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Carmelita's Italian Adventure · Sicily 2026

Sicilian Food
& Wine Journey

A Twelve-Day Gastronomic Journey  ·  Palermo to Cefalù

Reserve My Spot
12 Oct Departure
12 Days 11 Nights
5 Hotels 4★ Boutique
15+ Experiences

Where every meal
tells a story.

Sicily is a country masquerading as an island — twelve civilizations passed through and every one of them left a recipe. We travel slowly, eat well, and let the island do the talking.

From the Phoenician foundations of Palermo to the Greek temples of Agrigento, from Arab-Norman cathedrals to Baroque cities built on lava: each day reveals a new layer of history, and every meal a new chapter of Mediterranean cuisine.

Your tour leader Carmelita Scholes accompanies the group for all twelve days — from the welcome dinner in a Palermo palazzo to the final toast on the seafront in Cefalù.

Ancient Heritage
01 · Heritage
Ancient Heritage
Greek temples, Arab-Norman cathedrals, Roman mosaics, Baroque palazzi. Seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites on a single island.
Gastronomic Richness
02 · Gastronomy
Gastronomic Richness
Caponata, arancine, busiate al pesto, cassata, cannoli — a cuisine layered by Greek, Arab, Norman and Spanish hands.
Wines & Cellars
03 · Wines
Wines & Cellars
Etna Rosso, Marsala DOC, Nero d'Avola — vineyard visits, cellar tastings and long dinners paired by the people who pour the wine.

Your
Itinerary

Palermo to Cefalù — twelve days, eleven nights, five four-star hotels, and an island that reveals itself one meal at a time.

1
Day 1 · Monday, October 12, 2026
Arrival in Palermo
Welcome at Palermo PMO airport and transfer to Hotel President. Aperitivo and welcome dinner at a historic city palazzo.
2
Day 2 · Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Palermo · Markets & Cathedral
Walking tour of Ballarò and Capo markets, Palermo Cathedral, Quattro Canti. Street-food lunch and free afternoon.
3
Day 3 · Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Erice, the Medieval Hilltop Town
Drive west via Segesta. Afternoon in medieval Erice, Castello di Venere. Evening transfer to Marsala.
4
Day 4 · Thursday, October 15, 2026
Trapani Salt Pans at Sunset
Walk among the salt pans and working windmills, aperitivo on the saltworks. Marsala DOC tasting at a 19th-century cellar.
5
Day 5 · Friday, October 16, 2026
Mazara del Vallo · Cooking Class
Hands-on cooking class and lunch at a traditional Sicilian farm. Couscous, busiate, almond pesto. Free afternoon in Marsala.
6
Day 6 · Saturday, October 17, 2026
Selinunte & the Western Coast
Greek temples of Selinunte, beachside lunch, return to Marsala for a final evening in the west.
7
Day 7 · Sunday, October 18, 2026
Agrigento · Valley of the Temples
Drive south to the Valley of the Temples. Sunset guided tour with an archaeologist — the columns turn from honey to amber. Hotel Costazzurra.
8
Day 8 · Monday, October 19, 2026
Caltagirone & Catania
Maiolica workshop on the 142-step staircase. Onward to Catania. Evening stroll in the shadow of Etna.
9
Day 9 · Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Mount Etna · Wine Country
Drive up Etna's southern flank. Tasting at a nerello mascalese estate. Lunch at the cantina with a view of the smoking summit.
10
Day 10 · Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Taormina · Greek Theatre
Morning at the Ancient Theatre overlooking the bay. Free afternoon on Corso Umberto. Evening drive to Cefalù.
11
Day 11 · Thursday, October 22, 2026
Cefalù · Norman Cathedral
Visit to the Duomo and the Christ Pantokrator mosaic. Afternoon at the beach. Farewell dinner at a seafront trattoria.
12
Day 12 · Friday, October 23, 2026
Departure from Palermo
Morning transfer to Palermo PMO airport. Arrivederci, Sicily.
"Cu cumincia, è a la mità di l'opra."
Sicilian Proverb — He who begins is already halfway there
Palermo
01
Palermo
Days 1–2 · Markets & Cathedral
Erice & Marsala
02
Erice & Marsala
Days 3–6 · Wines & Salt Pans
Agrigento
03
Agrigento
Day 7 · Valley of the Temples UNESCO
Taormina & Cefalù
04
Taormina & Cefalù
Days 10–11 · Theatre & Sea

What is Included

✓ Included in the Package
  • 11 nights in 4★ en-suite properties
  • Continental breakfast at every hotel
  • City tax at all properties
  • Welcome dinner at a historic Palermo palazzo (D1)
  • Street-food lunch at Ballarò market (D2)
  • Sunset aperitivo at Trapani Salt Pans (D4)
  • Marsala DOC tasting at a 19th-century cellar (D4)
  • Cooking class and lunch at a traditional Sicilian farmhouse (D5)
  • Visit to the temples of Selinunte (D6)
  • Sunset guided tour of the Valley of the Temples (D7)
  • Maiolica workshop with master craftsman in Caltagirone (D8)
  • Nerello mascalese tasting and cellar lunch on Etna (D9)
  • Visit to the Ancient Theatre of Taormina (D10)
  • Guided visit to Cefalù Cathedral (D11)
  • Farewell dinner on the seafront in Cefalù (D11)
  • Private air-conditioned coach throughout
  • Professional tour leader for all 12 days
  • Expert local guides at all key sites
  • Entrance tickets to all museums and sites on the programme
  • Group airport transfers (arrival & departure PMO)
  • Travel insurance: emergency medical expenses, baggage & cancellation (broker T&Cs apply)
✕ Not Included
  • International flights to/from Palermo PMO
  • Lunches and dinners not specified in the programme
  • Optional excursions and activities
  • Personal expenses and drinks outside meals
  • Visas, where applicable
  • Entrance tickets to monuments not listed
  • Single supplement (available on request)
  • Gratuities for guides, driver and tour leader
Suggested Flights

Outbound: Washington IAD 15:25 → Palermo PMO 10:15 (+1)
Return: Palermo PMO 11:55 → Washington IAD 19:25
Times are indicative and subject to change by the airline.

Five Hotels, Eleven Nights

All personally selected. Four stars, en-suite rooms, breakfast included.

★★★★
Hotel President
Palermo
2 nights · Days 1–2
Elegant property in the historic centre, steps from the cathedral. Continental breakfast, attentive staff.
★★★★
Baitan Hotel Marsala
Marsala
4 nights · Days 3–6
Modern boutique hotel in the heart of Marsala's wine district. Rooftop and terraces overlooking the vineyards.
★★★★
Hotel Costazzurra
Agrigento
1 night · Day 7
Comfortable property with views over the Valley of the Temples. Quiet terrace and breakfast included.
★★★★
Hotel Plaza Catania
Catania
2 nights · Days 8–9
Hotel in the heart of Catanese Baroque, with rooftop bar and views of Etna. Steps from Piazza Duomo.
★★★★
Santa Lucia Le Sabbie d'Oro
Cefalù
2 nights · Days 10–11
Seafront elegance beneath the Norman rock. Rooms with direct views over the Tyrrhenian Sea.

* The hotels listed are our preferred selections; should a property be unavailable, an equivalent alternative of the same category will be offered.

Transparency & Clarity

Download and read the tour documents carefully before proceeding with confirmation and payment.

📖
Tour Brochure
Carmelita's Italian Adventure
The complete tour programme: day-by-day itinerary, hotels, included experiences, gastronomy and wines. 13 illustrated pages.
📄   View Brochure (PDF)
Sicilian Food & Wine Journey · 13 pages
📋
Pre-Contractual Document
Contractual Information
Mandatory document containing payment terms, cancellation policy, included/excluded services, and traveller rights (EU Directive 2015/2302). Read carefully before confirming.
📄   View Pre-Contractual Document (PDF)
Confidential · For tour participants only

Ready to Join Us?

Space is limited. Complete the registration form — our team will confirm your place within 48 hours.

How it works
  1. 1
    Read the Documents

    Download the brochure and pre-contractual document from the Documents section above.

  2. 2
    Complete the Registration Form

    Fill in your details, select your room type, and confirm you have read the pre-contractual document.

  3. 3
    Pay the 30% Deposit

    Secure your place with a deposit via Revolut Business. Balance due by September 02, 2026.

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Contact Us
Tour Leader & US Rep
Carmelita Scholes
Phone (USA)