Travel Writing in Sicily

TRAVEL WRITING IN SICILY • Learn the craft of travel writing with a professional travel writer • Study and write in the secluded surroundings of a traditional Sicilian village, situated near the popular fishing town of Cefalù • Be inspired to write by immersing yourself one of Europe’s most spectacular natural landscapes • Daily workshops on the techniques of travel writing, with opportunities to practise your skills • Optional walks and time to relax – and write! Day 1 Saturday After arrival at Palermo airport we travel by road to the little village Sant'Ambrogio, situated just above the coast 5 km east of the historic fishing town of Cefalù (1.5 hours drive). There will be time to relax and enjoy the atmosphere of a typical Sicilian village, or walk down the hillside to the beach. Pre-dinner drinks and short presentation: ‘Travel writers in Italy’. Dinner at trattoria in the village. Day 2 Sunday - walk Optional circular walk taking us around the mountain behind the woodlands of Guarneri with views across the Madonie Mountains, before gradually descending via a small coastal path to the village of Sant’Ambrogio (3hrs). We stop at the shepherd for cheese tasting and light lunch. Time for a siesta before the late afternoon workshop (2 hrs): ‘What is travel writing?’ Dinner at family run restaurant. Day 3 Monday - Cefalù Morning workshop (2 hrs): ‘Creating a sense of place’. We then drive (5 minutes) to visit the old fishing town of Cefalù where we have lunch at a local restaurant, then explore the ancient centre with its cobbled streets and Romanesque cathedral, and practise our skills at writing about a place. Optional walk to the top of Rock of Cefalù (1 1/5 hours). Free evening. Day 4 Tuesday - Castelbuono Morning workshop (2 hrs): ‘Writing about food and travel’. We then drive to Castelbuono, an important town tucked below the Madonie Mountain range where we have lunch at traditional restaurant. We stroll down the streets of the old town, enjoying the local atmosphere and visiting a traditional oil press and return by road to the village for a late afternoon demonstration of Sicilian cuisine (and practice our food- writing techniques!). Day 5 Wednesday - Tusa - Pollina Morning workshop (2 hrs): ‘Bringing your travel writing to life’. Free time to relax. In the afternoon we then drive along the coast to the Greek/Roman excavation site Halaesa, founded in 403 BC by Arconide, tyrant of Herbita (a Sicani city). After our visit we return along the coastline stopping at the mountain-top town of Pollina. Dinner at an Agriturismo which grows their own vegetables. Day 6 - Palermo Morning: We travel by train from Cefalù along the coast to Palermo (50 min) to visit the famous bustling street markets, where we watch the local people and practice the skills we’ve acquired during the week writing about place, people and food. Lunch at Antica Focacciaria di San Francesco where many locals eat. Return to Cefalù by train, with the remainder of the afternoon free for writing or relaxing. Gala dinner at a restaurant on the beach of Sant'Ambrogio, we share the fruits of our week’s writing over drinks. Dinner and wine tasting in the village. Day 7 Santa Anastasia Morning workshop (2 hrs): ‘Structuring your travel writing’. We then drive (40 min) to Isnello, a quaint medieval town where we have lunch at a traditional trattoria, tasting the local dishes. On our return journey we stop at vineyard of Abbazia Santa Anastasia, once a Saint Benedictine monastery, for a wine tasting and visit to the cellar. Dinner at seaside restaurant. Day 8 Transfer to Palermo airport by road (1.5 hrs). The Travel Writing Week will be hosted by Carmelina Ricciardello and Gail Simmons. Gail Simmons is a contributor to numerous UK and international newspapers and magazines including TIME magazine, Wanderlust, the Telegraph, the Guardian, the Observer, Sunday Times Travel magazine and CNN Traveller, and has broadcast on BBC’s Excess Baggage and Form Our Own Correspondent. She also teaches travel writing at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities and is studying for a PhD in the subject. In a previous life she led walking holidays in Italy, England and the Middle East. Dates: 20th to 27th June 2015 (8 days / 7 nights) 17th to 24th October 2015 (8 days / 7 nights) Cost: Euro 1,680 per person (two people sharing a double room) (single supplement for a double room for single use Euro 420 ) (approximately £1,375 / US 2,350 subject to daily exchange rates) Group size: 7 to 12 people The tour includes: All transfers Wine tasting and dinner at Mimmo's cellar Wine tasting and visit at the vineyard of Santa Anastasia Cooking demonstration Accommodation in double room with breakfast Lunches and dinner where stated. Services of a full-time professional tour guide The itinerary does not include: Air travel to Sicily Travel insurance which is a requirement of the trip Accommodation: The accommodation in lovely apartment in the village of Sant'Ambrogio. Registered Office - Mastro Nino Incaprera 37, 90015 Sant’Ambrogio (PA) Italia. Mobile +39 3495763215 P.IVA: 05929650827 Sicilian Experience di Carmela Angela Ricciardello [email protected] - http://www.sicilianexperience.com .

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