Gastronomic Slow Food Sicily Tour 8 days

Participants will have the unique chance of sampling several Slow Food Presidia products - high-quality, traditional foods and beverages at risk of “extinction” - and other local delicacies from Slow Food recommended quality producers, such as: the extra virgin olive oil of the Trapani area, the excellent wines of the Mount Etna vineyards, the Manna and the traditional pastries and desserts of the Madonie Park area, the Polizzi Badda bean, the Madonie Provola cheese. Tour participants will also have the opportunity to sample wines and/or local typical products at wineries, bakeries, pastry shops, fresh produce markets and more, such as: the fresh produce of the Mercato del Capo traditional market in Palermo, the Cannoli and other traditional old monastery’s pastries of Erice, the famous Modica chocolate.

Day 1) Arrival a Palermo airport and transfer to your hotel in Palermo on your own. Time to settle in, and welcome dinner dedicated to the products of the Slow Food Presidia of Sicily. During the evening there will be an introduction to the tour and to the Slow Food philosophy. Transfer to your hotel and overnight stay. (D)

Day 2) Erice, Marsala : Departure for Erice, a magnificent medieval city in a spectacular setting. Walk through the streets of the center of the town and visit the Pasticceria Maria Grammatico, an old pastry shop that offers recipes from the Antico Convento. Try some of the typical local delights such as almond pastries filled with candied lemon, Cannoli, Zibbibo (local wine) and the famous “brutti ma buoni” (“ugly but tasty”) biscuits. Proceed to Marsala, the city renowned for its production of the wine of the same name. Lunch in a typical local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Donnafugata’s historic cellars, a living example of industrial archaeology where you can admire the fascinating underground barrique room and the processes of wine refinement. Free time to stroll through the centre of the old town. Return to the hotel and overnight stay. (BB,T, L, T)

Day 3) Palermo, Monreale: In the morning, visit the famous old Capo Market, in the ancient heart of this thriving city. Free time to stroll around the streets in the center of the city. In the afternoon a guided tour to visit and seek out signs of Palermo and its ancient "grandeur". Transfer to Monreale, ancient village near Palermo, famous for its wonderful Norman Cathedral and the adjoining cloister, architectural masterpieces of King Roger. Return to the hotel, overnight stay. (BB)

Day 4) Agrigento, Caltagirone, Syracuse: Departure for Agrigento for a guided tour of the amazing Valley of the Temples, testament to the ancient Greek civilization in Sicily. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon visit Caltagirone famous for the production of ceramics and pottery: visit of a ceramics laboratory and opportunity of shopping. Departure for Syracuse, check in at the hotel, dinner and overnight stay. (BB, D)

Day 5) Ragusa, Modica, Noto, Syracuse: Departure to Ragusa. Guided visit of the city, built in a region that has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its Sicilian style baroque architecture. The city is divided into two parts: the old city (called Ibla) and the new city. Having admired the wonderful architecture of Ibla proceed to Modica, the ancient capital of the county which once again is full of amazing examples of architecture that pay homage to the old Sicilian baroque style. We suggest a stop at the Antica Pasticceria Bonajuto (an old pastry shop), where the Ruta family is famous for its chocolate. Sample some of the typical dishes accompanied by local wines at Trattoria La Locanda del Colonnello. Before returning to Syracuse stop in Noto to taste the famous almonds. The almond is the queen of Sicilian confectionery and is used to make pasta reale (marzipan), martorana (marzipan fruit and vegetables), almond milk, nougat, mustazzuoli biscuits, amaretti and cassata, the baroque pudding par excellence. Overnight stay in Syracuse. (BB, L, T)

Day 6) Syracuse, Mount Etna, and Taormina: A morning guided of Syracuse, one of the most important and strategic political centers in ancient Greece, visit the archaeological park and walk around the heart of the old city –Ortigia. Departure to Taormina, stopping on route for a wine tasting in Mt. Etna area. Proceed to your hotel in Taormina. Check in and free time. Overnight stay. (BB, T)

Day 7) Taormina: In the morning, a guided tour to discover Taormina, the small medieval village called "the pearl of the Ionian Sea" and visit to the Roman - Greek theatre. Time at leisure for lunch, shopping and walk through the tiny streets. Farewell dinner and overnight night stay. (BB, D)

Day 8) Departure. After breakfast, free time. (BB)

BB=Buffet Breakfast; L=Lunch; LL= light lunch; D=Dinner; T=Tasting; C=Cooking Lesson

Points of Interest : Art, History, Culture & Nature - During the tour the participants will not only discover delightful food and wines but also the most interesting monuments, works of art, churches and natural landscapes of the region: Palermo, the majestic Sicilian regional capital, with its ancient theatres and public buildings, the characteristic streets and the Capo market Erice, a magnificent medieval city in a spectacular setting Agrigento, with the amazing Valley of the Temples, testament to the ancient Greek civilization in Sicily Ragusa Ibla, a UNESCO World Heritage site in recognition of its Sicilian style baroque architecture Modica, the ancient capital of the county, also full of amazing examples of architecture in the old Sicilian baroque style, but perhaps even more famous for its chocolate Syracuse, one of the most important and strategic political centers in ancient Greece, with the archaeological park and the ancient heart of the old city – Ortigia Island Taormina, the small town home of the oldest cinema festival in the world, with its elegant streets and wonderful views of the emerald sea

Total cost AUD$3150 per person (based on twin share); Single supplement AUD$800

Guaranteed departure Dates 2016: 26 June; 04 September; 02 October

Tour in English with a maximum of 24 people in the peak periods

The rates includes: 7 nights in 4* hotels; Breakfast Buffet Daily; 5 meals based on traditional regional dishes, including a selection of regional wines: 1 Slow Food welcome dinner, 2 lunches & 1 dinner, 1 farewell dinner, 4 guided tastings of Slow Food wines and Presidia products from the Sicily region; Guided tour of: Agrigento (2 hrs), Syracuse ( 2 hrs), Ragusa ( 2 hrs), Palermo ( 2 hrs), Taormina (2 hrs); Entrance fee to the Cathedral of Monreale; the Valley of the Temples; Archaeological Park, Agrigento; the Archaeological Park in Syracuse; the Greek Theatre of Taormina; Travel in state-of the-art, luxury motor coaches; Baggage Handling for the full duration of the tour; Professional Tour Directors and licensed local guides as per itinerary;

The rates do not include: Cities tax, travel insurance, tips and anything not specifically mentioned in "The rate include"

Hotels: Hotel Quintocanto or similar 4*- Palermo Grand Hotel Villa Politi or similar 4*- Syracuse Atahotel Naxos Beach or similar 4* - Giardini Naxos

Options: Pre & Post tour accommodation on application; Private transfers from/to the airports on application

Payment: 10% non-refundable deposit per person within 7 days of confirmation and balance 60 days before departing from Australia.

Note: In an extreme case where the tour date booked does not reach a minimum participant to operate, you will be informed at least 60 days before departure and the ITB reserve the right to cancel this date and will offer an alternative date or tour or a full refund.