Stunning Sicily – WineWalking for the bon viveur!

SUMMARY

Dates: Saturday October 12th to Saturday October 19th  7 nights 2024

Host: Local WalkingWoman Emilia Strazzanti – fluent english speaker and resident of Scicli in Southern Sicily and founder of Strazzanti Sicily experiences. She will introduce you to your local hiking guide, 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 experience Sicily and all its history and culture as well as walking with our local guide and spending time learning about the Sicilian way of life as we walk. Some terrain is a little rocky but we walk steadily. There will be time to explore but also to relax, rest and revive.

Base: A traditional Sicilian Villa in between the small town of Scicli and the sea. This is the southern part of Sicily. The Villa has 10 spacious apartments with your own bedroom and bathroom (solo occupancy) or shared bathroom(where sharing apartments) You also have your own kitchen and outdoor 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.

This is a rural villa to give you a traditional Sicilian villa experience..

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.

Price: £1850 for this fully inclusive experience.

What is included in the cost of your holiday:

• Traditional Sicilian villa bedrooms for solo occupancy with private bathrooms – all with bathrobes which can be used to pop to the pool. Essential bathroom products will be provided.
• All breakfasts at the villa
• All lunches and evening meals – some out and some at the villa
• A supply of water, wine, beers and snacks ( this is limited but there will be more on offer to purchase)
• Wine tastings and cultural visits
• 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.

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 traditional Sicilian villa.
• Welcome apero’s, introductions and a homemade dinner together at the villa

Day 2: Sunday

• Breakfast at the Villa
• A morning to relax by the pool, read or simply lie in after travel
• Afternoon – options will be discussed at your first briefing.
• 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 to your villa

Day 3: Monday 

• Breakfast at the Villa
• Pick up for a day out guided Trek with english speaking female guide
• Packed lunch included and we will stop during our walk to appreciate the scenery and have lunch together
• Transfer back to the villa to relax
• Dinner at the villa

Day 4: Tuesday 

• Breakfast at the Villa
• 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 Baglio Occhipinti (the older sister of Arianna) with wine, Emilia will accompany as your guide.
• Late afternoon return to the villa for swimming, relaxing in the hot tub and all with a light evening meal served later on.

Day 5: Wednesday 

• Breakfast at the Villa
• Pick up for a day out trekking with packed lunch (approx 5 hours), with female english speaking guide
• Transfer back to the villa to relax and have your own time
• Dinner at the Villa together

Day 6: Thursday 

• Breakfast at the villa
• Free morning with lunch at the villa.
• Transfer and visit to a local small scale sister run winery and a visit to a famous fishing port Marzamemi for an evening meal together by the sea
• Transfer back to the villa

Day 7: Friday 

• Breakfast at the Villa
• Pick up for a final lighter morning walking in Sicli
• A grand finale of learning to make a local Sicilian dish with Emilia for lunch
• Relax and pack for departure
• Light farewell dinner at the villa

Day 8: Saturday Departure day

• Breakfast at the Villa
• Transfer back to Catania airport after breakfast