«To have seen Italy without
Sicily, is not to have seen Italy
at all, as Sicily is the key
to everything» — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Sicily has a place
in our team’s heart
JustSicily is the result of a unique experience in terms of depth and duration,
successfully evolving over time to offer innovative services that stand out
by offering travellers exclusively authentic experiences. As a matter of fact,
we have been organising travel in Sicily and worldwide since 1974.
In the incoming sector, our Sicilian team organises personalised special packages
and tours for groups and individuals, drawing on thirty years’ experience managing
the diverse needs of business and leisure clients. We are specialized in congress
and meeting organisation and we offer events and entertainment services.
Local expertise, a dedicated structure for business clients, meetings, incentive
travel and true passion for our birthplace are the distinctive features we offer
to everyone looking for new experiences.
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tailor
made service
facilities
hospitality
Personalised service and
assistance for groups of any
size. Creative and competent
corporate event planning.
IATA ticket booking,
organisation of flights
and transfers, car hire,
administrative formalities.
An exclusive selection
of charming accommodation,
conference centres, golf clubs
and custom solutions.
through
the real sicily
meetings
and conferences
event support
Fine food & wine itineraries,
golf and sports, wellness and
spa resorts, excursions at sea,
cultural and archaeological
tours, city visits.
Fine food & wine itineraries,
golf and sports, wellness and
spa resorts, excursions at sea,
cultural and archaeological
tours, city visits.
The highest standards
of assistance for production
and logistics issues, hostess
recruitment, and the best
communication solutions.
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Charming Sicily among art,
cultures
and flavours
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c
Catania
Palermo
eight nights, nine days
ARRIVAL
DEPARTURE
DURATION
*
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₇ ₆
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4
1. saturday
Arrival at Palermo airport and meeting with
the person that will be your courier for all the
duration of the journey. Accommodation in the
private bus and transfer to the 4 star “Hotel
Plaza Opera”. Dinner in a small trattoria of the
historical center of the town. Overnight at hotel.
2. sunday
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, with
the private guide, you’ll start the Palermo
Walking Tour: about four hours with the theme
“Sovereigns and People” including the visit
of the Palatine Chapel, shining in its original
gold after the restoration works, and the very
colourful historical market of “Capu” which
among shops selling the typical “marzipan
sweets”, “sugar puppets” and fresh fish will
lead you to the just recovered jewel of the
church of Immaculate Conception. At the end
of the tour, lunch at “Francu U’ Vastiddaro”
where you’ll taste the traditional street food,
made up of arancine, panelle, sfincionello, and
so on… After lunch, departure by private bus
to Monreale to visit its wonderful Cathedral
and Cloister. At the end, back to the hotel and
relax for shopping. Dinner at “Al Gabbiano”
restaurant in Mondello a little seaside town
which originally was a fishing village.
Overnight at hotel.
3. monday
Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Departure
by private bus for Segesta and visit of its
temple and amphitheatre. The visit continues
to Erice, a medieval town situated in the northwestern corner of Sicily, a few kilometres N-E
of Trapani. Erice is famous for its medieval
streets and alleys lined with sturdy ancient
stone houses, and admiring the views: when the
sky is clear, you can see the Aegadian islands,
with the views further reaching to Tunisia in
northern Africa. Free lunch in Erice. Early in the
afternoon, departure to Menfi a small village
in the province of Agrigento placed on the hill
sloping down to the sea, just at vintage time.
Accommodation at the 3 star hotel “Il Vigneto
Resort” and dinner at its enchanting restaurant
located in a garden surrounded by vineyards.
Overnight at the hotel.
4. tuesday
Breakfast and check out. Visit of the “Ulmo
Planeta Winery” and its vineyards followed by
a tasting of 4 wines and a light lunch. The wine
tasting is accompanied by breadsticks and a
selection of Planeta extra-virgin olive oils. In the
afternoon, departure for Agrigento and guided
hike in the beautiful Valley of the Temples
archaeological site, in the UNESCO World
Heritage list. After the guided visit, departure
for Syracuse and accommodation at the 5 star
“Des Etrangers Hotel & Spa”. Free time to dine
in a restaurant in Ortigia. Overnight at hotel.
5. wednesday
Breakfast at the hotel. Guided tour of Syracuse,
located on the south eastern coast of the island,
and its Archaeological Museum.
Free lunch. In the afternoon, visit of Ortigia, the
island divided into small historic districts, which
is the oldest part of Syracuse. Dinner in a small
restaurant and overnight at the hotel.
6. thursday
Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
Departure with private bus for Noto and guided
tour of the treasures of the baroque city.
Later the tour continues with Ragusa Ibla,
a fascinating town characterised by a medieval
structure rich of baroque palaces and churches.
Lunch at a small trattoria located in the
historical center of Ragusa Ibla, few steps
from the St. George Cathedral, one of the most
important treasure of the Sicilian baroque.
The guided visit of Ragusa starts with its
Baroque Cathedral and continues with “Archi”
district, which homes 4 of the 18 UNESCO
monuments of the city. At the end, departure
to Taormina and accommodation at “Hotel
Isabella”, a 3 star cosy hotel located in the
hearth of the town. Free time to dine a in a small
restaurant and overnight at the hotel.
↘
5
∫
∫
9. sunday
Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Transfer
to Catania Airport and end of the Sicily Tour.
∫
8. saturday
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Mount
Etna to visit of one of the world major active
volcanoes and the largest in Europe. During the
guided hike you’ll discover the beautiful Natural
Park characterized by urban landscapes, dense
forests that maintain different plant species and
wasteland covered with volcanic rock.
After the visit, departure to Linguaglossa and
visit to a beautiful winery on the mount followed
by a wine tasting followed by a light lunch with
delicious local products. At the end, back to
Taormina and relax in hotel. Dinner in a small
trattoria in Taormina and overnight at the hotel.
*Extension to
Aeolian
Islands
∫∫
7. friday
Breakfast at the hotel and guided tour of the
Greek-Roman Theatre and Taormina, one of the
most important international tourist attractions
in Sicily for its beautiful natural landscape, sea
and historical monuments.
Free time for relax and shopping in Taormina.
Free time to dine and overnight at the hotel.
9. sunday
Early in the morning, transfer to Milazzo
Harbour. At 12:00 departure from the
Milazzo Harbour to Lipari (by Hydrofoil).
Accommodation at the 5 star “Tritone Hotel”
in Lipari and free time to relax in one of the
wonderful beaches of the island. Dinner at “E’
Pulera” restaurant and overnight at the hotel.
10. monday
Breakfast at the hotel and meeting point at the
Lipari tourist port to go on board of a private
boat (with sailor) to a exciting excursion to
Panarea and Stromboli. In the evening, from
the sea and on board the boat, you’ll admire the
famous “Sciara del fuoco”, the eruption of the
Stromboli Volcano. At 22:30 return to Lipari and
free time to dine. Overnight at the hotel.
11. tuesday
Breakfast at the hotel and free time to explore
Lipari and its wonderful beaches (you can ask at
the reception of the hotel for a private transfer
to a beach), go shopping in the main street or
visit the Castle.
At the sunset, we suggest you the have an
happyhour in front of the sea. Dinner at
“Filippino” restaurant and overnight at the hotel.
12. wednesday
Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Departure
by Hydrofoil to Milazzo. Transfer to Catania
Airport and end of the tour.
6
Charming Sicily among art, cultures and flavours
Piazza Pretoria, Palermo
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charming Sicily among art, cultureS and flavourS
Streets of Palermo by night
8
Enchanting Sicily among history,
wine
and gastronomy
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↗
c
Palermo
Catania
nine nights, eight days
ARRIVAL
DEPARTURE
DURATION
*
₈↘
₇
₃ ₂
↗₁
₆
₅
₄
9
1. sunday
Arrival at Catania Airport and meeting with
the person that will be your courier for all the
duration of the journey. Accommodation in the
private bus and transfer to “Hotel Isabella”, a 3
star cosy hotel located in the hearth of the town.
Accommodation in hotel and dinner in a small
trattoria of the historical center of the town.
Overnight at hotel.
2. monday
Breakfast at the hotel and guided tour of the
Greek-Roman Theatre and Taormina, one of the
most important international tourist attractions
in Sicily for its beautiful natural landscape, sea
and historical monuments. Free time for relax
and shopping in Taormina. Free time to dine and
overnight at the hotel.
3. tuesday
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Mount
Etna to visit one of the world major active
volcanoes and the largest in Europe.
During the guided hike you’ll discover the
beautiful Natural Park characterized by urban
landscapes, dense forests that maintain
different plant species and wasteland covered
with volcanic rock. After the visit, we will reach
Linguaglossa for the visit of a beautiful winery
followed by a wine tasting and a light lunch
with delicious local products.At the end, back
to Taormina and free time to dine a in a small
restaurant and overnight at the hotel.
4. wednesday
Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
Departure for Syracuse. Guided visit of the
Archaeological Park, one of the most important
ancient Greek site of Europe. Accommodation
at the 5 star “Des Etrangers Hotel & Spa” .
Early in the afternoon, visit of Ortigia, the island
divided into small historic districts, which is
the oldest part of Syracuse. Dinner in a small
restaurant and overnight at the hotel.
5. thursday
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure with private
bus for Noto and guided tour of the treasures
of the baroque city. Later the tour continues
with Ragusa Ibla, a fascinating town
characterised by a medieval structure rich
of baroque palaces and churches. Lunch at
a small trattoria located in the historical center
of Ragusa Ibla, few steps from the St. George
Cathedral, one of the most important treasure
of the Sicilian baroque. The guided visit of
Ragusa starts with its Baroque Cathedral and
continues with “Archi” district, which homes 4
of the 18 UNESCO monuments of the city. After
the guided visit, departure for Syracuse.
Free time to dine in a restaurant in Ortigia.
Overnight at hotel.
6. friday
Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
Departure for Agrigento and guided visit of the
beautiful “Valley of the Temples” archaeological
site, in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Lunch in a small trattoria in Agrigento. Early
in the afternoon, departure to Menfi, a small
village in the province of Agrigento placed on
the hill sloping down to the sea, just at vintage
time. Accommodation at the 3 star hotel “Il
Vigneto Resort” and dinner at its enchanting
restaurant located in a garden surrounded by
vineyards. Overnight at the hotel.
7. saturday
Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
Visit of the “Ulmo Planeta Winery” and its
vineyards followed by a tasting of 4 wines and
a light lunch. The wine tasting is accompanied
by breadsticks and a selection of Planeta extravirgin olive oils.
Departure to Palermo and accommodation at
the 4 star “Hotel Plaza Opera”. Dinner in a small
trattoria of the historical center of the town.
Overnight at hotel.
↘
10
∫
9. monday
Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Transfer
to Palermo Airport and end of the Sicily Tour.
*Extension to
Favignana
Island
∫∫
8. sunday
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, with
the private guide, you’ll start the Palermo
Walking Tour: about four hours with the theme
“Sovereigns and People” including the visit
of the Palatine Chapel, shining in its original
gold after the restoration works, and the very
colourful historical market of “Capu” which
among shops selling the typical “marzipan
sweets”, “sugar puppets” and fresh fish will
lead you to the just recovered jewel of the
church of Immaculate Conception. At the end
of the tour, lunch at “Francu U’ Vastiddaro”
where you’ll taste the traditional street food,
made up of arancine, panelle, sfincionello, and
so on… After lunch, departure by private bus
to Monreale to visit its wonderful Cathedral
and Cloister. At the end, back to the hotel and
relax for shopping. Dinner at “Al Gabbiano”
restaurant in Mondello, a little seaside town
which originally was a fishing village. Overnight
at hotel.
9. monday
Early in the morning, transfer to Trapani
Harbour. At 11:00 departure by private transfer
to the Trapani Harbor to go aboard the hydrofoil
to Favignana. The island is often referred to as
La Farfalla for its shape which has been likened
to a butterfly which fly over the blue sea.
Accommodation at “I Pretti Resort” and dinner
at “Al Pescador” restaurant. Overnight at hotel.
10. tuesday
Breakfast at the hotel and free day to relax
in one of the beautiful beaches and bays of the
island: a small sandy bay south of the town in
Cala Azzurra, and, still in the southern part but
a little west of this, lies the broad beach called
the Lido Burrone. The island harbours also such
lovely bays as the Cala Rotonda, Cala Grande
and Punta Ferro. Free time to dine in a trattoria
of the island. Overnight at hotel.
11. wednesday
Breakfast at the hotel and free time to explore
Favignana and its wonderful beaches (ask at the
reception for a private transfer to a beach) or
go shopping. At the sunset, have an happyhour
in front of the sea. Dinner at “Al giardino delle
Aloe” restaurant and overnight at the hotel.
12. thursday
Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Departure
by Hydrofoil to Favignana. Transfer to Palermo
Airport and end of the tour.
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enchanting sicily among history, wine and gastronomy
Taormina
12
enchanting sicily among history, wine and gastronomy
Ragusa Ibla by night
13
Etna
wineries
and cooking class
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c
Catania + car rental
Catania
three nights, four days
ARRIVAL
DEPARTURE
DURATION
↘↗
14
day one
Arrival in Catania airport and car rental.
Departure to the hotel. Arrival at the hotel
to accommodation. The hotel was formerly
a residence for nobility and now has a polished
interior that has been renovated regularly,
a swimming pool, restaurant, parking and
complementary wi-fi. It sits along the outskirts
of the Alcantara nature reserve.
Afternoon: Arrival in a winery on Etna, winery
tour, wine & extra virgin olive oil tasting.
Mount Etna covers an area of approximately
460 square kilometers, which makes it the
largest active volcano in Europe, and is the third
most active in the world. The surrounding area
is an ancient and charming wine-growing zone,
which has seen few substantial changes since
the days of the ancient Greeks who some 25
centuries ago described it in their legends.
After years of research, the winery owner has
identified three extraordinary sites. The first
is Sciara Nuova, 870 meters above sea level, in
the municipality of Castiglione di Sicilia where,
due to the altitude, the first grapevines planted
were mainly white grapes. At the moment there
are about 6 hectares and a fine old winery.
Return to the hotel and overnight.
day two
Breakfast at the hotel. Etna tour: The mount
Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in
the world and is in an almost constant state
of activity. The fertile volcanic soils support
extensive agriculture, with vineyards and
orchards spread across the lower slopes
of the mountain and the broad Plain of Catania
to the south. “Gole dell’Alcantara”: a basaltic
lava stone natural canyon formed thousands
of years ago, shaped by the fast running of the
iced Alcantara river. Return to the hotel.
day three
Breakfast at the hotel. Arrival at a winery, the
most acclaimed winery on Etna, named “Winery
of the Year” by the prestigious Italian winery
guide Gambero Rosso and “Top-100 Winery”
by the US publication Wine & Spirit. Guided
tour of the estate and vineyard. Cooking class,
followed by lunch and wine tasting. Departure
to Taormina, town with breathtaking views of
the sea and Mount Etna. Taormina will enchant
you with its natural charm and its historical
heritage. During your tour, on a hilltop in one of
the most beautiful settings imaginable, you will
admire the Ancient Teatro Greco of Taormina.
The Greek Theatre, literally carved out of the
rock on Mount Tauro, is the second largest of
its kind in all of Sicily behind only the Greek
Theatre of Siracusa. Built in the third century
BC, the theatre is remarkably well preserved
and it still used today for opera and musical
performances. Return to the hotel.
day four
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to the Catania
airport, during the trip you’ll admire the Cyclops
rocks. According to the legend, it was here
that the one-eyed Cyclops once lived, one of
whom was Polyphemus, who was the son of the
sea god Poseidon and who caught Odysseus
and his companions and ate them one by one.
Odysseus, however, succeeded in blinding the
Cyclops and escaped. In anger, the now-blind
Polyphemus threw huge rocks at Odysseus who
managed to escape into the sea without being
struck. Arrival at the airport and end of our
services.
15
etna wineries and cooking class
Mount Etna
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etna winerieS and cooking claSS
Catania Wineries
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wineries,
Western Sicily: food and sleep
around vineyards
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c
Palermo + car rental
Palermo
three nights, four days
ARRIVAL
DEPARTURE
DURATION
↘↗
18
day one
Arrival in Palermo, accommodation on private
car and departure to Segesta. Archaeological
area visit with its walls, the Theatre, the Temple,
the Sanctuary of Contrada Mango and the
remains of a Hellenistic necropolis. Departure
to Erice, a characteristic village on the top
of Mount San Giuliano. Here you can wander
through a thousand glimpses of flagstone
streets, forts, old churches (Saint Ursula and
the Matrice), convents, workshops (production
of ceramics, sweets, carpets), pine forests and
gardens, and then get lost, on the edge of town,
in breathtaking views to the islands Egadi, the
”Stagnone”, the Saline and cultivated fields
throughout the province of Trapani. Also you
can tickle the palate with sweet almond paste
produced by the famous pastry shop that is
located on this mount.
Departure to Marsala and arrival at the most
famous winery of the area. Here you’ll taste the
famous namesake wine: the "Marsala".
Marsala has an engaging history. In the late
1770’s John Woodhouse, an English wine
merchant, made a trip to Marsala and became
enamored with the Marsala produced by dozens
of small producers in the area. The wines
were aged in old wooden casks that facilitated
oxidation and concentration of the wine. The
taste and alcohol levels of the aged wines
were comparable to fortified wines from Spain
and Portugal that were popular in England at
the time. Seeing an opportunity, Woodhouse
shipped a large quantity of barrels of Marsala to
England to test the wine’s marketability. As was
the custom of the time, the barrels of Marsala
were fortified with additional alcohol to help
them withstand the long sea voyage.
Once the British had a taste of Marsala they
fell in love with it. For dinner, we suggest
to taste the Fish Couscous in a unique and
characteristic “trattoria” of the area.
Overnight in a “Baglio”, in Marsala, surrounded
by tranquil vineyards of Marsala plateau,
overlooking on the reserve of the “Stagnone”
and the Egadi Islands.
day two
Departure from the hotel and arrival in a
famous mill, where we will have an Extra
virgin olive oil tasting. Then proceed towards
Selinunte, the largest archaeological park in
Europe. Here at the edge of a little train you’ll
admire the Gaggera Hill (with the sanctuary
of Malophoros), the Acropolis (in the middle,
with temples and fortifications), the Manuzza
Hill (with the old town), the eastern hill (with
other temples) and the necropolis. At the end,
departure to Menfi, a small country faced the
sea, to reach the small boutique hotel.
The resort is about 1 km from the sea and can
be reached in ten minutes on foot or in quarter
of an hour by bicycle. The guestrooms have sea
or countryside views and are designed
to ensure complete relaxation. Overnight.
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day three
Check out of your hotel. On the road to Palermo,
stop to visit a winery with wine and oil tasting.
This estate lies on the banks of Lake Arancio
not far from Sambuca di Sicilia, an ancient
small town founded by the Arabs. In 1995 the
owner decided to build their first winery here,
in especially beautiful countryside and just a
few metres from the 15th century farmhouse
which has always belonged to the family.
Departure to Monreale, where we suggest
visiting its wonderful Cathedral, the ultimate
synthesis of Arabic Norman and Byzantine
decorations and architecture. It’s simply facade
and bronze doors, with biblical scenes in relief
made by Bonanno Pisano in 1185, don’t prepare
you for the magnificent sight you will behold
once you step inside: you will be astounded by
the golden mosaics which covers almost its
entire walls. Your eyes will be naturally drawn
to the apse with the image of Pantocrator Christ
and one of the rare figure of Thomas Becket.
At the end, proceed to Palermo. Guided walking
tour of the town. We will enter the heart of one
of the most colorful and traditional historical
markets in the city u capu where history,
tradition and street food are mixed with voices
and faces of the people of Palermo. In the
middle of the market, an unexpected visit to
the church of the Immaculate Conception, a
baroque jewel just restored. Through narrow
streets and ancient buildings, we reach the
Norman cathedral, where we will also visit the
tomb of Frederick II of Swabia and the silver
“Vara” of Santa Rosalia. Through the gardens
of Villa Bonanno and along the ancient Roman
ruins in the heart of Paleopolis we get the royal
palace that since the Punic Walls to the Sicilian
Parliament houses 3000 years of our history including the palatine chapel resplendent
with mosaics, best example of Arab, Byzantine
and Norman art, policy and tolerance. We will
continue along the ancient fortifications to
photograph st. john of the hermits, a striking
expression of the Arab-Norman architecture
with its particular domes.
So walking to discover medieval quarters,
Spanish facades and courtyards of the historic
Mansions we will walk through the “Cassaro”
the oldest street of Palermo to end our tour
reaching the four corners so called “Teatro del
Sole” elegant baroque crossroad.
You will enjoy the most popular foods in this
city: street food, arancini, cannoli and cassata.
Accommodation at the hotel and overnight.
day four
Departure from your hotel to Falcone &
Borsellino Airport. Meeting with hostess.
20
western sicily: wineries, food and sleep around vineyards
Laguna dello Stagnone, Marsala
21
weStern Sicily: winerieS, food and Sleep around vineyardS
Marsala Barrels
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Discovering ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈
Aeolian islands
≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈
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↗
c
Catania
Catania
six nights, seven days
ARRIVAL
DEPARTURE
DURATION
◣◥
▲
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23
day one, milazzo
Arrival at Catania Airport and meeting
with the hostess that will welcome you in Sicily.
Meeting with the driver and transfer to Milazzo
by private car to reach your accommodation,
a nice and cosy 4 star hotel located in front of
the port. The hotel position is perfect, because
it is in the city centre and at the same time, it is
very close to the hydrofoil boarding. Overnight.
day two, vulcano
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Vulcano.
On the island, you will find a car that will guide
you to your hotel. Arrival at the hotel. Set right
on the beachfront in Porto di Levante, it is an
elegant hotel surrounded by a lush garden
with a swimming pool and solarium.
All the modern and elegantly decorated rooms
come with their own furnished patios. They also
include a satellite TV, a safe, a minibar, and air
conditioning. Their en suite bathrooms come
with free toiletries and a hairdryer.
Guests can have evening drinks on the hotel's
lawn overlooking the crater and the sea.
The volcano’s mud baths and hot springs are
set just a few minutes’ walk from Hotel.
The property offers a direct access to the sea.
The centre of Vulcano is 300 metres away.
In the early afternoon, we suggest a tour
of the island. Overnight.
day three, vulcano
Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion on boat shared
with other people to Stromboli and Panarea
Panarea is the most chic and smallest island
of Aeolian Island. The island in winter has just
over 300 habitants, but in summer is full of
people; there are many amenities, shops, bars,
restaurants and a nightclub that is the must
important disco in the Mediterranean. Stromboli
is one of three active volcanoes on Italian soil.
On board you'll then have the opportunity to
see the eruptions of the volcano, continuously
active, and the island from a different point of
view. Return to Vulcano and overnight.
day four, vulcano
Breakfast at the hotel. Free time to discover
Vulcano. Once known as “Therasia”, meaning
hot and “Hierà” meaning sacred, the island is
21 square kilometres and lies at the southern
most point of the Aeolian group. Separated from
Lipari by just a small stretch of sea, Vulcano
remains a jewel of rare beauty and unspoilt
nature evident in its lush vegetation, smoky
fumaroles, renowned natural mud pool and the
release of sulphur and warm waters close to
the Levante beach. The volcano dominates the
island, as if keeping watch, and its peak can be
reached by lovers of trekking and nature, a trek
of around 50 minutes. The hard work certainly
pays off owing to the breathtaking views over
the six islands, with Stromboli and its smoking
eruptions standing out. Overnight.
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day five, salina
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, transfer
to the port, boarding in hydrofoil and departure
to Salina. Arrival and transfer to the hotel.
In the quiet village of Lingua, surrounded by
lush greenery, in front of its own private beach,
lies the Hotel with charming views of Panarea,
Stromboli, Lipari and Vulcano. It is also possible
to admire the active volcano of mount Etna.
In the early afternoon, we suggest a tour of the
island. Overnight.
day six, salina
Breakfast at the hotel. Free morning to relax,
swimming and discover the lush green of Salina
island. Woodlands, wildflowers, thick yellow
gorse bushes and serried ranks of grapevines
carpet its hillsides in vibrant colours and cool
greens, while high coastal cliff plunge into the
breaking waters below. In the afternoon, we
organize a small Malvasia tour to discover its
secrets and taste the flavour. Called "nectar of
the gods”, Malvasia delle Lipari wines vary in
their degrees of residual sugar (sweetness).
The lighter, drier wines are intended for
consumption with main courses, or even as an
aperitif. Those marked dolce naturale (similar
to vin doux naturel) are much sweeter and best
matched to desserts. Even sweeter than these,
and fortified with grape spirit, is Malvasia delle
Lipari Liquoroso, which is closer to 20% alcohol
by volume (ABV) and is aged for six months or
more in barrel. The passito method is used here
in the Aeolian Islands, to increase the levels
of fermentable sugars and thus intensify the
Malvasia grapes' natural flavor. Malvasia delle
Lipari Passito wines must have a final alcohol
level of 18% ABV and at least 6% residual sugar.
Overnight at the hotel.
day seven, departure
Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
Departure by hydrofoil to Milazzo.
Transfer by private car to Catania Airport.
Meeting with the hostess that will help you
during check in.
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diScovering aeolian iSlandS
Campo Bianco, Lipari
26
discovering aeolian islands
Stromboli Volcano Eruption
27
West Sicily,
unknown Mothia
and Egadi Islands
↘
↗
c
Palermo + car rental
Palermo
six nights, seven days
ARRIVAL
DEPARTURE
DURATION
◣
↘↗
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1. menfi & selinunte
Arrival at Palermo Airport and meeting with
the hostess that we’ll give you the welcome
in Sicily. Rental car operations and departure
to Sambuca di Sicilia to reach a famous winey.
This estate lies on the banks of Lake Arancio
not far from Sambuca di Sicilia, an ancient
small town founded by the Arabs. In 1995,
the owner decided to build their first winery
here, in especially beautiful countryside
and just a few meters from the 15th century
farmhouse, which has always belonged to the
family. Some of the most representative wines
of the firm originated and are now produced
here, Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah.
Winery tour discovering his wine's secrets
and tasting its flavor. Later, arrival at the hotel:
the small resort is about 1 km from the sea
and can be reached in ten minutes on foot
or in quarter of an hour by bicycle.
The guestrooms have sea or countryside views
and are designed to ensure complete relaxation.
Return to the hotel and overnight.
2. erice & marsala
Breakfast at the hotel and departure
to Selinunte. Departure for Selinunte
for a visit of its Archaeological Park, the biggest
in Europe. This is one of the most important
Greek site on the south coast of Sicily. The ruins
of Selinunte are some of the most impressive of
the ancient Greek world, and the site is one of
the most captivating in Sicily. The acropolis is a
chalk massif with a cliff face falling into
the sea in the south, while the north end
narrows to 140 metres wide. The settlement
in the form of a massive trapezoid, extended
to the north with a large retaining wall
in terraces (about eleven metres high) and
was surrounded by a wall (repeatedly restored
and modified) with an exterior of squared stone
blocks and an interior of rough stone.
Here, if you prefer, you can pay the ticket
for the little train of the park to enjoy a scenic
tour of the archaeological site. At the end,
depature to Marsala to reach the hotel.
On the road stop to taste the real extra virgin
olive oil. Continuation to Marsala and arrival at
the boutique hotel. Inaugurated in December
2005, this hotel is the only one located in the
historical centre of Marsala. Set in convent of
the XVII century, it has 28 rooms, individually
decorated, with original ancient Sicilian
furnishings. The fine restored premises
combine with state-of-the art technology,
creating an extraordinary cosy atmosphere.
Free time for a city tour, shopping or visit the
Baglio Anselmi Archaeological Museum.
Here is kept the Punic ship, the earliest warship
known from archeological evidence. It is a
wreck discovered in 1969 in an area called
Punta Scario in the harbor of Marsala in western
Sicily, Italy, near the Aegadian Islands. The
Marsala Ship's "nationality" was painted on
the sides with letters by its Punic builders from
Carthage. Overnight.
↘
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3. mothia & stagnone
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Mothia
by public boat (imbarcadero, shared with other
people). This tiny island just off the coast north
of Marsala was once the home of the Phoenician
colony that was expelled in 379 BC and founded
Lilibeo (Marsala). The island's role in the events
of Sicily's early Phoenician period (before 600
BC) far transcended its diminutive size.
The island of Mozia, which is owned and
operated by a foundation established by
the winemaking Whitaker family (who built
the Anglican Church and Villa Malfitano in
Palermo), has a remarkable museum and the
ruins of an equally remarkable civilization,
complete with a harbor and cemetery. Some
of the finds on display in the museum have
a distinctly Egyptian influence, while others
seem almost Hellenic. In Villa Whitaker, the
Young Man of Mozia, the breathtakingly realistic
marble statue of a young man, perhaps an
athlete, perhaps Hercules. Dressed in a finelypleated, clinging tunic, his insolent hand-on-hip
pose expresses confidence in his youth, power
and beauty. Dated c. 440 bc, according to some
scholars it could be the work of Pheidias.At the
end return to Marsala. In the afternoon, Marsala
tasting (the famous namesake wine).
Marsala has an engaging history. In the late
1770’s John Woodhouse, an English wine
merchant, made a trip to Marsala and became
enamored with the Marsala produced by dozens
of small producers in the area. The wines
were aged in old wooden casks that facilitated
oxidation and concentration of the wine. The
taste and alcohol levels of the aged wines
were comparable to fortified wines from Spain
and Portugal that were popular in England at
the time. Seeing an opportunity, Woodhouse
shipped a large quantity of barrels of Marsala to
England to test the wine’s marketability. As was
the custom of the time, the barrels of Marsala
were fortified with additional alcohol to help
them withstand the long sea voyage.
Once the British had a taste of Marsala they fell
in love with it. Return to the hotel and overnight.
4. favignana island
Breakfast at the hotel and departure
to Trapani’s harbour. Car issuance and boarding
on hydrofoil to Favignana island.
The island of Favignana is the largest of the
Egadi islands and its length extends to 19 km2.
Its name comes from the term Favonio, which is
a warm wind that blows from the west.
Formerly, the main source of subsistence
income of the inhabitants of Favignana was
fishing, especially tuna, which was fished
using the traditional "mattanza" method, a
very cruel kind of fishing, that has no longer
been practiced since 2007. Today the wealth of
Favignana is represented by tourism, thanks to
its natural beauty as the coast and beaches can
accommodate a large number of visitors and
allows the island of Favignana to base almost
all of its own economy of this industry.
In fact, the crystal blue sea of Favignana and the
fact that you can easily access the coast by boat
make the island the perfect place for bathing.
Arrival at the hotel, a residence made up of mini
apartments, built in local "tufo" stone, all having
covered balconies and distributed in groups of
three, two or one unit (cottage).
They are furnished in Mediterranean style;
the kitchen is fully equipped with saucepans
and cutlery, a fridge-freezer, satellite TV and a
bathroom with shower. Water is heated using
solar panels to safeguard the environment.
Total surface on which the units are built is
40,000 square meters and forms part of the
marine reserve area of the Egadi Islands. The
rich vegetation includes typically Mediterranean
plants and flowers, the result of years of care
and attention. Bike rental and free time to
discover Favignana by bike. Overnight.
5-6. FAVIGNANA ISLAND
Free days in the island.
7. departure
Check-out. Departure by hydrofoil to Trapani.
Transfer by private car to Palermo Airport.
Meeting with the hostess. End of our services.
30
west sicily, unknown mothia and egadi islands
Lido Burrone, Favignana
31
west sicily, unknown mothia and egadi islands
Salt mound in Trapani
32
Archeo
and wine
bike tour
ABOUT
ROUTES
The biker and cyclotourist
can enjoy Sicily and the
Mediterranean coast as an
extraordinary and charming
mix of sun, nature, art, culture,
history and culinary delights
available 360 days year round!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Trapani, Paceco
Marsala, Mazara del Vallo
Mazara del Vallo, Selinunte, Cusa Quarries and Menfi
Menfi, Sambuca di Sicilia
Sambuca di Sicilia, Burgio
Burgio, Montallegro, Agrigento
₁
₂
₃ ₄ ₅
₆
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Special mini package
Montalbano's sites
↘
↗
c
Catania
Catania
three nights, four days
ARRIVAL
DEPARTURE
DURATION
↘↗
34
day one
Arrival at Catania Fontanarossa airport, meeting
with the driver and transfer to a very nice
hotel in Donnalucata or a cosy B&b in Ragusa.
Accommodation in hotel and free time to dine.
Overnight.
day two
Breakfast at the hotel and all day to visit
Ragusa, a fascinating town characterized
by a medieval structure rich of baroque palaces
and churches. Ragusa is actually a double city,
result of the reconstruction after the earthquake
of 1693 which led some people to move
to the west,leaving the area where the city
was situated for centuries. We start the visit
of Ragusa with its Baroque Cathedral dedicated
to St. John, which is seen in some scenes
of The potter's field. Passing by Piazza Poste
(shot in The Voice of the Violin), we’ll see
the medieval church of Santa Maria delle Scale,
located at the top of the long staircase (250
steps), which links the high part of the city
to Ibla. The view we’ll enjoy from this place was
chosen many times in the Montalbano series
because it’s the panorama from the above of
Vigata (Montalbano's Croquettes and The smell
of the night). Visit also of the “Archi” district,
which homes 4 of the 18 UNESCO monuments
of the city and break at Piazza Duomo (here, in
Montalbano's Croquettes, the detective sees his
housekeeper's delinquent son).
Free time to lunch. Our staff suggest to try “Ai
Lumi”, the same restaurant frequented by the
detective in the episode Treasure hunt, located
in the historical center of Ragusa Ibla, few steps
from the St. George Cathedral. The visit could
continue with the square of Vigata, a location
that appears in all the episodes, and St. George
Cathedral (the Mother Church of Vigata). Later
we’ll make a promenade in the Giardino Ibleo,
a public park in Ragusa Ibla stands in for a
hospital garden in another episode.
Return to the hotel and free time to dine.
Overnight.
and free time to lunch in a typical restaurant
of Donnafugata. In the afternoon, departure
to the Castle of Donnafugata, the house
of the boss Balduccio Sinagra: set in rolling
countryside among rocks and giant carob trees,
the castle with its Venetian-style facade dates
back to the mid-17th century. Then departure
with private bus to the district of Pisciotto,
in Sampieri, to see the Fornace Penna,
an important example of industrial archaeology
which is the “Mannara” of The Shape of Water
episode. Return to the hotel, free time to dine
and overnight.
day three
Breakfast at the hotel and departure with
private bus for Punta Secca to see the outside
of Montalbano's house, the wonderful “villetta”
on the beach overlooking the crystalline sea
where the detective makes his long swims.
Going to Punta Secca we’ll see the seafront
of Marinella. After Punta Secca, along the road
leading to the Castle of Donnafugata, the visit
could continue with the Trabacche caves, two
monumental graves which surprise for the
elegant shape of their baldachins (Trabacche,
in Sicilian dialect) like if they were a kind of
bridge connecting the deepest abyss of the
Earth and the surface world. Here the detective
finds the mummified bodies of two lovers in the
episode The mystery of the terracotta dog.
Roundtrip through the countries near Ragusa
day four
Breakfast at the hotel, checkout and transfer
to Fontanarossa Airport.
35
Enjoy all our golf packages
and the unique experiences
in the best resorts
of the island
GOLF RESORTS
A.
B.
C.
D.
Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa
Verdura Golf & Spa Resort
Etna Golf Resort & Spa
Monasteri Golf Resort
C
B
↘
D
A
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All our
excursions
in Sicily
from palermo
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Monreale & Catacombs
Selinunte Temples & Winery
Shrine of St. Rosalia & Mondello Beach
Erice, Segesta and Marsala
Piazza Armerina & sicilian pottery
from catania
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
Etna tour
Etna & Alcantara Gorges tour
Godfather tour
Messina and Tindari
Piazza Armerina & sicilian pottery
Catania gastronomy
Winery tour and cooking lessons
Taormina tour
37
ready to experience Sicily?
we're in Piazza G. Verdi 53 — Palermo, just
few steps away from the teatro
massimo opera house.
write us [email protected] or give us
a call at +39 331 192 57 58.
we have Skype too: justsicilytravel.
JUSTSICILY SRL
Piazza G. Verdi 53 - 90138 Palermo, Italy
[email protected] \ www.justsicily.net
+39 311 92 57 58 \ skype: justsicilytravel
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