AROUND THE SICILY OF WINE
LUXURY WINE TOURS IN SICILY, TREASURE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN
Sicily is a captivating Italian island. Quintessentially Mediterranean, Sicily is a mix of many civilizations. The island’s architecture is rich and varied, and the food is to die for!
Sicily is larger than many visitors expect, and there is so much to see and to do; from wine tasting, visiting ancient Greek ruins, to sailing out to volcanic islands. There are over 1400 km of coastline in Sicily! Our tourist agency has designed this itinerary to show you the “best of the Island,” including the spectacular wineries and cellars.
This premium, private wine tour in Sicily includes both the western and the eastern part of the island and offers a great variety of food, wine, and cultural experiences. Visit the one and only Palermo, the chic Taormina, the Greek Syracuse, the trapped-in-time Agrigento, and the baroque Ragusa. Enjoy personalized, VIP wine tours and tastings in Marsala, Etna, Vittoria, and other smaller wine areas.
Pamper yourself with spa time in exquisite resorts. Your adventure begins in Palermo, and for the next few nights you will be staying at the in one of the best hotels the we will recommend. Highlights include the seaside town of Cefalù, the Greek Temples of Agrigento and Segesta, the ceramics of Caltagirone, and the mosaics of Villa del Casale.
You will also visit Caltagirone, the city of ceramics, and medieval Erice, perched on Mount Erice overlooking Trapani. Its Norman castle and citadel rest on rugged mountains, and Erice is called “the city in the clouds.” You will experience wonders of nature, like Mount Etna and Scala dei Turchi. Wine tasting in the top Sicilian cellars is reserved to you on this tour. You will visit leading estates like Tasca D’Amerita, Florio, Feudi del Pisciotto, Valle dell’Acate, Planeta, Etna Firriato, Tenuta Delle Terre Nere. Marvel yourself at the sea salt mounds near Trapani.
Finally, it wouldn’t be a Around the Sicilian Wine without some unforgettable gourmet experiences. You will taste an array of traditional local dishes. This tour combines unique sightseeing, luxury, and plenty of wining and dining! Sicily Wine Tours Highlights: Private Luxurious Mercedes Chauffeured Tour, Visit the Best of Sicily from coast to coast, Luxury Hotels Wine Resort with Spa, Wine Tasting at top Sicilian estates.
Welcome to Palermo. You will arrive in Palermo airport/harbour and your friendly driver will be waiting to drive you to your luxurious hotel in Palermo. After the check-in in the hotel you will have free time for a walk in the center of Palermo. In Palermo we recommend these hotels: Villa Igea, Grand Hotel Et Des Palmes, Hotel Principe di Villafranca, Hotel Politeama.
At 09:30 you will meet our local tour guide in the hotel to start a walking tour and see the most beautiful monuments of Palermo. Discover Palermo and Monreale and enjoy an afternoon guided tour of the enchanting 12th-century Cathedral , Palatine Chapel, Quattro Canti and Teatro Massimo. With our driver you will carry on to winery Tasca D’Almerita for lunch and then you will reach Monreale an enchanting Norman-Byzantine UNESCO site cathedral. Enjoy your knowledgeable guide’s stories about Monreale and Palermo’s legends and idiosyncrasies. You will be back in your hotel in the evening and you will have a free dinner.
At 09:30 you will meet a tour local tour guide. Then your driver will take you to the famous Norman town of Cefalù. Cefalù is a small alluring town facing the sea. Your guide will take you on an exciting tour through the winding medieval streets and, of course, into the striking cathedral. Then you will continue going to Castebuono, an ancient town with the castle in the center. Here you will have a fantastic experience of local cuisine in a historic restaurant, Nangalarruni. You will be back in your hotel in the evening and you will have a free dinner.
Your chauffeur will drive you southwest to Segesta, an Ancient Greek settlement. You will gaze with wonder at the Doric Temple resting peacefully in a grassy field for the last 2500 years. You will enjoy a little time in the archeological park before carrying on to the mystic Erice, an extraordinary little town! Overlooking the sea and high in the hills, you could almost easily mistake Erice for a Sicilian version of Camelot with its coastal fog and fairytale castles. Spend a little time to explore Erice’s maze of medieval stone streets on your own. There are many beautiful panoramic spots to take in the views, and a visit to the mythical pastry shop La Pasticceria di Maria Grammatico is a MUST. Today, you will have a tantalizing in the restaurant Monte San Giuliano. Chef Matteo Giurlanda will prepare for you the best pasta you will taste in your life. Is is aired with excellent local wines such as the ones from Firriato estate. After lunch, head towards Marsala. On the way to Marsala, you will pass by the unusual and impressive sea salt mounds. Stop for a quickly visit at the Saline Ettore Infersa Saltworks, a producer and vendor of super high-quality sea salt. Enjoy a short, fascinating tour! Check-in hotel in the Lluxury spa resort of Planeta La Foresteria. Visit, tasting wine and dinner in winery.
You will leave your hotel to reach the jewel of Sicilian area, the world’s most important archaeological site and a UNESCO heritage site: Valley of the Temples. With your private art guide, you will visit the temples of Concord, Juno, Heracles, and Zeus: some of the most outstanding and extraordinary monuments of Greek art in the world. Next, you will head south to the 2 Michelin starred restaurant “La Madia”. Here chef Pino Cuttaia will prepare for you some of his first-class dishes. End the day by settling into your luxury Wine Resort Feudi del Pisciotto. Dinner tonight could be at a gourmet restaurant of the hotel.
Pick up at 09:00 am. Your chauffeur will drive you to visit Caltagirone “the city of ceramics,” famous worldwide for its ceramics. Ceramic production started here 1000 BC. If you visit it in May, you could see the “Infiorata,” when the famous Caltagirone stairway is decorated with thousands of flowers in honor of the Madonna; in July, you will experience the feast of the Holy Patron, with a parade of horses and historic carriages. You will have lunch in the Valle Dell’Acate winery. Valle dell’Acate opens the doors to its historic cellars, spaces which tell the tale of six generations of agricultural entrepreneurship. The visit will permit wine lovers to learn the winemaker’s art in an enchanting atmosphere, one suffused with history, tradition, and culture. Tasting of 4 VALLE DELL’ACATE wines along with flavored rice balls (“arancini”) and dried tomatoes (“ciappe di pomodoro”), Ragusa DOP cheese (a controlled appellation product), olives, and home-baked, naturally leavened bread. Your day will end by settling in your boutique hotel in Ragusa Ibla. Visit, tasting wine and dinner in winery.
Pick up 09:30 in hotel. Today you will head to the marvelous city of Syracuse. Your private guide will show you the archaeological park, including the Ancient Greek Theatre. (still used today for Greek drama performances in summer) and the gigantic limestone cave, named “Ear of Dionysius” by Caravaggio. Your guide will also reveal you Ortygia, the historical center of Syracuse, built on a small island. You will visit Arethusa fountain, beautiful palazzos, piazzas, and Duomo, a catholic church built on a Greek Doric temple. You will admire Caravaggio’s painting Burial of St. Lucy and learn about the special relationship between the town and its patroness. Yiu will be back in the hotel in Ragusa Ibla in the evening. Free dinner. In Ragusa we recommend you these hotels: Duomo Relais boutique hotel, Epoca boutique hotel, Antica Badia hotel, Hotel Palazzo degli Antoci. Recommended restaurants: Il Duomo di Ciccio Sultano 2 Michelin stars, I Banchi restaurant, Accursio a 2 Michelin stars in Modica.
Pick up 09:30 in hotel in Ragusa. Today you will head to Taormina. Check in before 4:00 pm. This fascinating town will give you the opportunity to see the most amazing panorama in the world. From your bedroom window you can see the gulf of the Mediterranean sea. Free dinner.
After having brakfast in your hotel in Taormina you will meet your private guide for a walking tour of this dazzling town, including the magnificent Ancient Greek theatre, of course. Taste the best granita in the world, have fun trying as many flavors as you can: coffee, bitter almonds, black mulberries, pistachio. For the rest of the day you will have free time to stroll through the Italian fashion shops. Free dinner.