manor estates or masseria appeared in Sicily between the 16th and 18th century, when Spain granted a license for resettlement to the nobility of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The property was tastefully restored and offers every comfort. Overnight.
DAY 7 – NOTO
Breakfast
Buffet breakfast at hotel and enjoy a full day at leisure to enjoy the eco resort's amenities. Perhaps explore the Baroque center, Syracuse or Avola.
The masseria also offers a hand on cooking class at additional cost.
DAY 8 - NOTO / CATANIA / MT ETNA / LINGUAGLOSSA Bren
Breakfast / Wine Tasting with Snacks
Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out. Self-drive along the island's eastern shore, passing Catania and Mt. Etna, the tallest most active volcano in Europe and arrive in Linguaglossa, a wine producting region on the volcano's northern slopes. Chjeck in and room assigned at the Villa Neri Resort & Spa, surrounded by vineyards. Enjoy a winery visit wine tasting with snacks at the villa's wine cellar. Overnight.
DAY 9 - LINGUAGLOSSA / TINDARI / CASTELBUONO
Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out. Self-drive to Tindari on the island's northern shore. Perhaps stop to see the Sanctuary of the Black Madonna before continuing to Castelbuono. Check in and room assignment at the histroric 12th century Abbazia Santa Anastasiia, a former Benedictine Abbey converted to an outsanding wine resort. Nearby you may wish to explore the Gole of Tiberio, an ancient gorge for rafting, swimming and trail walking. Or get the adreneline going on an exciting zip line adventure. For a more relaxing experience, the Astronomic Isnello Gal Hassin Obersvatory offers guided visits.
DAY 10 - CASTELBUONO
Breakfast / Quattro Sensi Wine Tasting
Buiffet breakfast at hotel and a full day at leisure. Today enjoy a Quattro Sensi Demeter Wine Tasting at the abbey's ancient wine cellars.
DAY 11 - DEPARTURE
Breakfast
Buffet Breakfast at hotel and check out. Self drive to Palermo's Falcone Borsellino International Airport to board your return flight back to the US or extend your stay!
Accommodation, Departure Dates and Prices
DELUXE PACKAGE
VALID FOR TRAVEL: APRIL 1, 2021 - JUNE 30, 2021 & SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 - OCTOBER 31, 2021
PARTY SIZE DELUXE PACKAGE SELF-DRIVE
2 Participants $2,899.00
3 Participants $2,799.00
4 Participants $2,699.00
6 Participants Call us for a price quote
Single Supplement $1,900.00
PARTY SIZE DELUXE PACKAGE PRIVATE CAR & DRIVER
2 Participants $5,199.00
3 Participants $4,399.00
4 Participants $4,099.00
6 Participants $3,699.00
Single Supplement $4,200.00
VALID FOR TRAVEL: JULY 1, 2021 - AUGUST 6, 2021 & AUGUST 23, 2021- AUGUST 31, 2021
PARTY SIZE DELUXE PACKAGE SELF-DRIVE
2 Participants $3,399.00
3 Participants $3,299.00
4 Participants $3,199.00
6 Participants Call us for a price quote
Single Supplement $2,600.00
PARTY SIZE DELUXE PACKAGE PRIVATE CAR & DRIVER
2 Participants $5,799.00
3 Participants $4,799.00
4 Participants $4,599.00
6 Participants $4,199.00
Single Supplement $4,400.00
Extra nights at any of the included hotels are available upon request at a supplementary cost based on travel dates. Vacation may be personalized to suit. Larger parties welcome. Please contact us for a price quote and details.