Sicily offers more than just sea

by f.ajello

Sicily offers more than just sea
“In Sicily lies the key to everything”…perhaps the great Goethe was completely infatuated when he wrote this famous phrase in his “Italian Journey”, but the region has certainly lost none of the charm that bewitched travellers on the Grand Tour, although today it is often tinged with modernity.
We want to highlight some of the main events in Sicily between February and April that confirm the island’s place in specialised publications as one of the best world destinations 2012.
The calendar includes Catania with its celebrations in honour of the city’s patron saint, Saint Agatha (3rd-5th February) accompanied by fireworks and culminating in a huge procession in which an endless crowd follows the saint’s reliquary.
Many cities are organising fantastic parades for Carnival, but the most famous are probably the Sciacca Carnival and the Acireale Carnival (15th – 21st February).
March sees the world-famous “St. Joseph’s Dinners” in Salemi, and the tradition of using a variety of differently-shaped breads to build an altar in honour of the saint (19th March).
The 6th April marks the eagerly-awaited return of maesto Abbado to Teatro Massimo, Palermo, where he will conduct Verdi’s Requiem.
Finally, there are a wealth of events for Easter (5th – 9th April): the renowned Trapani Mystery Plays, the Arbëreshë traditions from Piana degli Albanesi, the ‘Devils’ Revelry’ of San Fratello and Prizzi, and the festival of the Vasa Vasa Virgin in Modica.
10% off the advertised price of all villas in our catalogue from 1st February – 18th April 2012 if you book by January 20th.
This offer is also valid for bookings during the Christmas period.

.

Questo articolo è stato pubblicato il martedì, 22 novembre 2011 alle 20:00 e classificato in Special offers. È possibile seguire tutte le repliche a questo articolo tramite il feed RSS 2.0. Puoi lasciare un commento, oppure fare il trackback dal tuo sito.

Casa Sigillo – Siracusa

by f.ajello
Apartment in Ortigia

Apartment in Ortigia

This jewel of an apartment is exquisitely decorated with taste and sophistication.
All interiors are brightly lit, highlighting a soothing, neutral background of ivory, white and cream hues.
Your eyes delightedly rest on the dramatic, vaulted ceilings, the rich inlays of local stone, the exquisite antiques and comfortable furniture and the panoramicocean views through expansive windows throughout the apartment.
Casa Sigillo is located on the eastern coast of Sicily, offering an elegant city stay in a renowned area of the centuries-old town of Siracusa plus close proximity to coastal recreation and cultural archeological sites.
BEDS & BATHS: 2 BDR/3 BTH
Ground Floor: 1 queen bedroom with romantic ocean-view balcony and beautiful en suite bathroom with tub.
1 queen/twin bedroom with adjacent bathroom with shower.
1 guest bathroom.
LIVING SPACES:
Ground Floor: Spacious living room including fully-equipped open kitchen;
office/den; and dining and sitting areas that lead to an oceanfront balcony.
OUTSIDE FEATURES:
Casa Sigillo is located in the historical centre of Siracusa, offering a front-row seat on the perimeter of this famous, bustling and aristocratic palazzo.
Both the queen bedroom and living area open onto gorgeous oceanfront balconies

Casa Sigillo
Siracusa – Sicily – Please, contact us for more informations

Questo articolo è stato pubblicato il lunedì, 1 febbraio 2010 alle 13:52 e classificato in Ville di Lusso in sicilia. È possibile seguire tutte le repliche a questo articolo tramite il feed RSS 2.0. Puoi lasciare un commento, oppure fare il trackback dal tuo sito.

Taste of Sicily – Luxury tour to the East coast – 7Days 6Night

by f.ajello

taormina_3_resize 1) Arrival at Catania’s airport and meet your Driver & Escort  who will follow you through the whole itinerary.
Transfer to Taormina and accommodation in Hotel*****, set on the top of Mount Tauro with an amazing  view of the bay of Naxos, the volcano Etna and the Greek-Roman theatre.
Evening time at leisure in your hotel or shopping  along the main road “Corso Umberto” populated by luxury boutiques and antique shops.
Welcome dinner at the suggestive restaurant that takes place in a 16th century monastry.
The chef, 1 star on the Michelin Guide, will introduce you to the most sophisticated tastes of Sicily.
After dinner, few steps along Corso Umberto and back to  your hotel.

2) Meet your  D&E for a guided visit to the treasures of Taormina. We could allow you to visit the sets of the famous movie “The Godfather” and then reach by boat a charming little restaurant right on the sea in front the “Isola Bella” where fresh fish meals will be served.
Afternoon at leisure
Dinner on Your own – We will be pleased to show you our personally selected list of restaurants.

3) Today will be entirely dedicated to visit the highest and active volcano in Europe: Mount Etna.
Meet your expert guide at your hotel and departure  by Jeep 4WD for a full day excursion that will take you to explore the volcano in its caves and around old extinct craters. You will admire both grotesque and fascinating  landscapes and taste a large variety of local seasonal products like Etna’s  red wines and excellent meats and cheeses.
Back to your hotel at sunset
Dinner in Hotel

4)Meet your D&E  and transfer to Brucoli, nearby Siracusa. Along the way we will visit the black lava baroque town of Catania  and we will be guests for lunch in one of the most beautiful historical private palace of the town.
After lunch we will soon reach your next accommodation in an elegant exclusive private dwelling of the 18th century recently restored.
Surrounded by an immense farm and a marvelous Italian style garden, this property host a horse breeding of excellent descend.
Welcome dinner at the Villa with family traditional and excellent meals.

5) Today we will visit the mythological town of Siracusa, its astonishing beauty archaeological site and the historical centre “Ortigia”.
In Ortigia we will also meet for lunch the charming owner of the most important palace in town.
The New York Times described him as “…the last Leopard…” as in the famous novel of T.Lampedusa. We will be welcome at the first floor of his house to admire import private collection and then in the cellar where he will let us taste the best of its own wine productions and local seasonal light meal.
OPTION:
According to the period of the year we could have the exiting experience of floating on the Ciane river and have a brunch served while admiring the lush green vegetation of papyrus.
D.O.C wines and a taste of typical summer food will be served.
Back to your Villa, where previously agreed dinner will be served.

6) This area is known as Val di Noto or Baroque Valley so today we will visit the area of Ragusa where, besides the amazing architecture, we will experience a taste lab and learn how to combine local d.o.c wines with local d.o.p cheeses. If interested, after the lab we can propose a cooking class with lunch at the end of the lesson. (to be agreed and quoted)
In the afternoon visit to the  town of Ragusa Ibla, declared  in 2002 world heritage from UNESCO.
Exclusively for us, the doors of the Cathedral of St.George and of minor churches normally closed to visitors will be opened so we will enter the secrets of this real  reserved town.
Back to your villa at sunset and dinner.

7) Morning guided visit of the famous town of Noto, also known as the Stone Garden for the precious carved white stones that decorates buildings and churches. Walking along the main road we cannot miss our last taste of Sicily, the refreshening almond “Granita” (slush).
Back to your villa and transfer to the airport to depart.

Price per person calculated on the basis of 8 persons since € 2.650,00

Price includes:

•    Mini bus  Mercedes Sprinter 2007  16 seats and  English speaking Driver&Escort  for the whole tour.
•    3 night accommodation hotel 5 stars (double del luxe room)
•    Welcome dinner in 16th century monastery
•    Half day  guided visit of Taormina and lunch on the sea shore, boat shuttle service.
•    Full day excursion to Mt.Etna and lunch in farm house
•    3 night in exclusive private Villa + 3 dinner included. (double room de luxe)
•    Lunch in private noble historical mansion in Catania
•    Half day guided tour of Siracusa and brunch+wine tasting in private noble dwelling
•    Taste lab and visit of Ragusa Ibla.
•    Half day guided visit of Noto
•    Transfer in\out the airport.
•    Full insurance cover during transportation
•    Agency fees and VAT
Price does not include:
•    Tickets to museums and archaeological sites(free over 65 years) and what is not mentioned as “price include”
•    Meals where not specified.

The programmes which we offer are exclusive and attempt to include, apart from the better known Sicilian locations, also elements which lead to a better understanding of the thousands of years of history which have passed over this island.
Obviously we are ready to consider all types of programmes, keeping in mind that our aim is to create “ad hoc” itineraries and always to offer something different with particular attention to the quality of the service.

Questo articolo è stato pubblicato il lunedì, 12 ottobre 2009 alle 12:44 e classificato in Wine and food Tours. È possibile seguire tutte le repliche a questo articolo tramite il feed RSS 2.0. Puoi lasciare un commento, oppure fare il trackback dal tuo sito.

The classic Tour – from here to there – 8days/7night

by f.ajello
Teatro Massimo - Palermo

Teatro Massimo - Palermo

Program:

Day 1st
Arriving at Palermo and meeting with your English speaking Driver&Guide  who will follow you for the whole tour. The program on your first day will be arranged according to the time of your arrival.
Overnight at your accommodation. (4 or 5 stars hotel, charming B&B)
Dinner on your own. We would be pleased to suggest a list of restaurants personally selected.

Day 2nd
Full day guided tour of Palermo.
Walking tour of the centre and its main historical buildings and visit of the food street market, one of the oldest of the Mediterranean area.
For lunch we would suggest to have a taste  of “street food” served in an old and charming “Friggitoria” (deep fried house)
According to the Opera House calendar or the Sicilian Puppet Theatre, it would be interesting to assist to one of those events. Dinner on your own in a suggested restaurant

Option to Day 2nd:

A full day experience with an exceptional “guide and chef for passion” who will lead  you around the heart of the town and to the old food market where, according to the menù of her cookery class, you will buy the ingredients necessary for your exercise. Then you will all move to her mansion,  one of the most beautiful historical “Palazzo” in town, where the lesson and the dinner  will be held.
For lunch you could have a light lunch together or move to your hotel and be back to Palazzo  at about 4 pm.
This option will cost  extra € 195 per person

Day 3rd
8.30 am. Meet your guide and drive to Monreale to visit its astonishing Norman Cathedral.
Lunch in a very charming  farm house belonging to an old aristocratic family just few km away from Monreale.
The origins of this aristocratic family can be traced back to the XIII century.
The present owner attends to grape-growing in his vineyards extending over about 100 hectares.
Surrounded by green hills entirely cultivated, you will have a genuine lunch and wine tasting of the
farm wines and oil and again you will come in touch with the famous Sicilian welcoming.

After lunch, drive to Segesta to visit one of the most beautiful Greek archaeological site and back to your hotel.
Dinner on your own.

Day 4th
Transfer to the east coast of the Island.
On the way to Brucoli, in the area of the worldwide famous town of Siracusa, visit to the Roman Villa del Casale in Piazza Armerina. Entirely restored, the site offers to the visitors the view on hundreds of square meters of precious mosaics
For lunch we will stop in an ancient “baglio”. It is a fortified farm of the XVII century, typical example of old Sicilian latifundium with its perfectly maintained architectural structure.
Here you will enjoy old traditional tastes thanks to the “cooking of the monsù” (the home chef).
After lunch we will drive to reach your next accommodation in an elegant exclusive private dwelling of the 18th century recently restored.
Surrounded by an immense farm and a marvelous Italian style garden, this property host a horse breeding of excellent descend.
Welcome dinner at the Villa with family traditional and excellent meals.

Day 5th
Free time in the morning to enjoy your residence.
At tea time, visit to a famous garden of an old Princess who will be pleased to open her Villa and to take you around the magnificent garden she personally created during the years.
Drive to Caltagirone. Dinner in “Trattoria” and night visit of this special little town famous for its pottery.
Day 6th
Departure by 9.00 am. to Siracusa and visit of Ortigia, the historical centre and heart of the town.
For lunch we will enjoy  the aristocratic charm of a Private 18th century Mansion  in the main square of Ortigia. To meet the owner (according to his availability) will be an unforgettable experience. Visit of the noble floor and its interesting collections.  Brunch and wine tasting of his wines production will be served in the elegant cellar of the building.
After lunch, drive to Noto, declared in 2002 World Heritage site, and famous as “the stone garden” due to the amazing carved stones that decorates churches and important buildings.
Back to your Villa by 7 pm. and dinner.

Day 7th
Full day excursion to Mount Etna.
Pick up at your villa at 8.30 am. A bus will drive you to Catania centre where you will meet your expert guide and departure with Land Rover 110 (8 pax per car. But if you prefer we can quote this experience with 2 cars to be more confortable)
You will visit the “Bove valley” and properly equipped by the organization descending the  “Thieves Cave” (for all) a 50 mt. tunnel just few meters above the ground level, then walking along the estinguished craters of “Mounts Sartorius” from where you will admire the incredible landscape of the last eruption 2002\3.
Tour will continue to the “Alcantara river gorges”, natural border between Catania and Messina territories.
At the end (or before) of the excursion at the gorges, lunch in a local farmhouse where typical Sicilian   food will be served.
Return to your villa by 7 p.m. and dinner.
Day 8
Transfer to Catania airport. End of our services.

Price per person calculated on the basis of 8 pax since € 1.830,00
Price includes:
•    Mini bus  Mercedes Sprinter 2007  16 seats and  English speaking Driver&Guide for the whole tour
•    Gasoline, toll, full board for the driver and parking
•    3 night accommodation in B&B de charme (double rooms)
•    Lunch and wine tasting  in Farm house nearby Monreale
•    4 night accommodation in private Villa in Brucoli (Siracusa) 4 double rooms half boarded.
•    Brunch and wine tasting in Private noble mansion Siracusa
•    Lunch in Private dwelling nearby Piazza Armerina
•    Visit and refreshment at Princess Garden
•    Dinner in local restaurant at Caltagirone.
•    Full day excursion to mt. Etna including lunch in farm house
•    Transfer in\out the airport
•    Full insurance cover during transportation
•    Agency fees and VAT

Price does not include:
•    Tickets to museums and archaeological sites(free over 65 years) and what is not mentioned as “price include”
•    Meals where not specified.

The programmes which we offer are exclusive and attempt to include, apart from the better known Sicilian locations, also elements which lead to a better understanding of the thousands of years of history which have passed over this island.
Obviously we are ready to consider all types of programmes, keeping in mind that our aim is to create “ad hoc” itineraries and always to offer something different with particular attention to the quality of the service.

Questo articolo è stato pubblicato il venerdì, 9 ottobre 2009 alle 11:17 e classificato in The Classic Tour: From East to West. È possibile seguire tutte le repliche a questo articolo tramite il feed RSS 2.0. Puoi lasciare un commento, oppure fare il trackback dal tuo sito.