“I love my Sicily and I would like to offer Sicilian hospitality in a simple and familiar way in the house where my husband Francesco and I live, on the slopes of Mount Etna.” We will offer a tasting with exclusively Sicilian products , either indoors or in the garden, featuring local and seasonal food accompanied by a glass of white wine and a glass of red wine (from wineries in the Etna area). We will conclude with a sweet wine and homemade sweets. Our house is built on an old lava stone ruin, which was previously used as a “Palmento” (grape press). Today, there remains a basin with stone conduits for pouring the wine. We have turned this small space into a wine cellar accessible from the living room. The atmosphere of the house is unique with an open kitchen, and for those interested, it will be possible to observe the preparation of some typical dishes before the tasting.”You can take a walk in the olive grove, take a dip in the indoor heated pool, or simply chat in the garden. It will be a different way to visit a Sicilian home, sharing a love for nature, simple foods, and genuine flavor.

Over the last ten years, Pantelleria has become one of the most loved trekking destinations for those who wish, through the journey, to discover new territories and be lulled by their attractions. There are few trekking destinations that can boast paths within a National Park (the only one in Sicily) where it is possible to enjoy natural saunas (Benikulà cave), thermal waters (Gadir – Lago di Venere), phenomena of secondary volcanism (Favare), archaeological sites (Village of Mursia, Sesi, Acropolis of San Marco) and touching two Unesco heritage sites (Sapling vines and dry stone walls). All this through terraces cultivated with zibibbo or splendid caper groves (Cappereto Bonomo), walking in varied environments ranging from the Montagna Grande with its pine forest, to the Mediterranean scrub that surrounds the coast of the island and ending the days with a tasting in the cellar of a good passito accompanied by the many products of the island’s agriculture (capers, dried tomatoes, pâtés in many variations) perhaps during a sunset with African colours. The program that you will find below will allow you to experience all this in the space of a week’s holiday and is born from the many experiences that we have been able to have in recent years with various groups such as those of the national CAI. The Pantelleria trek is divided into a week where five excursions are planned that lead to discover the “Island of Pantelleria Nature Reserve”. The first available day, based on weather/sea conditions, is dedicated to the boat tour.

A relaxed walking tour meeting the local food heroes with cooking class, lunch & wine. Join Emilia, to experience the historic & Unesco town of Scicli (where Inspector Montalbano is filmed) just like the locals do. Emilia with her expertise in the food & wine industry will take you to the best places to discover the local food and wine of Scicli so you can experience the unique town just like Montalbano and the local Sciclitani. Then after meeting the locals and purchasing some of your ingredients and wine together for your lunch join Emilia in her traditional Scicli home with original stone wall features for a hands on cooking class. Learn how to make fresh pasta the Sicilian way from the Ragusa area using local ancient grain semolina flour. Enjoy and sit down to a lunch prepared by Emilia with natural Sicilian wine and your very own freshly made pasta creation. Filled with local knowledge, Sicilian history and culture this is a wonderful day experience during your stay in Sicily.

We board our  sailing boat and depart from the port of Catania, overlooking Mount Etna, for our half-day sailboat excursion in Catania. The first stop on our boat tour is the Caves of Ulysses, where you will have the opportunity to take your first sea bath of the day. The Ulysses Caves were formed under a beautiful volcanic lava cliff overlooking the sea. The colours of the seabed are wonderful, ranging from blue to green to blue, and the water is of extraordinary transparency. The Ulysses Caves also lend themselves to snorkelling, provided you have brought masksand finson board. While sailing to Acitrezza, we will pass under the Norman Castle of Acicastello, where there will also be the opportunity to dive into the sea with a spectacular view of the castle. We will also admire the characteristic ‘pillow lavas‘ that can be found under the castle and that were formed as a result of the rapid cooling of lava, from underwater volcanic eruptions, with seawater. Once in Acitrezza, in the heart of the Isole Ciclopi marine protected area, our boat tour takes a break. There will be an opportunity to disembark from the sailboat and enjoy a short excursion to the fishing village. After the usual stop for a swim, an aperitif on board with various snacks and white winewill be offered. During the return leg of our half-day sailing excursion, it will be possible to enjoy a final dip in the sea with a view of Mount Etna volcano (weather and sea conditions permitting). Return to the Port of Catania around and end of our boat tour.

Sailing Boat Excursion – Tips for Sailing Guests:

• it may seem obvious, but we always remember: bring everything you need to enjoy a day at the beach and in the sun. Therefore, your backpack should not be without sunscreen, beach towels and swimwear.

• going offshore, the windmay pick up; having a windbreaker and hat with you will be useful and comforting.

• if you like snorkelling, don’t hesitate to bring masks and fins on boardour sailboat.

• if you fear that you might get seasick, equip yourself in advance with anything that might alleviate the discomfort during the boat trip: anti-nausea pills and/or patches.

Travel back in time and explore more than 2000 years of Syracusa’s history… Like many of Sicily’s coastal towns, Siracusa was once an ancient Greek settlement of the Magna Graecia era. Go back in time with your expert local guide and discover the city’s ancient relics, medieval monuments and modern-day market. The first stop is the Neapolis archaeological park, where you’ll see the Greek Theater (that still hosts classic Greek theater performances each spring), the Roman amphitheater and the Ear of Dionysus, a massive grotto in the Latomia del Paradiso limestone quarry that supplied stone for the ancient city. After the archaeological park, you’ll move to  Siracusa city, stroll through the island of Ortigia that forms the historic heart of the medieval center and visit the vast cathedral square with its 17th-century Duomo and ornate Baroque palaces. We’ll leave from Piazza Pancali, by the temple of Apollo, the oldest temple in Sicily. We will visit the open market of Ortigia, the most authentic expression of the city of Syracuse, where the local economy proudly displays the best products of the territory and the sea that surrounds us. Behind the scenes of the market is the Graziella district with its stories, courtyards and its transformations. Walking through the ancient holy way of Ortigia, we will arrive to the scenographic Piazza Archimede with the fountain of Diana disclosing the myth of Arethusa nymph. Through the alleys of Ortigia we will reach the spectacular Piazza Duomo, a popular venue for fashion shows, film shoots and exclusive events. We will understand a lot about the history of Syracuse and its ancient grandeur through its Cathedral, guardian of the relic of the Saint patron, Lucia. We will conclude the visit at the Arethusa spring where the circle of historical and mythological references scattered along the route closes with the exciting view of the Ionian sea. 

We will accompany you like a local on a tour through the city of a thousand faces, with its infinite history and myriad emotions. It’s a place where history, tradition, and culture intertwine in various glimpses. A journey through the baroque churches and palaces, amidst colors, scents, and the music of the locales, we will guide you through the visit of the city, destroyed 9 times and each time rebuilt stronger and more beautiful.” We meet in Piazza Università where you will be introduced to Catania origins and natural events that moulded our city, such as the 1669 lava flow and the disastrous 1693 earthquake of Val di Noto. We reach Duomo square, where the famous Liotru, the elephant of Catania, is waiting for us. Some unexpected connections with ancient legends and myths of Sicily will cast a new light on the symbolic animal of the city. We will also see the Cathedral and the city hall courtyard, both guardians of the past and present memory of our Saint Patron, Agata. Beyond the curtains of the scenic Amenano fountain, we enjoy the impact with the hectic and colourful fish market. The protagonists are you, who walking among the scents, the colors and the screams of the vendors will collect, if you want, pieces of Sicily to take home. From profane to sacred, we leave the noisy market to reach the religious silence of via Crociferi, the Holy way, example of the most beautiful Baroque of Catania. Here we will learn how thin threads still connect us with that Catania city that disappeared with the 1693 earthquake. Hidden palaces, nestled in the traditional baroque architecture, tell us that even a relatively small city like Catania, can preserve the signs of the great historical changes that affected Europe in the past centuries. Finally in connection with Catania, the time is ripe to listen and understand the sicilian legends depicted in the lampposts of Piazza Università. Our last stop will be the roman Amphitheatre, here is where the medieval city ended, protected by the walls. Its uniqueness lies in the black lava stone. We are such stuff as Etna is made on. We say goodbye, aware of how much more is left to discover, in fact it will not be goodbye but an arrivederci!

The celebrated pearl of the Ionian Sea, Taormina has a uniquely lovely location, surrounded by dramatic cliffs, perched above a seemingly never-ending azure sea and blessed with the majestic and spectacular Etna as its backdrop. An intimate collection of tiny streets and flower ed balconies form its delightful town center and the awe-inspiring Greek Theater is its crowning glory. We will uncover the city, wandering through its hidden alleys, where history and legend merge in great beauty! We’ll explore the ancient Greek-Roman quarter, the beautiful Piazza IX Aprile from where we’ll enjoy a stunning panorama, stroll along the main street leading us to the Cathedral and Porta Catania. We’ll visit the ancient Greek Theater of Taormina. The guided tour of Taormina immerses the visitor in the atmosphere of ancient Sicily, unique for its splendor and traditions. But also archaeology, history, and the opportunity to enjoy a unique panorama in the world are the main attractions of this small but enchanting city.