Stunning Sicily – WineWalking for the Bon viveur

SUMMARY

Dates: Saturday May 3rd to Saturday May 10th 7 nights 2025

Host: WalkingWomen with our local host Emilia Strazzanti – fluent english speaker and resident of Scicli, Southern Sicily. You will have a local female hiking guide, meet some wonderful women winemakers ,and other female producers, as we explore this unique and special part of Sicily. Expect to be surprised and delighted with what you experience during the week.

Walking Grade: 1 Goat. This holiday is a special holiday to walk whilst also experiencing Sicily and all its history and culture. Terrain is a little rocky but we walk steadily. You can expect walks of 3-4 hours on 3 walking days with other days more cultural experiences.

There will always be time to explore but also to relax, rest and revive.

Maximum Distance: 9km/6 miles

Maximum Ascent: 200m

Terrain: Mix of rocks,steps and flat green spaces. Bring poles if you usually use them.

Base: A charming farmstead in between the small town of Scicli and the sea. This is the southern part of Sicily. There are 10  traditional apartments all set inside the beautiful countryside Masseria for the exclusive use of the WalkingWomen guests. There is a communal area where we have meals together.  6 out of 10 apartments are for single occupancy with your own private bathroom. The other 4 apartments are suitable for shared accommodation with 2 double bedrooms in each and a bathroom for your apartment, a kitchen and an outdoor private terrace space.

Your stay here will give you the chance to relax with all your meals prepared, a pool and a large garden to lounge in peace. There is good wifi in the communal areas and some in rooms.

Getting there: Catania Airport is the closest airport at 1 hour 30 minutes away by car. We arrange an airport pick up around 16.00 on Saturday. If you would like to travel outside these times we can arrange a taxi for you at a cost of approximated £100 one way.

Price: £1950 per person for this fully inclusive experience.

What is included in the cost of your holiday:

• Traditional Sicilian apartments for solo occupancy or sharing with private bathrooms or shared apartments which have one or two bathrooms(ideal for friends) All with bathrobes which can be used to pop to the pool. Essential bathroom products will be provided.
• All breakfasts
• All lunches and evening meals – some out and some at the Masseria
• Welcome Drinks and some drinks with meals
• Wine tastings and cultural visits including cooking with Emilia
• Local transport for walks and tours to explore the island at its fullest
• Experienced Guides, wine makers, local hosts – all english speaking.
• Airport Transfer  – pick up and return from Catania

Food is lovingly prepared using local Sicilian products.

Not included:

• Travel to Catania, Sicily
• Any additional activities not included in the itinerary
• Any extra drinks/food not included in the itinerary

DETAILS

Sicily has become an even more sought after destination having been the location for the TV Series Montalbano which brings thousands of tourists to southern Sicily to see the locations he was seen in.

We take you away from the tourist trails to the more untrodden paths where we walk along gorges, over dry river beds to see where people lived in caves right up until the 1950’s. We pick wild pomegranates and persimmon fruit from the trees as we pass and stop to hear about the health benefits of carob, pistachio, thyme, oregano and many other herbs that grow wild on our paths.

We see the glistening sea, the ancient traditional towns, the sunshine, blue skies and a life we just must share.

We want to give you a tranquil experience and one that you can experience Sicily through the eyes of locals – and in our case local women.

Emilia Strazzanti has put together a holiday programme especially for WalkingWalking. You can read a little about their passion for Sicily here ..

https://www.olivemagazine.com/travel/europe/italy/10-things-we-love-about-sicilian-cuisine/

Of course there is time to visit some of the more well known sites too and we can help arrange extensions to your trip if you would like to add on more time on the beach or in the city of Palermo. We can also arrange stop overs in Catania.

ITINERARY

Itinerary – could change depending on the weather and at the discretion of our local hosts/guide. You will be briefed each evening about the next days activities.

Day 1:  Arrival  on Saturday

• Arrival at Catania airport
• Airport transfer to Scicli – approx 1.5 hours. Approx 4pm.
• Arrival and settle into our charming Sicilian Masseria
• Welcome apero’s, introductions and a homemade dinner together
• Evening talk about where you are staying and where you are.

Day 2: Sunday CABA Ispica 4-5km.Ascent 150m.Descent 100m

• Breakfast
• 10am pick up for your first guided walk
• We will stop during our walk to appreciate the scenery and have lunch together
• Transfer back around 15.30 to relax
• Evening Meal

Day 3: Monday 

• Breakfast
• A morning walk to the local beach with a packed lunch. Opportunity to swim.
• Return
• 17.00 pick up for a short walking tour around the UNESCO town of Scicli with Emilia and you can walk to the top of San Matteo with beautiful views across Scicli and on a good day you can see the sea
• 20.00 Dinner at a local restaurant
• Transfer back

Day 4: Tuesday 

• Breakfast
• Morning/Day trip to Arianna Occhipinti Winery for tour with wine tasting. Arianna is one of the most renowned women wine makers based in Sicily.
• Lunch at a traditional Sicilian restaurant with wine to taste
• Late afternoon return to the villa for swimming and relaxation with a light evening meal served later on.

Day 5: Wednesday Ragusa Ibla 8-9km,200m ascent and 450m descent

• Breakfast
• Pick up for a day out trekking with packed lunch (approx 5 hours)
• You end in Ragusa Ibla for a walk around this Baroque City and an apero to end your day.
• Transfer back  to relax and have your own time
• Dinner at the Masseria together

Day 6: Thursday 

• Breakfast
• Free morning with lunch at the Masseria.  There will be optional activities suggested.
• Transfer and visit to a local small scale sister run winery with local dishes to sample
• A visit to a famous fishing port Marzamemi
• Transfer back

Day 7: Friday 

• Breakfast
• Pick up for a final lighter morning walking around Sicily with free time for shopping. A light light together.
• Transfer back  to relax
• A grand finale of learning to cook some local Sicilian food  with Emilia at the Villa.

Day 8: Saturday Departure day

• Breakfast
• Transfer back to Catania airport after breakfast