Sicilian Welcome, September 2020 with Monica Dominioni

A full immersion Italian experience Whether you speak a little or well Italian, this is your chance to take a two week vacation in with a friend, family member or solo. You will live and breathe the Italian culture, enjoy the beauty of , stay with one of our selected Italian families. You will savor the bounty of the Italian table while learning and practicing Italian. Monica (Georgeo) Dominioni, 15 years Yale University Italian Language Instructor and Director of the Italian Language Program in Italy, will guide you through your new adventure. Experience Italian historical sites, culture, food and wine. I will accompany the group during the two weeks as we explore different cities, their culture and delightful cuisines.

Let the adventure begin! This is a group adventure and a once in a lifetime experience.

Be one of us!

Specific dates TBA, third and fourth

http://www.visitsicily.info/turismo/percorsi-enogastronomici/ Itinerary draft

Famous throughout the world, is the regional capital of Sicily and the fifth largest city in Italy by population. On the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea, it is located between Monte Pellegrino and the bay of Conca d’Oro, in the western part of Sicily.

City of a thousand faces, loud but elegant, eclectic and never dull, Palermo with its architectural beauty, its traditions and its people attracts and enchants thousands of visitors from all over the world.

Palermo, Segesta and Cefalu’ – 5 days

● Day 1: Arrival Aeroporto di Palermo, transfer to the meeting place where we will meet our facilitator Rossella host families introduction. After we will all transfer with our individul host families back home and then attend welcome dinner all together at one of the host families Home (TBD).

● Day 2: Breakfast at home followed by a downtown Palermo hop on and hop off tour combined with walking tour, Lunch at the Antica Focacceria San Francesco, dinner home.

https://www.getyourguide.com/palermo-l387/palermo-hop-on-hop-off-tour-24h- ticket-t50725/

● Day 3: Breakfast at home followed by a departure for Cefalù (50 min train ride). Cooking class and lunch in Villa Palamara with an afternoon visit to the town and dinner in downtown historical Cefalu’. Evening train will take us back to Palermo.

● Day 4: Breakfast at home, followed by a departure for Segesta's ancient Greek temple by train (1 hour). Lunch by the Salinas of Marsala, afternoon visit the historical downtown Marsala, Cantina Pellegrino. Dinner with the host family.

● Day 5 : Breakfast at home, followed by the Palermo’s Capo Market Tour and lunch. In the afternoon we will stop in a Sicilian bakery shop for special treats and partake experience in preparing cannolis. Visit the Cattedrale and chiostro in Monreale. We may chose to spend some time on a beautiful beach sunbathing, conversing and swimming. A good bye dinner all together at one of the host families home (TBD). ● Day 6: Breakfast at home, followed by the departure for Agrigento (about two hours train ride)

Agrigento is history, myth, culture. Ancient Akragas conserves its Valley of the Temples, with the most numerous and known of Sicily’s archaeological remains from the Greek period. The vast Archaeological Park, a symbol of the glories of the city lived in the ancient period, extends for about 1300 hectares of temples, homes, and sacred places; a heritage of Unesco since 1997, Agrigento is one of the most sought after and famous destinations in Sicily.

Agrigento – 1 day

● Night 6 : Arrival in Agrigento, we will be picked up and driven to the Valle dei Templi, the Kolymbethra gardens. Lunch in San Leone (in a sea chalet). We will then take a (boat ride to admire the Scala dei Turchi) tour to the Luigi Pirandello’s house in Caos. Dinner and overnight stay in Agrigento TBD.

● Day 7 : Breakfast in Agrigento , followed by the departure by minibus for the Villa del Casale di Piazza Armerina. Lunch in a local restaurant. Departure for Marina di Modica (2 hours drive).

The historical town of Modica is located in the south-eastern part of the island in about 20 km distance from Ragusa. The elegancy of its buildings and streets richly decorated with baroque motives gave a significant boost to the town’s tourism. A further contribution was the annexation to the communities of the world cultural heritage of the UNESCO in 2002. Modica and surrounding area – 4 days

● Night 7 : Arrival in Marina di Modica transfer to the meeting place for host families introduction. After we will all transfer with our individul host families back home.

● Day 8 : Breakfast at home then relax on the beach, local newspaper reading with Monica, lunch with your host family, than we will tour the city of Modica. We will then visit a typical countryside farm where we can assist the Caciocavallo and warm ricotta cheese production, followed by dinner there.

. Day 9 : Breakfast at home then relax on the Sanpieri beach. Local nowspaper reading with Monica. Lunch with our host families. In the afternoon we will visit the city of Marina di Modica and the famous Antica Dolceria Bonajuto where we will taste their extraordinary bars of chocolate and have a scavenger hunt.

. Day 10 : Breakfast at home then we leave for the Donnafugata Castle https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/travel/06leopard.html, Scicli e Ragusa Ibla. Lunch TBD. Dinner with Host families.

● Day 11 : Breakfast at home followed by the departure for Siracusa, lunch in Ortigia (downtown Siracusa). Afternoon we take the train to where we will meet our facilitator Augusta Greco and the new host family. http://www.visitsicily.info/event/acireale-facce-da-scoprire-tra-mascheroni-pupi- pastori-e-fanti/?lang=it

Acireale as an elegant baroque town, a few kilometers from , rises upon a hill that overlooks the Ionian Sea: The Timpa, from which there is a beautiful panoramic view down to the Riviera of the Ciclopi. Became well known for hosting one of the most famous of the Carnivals of Sicily, Acireale contains important sights from its noble past that certainly deserve to be seen.

Acireale and surrounding area - 4 days

● Afternoon 11: Arrival in Acireale, in Piazza Duomo, where we will meet our facilitator Augusta Greco and the new host families. Afternoon local newspaper reading with Monica. Welcome dinner all together at one of the host families Home (TBD).

● Day 12 : Breakfast at home followed by the departure for by train (1.5 hours). We will appreciate the serene beauty of Taormina on awalking tour, visit the Greek Theatre, Piazza Duomo, Palazzo Corvaja, and an ancient Roman theater. We will take in the views of Taormina during a stroll along Corso Umberto, seeing the Old Town lit up next to the Mediterranean. Lunch TBD. Late afternoon train back to Acireale. Dinner with our host families.

● Day 13: Breakfast at home followed by the departure for . Lunch in Solicchiata. Afternoon at the beach and local paper reading with Monica.

● 14 giorno: Breakfast at home followed by the departure for Catania by train. Lunch at A Putìa dell’Ostello is perhaps the most cosmopolitan place where you can eat, drink and meet people in Catania. Set between the historic fish market of Piazza Duomo and Castello Ursino, A Putìa dell’Ostello overlooks Terme Romane dell’Indirizzo, with a lava cave in its basement which was formed during the 1669 Etna eruption. The Amenano River has been flowing silently for centuries under the site, making magical place to dine. Afternoon in Acireale. We will visit the Timpa, from which there is a beautiful panoramic view down to the Riviera of the Ciclopi.

● Day 15 : Breakfast at home followed by the departure for the Etna vulcano. Visit and Lunch at the Solicchiata winery. Afternoon tour through the vineyards and wine cellar with following wine tasting. We will stop in the medieval Randazzo for gelato befor returning to Acireale for dinner with our host family.

● Day 16 : Goodbye breakfast, transfer to the Catania airport.