Sicily s Resorts. Pre-departure Itinerary

Transcription

1 Pre-departure Itinerary Sicily s Resorts 11 DAYS: Friday, September 1 Monday, September 11, 2017 This exclusive Club vacation explores Sicily s legendary and colorful seaside resorts with a few volcanoes thrown in for spice! We ll start in Castellammare del Golfo "Sea Fortress on the Gulf" a picturesque seaside town with a handsome curved harbor and spend three nights at Hotel Madarig, located in a piazza in the historical center and overlooking the sea. We ll visit Erice, a mesmerizing walled medieval town and indulge in a wine-tasting tour at Donnafugata Cellars in Marsala. Enjoy a stop in Cefalù, historic and bustling with color and dramatically set on a craggy coast. Hydrofoil service brings us from Milazzo to the island of Lipari, and we ll stay in Lipari Town a busy little port with a pretty, pastel colored seafront at the Grand Arciduca, four-star accommodations with a 19th-century Sicilian style and offering a swimming pool and spa services. A get-acquainted tour includes a stop at the Belvedere Quattrocchi called Four Eyes for its marvelous coastal panorama and concludes with lunch, with wine, at a local seafood restaurant. We ve included two full-day excursions: Vulcano Island and the islands of Panarea and Stromboli to see the sunset on the volcano! We ll end our vacation in Taormina, a breathtaking paradise where history meets la dolce vita. This ancient town is Sicily s jewel with quaint streets packed with color and charm, boutiques and cafés. The Hotel Continental, located in the historic center of Taormina is just steps from shops, cafés and restaurants and boasts an unparalleled panoramic view of Mt. Etna from its terrace. Enjoy a guided walking tour including the ancient Greco-Roman theatre, an excursion to Mt. Etna followed by a winery visit and lunch at Villagrande Estate on the slopes of the volcano! RATES $3,599 per person double occupancy INCLUDES round-trip airfare, fuel surcharge and all air taxes and fees. Single supplement is $300. Triple accommodations may be available upon request. Fuel surcharge, air taxes and fees subject to change. Passport required. Per person deposit is $300. FEATURES Full-day excursion to Palermo and Monreale. Visit Erice; excursion to Donnafugata Wine Estate in Marsala with visit of historic family cellars and wine tasting with local specialties; visit Fontanasalsa for olive oil tasting. Visit Cefalù. Half-day guided tour of Lipari island and lunch with wine. Afternoon and evening boat excursion to Panarea and Stromboli. Fullday boat excursion to Vulcano. Guided walking tour of Taormina. Excursion to Mt. Etna followed by winery estate visit and lunch. INCLUDES Round-trip regularly scheduled Alitalia Airlines flights from Boston to Palermo and Catania to Boston, via Rome Nine nights three- and four-star accommodations Seventeen meals: nine breakfasts, two lunches while touring, six dinners with wine Round-trip hydrofoil ferry from Milazzo to Lipari Escorted, private, round-trip airport/ hotel transfers Services of professional local Tour Manager

2 Day 1: Overnight flight from Boston to Rome Day 2: Arrive Rome Connecting flight to Palermo Castellammare del Golfo After passport control and immigration, proceed to baggage claim and retrieve luggage. Pass through customs and move into the Arrivals Hall where we ll meet our Tour Manager who will accompany us for the length of our holiday. Board the transfer coach to the Hotel Al Madarig in Castellammare del Golfofor three nights. After receiving room assignments the rest of the afternoon is free to get acquainted with the hotel and surroundings. Dinner with wine at a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel. (D) Hotel Al Madarig September Piazza Petrolo, 7, Castellammare del Golfo, Italy Set across from the seafront Piazza Vincenzo Santangelo square, this low-rise hotel is 12 minutes walk from the beach. In Castellammare Del Golfo's historic centre, Al Madarig is set in a square overlooking the sea. It offers free Wi-Fi and free parking on site. Featuring tiled floors and free Wi-Fi, the simply decorated rooms come with cable TV, minibars and courtyard views. Upgraded rooms add tea and coffeemakers, as well as balconies with courtyard or sea views. Attic rooms offer panoramic terraces. Room service is available. Breakfast is served in a breakfast hall overlooking the piazza. There's also a bar, a courtyard and a 24/7 reception desk. All rooms at Al Madarig Hotel offer air conditioning, a private bathroom and a flat-screen TV with cable and satellite channels. Secrets of Sicily - Castellammare del Golfo Quaint and pretty, Castellammare del Golfo nestles around its castle and small port and is entirely enclosed by surrounding hills. The best place to hang out in Castellammare is the cute little port below the castle. This gorgeous area is replete with wooden boats parked in among the drying nets. There are also a number of places to eat in this area. The major attraction is the 17th century Aragonese castle on the rocky walls above the harbor. Inside are some museums and the tourist office. From the tourist office you can also head up the spectacular staircase to the roof where there are good views. The other place worth wandering to is the 18th century Mother Church with its distinct yellow facade. Sitting on a terrace overlooking the harbor, you can enjoy a cocktail, Sicilian wine, home-made ice-cream or a refreshing Sicilian granita. In the summer period Castellammare s harbor comes to life at night and the area becomes a pedestrian zone, with lots of bars, pubs and restaurants. The corso is a nice area for shopping and from the town square you have access to the smallest of the two

3 sandy beaches. The other, much larger, beach is located just outside of Castellammare del Golfo. In the summer period there are several lidos, where you can rent sun loungers and beach umbrellas, but the main part of Castellammare s sandy beach is free of charge. Day 3: Excursion to Palermo and Monreale After breakfast we ll depart for a full-day excursion of Palermo and Monreale. Begin in Palermo s old town where we ll find Quattro Canti di Citta, an ostentatious square complete with fountains, statues and a large portion of the city s important sites. We ll visit the Cathedral, the Norman Palace and the Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti (St. John of the Hermits) a 12th-century Norman church with five, Arabinspired red domes. In the afternoon we ll head to Monreale to visit the Cathedral famed for its glorious golden mosaics. It is perhaps the finest Norman building in Sicily built in the 12th century as part of a grand royal complex. In the late afternoon we ll return to the hotel and dinner will be on your own. Your evening is at leisure. (B) Palermo

4 Monreale Cathedral Day 4: Excursion to Erice winery visit olive oil tasting This morning we ll enjoy a visit to Erice, a wonderfully preserved medieval town with breathtaking views, where we ll visit the Duomo. Next we ll continue to Marsala and a visit to the world-famous Donna Fugata Winery and then head to the Fontanasalsa Estate for a visit to a reknown olive oil mill and a tasting. Donna Fugata is one of Italy s finest wineries and praised by wine critics and wine lovers all over the globe. This historic cellar in Marsala is just one of Donnafugata s various estates and you ll enjoy a tasting of four wines complemented by typical Sicilian snacks. Return to hotel. Evening at leisure. (B,L) Donna Fugata Erice

5 Day 5: Cefalù Milazzo - Lipari After breakfast at the hotel we ll depart Casellammare del Golfo on our way to Milazzo. Along the way we ll stop in Cefalù for a visit to this colorful, historic city. In Milazzo we ll board the hydrofoil/ferry to Lipari. Upon arrival we ll transfer to the Grand Hotel Arciduca for a four-night stay. This evening we ll enjoy dinner, with wine, at the hotel. (B,D) Grand Hotel Arciduca Grand Hotel Arciduca September G., Via Giuseppe Franza, Lipari ME The Grand Hotel Arciduca is an elegant 4-star hotel in the Aeolian Islands, ideally located in the center of Lipari. This charming Lipari Island hotel is just steps from Marina Corta square and the picturesque harbor, and only 2 minutes from the Portinente beach. A short walk from the port, among the multicolored Aeolian houses of the historic center of Lipari, stands this romantic hotel. It features Sicilian styles from the end of the 19th century. The hotel s restaurant features a terrace that overlooks the heated swimming pool with hydro-massage. A small beach is a just a 2 minute walk away, while the shops and boutiques in the center of town can be reached in a few minutes. The bedrooms are elegantly furnished with modern facilities including air conditioning and a bathroom with a bathtub or a shower. This is our guests' favorite part of Lipari, according to independent reviews. They gave the location an excellent score of 9! Named after the Archduke Luigi Salvatore of Austria, the Grand Hotel Arciduca boasts a refined 19thcentury Sicilian style and offers elegant guestrooms, attentive service, welcoming lounge areas and a restaurant with outdoor terrace. Massage rooms are onsite at the spa, offering services designed to reduce stress. The heated swimming pool with hot tub hydromassage is a great way to relax as well. Free wireless Internet access is provided.

6 Lipari is the biggest and most populous of the Aeolian Islands. Lipari Town There are two main roads across the town, Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Via Garibaldi, which are connected by Via Umberto, Via Maurolico and Via XXIV Maggio. To the south of the rock, Via Garibaldi reaches Marina Corta, a traditional gathering-place for local inhabitants. This is where you can find the restaurants, outdoor cafés and ice cream parlours where you can sit a table in the shade of a large parasol. From here live also all boat trips to the beaches and the other islands. These places are very busy on summer mornings, when the traditional Sicilian breakfast is served granita caffè con panna e brioche crushed ice flavoured coffee with cream served with fresh brioches. Marina Corta has a host of restaurants and places where friends can meet. Thus, Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Via Garibaldi become peaceful streets where you can go for a nice stroll or sit in an open-air café or restaurant without having to cope with the noise and smell of cars and mopeds. Best places are along Corso Vittorio Emanuele: Bar La Precchia, Eden Bar, here you can sit outdoors and taste some of the delicious local cakes and ice creams. Among the many typical home-made Aeolian products are delicious biscuits covered with sesame seeds that can be dipped in Malvasia wine, a desert wine made in Lipari or Salina. Other interesting grocery products are wines from the Eolias, excellent superior-quality extra virgin olive oil, capers, which grow in abundance on the island and are exported to the mainland and abroad. All sorts of fish delicacies can be found on the local menus. Special attention must be given to the swordfish, a typical fish of these waters, which is caught according to a very ancient and extremely picturesque "rite". Other specialities are : "maccaruni", aubergine rolls, sweet and sour rabbit, smoked ricotta cheese and the aromatic capers (their flowers are called the 'orchids of the Aeolian Islands") There is also a selection of excellent, strong and spiced local wines - Malvasia - produced and bottled in the Aeolian islands. Aeolian sweet specialities are the local pastries Nacatuli and Spicchitedda, ice creams and Cannolo alla siciliana (filled with sweet cream and ricotta cheese). Lipari Harbor Day 6: Tour of Lipari Island After breakfast we ll set off on a motorcoach tour of the island with our local guide. The tour starts from the south of the island and will make stops at the Belvedere of Quattrocchi, with views of Vulcano Island and the Belvedere of Quattropani, with views of Salina Island. We ll pass the caves of the pumice mines and see the beaches of Canneto. Along the way we ll have lunch at a local restaurant specializing in seafood. Dinner with wine is provided at the hotel. (B,L,D)

7 Belvedere of Quattrocchi Day 7: Cruise excursion to Panarea and Stromboli 12noon to 10:30 pm After a morning at leisure we ll have an early lunch at the hotel and head to the port for a noon departure on a full-day cruise excursion. (Sample tour description below.) As we return we ll have a light dinner of pasta with bread, wine and bottled water on board. (B,L,D) Panarea

8 Panarea and Stromboli Experience the chic and stylish Panarea by day and the explosive eruptions of Stromboli by night. Bring your camera, sunscreen, towel and wear your swimsuit! Before departing Lipari, we will stop at the pumice caves and enjoy a swim. Continue on to Panarea, where we visit the beautiful bay of Calajunco, the site of the prehistoric village of Capo Milazzese, and then visit Zimmari beach for another swim. Next we ll visit the Cave of Lovers before heading to the port of Panarea. Here we ll have free time to stroll through the elegant streets, enjoy a cocktail or browse. In the afternoon we ll head to Stromboli. Before landing, we ll stop to admire Ginostra, a small fishing village, from the sea. Next we ll see the Sciara del Fuoco (river of fire), a steep slope crisscrossed by streams of lava, and Strombolicchio, a small rocky island topped by a lighthouse. Upon arrive on Stromboli home to one of Italy s three active volcanoes we ll have time to dine, stroll the beautiful gardens and enjoy a swim in the cobalt blue waters. At sunset we will return to the Sciara to watch the eruptions of the volcano. Stromboili volano Sciara del Fuoco

9 Sromboli sunset Day 8: Cruise excursion to Vulcano 10 am to 5 pm After breakfast we ll depart on for a full-day excursion to Vulcano Island. (Sample tour description below.) This evening we ll enjoy dinner, with wine, at the hotel. (B,D) Vulcano Our excursion around the island of volcano starts as we cruise past the peninsula of Vulcanello where we ll see the striking Valley of Monsters fantastic figures created by lava flows. We ll see the stacked rocks (faraglioni) and pass by the Cave of Angels and black volcanic sand beach; the heart of this dormant volcano - the imposing Great Crater of Fossa; and the Grotta del Cavallo and pool of Venus. We ll continue to the village of Gelso where we ll enjoy a swim before we head to the port of Levante. We can visit or indulge in the mud baths or thermal baths. Vulcano

10 Day 9: Lipari Milazzo Taormina After breakfast we ll depart the hotel and transfer to the pier where we ll board the ferry to Milazzo. Upon arrival we ll transfer by motorcoach to Taormina and check in to the Hotel Continental. This afternoon we ll enjoy a walking tour of Taormina. We ll see the historic medieval center, the Greco- Roman theatre, superlative scenery, Baroque architecture, quaint streets and romantic gardens. Dinner, with wine, is included tonight at nearby Villa Zuccaro Restaurant. (B,D) Hotel Continental September 9-10 Via Dionisio, 2/A, Taormina, ME, The Continental is a welcoming 3 star hotel in central Taormina located just steps from Corso Umberto and Piazza Duomo Square and several outstanding historic sites, traditional shops and restaurants. Located in the heart of Taormina, the hotel boasts a spacious terrace with breathtaking panoramic views across the beautiful Bay of Naxos and Mount Etna. The Ancient Theatre, the Odeon, the Naumachie and the other main tourist attractions and historical sites can be reached via a leisurely stroll through the old town s picturesque streets. This nice hotel is the best choice for a great holiday in Sicily thanks to its comfortable rooms and welcoming spaces. Hotel facilities also include an Internet point and wireless Internet access, both available at the reception, and a lounge bar. Several restaurants, cafés and bars are located within walking distance, and a convenient shuttle service can transport guests to and from the beach during the summer season Hotel Continental Taormina Greco-Roman theatre

11 Taormina The Pearl of the Mediterranean What do Richard Wagner, Oscar Wilde, Greta Garbo, Cary Grant, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Alexandre Dumas, Johannes Brahms, Gustav Klimt, D.H. Lawrence, Ingmar Bergman, Francis Ford Coppola, Truman Capote, John Steinbeck, Marlene Dietrich, Federico Fellini, Guy de Maupassant, Elisabeth Taylor, Sharon Stone, Woody Allen and Gregory Peck have in common? That s simple - they have all spent their holidays in Taormina. Taormina is perched on a rock 200 metres above the sea and has been the most popular tourist destination in Sicily ever since it became an integral part of the Grand Tour of European aristocrats and artists some two hundred years ago. One of the world s greatest views, winding streets, alleyways and staircases strewn with bars, cafés, restaurants, art galleries, designer, shoe, ceramics, antiques and souvenir shops, small squares around corners, beautifully restored medieval buildings and the ancient amphitheatre make for a perfect holiday spot. Day 10: Mount Etna excursion and Villagrande Winery After breakfast we ll set off on an excursion to Mount. Etna followed by a visit to Villagrande winery including lunch with wine. (B,L) Wine Farm Barone di Villagrande 1727 The Barone di Villagrande estate sits on Etna s slopes at an altitude of 700 metres above sea level. The vineyards, dominated by the estate, slope down towards the sea into a natural amphitheatre. These lands, which have always belonged to the family, give birth to wines that, since 1727, have been perpetually placed on local and international markets. For more than 10 years now, the company has taken up a project on the island of Salina - the production of the passito wine (made from sun-dried grapes) Malvasia delle Lipari. Mount Etna Today we will ascend the southeastern side of the volcano until we reach the 2000 meter line. The bus cannot go further up as the road ends. We ll see the Silvester Craters and from here we can take a short hike along the sides of the craters, or have a cappuccino in the many cafés and charming restaurants and marvel at the view. Mount Etna is the largest active volcano in Europe. The time spent on the volcano depends on the weather. At 2000 meters anything is possible. Normally the visit will last approx. 1 1/2 hours. We'll have to wait and see what the volcano has in store for us.

12 Day 11: Return to Boston Today you will depart the hotel and transfer to Catania airport for our return flight to Boston, via Rome. (B) Proof of Citizenship is required for all trips outside the United States. U.S. citizens require a valid passport to travel; with at least 6 months' validity. All non-us citizens should check with the appropriate foreign consulate for additional entry requirements. Passports are the responsibility of each traveler. PLEASE NOTE: This pre-departure itinerary is designed to give you an idea of how this itinerary is structured. We reserve the right to make any changes to your final itinerary if deemed necessary, at any time prior to departure. PLEASE NOTE: This is not your final itinerary. You will receive final documents (itinerary, tickets (if applicable), etc.) approximately 2 3 weeks prior to departure. Although we try our best to ensure that information is accurate at the time of publication, we are not responsible for any error, omission, misprint or liability that results from the use (or misuse) of this information.