| Discover Sicily! Wine, Food, and Culture |
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$3999 Includes All Expenses Except Airfare
Contact Us for 2012 Dates!
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Sicily is our new love
It's an island as Greek, Arab, and Spanish as it is Italian, with terrain that changes from ocean to hills to plains and back again. If you haven't been, it's time to go with someone you know! We'll visit with locals and get behind the scenes, as always!
Our itinerary includes a visit to old Palermo and its historic markets, to seaside Cefalu with a hike to Diana's temple at the top of "La Rocca," to the Greek ruins at Agrigento, to Mt. Etna with a volcanologist, and to lovely Taormina. The cost is $3999/person (double occupancy) depending on the season for the entire trip which includes everything except airfare.
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Day One – Palermo is the capital of the autonomous region of Sicily, and is chockfull of history. Your adventure begins as you arrive in Palermo. After hotel check-in, we begin with an afternoon walking overview of the historic city center, then dinner at the famous Beati Paoli reastaurant with underground tunnels used by Garibaldi's men during the unification of Italy. Afterwards, we will enjoy a typical "Night in Sicily" with beverages and cremolata (try gelsi and Pistachios, or coffee and almond).
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Day Two – We go deeper into Palermo, using an jump on-and-off historic doubledecker tour bus to provide us with an orientation. We'll get the local's viewpoint from the tour, then when we're ready, we dive from the bus into the city's markets, churches, and historic sites, stopping at local "Paneficio," or bread stores to try the local fare. Late afternoon on your own, then dinner under the Sicilian sky.
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Day Three – Train ride to to the seaside village of Cefalu! We'll climb the hill at the center of the city "La Rocca" to see the Temple of Diana and panoramic views. Lunch across from the Duomo, then a wander through the city's shopping and historic district. Side trip to the port to watch the fishermen, then back to Palermo for dinner and rest.
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| Day Four - Early Departure and drive to medieval Erice for a taste of Maria Grammatico's pastry and walking tour, then on to the salt flats of Trapani with lunch under a windmill with a walkthrough of the salt museum to find out how it's made. Drive to Agrigento with a hotel view of the Greek temples and dinner featuring local ingredients.
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Day Five – In Agrigento, site of Greek and Roman battles and ruins. The Greek poet Pindar called it "the most beautiful city of mortals." Tour of the Greek Temple Valley with a focus on two of the best-preserved temples traditionally attributed to the goddesses Juno Lacinia and Concordia. Evening in Taormina, an ancient site with history dating back to 600 BCE. It sits high on a hill overlooking the sea, with a Saracen castle. We’ll take a funicular from lower to higher Taormina and visit the Greek amphitheater, with dinner overlooking the sea.
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Day Six - Drive to Mt. Etna, the second-largest active volcano in Europe. We'll tour with a volcanologist and follow the path of the 1928 eruption that obliterated the city of Mascali. Lunch midway up at an almost-alpine feeling trattoria, then a wine tasting at a local spot known for its celebration of the local grapes. Evening again in Taormina, with its own Greek theater and plenty of local shopping and tastes.
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Day Seven – Morning on your own in Taormina and on to Catania for afternoon flights back to the mainland and places beyond, or home.
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The Nitty-Gritty Details
The adventure begins in Palermo and ends in Catania. $3999/person includes costs of all tours, tastings, lodging in 3- and 4-Star Hotels, meals, and transportation while on the tour. It does not cover airfare to and from Italy. To reserve a spot, ½ of the fees are required in advance, with the additional ½ due 6 weeks before the trip begins. Payment may be in the form of cash, check or credit card. If payment is made by credit card, an additional fee of 3% will be added to cover processing fees. In the event of cancellation, all deposits paid by the participant will be refunded as set out as follows: all cancellations for any reason whatsoever will be subject to a $100 per person cancellation fee. Cancellation 60 days prior to departure will result in forfeiture of 30% of the trip cost per person; 45 days prior to departure, 50%; less than 45 days prior to departure will result in forfeiture of 100% of the entire cost of the trip. All cancellations must be submitted in writing to Flavors From Afar, Inc.
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Want to learn more?
Give us a call at 214.585-1880 or send an email to sales@flavorsfromafar.com. In the meantime, here is some recommended reading to get you going:
The Leopard by Lampadeusa
"The Leopard" movie starring Burt Lancaster and Alain Denon
On Persephone's Island by Mary Taylor Simeti
Palmento: A Sicilian Wine Odyssey by Robert Camuto
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