TOUR AT A GLANCE -Sicily Walking Tour
Duration: 8 Days/7 Nights
Departures 2012: May 12 & Sept 8, as well as private departures.
Departing from: Catania on Saturday, Day 1
Tour finishes: Siracusa or Catania airport, morning Day 8
Price 2012: €2,250 per person based on double occupancy
Single Supplement €280.
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All dates are Guaranteed departures. You can create your own date for a small group. Click on any picture to enlarge. (CD011211)
Sicily is one of the most fascinating and beautiful islands in the world. Our tour takes you to Sicily’s east coast, famous for its rich history, scenic coastline and rugged landscapes. We have a wide variety of walks through charming villages and towns, in hidden gorges, and through the lava flows of Mount Etna. Indeed, we spend a day with a vulcanologist during our “Etna Day.” We mix town with country, giving you the opportunity to relax at quiet countryside villas as well as time to explore bustling Taormina, the UNESCO world heritage town of Noto, and lovely baroque Siracusa and its celebrated island of Ortigia, where we stay for two nights.
Of course Sicily’s food and wine play a starring role. We have spent a lot of selfless hours researching this part of the tour! And we will be taking you to our favorite places, including two very special lunches for some real home cooking. Our Siracusa-based guide Claudia also knows all the best places for Sicily’s wonderful pastries and (her favorite) the creamy, crushed-ice granitas topped with toasted almond shavings. Happily you can indulge in Sicily’s wonderful cuisine and enjoy its delicious sun-drenched wines because there is plenty of walking to be done. (Luggage is transferred by van. 1 night Catania, 2 nights near Taormina, 2 nights near Noto, 2 nights Siracusa.)
Day 1 – Saturday – Arrival Catania: Check into your pre-booked hotel in the heart of old Catania, near the popular pedestrian area that is full of cafes, restaurants and shops. Independent dinner in Catania. Hotel included. Dinner not included.
Day 2 – Sunday – Pick-up Catania, hiking Mount Etna: Meet the group at 9:00 at the Catania hotel for a short transfer up the side of Mount Etna, Europe’s largest volcano. It is 3,400 meters (11,155 feet) high, with a perimeter of 250 km (155 mi.) and the third largest crater in the world. We meet our vulcanologist guide who will lead us on a hike along the southwest flank of the mountain. Along the way he will stop and explain many fascinating aspects of the volcano. Enjoy a picnic lunch prepared by your guides and then drive up to Rifugio la Sapienza at 2,000 meters to walk along the rims of several extinct craters. After our full day of walking we retire to the Borgo Antico, a lovingly-restored family villa that has been transformed into a small hotel. It sits above the coast near the village of Calatabiano. Our host and owner of the villa, Valeria, will welcome us and tell us the story of the villa. Aperitivo on the terrace followed by dinner in the old olive press. Overnight at Borgo Antico. Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner and hotel included. http://www.borgoetneo.com
Day 3 – Monday – Alcantara Canyon: This morning we have a 20-minute transfer to the start of a 1.5 hour walk in the Alcantara canyon, where we’ll see citrus groves and irrigation systems from the Arab occupation in the 9th century. Stop for a mid-morning coffee in the village of Francavilla before continuing on to the ruins of a beautiful 8th century Byzantine chapel. Here we will be picked up and whisked away to lunch at a restored farm house with wonderful views onto the northwest slopes of Etna. (p.s. You will never forget this lunch…..!) After lunch we leave directly by foot along a trail that weaves its way amongst hazelnut orchards to the perched village of Castiglione di Sicilia. The remains of a Hellenic fort still sit atop its highest pinnacle and from here we enjoy a spectacular view over the surrounding countryside. Return to Calatabiano to relax on the terrace or walk into the very authentic village of Calatabiano for an aperitivo with the locals. Dinner at Borgo Antico. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and hotel included.
Day 4 – Tuesday – Taormina: This morning we leave for Taormina and a rewarding hike along the breathtaking “Via dei Saraceni,” which since prehistoric times has connected Taormina to the village of Castelmola on the neighboring hill. When the sky is clear, the amazing view spans from the opposite region of Calabria, across the sea, to Syracuse on the far east coast. Coffee break here, and then walk down to Taormina via its castle. The walk offers splendid views out over the coast as well as back onto Mount Etna. Once in Taormina, we will lead you to our favorite gelateria to enjoy one of Sicily’s greatest pleasures, a pistachio or almond “granita.” You’ll have free time to explore Taormina’s main shopping streets, evocative alleyways, and Greek theater. Afterwards, we leave bustling Taormina and head for our next little haven, La Corte del Sole, a recently-renovated ‘masseria‘ (country manor house) located between the sea and the baroque town of Noto. Transfer time is about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Upon arrival enjoy a swim or just lounge by the pool before meeting for an aperitivo. Dinner and overnight La Corte del Sole. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 5 – Wednesday – Hiking Noto region: This morning we enjoy breakfast with a view of the coast and then transfer to Noto Antica – the ancient town of Noto – which was an important town until 1693 when it was completely destroyed by a powerful earthquake. We arrive at Noto Antica on foot and then explore an impressive canyon which is dotted with the ruins of ancient water mills and tanneries which were developed by the Arabs during their 250 year occupation of the area in the 8th – 10th centuries. After our walk we have a short transfer to a beautiful masseria for lunch. This afternoon we visit ‘new’ Noto (a UNESCO World Heritage site) whose buildings feature the quintessential expression of baroque architecture. Return to La Corte del Sole, optional wine tasting before dinner in the dining room. Breakfast, dinner and hotel included.
Day 6 – Thursday – Vendicari & Anapo Valley: Today we head towards the sea instead of the mountains to enter the Vendicari natural reserve. Our coastal walk takes us to the evocative ruins of a 17th century “tonnara” (tuna-fishing network) that was active until 1944. The site is also overlooked by an imposing 14th century Swabian watchtower. We arrive at a family-run farm where they serve us a wonderful home-cooked meal using produce from their farm, including their own delicious white wine. After lunch we have a short transfer to Marzamemi, an ancient fishing village with a charming piazza and another old tonnara where you can still purchase a host of unique Sicilian culinary products direct from the producer. We then partake in a Sicilian ritual, sitting in the sunny piazza while enjoying a delicious granita. Transfer to the historic center of Siracusa, situated on the tiny island of Ortigia. The 4-star Hotel Livingston is our home for the next two nights. Enjoy a romantic stroll along the sea promenade before exploring the narrow alleyways of old Ortigia. You are free to choose where you wish to dine tonight. Overnight Siracusa. Breakfast, lunch and hotel included. Dinner not included.
Day 7 – Friday - Discovering ancient Ortigia: Start the day with a guided walk of Ortigia. The span of history is impressive, starting with the Greeks, whose 2,500-year-old temple still remains a focal part of old Ortigia. You then can enjoy a free afternoon in Siracusa or hike in the Anapro valley to discover “Pantalica”, an intriguing prehistoric and paleo-Christian settlement (13th-8th centuries BC) with a remarkable ‘beehive’ necropolis made up of over 5,000 graves scattered along the cliff faces. Here also stands the Anaktoron, or Prince’s Palace, a Bronze Age ruin situated on the rock ridge separating the Anapo from the Calcinara valley. This entails a 40-minute van transfer each way to access the site. Dinner together tonight. Overnight Siracusa. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 8 – Saturday – Departure: You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave…. Sicily….behind. We will offer an early morning transfer to Catania airport to correspond with flights departing after 10:00 am. Otherwise, there are frequent buses to Catania airport or you can take a taxi. If you want to stay on in Sicily there are rental car companies in Siracusa and Catania. There are also frequent buses to Palermo. Breakfast included.
Useful links
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Italy has more sites in the list than any other country!
General Information
Qualifications: This trip is rated moderate with some challenging uphills We usually walk 3 – 4 hours per day, divided between morning and afternoon. Some days have a shorter option. The day we hike from Taormina to Castelmola we ascend and descend the ancient stone staircases linking the two villages. The hiking on Etna is easy, while on day Day 5 we descend into a gorge along a rocky path. As long you take your time and go at your own pace, the walks are not too difficult. Trip Cost includes: All accommodations (7 nights in 3- and 4-star hotels and B&B); 7 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 5 dinners; all luggage transfers from pick up on Sunday to trip end at Catania airport; bilingual Customwalks guide(s) to accompany the tour and lead you on the walks; Vulcanologist guide on Etna, guided walking visit of Ortigia with licensed city guide, all park entrances, all transfers as noted in the itinerary.Getting therethis will redirect you to our “Getting to the Trip” page).Booking: e-mail us to receive a booking contract (or use the “Reservation” page). Insurance: We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance. We recommend “Travel Guard” to our American clients, just click on the logo below, while Canadian residents can click here. Australian, New Zealander, and British travelers, please consult your insurance brokers.
 We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! |
