Taormina - Isola Bella

Full day excursion to the famous town of Taormina. Visit of its monuments and the Greek Theatre – one of the few examples and best preserved of Hellenistic theatre in the world and time for shopping along “Corso Umberto”.
We will then take traditional wooden boats out to the beach of Isola Bella and along the Ionian coast with its sea grottoes. Seafood lunch by the sea in a reputed “trattoria.”

After lunch we will be taken back on boat while giving a look to some grottoes along the coast. We also take in the extraordinary lava formations of the Alcantara river gorge at the base of Etna, where you can admire the amazing effect created by the contact of hot lave with cold water.
But Taormina also deserves a by night visit: sunset at the Greek-Roman theatre, shopping along Corso Umberto and dinner in a former Dominican convent which has been turned into a luxurious hotel with stunning views and excellent restaurant.
Travel Sicilia

Isola Bella - Taormina

Taormina
Taormina, con il suo magnifico teatro Greco-Romano ed il suo Corso Umberto, offre la possibilità di passare una giornata tra arte, storia e shopping di alto livello. Dopo la visita del teatro e del centro, scenderemo la collina fino al mare di Naxos e, a bordo di piccole barche di legno, navigheremo lungo la costa visitando le tante grotte fino a “Isola Bella”. Pranzo a base di pesce in una rinomata trattoria  in riva al mare.
Dopo pranzo, saremo riportati a terra via mare e potremmo continuare l’esplorazione con la visita alle Gole dell’Alcantara.
Taormina merita pure una visita notturna. Arrivo in centro poco prima del tramonto in modo da poter ammirare, con la vostra guida, il panorama dal Teatro- Greco. Visita del centro e passeggio sul Corso Umberto.
Per gli appassionati dell’alta cucina, proponiamo una cena presso il miglior ristorante della città il cui chef è stato premiato con una stella Michelin.
Travel Sicilia

Vista dell'Etna da costa saracena

Etna in 4×4
Ore 8:30 – Incontro con la guida presso la vostra Villa e partenza con mezzi fuoristrada alla volta dell’Etna. Si visiteranno ingrottamenti lavici e crateri estinti; si ammirerà la straordinaria ed inquietante bellezza della Valle del Bove ed impareranno miti e leggende, storia e geologia del più alto ed attivo vulcano d’Europa.
La giornata potrà essere condita con una esperienza davvero eccitante come il “Canyoning” alle spettacolari rapidi delle Gole dell’Alcantara, attività per la quale è richiesta una discreta preparazione atletica.
“Lauto” pranzo in agriturismo a base di ingredienti di produzione locale ed ottimo vino Rosso dell’Etna.
Rientro in Villa nel tardo pomeriggio.

Etna quota 2.900mt.
Ad esclusione dei mesi invernali, è possibile raggiungere (con mezzi fuori strada e funivia) quota 2.900 ed ammirare lo straordinario spettacolo “lunare” che offre il vulcano e percepire, dai racconti delle guide alpine, come è cambiato il paesaggio durante le ultime eruzioni del 2001\2.
Per i più allenati ed avventurosi, in base all’attività vulcanica, sarà possibile organizzare la risalita fino ai crateri sommitali a quota 3.300mt.
Pranzo in agriturismo e, in base al desiderio del gruppo, visita ad uno dei tanti paesini Etnei ricchi di storia e  squisitezze da degustare.
Travel Sicilia

Infinity-edge pool

Villa Papale
Taormina – Eastern Sicily
10 Sleeps

Villa Papale is built onto a rocky cliff which soars high above the town of Taormina. From the windows there are breathtaking views over Taormina’s Ancient Greek Theatre to the splendid bays of Mazzarò and Sant’Alessio. The villa, which follows the steep contours of the cliff, has two entrances, one uphill, one down. Villa Papale was built right into the cliff, and in some of the rooms you can see the bare rock. The different levels of the house are connected by external staircases, as it is typical in the houses of upper Taormina. At the downhill entrance are two small but very well designed apartments and one signgle room with bathroom en suite. On the next level is the main villa surrounded by a small and well-kept garden and a fabulous infinity-edge swimming pool. The gardens are set with elegant furniture and sheltered by porticos, making them a truly restful place to relax. Accommodation on the ground floor is simple and modern, but the main villa is furnished with antiques belonging to the aristocratic descendents of the owners.

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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.

Selinunte

One of the best ways to experience the best that Sicily has to offer is to trace a journey across the island from east to west (or vice versa). In the east Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano, and the enchanting coastal nature reserve of Vendicari form a backdrop for thousands of years of history: the extensive ancient Greek ruins at Siracusa, once the most important city in the western world; the cave tombs and cities of the Pantalica and Ispica gorges; and the splendid Baroque towns of the Val di Noto and Ragusana, built in the aftermath of a violent eruption of Etna and a consequent earthquake. Heading west, you’ll find vibrant Roman mosaics at Piazza Armerina, and, at Agrigento, Segesta and Selinunte, some of the best-preserved ancient Greek temples in Europe. On the west coast are the perfectly preserved medieval hill-village of Erice, and the incredible Phoenician island-site of Mozia. The most important city in the west is, of course, the Sicilian capital of Palermo, home to the second biggest centro storico in Italy (after Rome), vibrant markets, splendid museums and magnificent Arab-Norman, Medieval and Baroque monuments.