DAY 1

• PALERMO

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• You’ve Arrived
• Meet your private English-speaking assistant outside of airport customs in the baggage claim area, where they will be holding a sign with your name on it. When you're ready to depart, they will bring you to your private vehicle and transfer you to your hotel.
• A welcome package with a city map, train tickets (if relevant), and any other touristic information that we deem you may find useful, will be provided to you on your first day in destination.

DAY 2

• PALERMO

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• Hit the Streets
• Meet your private guide, driver and vehicle and depart on a fascinating full-day exploration of Sicilian culture and cuisine. Palermo, which stretches along a beautiful bay on the Tyrrhenian Sea, was founded by the Phoenicians in the 7th and 8th centuries B.C. It was later conquered by Arabs in 831, and a period of immense prosperity commenced. You'll begin with a visit to the Il Capo market, the oldest in Palermo, where you will see and taste the famous Palermo street food, such as panelle, arancine, crocchette and Pani Ca Meusa. Admire colorful stalls featuring an abundance of fruit, vegetables, seafood and meats as the sellers’ cries bid for your attention. You'll be enchanted by Palermo's wide boulevards, traditional Sicilian Old Quarter, and baroque palaces, visiting the city's main sights, including the Norman section, Quattro Canti di Citta' (the Four Corners of the City), Palermo's extravagant baroque square and the 12th-century Cathedral of Palermo. In the afternoon, drive to Monreale to discover the Arab-Norman splendor of the Monreale Cathedral and Cloister. This nearby treasure also dates from the 12th century and shows the diverse architectural influences of both the Normans and the Arab population. Conclude on arrival back to your hotel.

DAY 3

• PALERMO TO REALMONTE

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• Of Vineyards and Vintages
• Depart Palermo with your private driver and vehicle, embarking on a full-day transfer to Realmonte, with a break along the way to discover the Planeta Ulmo winery. Established in 1995 near the village of Sambuca di Sicilia, Ulmo was the first Planeta winery. Built near an ancient 16th-century stone farmhouse, the winery overlooks a picturesque estate, and houses the Iter Vitis open-air museum, dedicated to the history of Sicilian viticulture. Today, the Planeta farmhouse is a meeting place for wine aficionados and anyone wishing to experience the region’s land and history. Nestled at 1,312 feet above sea level, the vineyard was built on an ancient riverbed to ensure ideal growing conditions for the vines. While at the vineyard, enjoy a private winery visit before being treated to a tasting of five wines from the five Planeta territories on the island. You'll then indulge in a tasting of three Planeta extra-virgin olive oils, followed by a quaint Sicilian lunch provided at the winery. Your transfer concludes on arrival to your hotel in Realmonte.

DAY 4

• REALMONTE

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• Cross an Item off the Bucket List
• Meet your private driver at your hotel and embark on a half-day tour to the UNESCO-recognized Valley of the Temples, where your private guide will be awaiting your arrival. Despite a name suggesting a low-lying position, the legendary archaeological site finds itself nestled on a ridge south of Agrigento. The Valley of the Temples is one of the most visited sites on the island and offers detailed insight into the presence of ancient Greeks in southern Italy. Here you'll find temples dating all the way back to 5th-Century BC. Take a journey through time as you visit the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Zeus and the Temple of the Dioscuri. You'll then make your way to the Kolymbetra Garden, originally an artificial lake set between sandstone cliffs in a river valley. Now, citrus trees blossom and pomegranates grow wild while olives match the emerald hue of their surrounding leaves. Indulge in an included picnic lunch, enjoying arancini, cheeses with home made marmalade, olives, and fine wines amid this little corner of paradise. Your experience concludes with a private transfer back to your hotel.

DAY 5

• REALMONTE

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• Tastes and Traditions
• Set out with your private driver on an authentic half-day journey, diving into Sicily's world-renowned olive oil industry, an important part of daily life here on the island. On arrival at a local olive oil producer, you'll be met by a member of the staff for a guided visit around the property. Stroll through the olive groves and fields, and make a stop at the the cellar's oil mill and bottling room before being treated to a sampling of the products made on-site. Indulge even further as you're provided with a Sicilian street food buffet lunch, consisting of plenty of delights for the senses. Savor assorted bruschettas, olives and olive pate, bread and panelle, arancine, sliced pizza, sfincione, Sicilian cheeses and salami, and other seasonal specialties. After lunch, you'll conclude your experience with a return transfer back to your hotel.

DAY 6

• REALMONTE TO RAGUSA

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• On the Road Again
• Meet your private driver and vehicle for a transfer to Ragusa. Approximate travel time is 3 hours.
• Enjoy time at leisure for a self-guided stroll through historic Ragusa Ibla. Head to the spectacular early 18th century Ragusa Cathedral, keeping an eye out as you pass elegant palaces Bertini, Cosentini and La Rocca, with their elaborate balcony corbels. Numerous flights of steps will lead you down toward the center of Ibla. Gaze at the ornamented balconies and windows, the beautiful churches of Idria, Purgatorio and St. Joseph, and stare in wonder at the beautiful three-tiered facade of the Cathedral of San Giorgio. Make sure to visit the Giardino Ibleo, a public garden with its serene palm-lined avenue, dotted with pathways and small churches.

DAY 7

• RAGUSA

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• City Streets and Tasty Treats
• Meet your private guide and driver and embark on a tour of the late Baroque towns of southeastern Sicily, whose heritage, both for importance and beauty, have been declared World Heritage by the UNESCO. You'll first arrive to Scicli, visiting the Gli Aromi Farm, where the owner Enrico will meet you. This farm cultivates indigenous plants and aromatic herbs, focusing on local species of the Sicilian coast and in particular of the Iblean area. The farm produces more than 120 different varieties of plants and herbs using traditional methods of manual cultivation. While at the farm, you'll sample the different varieties of herbs and enjoy their use in cooking as you're treated to a lunch of local products. Afterward, continue to Modica where you'll enjoy the afternoon on your own, free to admire picturesque lanes and narrow streets with many old workshops, and the UNESCO-recognized Baroque Church of St. George. Visit the oldest pastry shop of Sicily where you'll be treated to a sample of the famous chocolate of Modica. The pastry chef will explain the secrets of Modican chocolate, which is produced with only two ingredients, cacao and sugar. Some free time will be provided prior to you being transferred back to your hotel in Ragusa, stopping for an included tasting of local specialties in Ragusa Ibla en route.

DAY 8

• RAGUSA TO ZAFFERANA ETNEA

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• The Journey Continues…
• Meet your private driver and vehicle for a transfer to Zafferana Etnea, a commune of the metropolitan city of Catania. Approximate travel time is 2.5 hours.

DAY 9

• ZAFFERANA ETNEA

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• Breathe the Mountain Air
• Set out with your private driver-escort to explore Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in all of Europe. Mount Etna has been the site of eruptions dating back 3,500 years- its most dangerous eruption occurred in 1669, leveling villages and farmland in its path. Weather permitting, you'll ascend Etna by cable-car to a vista 9,500 feet above sea level, where you'll have an incredible view of its crater, along with sweeping views over the coast of Eastern Sicily. Embark on a guided walk, which depending on weather and safety conditions may include an exploration of the 'painted' Silvestri Craters at the Sapienza chalet, or discovering local life in some of the quaint and beautiful towns built on the volcano. You'll then visit Barone di Villagrande, a small and elegant wine resort nestled among forests and historic vineyards where you'll be treated to a tasting of a 5-wine flight, in tandem with a 5-course Sicilian lunch. Conclude your day on arrival back to your hotel.

DAY 10

• ZAFFERANA ETNEA TO CATANIA
• Until Next Time…
• Meet your private driver and vehicle for a transfer to Catania Airport. Approximate travel time is 45 minutes.

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Palazzo Natoli

Masseria Agnello

Locanda Don Serafino

Monaci delle Terre Nere