DAY 1 OF THE FULL ITINERARY

Arrival and transfer from Palermo airport to Marsala.

Introductions and welcome drink followed by a tasting dinner in a local restaurant.

Day 2

A guided walking tour of the ancient hill top town of Erice, where we can learn of the many foreign influences that shaped the town. We have a tasting of the local pastries at the famous Maria Grammatica (pasticceria), and where we hear her story about starting life with the nuns.

This tour is mostly uphill on cobbled streets and the walk lasts approximately one and a half hours.

Returning towards Marsala the tour heads back down towards the sea for a private visit at the working salt pans. This is followed by a delicious lunch in their restaurant.

In the evening, there is a walking tour of Marsala and followed by an aperitivo with buffet.

·   Aperitivo is a pre-dinner drink often served with snacks, or a more substantial buffet sometimes called apericena.

Day 3

The morning starts with a guided tour of Segesta which boasts a beautiful Greek temple and an ancient theatre, with amazing views over the local countryside.

The walking is uneven and some distance uphill to reach the temple. The visit lasts around two and a half hours.

Afternoon is free to explore the town of Marsala.

Dinner this evening is in a local restaurant where the focus will be on sampling the local seasonal specialities.

Day 4

Depart Marsala and transfer on to the hotel in Palermo. En-route there is a visit to a local winery where we have a tasting and then lunch in the winery.

After lunch the tour heads for Palermo and check-in to the hotel in the city centre.

In the evening there is the delight of tasting the Palermo Street Food on a walking tour with a local guide who will explain the origins of the food.

The tour has six stops and is mostly on the flat, although some streets are cobbled.

Day 5

The tour leaves the environs of Palermo on our anti-mafia tour where we hear what various groups are doing to combat the hold that the Mafia has and how their Mafia influences are slowly being reduced. The setting for this is the town of Corleone, a place famous throughout the world.

We have lunch locally before returning to Palermo.

In the evening there is a cocktail tour of the Teatro Massimo, Sicily’s wonderful Opera House.

Day 6

Again the tour leaves Palermo and heads away to Castelbuono, the town featured in the classic1988 art house film ‘Cinema Paradiso’. Here there is also the opportunity to visit the Ventimiglia Castle and see the amazing Chapel of Sant Anna, which has been attributed to the Serpotta school.

There follows a leisurely lunch in a local restaurant before visiting a Gold-award winning Frantoio where we can taste their excellent olive oil and other associated products.

·   A Frantoio is where the olives are pressed.

On returning to Palermo, and a short stop into the hotel, the early evening concludes with a tour and aperitivo buffet in an historic Palazzo. The tour is either with the Count or Countess who share their family history and how they run their historic and beautiful home with us on a private tour.

Day 7

The morning is taken up with a walking tour  in and around one of the most colourful markets in Palermo, with a further opportunity to sample some more of the wonderful street food with a local market trader.

The afternoon is free to explore Palermo.

The farewell dinner this evening is in an excellent gourmet restaurant.

Day 8

Departure for Palermo airport