A Special 15-Day Tour - 26 March/09 April 2021
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A SPECIAL 15-DAY TOUR - 26 MARCH/09 APRIL 2021 CATANIA – BRONTE – MT ETNA – CALTAGIRONE – PIAZZA ARMERINA – AGRIGENTO – MARSALA – PACECO FONTANASALSA – TRAPANI – MONREALE – PALERMO – PIANA DEGLI ALBANESI – PRIZZI – CASTELBUONO SYRACUSE – MODICA – NOTO – SCICLI – VITTORIA – RAGUSA Sicily at Easter during Holy Week is a magical place to be and its one of the best times to visit. With the cold months of winter at its back, temperatures are on the rise and spring flowers erupt with abundance all over, as the island becomes a shimmering green. Each town and village revives ancient and picturesque traditions. Some, such as Trapani’s ‘Misteri di Trapani’ are spectacular processions featuring religious symbols, and others like Prizzi’s ‘Ballo dei Diavoli’ depict the dramatic struggle between good and evil. Unsurprisingly, food also plays a significant role in Easter festivities and who better than Rosa & Colin, with their passion for everything Sicilian, to escort this exclusive tour and reveal the gastronomic delights which await you while you enjoy the festivals! This carefully-crafted special itinerary provides for a Experience the delightful tastes of the Sicilian Easter comprehensive but leisurely-paced programme of Festivals with dishes like Torta Pasqualina (Easter Pie) and sightseeing, daily excursions, scenic drives and privately Agnello Agrassato (Lamb Stew) or Mpanata (Lamb Pie). guided tours, highlighted by attendance at three of the most Enjoy the famous Easter treats such as Cuddura (hard famous Sicilian Easter festivals…the Procession of the boiled eggs nestling on animal or basket shaped pastries, Mysteries of Trapani (Misteri di Trapani), the Arbëreshë traditionally made by the Nonnas and gifted to their Procession in Piana degli Albanesi and the Dance of the grandchildren) and Colomba Pasquale (Panattone-style Devils (Ballo dei Diavoli) in Prizzi Easter bread baked in the shape of a dove). Try the iconic Fully escorted by Rosa and Colin, with additional services in Easter gift, Agnelli Pasquali (Spring lambs fashioned from Sicily from a professional Tour Manager and additional marzipan and filled with pistachio paste) expert commentary by local guides during tours and visits Stay in quality accommodation, in boutique-style, premium while in Piazza Armerina (Villa del Casale), Agrigento city hotels or intimate family-run establishments with a (Valley of the Temples), Monreale, Palermo and Syracuse special highlight of a 2-night stay at an ‘Agriturismo’ property A limit on tour numbers to a maximum of 18 guests ensures in the Caltagirone area a greater level of comfort and individual attention Travel in comfort and style in deluxe air-conditioned vehicles Start each day with a delicious buffet breakfast (B) throughout, with private group transfers on arrival and On 6 special days savour pre-arranged highlight lunches, departure two particularly special ones being a long lunch at the And, you won’t have to tip on this tour. The Easter in Sicily exclusive Tenuta Manca di Geracello near Piazza Armerina with Rosa tour has a unique ‘No Tipping’ policy which means and a ‘Cooking Class’ lunch with Rosa at her favourite we take care of hotel porterage, hotel and restaurant service restaurant in Modica (L) charges (for meals included in the programme) plus taxes 8 evening meals are provided, with wine, including a and gratuities, including gratuities for local guides and the welcome dinner in Catania, a very special farewell dinner in end-of-tour gratuities traditionally given to the Tour Manager Ragusa and a dinner in each of Rosa’s favourite restaurants and Driver in the Caltagirone Area (2), Marsala, Trapani, Palermo, and Syracuse (D) Contact Rosa via email at [email protected] - or phone Colin on 0428 177915 OR, Paul at EuroVista Holidays. Phone 1800 943 603 or Email: [email protected] Day 01 - Fri 26 March (accompanied by Arrival Catania (3 nights) experienced On arrival at Catania Airport, we’ll be mountain met and transferred to our hotel. This guides) up to evening we’ll join Rosa, Colin and our 2,800 metres. As Tour Manager for a welcome dinner at we won’t know one of Rosa’s favourite restaurants, the the conditions delightful Ristorante Antica Marina, until we’re on the located in a characteristic quarter of Catania near the mountain this option is not included in the tour price but Piazza Duomo and the Wall of Carlo V in the historic heart can be purchased on the day. We’ll descend from the of the city. (D) mountain in the afternoon and this evening perhaps take a light meal in our hotel or stroll into the surrounding Day 02 - Sat 27 March neighbourhood to discover a nearby trattoria for dinner. (B) Catania – Excursion to Bronte & Castiglione di Sicilia The pistachios of Bronte, known as ‘green gold’, are world Day 04 - Mon 29 March famous. This morning we’ll drive on the slopes of Mt Etna Catania – Caltagirone Area (2 nights) to visit Bronte town and a producer of pistachio products. Catania is also known as the ‘Black Pearl of the We’ll spend time learning about the growing of the nuts Mediterranean Sea’ because of its baroque palaces and tasting some of the many products which are made predominately from them. Next constructed from we’ll have a the black lava comprehensive stone of the area. introduction to the Our stay here wines of Sicily. First wouldn’t be we’ll visit the complete without Planeta including a visit to Sciaranuova the very famous, vineyards where we’ll taste wines from five different very colourful and bustling fish market. Monday is a great regions of Sicily. The passopisciaro wine of Etna, a time to be there so this morning the market is first on our recently revived wine made from an ancient local grape agenda before we further explore this cosmopolitan city. variety grown on the slopes of Mt. This afternoon we’ll drive west to the city of Caltagirone, Etna, a wine from Menfi, a wine from one of the liveliest baroque towns in central Sicily and Noto, a wine from Capo Milazzo and known throughout Italy as ‘The City of Sicilian Ceramics’. a wine from Vittoria. This will be The main landmark of the city is the 142-step monumental followed by a lunch of traditional Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte, Sicilian cuisine, each course paired built from 1608 in the old part of the with a Planeta wine, before a short town. Each step is decorated with drive brings us to the Planeta Feudo different hand-decorated ceramics, di Mezzo winery in Castiglione di Sicilia where we’ll learn using styles and figures derived more of the process of wine-making, visit their barrique and from the millennial tradition of take a walk through a vineyard of 120 year-old vines. We’ll pottery making. We’ll visit a return to Catania in the late afternoon for a relaxing ceramics factory before continuing evening in our hotel. (BL) our journey to our special agriturismo accommodation, near the town of Piazza Day 03 - Sun 28 March Armerina, where this evening we’ll enjoy a dinner of local Catania – Excursion to Mt Etna specialities in their restaurant. (BD) Mount Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe and a definite must for all visitors to Sicily. This morning our Day 05 - Tue 30 March circuitous drive takes us through many villages typically Caltagirone Area – Excursion to Villa Romana del built almost entirely of lava. The landscape is constantly Casale & Tenuta Manca di Geracello changing as we ascend the mountain. At 1,900 metres the Today our first stop is at the renowned Villa Romana del scenic situation is dominated by black lava and it’s here Casale, a short drive from Piazza Armerina. This splendid we’ll stop at Rifugio Sapienza to view the now dormant Roman villa owes its fame to its magnificent mosaic floors, Crateri Silvestri. If the weather and volcanic activity allows thought to be the work of North African artists, which are it’s possible to take a cable-car and an off-road vehicle rather striking due to the variety of colours used and the incredibly interesting subjects This evening we’ll depicted. Lunch today is a very enjoy dinner at the special event when we’ll visit the Ristorante Serisso 47, exclusive Tenuta Manca di a local restaurant Geracello, a private ‘estate’ firmly established in owned by a descendent of the the city’s top 20. (BLD) Sicilian Grimaldi family, where we’ll enjoy a sumptuous local meal accompanied by their excellent wine! We’ll also have an Day 08 - Fri 02 April opportunity to sample the first-class olive oil produced on Trapani – ‘Processione dei Misteri di Trapani’ the estate. After lunch we’ll return to our agriturismo Today is Good Friday and we’ll spend the whole day in the accommodation with an opportunity to relax before city during the Procession of the Mysteries of Trapani, a enjoying a light dinner to top off a memorable day. (BLD) day-long passion procession featuring twenty floats of lifelike wood, canvas and glue sculptures with silver, gold Day 06 - Wed 31 March and coral decorations. The statues are mounted on Caltagirone Area – Agrigento – Marsala (1 night) wooden structures called ‘vare’ and are carried through the This morning’s drive brings us to the elegant and refined streets of the city on the shoulders of southern coast of Sicily and the town the ‘massari’ who perform the traditional ‘annacata’, a of Agrigento with its marvellous Valley peculiar movement, encouraged by the rhythms of the local of the Temples, undoubtedly one of bands, which cause the statues to sway. The sculptures the Island’s most famous historical depict individual scenes attractions.