Overseas Adventure Travel - Sicily's Ancient Landscapes & Timeless Traditions 2021 - Overseas Adventure Travel
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YOUR O.A.T. ADVENTURE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE®
Sicily’s Ancient Landscapes & Timeless Traditions
2021
Small Groups: 8-16 travelers—guaranteed! (average of 13)
®
Overseas Adventure Travel
The Leader in Personalized Small Group Adventures on the Road Less Traveled
1
Dear Traveler,
We can dream, can’t we? That’s what I’ve been doing these past months, as I look forward to traveling
as soon as it’s safe to do so. I know you’re eager to get out there again soon, too, and our Sicily’s Ancient
Landscapes & Timeless Traditions itinerary described inside is an excellent way to start.
Exactly how your adventure unfolds is up to you, because you have many choices to customize it. You
can arrive early and stay later—perhaps by adding a pre- or post-trip extension, spending time in a
Stopover city, or combining 2 or more trips. Plus, your itinerary is laced with free time, so you’ll have
opportunities to do your own thing. More than 80% of the travelers who reserve this trip choose to
tailor their adventure. In fact, O.A.T. is the only travel company to offer such flexibility and choice for an
experience that is truly personalized.
As for Sicily’s Ancient Landscapes & Timeless Traditions, thanks to your small group of 8-16 travelers (average
13) you can expect some unforgettable experiences. Here are a few that stood out for me:
Who doesn’t love to eat in Italy? But Sicilian food, which is heavily influenced by the Arabs who thrived
here, is in a league of its own. Sample the local flavors when you visit the Tunisian-inflected town of
Mazara del Vallo and share a traditional Sicilian lunch with a local family. As you savor the home-cooked
fare, you’ll learn how the city’s identity continues to evolve, and the vital role of the local fishing industry.
You’ll also visit a home of a very different sort, one that traveler Carol Bowman described as “a house full
of hope.” It’s Casa di Maria, an organization (and Grand Circle Foundation partner) established by a family
in Catania to provide a loving home for children who are refugees or victims of neglect and domestic
violence. The daughter-in-law of the founders (Sergio and Carmela) will enlighten you about Sicily’s foster
care system. And you’ll meet more of the Casa’s extended family, including a young Nigerian woman
who literally showed up on Sicily’s shores with nothing and grew up here, and hear her harrowing—but
ultimately inspiring—story.
The way we see it, you’ve come a long way to experience the true culture—not some fairytale version of
it. That’s why we don’t shy away from controversial topics, and why all our Trip Experience Leaders are
“insiders” who live in the country. At times you may be nudged out of your comfort zone. But you will also
be inspired by the resilience and humanity of the wonderful people you meet. And that’s what adventure
travel is all about.
Thanks for letting me dream along with you about Sicily’s Ancient Landscapes & Timeless Traditions. I’m
optimistic that soon we won’t just be dreaming, but experiencing the enrichment that only travel can bring.
Until then, feel free to call our Adventure Specialists at 1-800-955-1925.
Love and peace,
Harriet R. Lewis
Vice Chairman
Overseas Adventure Travel
P.S. Due to the uncertainties of the continuing pandemic, we are
EXTENDING our Risk-Free Booking Policy through 12/31/21. Please
see details at www.oattravel.com/riskfree-booking.
USA Today “Best Tours”
10Best Readers’ Presented by
Choice Awards Solo Traveler
2
CONTENTS
A Letter from Harriet Lewis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The O.A.T. Difference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
The Grand Circle Foundation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
The Leader in Solo Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
SICILY’S ANCIENT LANDSCAPES & ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS:
TIMELESS TRADITIONS CULTURE, ETIQUETTE & MORE
Your Adventure at a Glance: Sicilian Culture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Where You’re Going, What it Costs, Religion and Religious Observances . . . . . . . 65
and What’s Included . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Visiting Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Your Detailed Day-To-Day Itinerary . . . . . . . . . . 9
Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Optional Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Sicilian Cuisine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Pre-Trip Extension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Shopping: What to Buy, Customs,
Post-Trip Extension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Shipping & More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Dates & Prices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY
ESSENTIAL TRAVEL INFORMATION Sicily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Travel Documents & Entry Requirements. . . 44 Facts, Figures & National Holidays . . . . . . . . 71
44
No Visas Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sicily: A Brief History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Rigors, Vaccines & General Health . . . . . . . . . 46
No Vaccines Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 RESOURCES: SUGGESTED
Money Matters: Local Currency & Tipping READINGS & MOVIES
Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Suggested Readings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Tipping Guidelines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Suggested Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Air, Optional Tours & Staying in Touch . . . . . 53
Optional Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Communicating with Home from Abroad . . 54
Packing: What to Bring & Luggage Limits . . . 56
Suggested Packing Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Electricity Abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Climate & Average Temperatures . . . . . . . . . . 62
O.A.T. Health & Safety Measures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
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EXPERIENCE THE O.A.T. DIFFERENCE
in Sicily
This adventure not only showcases iconic sights, but takes you beyond them to experience the
culture through unique activities, engagement with the natural world, and authentic encounters
with local people. Since our founding in 1978, O.A.T. has become America’s leader in personalized
small group journeys on the road less traveled.
SMALL GROUPS: 8-16 TRAVELERS LOCAL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION
(AVERAGE OF 13)—GUARANTEED To see the world like the locals, you should
The world feels more intimate and engaging travel like one. Our small group size allows
when your experience of it is also personal us to take the roads and waterways that are
and genuine. That’s why our groups never less traveled, and we often follow them using
exceed 16 travelers. This gives you access to the same unique modes of transportation
people and places larger groups simply can’t that the locals use—be it a canoe, a camel or a
reach. More authentic interactions. Deeper vintage cab.
bonds with your travel mates. Personal service
from your Trip Experience Leader. Smoother UNIQUE LODGINGS
transitions. And a far more satisfying Our lodgings reflect the local character,
experience than any traditional tour offers. from smaller family-run hotels and historic
manors to comfy inns. Occasionally, larger
THE BEST TRIP EXPERIENCE LEADERS hotels closer to city centers are used. Wherever
Your English-speaking, O.A.T. Trip Experience you stay, you’re assured fine comfort and
Leader is a resident of the region you are hospitality.
visiting, so you will get a true insider’s
perspective that brings each place alive—the OUR WORLDWIDE OFFICES
stories, food, customs, hidden treasures With 36 regional offices around the world,
and more. we are perfectly poised to leverage our local
relationships to deliver an excellent experience
AUTHENTIC CULTURAL CONNECTIONS and value. During this trip, you’ll be supported
Engage with local people through visits to by our team in Rome.
farms, factories, markets, and artisans’
studios; school visits; Home-Hosted meals;
and more.
Delve into daily life at a farm in Sicily Connect with locals during a Home-Hosted meal in
Portopalo, Sicily
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THE PILLARS OF DISCOVERY
Enriching. Inspiring. Unforgettable. These features form the foundation
of your Sicily’s Ancient Landscapes adventure.
GRAND CIRCLE FOUNDATION (GCF) exclusive, immersive experience that places
VISIT you in the heart of a community where you’ll
meet various people where they live, work,
GCF was established in 1992 to help change
and play; visit the neighborhood school; lend a
people’s lives in the world where we live,
hand with daily chores; and break bread with
work, and travel. To date, we have pledged or
our hosts.
donated $200 million worldwide.
This adventure includes A Day in the Life at a
You’ll see GCF’s work in action when we visit
family homestead where we will learn about
Casa di Maria, Sicily’s largest foster family
life in the heart of the Sicilian countryside and
which has grown into an organization that
have the opportunity to participate in some
fosters young Italian and foreign children,
of the family’s daily activities. We’ll discover
thanks in part to a GCF grant.
how today’s farmers are blending traditional
CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS techniques with modern agricultural
Every culture has its joys and achievements, advancements, tour the family’s property, and
and we celebrate them all. But every place help to prepare a meal before sitting down to
also has its challenges, and to gloss over them lunch with our hosts.
would not do justice to those whose stories
HOME-HOSTED EXPERIENCES
need to be told—nor to you, as a traveler who
Stories shared. Differences solved. Taste buds
deserves more than a sugar-coated version of
engaged. Good will extended. It’s amazing the
things. So our Trip Experience Leaders will
things that can happen across a kitchen table,
lead frank discussions on controversial issues,
so we’ll break into groups of 4-5 to join a local
and introduce you to people whose stories will
family in their home for a snack or a meal.
expand your understanding.
This is a rare opportunity to witness family
For example, we’ll visit a local business center life, learn local customs, and taste some
where we’ll discuss the Sicilian Mafia (Cosa home-cooked fare.
Nostra), the terrorist-like and omnipresent
On this adventure, we’ll learn more about the
crime syndicate, with a local expert who will
unique blend of Sicilian and Northern African
share his personal stories of what it’s really
cultures in Mazara del Vallo, once a vital
like to live shoulder-to-shoulder with mafiosi
fishing center, when we share a traditional
in Sicily. Then, we’ll have a rare opportunity to
Sicilian lunch with a local family in their
speak with the son of a former crime boss—a
home. Our generous hosts are connected to
controversial and exclusive connection that is
the fishing industry, giving us the opportunity
only available on this O.A.T. adventure.
to learn about this historically significant, yet
A DAY IN THE LIFE slowly disappearing profession.
Do you ever wonder, “What would it be like
to live here?” when you visit new lands? Let’s
find out during your O.A.T. A Day in the Life, an
5
GRAND CIRCLE FOUNDATION
Changing people’s lives, one village, one school, one person at a time
ON THIS ADVENTURE …
Dear Traveler,
Since our inception in 1992, the Grand Circle
In 1992 we established Grand Circle Foundation has pledged or donated more
Foundation, an entity of the Lewis Family than $200 million to projects around the
Foundation, as a means to give back to world. Here are just a few of the ways we have
the world that had already given us so partnered with the communities on this trip..
much. We’ve pledged or donated more
than $200 million worldwide to support Casa di Maria
the education of young people and the Total Donations: $6,996
preservation of international treasures Sicily's largest foster family has grown into an
and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. organization that fosters young Italian and foreign
children, many of whom are victims of neglect and
Of course, none of this would be possible
domestic violence or suffer from some form of dis-
without your help. A portion of the ability. With GCF funding, Casa di Maria obtained
proceeds of every adventure is donated to a wheat grinder and rotary plow to support their
Grand Circle Foundation—so just as your on-site agriturismo and catering service, which
life will be enriched by the discoveries provides the children with job training and employ-
you’ll make on your journey, you’ll also ment opportunities.
help to enrich the lives of the people
you’ll meet along the way. Thank you Santa Chiara School
for traveling with us, and for helping to
Total Donations: $7,150
This after-school program serves local children
change people’s lives.
from Sicilian and immigrant families in Palermo,
Love and peace, offering opportunities to read, learn English, and
play. With the help of GCF funding, the program
purchased a smart TV to assist with interactive
Harriet R. Lewis Chair, English lessons and developed a Theater Course
Grand Circle Foundation for older children to improve their public speak-
ing skills.
Vico Pazzariello
Total Donations: $2,653
In order to reduce the risk of Naples' youth joining
the local Mafia in order to earn money, this
organization provides employment opportunities
and free training classes to young adults and has
partnered with Grand Circle Foundation since 2019.
www.grandcirclefoundation.org
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THE LEADER IN SOLO TRAVEL
in Sicily—and Around the World
ON THIS ADVENTURE …
FREE Single Supplements: We don’t charge The leader in solo-friendly
a single supplement on this adventure and travel for Americans—by
optional trip extensions—a savings of $833-
the numbers
$1,095 per person compared to other travel
companies. But single spaces fill quickly, so
early reservations are advised. More than 50,000 solo travelers
joined us in 2018 and 2019—on their
One of our most popular trips for solo
own or with a friend or relative
travelers. More than 1,830 solo travelers
joined us on this adventure in the past two
years—either independently or sharing 20,000 single spaces with a
a room with a mother, daughter, sister, FREE or low-cost Single Supplement
or friend. in 2021—a 25% increase from 2019
High ratings: More than 91% of these solo
travelers rated their adventure excellent.
More than 90% of solo
On average, half of your group will also women travelers rated their
be traveling independently, so it’s easy adventure excellent
to forge special bonds as you experience
unforgettable moments together.
38 exclusive women’s departures
You’ll be in good hands, thanks to your featured on 23 of our most popular
dedicated local Trip Experience Leader adventures—8 of which are single-
(a resident of Italy), and the expertise of only departures
our regional office team in Rome.
Increased Single Space: In 2021, we have
89% more single spaces than in 2019,
with up to 8 single spaces per departure.
See available FREE single space at
www.oattravel.com/bya2021.
Exclusive Women’s Departures: We
are thrilled to offer five women-only
departures of Sicily's Ancient Landscapes
& Timeless Traditions: May 25, 2021;
August 29, 2021; and December 9, 2021.
Space is limited so don’t delay. Join our
traveling sisterhood today!
Solo doesn’t mean “alone.” Three out of eight O.A.T. travelers
join our small groups as solos, so you will be in good company.
7
Lower prices than last year—a value of $1200 per couple
Sicily’s Ancient Landscapes &
Timeless Traditions Small Group Adventure
Sicily: Palermo, Mazara del Vallo, Piazza Armerina, Ragusa, Catania
Countries: 1 | Cities: 5
Small groups: 8-16 travelers—guaranteed!
It’s Included
(average of 13)
• International airfare, airport transfers, • 24 small group activities
16 days from $ 3995 government taxes, fees, and airline fuel
surcharges unless you choose to make
• Explore in a small group of 8-16
travelers (average group size of 13)
Includes international airfare your own air arrangements
Travel from only $250 a day • All land transportation • Services of a local O.A.T. Trip
Experience Leader
• Accommodations for 14 nights • Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and
15 days from $ 3095 • 30 meals—14 breakfasts, 6 lunches, luggage porters
Without international airfare and 10 dinners (including 1 Home-
Hosted Lunch)
• 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward
FREE Single Supplement your next adventure—an average of $307
To get a richer view of the Included Features on this adventure,
Maximize Your watch our Trip Itinerary video at www.oattravel.com/bya2021
Discoveries & Value
Optional extensions:
Puglia: Italy’s Undiscovered Heel
5 nights pre-trip from $1695
Travel from only $339 per night
Calabria: Southern Italy’s Hidden
Heartland
5 nights post-trip from $1545
Travel from only $309 per night
The courtyard gardens at the Duomo di
Monreale, Monreale, Sicily
Sicily’s Ancient Landscapes & Timeless Traditions
8
Sicily’s Ancient Landscapes
& Timeless Traditions
YOUR DETAILED ITINERARY
BEGIN YOUR ADVENTURE WITH AN OPTIONAL PRE-TRIP EXTENSION
5 nights in Puglia: Italy’s Undiscovered Heel
Day 1 Fly to Bari, Italy Day 5 Explore Lecce
Day 2 Arrive Bari • Transfer to Matera Day 6 Lecce • Optional Salento’s Way tour
Day 3 Matera • Sassi di Matera Day 7 Fly to Palermo via Rome •
Join main trip
Day 4 Matera • Overland to Alberobello •
Overland to Lecce
Day 1 Depart U.S. private car, or 3-4 in a 7-passenger private
minibus for the 1-hour drive (with traffic) to
You depart today on your overnight flight from our accommodations.
the U.S. to Palermo, Sicily. You will most likely
have one connection in Rome, with about a In Cefalù, we’ll be joined by travelers who took
2-hour layover. our optional Puglia: Italy’s Undiscovered Heel
extension.
Day 2 Arrive in Palermo, Sicily • Lunch: On your own in Cefalù around noon.
Transfer to Cefalù Your Trip Experience Leader can recommend
• Destination: Cefalù some of their favorite options. Perhaps you
• Accommodations: or similar may decide to sample some of Sicily’s famous
seafood at a waterfront restaurant.
Morning: You’ll arrive in Palermo, Sicily’s
capital city, in the late morning or early Afternoon: Upon arrival, you will check in and
afternoon, depending on your specific flight receive your room assignments. We stay for
arrangements. Upon arrival, expect to spend three nights in our centrally located hotel—the
about 45 minutes clearing customs and Victoria Palace Hotel or similar. Depending
having your temperature checked. An O.A.T. on where we stay, the hotel will likely be a
representative will then meet you in arrivals short walk from Cefalú’s main beach. Typical
and escort you to your hotel in Cefalù. Travelers amenities might feature an outdoor pool,
in groups of 1-2 will ride in a 5-passenger rooftop garden, and bar. Your room may include
a minibar, satellite TV, Wireless Internet, and a
private bath with hair dryer.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
9
After checking in, you’ll have some time to • Explore art, archaeology, and more at the
settle into your room and unpack, or begin Mandralisca Museum: This intimate, inter-
getting acquainted with Cefalú on your own. disciplinary museum showcases a collection
amassed by parliamentarian, archaeologist
Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience
and historian, Baron Mandralisca. Ranging
Leader will be happy to share their
from Greek antiquities to Arab pottery and
recommendations, if you’d like. With many
high-profile period portraits, this evocative
restaurants in Cefalú to choose from, you
array of artifacts offers insight into the in-
should be able to find whatever suits your
tellectual and artistic curiosities of the time,
mood—from simple friggitoria (fried food)
particularly those of the Mandralisca family.
favored by the locals or a typical Sicilian
The pride and joy of the museum is, by far,
trattoria, to more upscale Sicilian restaurants.
the Portrait of a Man (circa 1465) by renowned
Evening: Your evening is on your own—you Sicilian painter, Antonello da Messina. This
are free to rest in your room after your flight painting, which depicts an unknown man
to prepare for tomorrow’s discoveries or with a mysterious smirk, is revered as one of
reach out to your Trip Experience Leader for the most distinctive portraits of the Italian
recommendations on things to do in the area. Renaissance period. Plan to spend approxi-
mately 45 minutes exploring the museum.
Freedom To Explore: During your three days
in Cefalù, you have the freedom to explore on
• How to get there: A 10-minute walk.
your own during your free time. Below are a
• Hours: 9am-7pm, daily.
few recommended options for independent
• Cost: About $7 USD.
explorations: • Discover the ancient art of ceramics in
a Ceramic Workshop: Pottery-making
• Enjoy dramatic views and observe centu- has been a cornerstone of Sicilian culture
ries-old ruins during a Hike to La Rocca: since prehistoric times. Witness expert
Step back in time at La Rocca with a 2-hour workmanship by observing artists in action,
hike on rocky, occasionally steep terrain, peruse one-of-a-kind pottery pieces (which
as you pass by a 16th-century fortification you’re able to ship home to the U.S.), and try
wall, fourth century temple, twelfth century your hand at learning the creative art form
medieval castle ramparts, and more. Along yourself. Workshops at this family-run studio
the way, admire lush native vegetation, last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours,
such as asphodels, ferulas, snapdragons, depending on the course you select.
and wild carnations. Also nearby, you’ll find
evidence of a series of mills and pipelines
• How to get there: A 10-minute walk.
formerly used to collect and reuse rainwa-
• Hours: 10am-6pm, Monday-Saturday.
ter. But La Rocca is perhaps best known for
• Cost: Free.
it’s striking panoramic view at about 900 feet
above sea level, overlooking the town and
extending from Capo d’Orlando to Palermo.
This hike is rated easy to moderate.
• How to get there: A 5-minute taxi ride,
about $10 USD one way.
• Hours: Open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
• Cost: Free.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
10Day 3 Explore Cefalù with an extensive menu, head to Antares Cefalù,
where you can enjoy outdoor seating just steps
• Destination: Cefalù
from the sea.
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
• Accommodations: or similar Afternoon: Free for you to spend as you
wish. If you’d like to visit Palermo, your Trip
Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at
Experience Leader can arrange a private
7:30am, with Sicilian and limited American
motorcoach (at no cost to you), or provide train
options available.
information if needed.
Morning: We’ll meet our Trip Experience
Travelers who prefer to stay close by might
Leader around 9:30am for a Welcome Briefing
choose to hike La Rocca, an imposing rocky
at the hotel. During this briefing, we will
promontory that offers panoramic views of the
review our itinerary in more detail (including
town and sea below. Or, consider sunbathing at
any changes that may need to occur). Our Trip
the beach with a good book in hand.
Experience Leader will also discuss logistics,
safety and emergency procedures, and answer Around 6:45pm, our small group with gather at
questions we may have. Then, around 10:15am, our hotel and walk about 5-10 minutes to our
we’ll embark on a walking tour of Cefalù. Welcome Dinner.
Cefalù is a picturesque coastal town set along Dinner: Enjoy a Welcome Dinner around 7pm at
the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Its town a local restaurant featuring Sicilian cuisine.
center is filled with narrow winding alleyways,
where you can discover its rich history and Evening: We return to our hotel from dinner
culture, including colorful homes draped after a 10-minute walk around 8:30pm. You
with fishing nets. In the company of a local have the freedom to spend the rest of the
guide, we’ll explore the cobbled streets and evening as you wish, whether you want to
make a visit to the twelfth century Norman enjoy a sweet treat such as gelato or stroll the
cathedral that lies at the town’s center; sturdy promenade.
and imposing, the cathedral features soaring
twin towers and mosaics with Byzantine Day 4 Explore Palermo • Controversial
influence. We’ll also spend time exploring the Topic: The Sicilian Mafia with expert Gino
lavatoio medievale, or medieval washing house. Felicetti & son of former crime boss •
According to local lore, the washing house Optional Castelbuono tour & Folk Music
was built over a river formed by the tears of experience
a nymph whose lover had been killed; it was
• Destination: Cefalù
used for centuries by the town’s residents as a
• Included Meals: Breakfast
communal place to do laundry.
• Accommodations: Victoria Palace Hotel
We’ll end our discoveries with a tasting of some or similar
local street foods, such as arancini (fried rice
Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s activities
balls) or granita (a sugary frozen dessert).
feature a conversation surrounding the
Lunch: On your own around 12:30pm—you Controversial Topic of the Sicilian mafia,
might like to continue sampling more street led by two speakers with intimate ties to the
foods, or seek out a local trattoria for a bowl of crime syndicate. This eye-opening dialogue is
pasta. If you prefer a sit-down environment a unique opportunity to better understand the
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
11far-reaching impacts of Cosa Nostra, as well However, this will be more than just a lecture.
as examine its origins and complexities. Hear As someone whose life was forever changed by
firsthand from those whose lives were forever the Mafia early on, and who lives in Corleone
changed and how they continue to cope. Read today—where he estimates 10-15% of the
more about this conversation below. population has Mafia ties—he will share his
personal stories of what it’s really like to live
Activity Note: Today’s explorations in Palermo
shoulder-to-shoulder with mafiosi in Sicily.
include a walking tour of approximately 2 hours
He’ll also give us raw, unflinching views of the
and the Optional Tour in Castelbuono includes a
terrible acts of violence they are responsible
walk of about 1 mile along steep cobblestones.
for—such as the 1992 murder of two Italian
Breakfast: Served at the hotel starting at judges who led a high-profile anti-Mafia
7:30am, with Sicilian and limited American crackdown—and the uneasy peace that exists
options available. between criminal and civilian in everyday
Sicilian life.
Morning: Around 9am, our small group will
meet in the hotel lobby and board a private Next, we’ll get an incredibly unique perspective
40-passenger motorcoach operating at half of the Mafia when we’ll be joined by a second
capacity for our 1.5-hour drive to Palermo. speaker, the son of a former crime boss—a
controversial and exclusive connection that
Upon arrival at a local business center around is only available on this O.A.T. adventure.
10:30am, we’ll discuss the Controversial He’ll share with us stories of the strange and
Topic of the Sicilian Mafia (Cosa Nostra), sheltered childhood that he and his brothers
the terrorist-like and omnipresent crime had. Constantly on the run from police, media,
syndicate. We’ll go deep beyond the headlines, and rival mafiosi, he never went to school, made
myths, and legends about this organization friends, or stayed in one place for very long. As
and learn about it on a personal level from two a youth, he never knew what his father did; he
people that are intimately familiar with it—an grew up like any child, looking up to his father
experience made possible only because of as a man who loved him and would do anything
O.A.T.’s local connections in Sicily. to keep him safe. We’ll also hear about his
mother and how she navigated her roles as wife
First, we meet Gino Felicetti. Born in Corleone,
and parent amidst such controversial and often
Gino fled to England at the young age of 11
dangerous circumstances.
after a family member was killed by the Sicilian
Mafia, where he stayed with close family He’ll talk about what it was like to learn
friends who also hailed from Corleone. He has the truth about his father as an adult; to
since returned to Corleone to raise a family read headlines detailing horrendous acts of
of his own, and has become an expert on this murder and bloodshed, and to cope with the
criminal society. We’ll get an overview of the revelation that the man he looked up to all his
Mafia’s history and inner workings—from its life was reviled across all of Sicily as public
19th century roots that sprung from cynicism enemy number one. We’ll learn about how he
and distrust of public institutions, to its rise is branded by the sins of his father, affecting
and spread to America during World War II, his ability to find work or function as a private
and the shadow it casts over Sicilian business, citizen, and how he lives with the emotional
politics, criminal justice, and day-to-day contradiction in his heart: How can you
life today.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
12reconcile the love you hold for your father as a reconstruction after heavy World War II
man, while acknowledging the countless lives bombing added more modern elements to the
he has ruined as a Mafia boss? mix. During our tour, we’ll explore landmarks
such as the Piazza Pretoria, where we’ll learn
These may be hard conversations, and we will
why its 16th-century fountain is referred to
confront ugly truths about Sicilian history and
as the “Fountain of Shame,” and the Teatro
culture—about the progress that has been
Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, a prominent opera
made to untangle the Mafia from Sicilian life,
house located on the Piazza Verdi.
and about the work that still needs to be done.
However, no adventure in Sicily would be Around 3:45pm, you’ll have approximately
complete without understanding the Mafia’s 45 minutes to explore the area on your own.
role in society, and this experience offers a Then, at about 4:30pm, we’ll board our private
personal perspective that no newspaper or motorcoach and make the roughly 1.5-hour
history book can provide. We’ll hear these return to Cefalù. The rest of the evening is free
experts’ stories for about 30 minutes, and to explore on your own, or you may choose to
then have around 1 hour to ask any additional join an evening Optional Tour to Castelbuono,
questions we may have. which includes a traditional Sicilian dinner.
Around 12:15pm, we’ll board our private Those who choose to take part in the Optional
motorcoach for a 30-minute drive Tour will board our private motorcoach around
to Ballerò Market. 6pm for a 20-minute drive to the 14th-century
town of Castelbuono. This tiny municipality
Lunch: On your own around 1pm. From an
is set against the dramatic backdrop of the
abundance of fresh seafood to an array of
Madonie Mountains, one of the principal
artisanal meats and cheeses, perhaps you’ll
mountain ranges on the island, and punctuated
choose to enjoy delicacies at one of the
by a striking castle, formerly belonging to a
innumerable food stalls in Ballerò Market.
powerful noble family that ruled the town
Afternoon: At about 2pm, we’ll set out to from the 14th to 16th centuries. Of particular
explore the Sicilian capital during a 2-hour interest here is the abundance of ancient
walking tour with our Trip Experience Leader Manna, a sap extracted from the bark of certain
and a local guide. Our 2.5-mile exploration endemic plant species. This highly sought-after
will reveal the city’s eclectic cacophony of commodity is commonly used throughout
architectural styles, the legacy of a storied and traditional Sicilian cuisine, and to begin our
complex past. explorations, we’ll learn about it during a
1-hour discovery walk. Along the way, we’ll also
Throughout its history, Palermo’s strategic have the opportunity to speak with locals and
position in the middle of the Mediterranean sample this treasured ingredient.
drew the attention of a regular succession of
invaders. The Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Dinner: For those who do not join the Optional
Greeks, Romans, Normans, Swabians, and Tour, dinner is on your own. Perhaps you’ll
French are among those who came, conquered, return to a favorite dining spot discovered
and left their mark. The cityscape, particularly during your time here in Cefalù—or you’d like
its civic and religious structures, reflects a to try Kentia Cefalù, a restaurant overlooking
strong Baroque influence dating back to the the sea and specializing in fish and meat dishes.
17th and 18th centuries. And, more recently, If a sit-down dinner doesn’t appeal to you, just
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
13grab a couple of slices of sfincione, a pizza-like art come to life within the cathedral’s nave:
snack loved by locals. For those who do join Nearly every surface is covered with intricately
the Optional Tour, we’ll take a short walk to detailed mosaics, the featured biblical scenes
a traditional Sicilian restaurant, where we’ll enhanced by rich colors and gold filigree.
enjoy rustic cuisine and listen to live local folk
At about 11:45am, we’ll set off to the Segesta
music. Get ready to mingle with locals—and
area by private motorcoach, arriving at
if you’re up for it, take a spin around the
about 1:15pm. Here, in a region that was
dance floor.
once home to the ancient Elymians—one of
Evening: Free for your own discoveries if Sicily’s indigenous peoples—we’ll arrive at an
you do not join the Optional Tour. Your Trip agriturismo, a traditional Sicilian farmhouse
Experience Leader will be happy to share sanctioned for dining and lodging by the Italian
their recommendations. For those who took government.
the Optional Tour, we’ll board our private
Lunch: At the agriturismo around 1:30pm,
motorcoach around 9pm for the 20-minute
featuring fresh and local northern Sicilian fare.
drive back to our hotel.
While we eat, we’ll have a chance to learn about
local wine and olive oil production from the
Day 5 Overland to Monreale • Segesta agriturismo’s owner.
• Overland to Mazara del Vallo • Local
interaction Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll set off by
foot around 2:30pm into the neighboring
• Destination: Mazara del Vallo
countryside to revel in views of olive groves,
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
vineyards, and temple ruins. In a reminder of
• Accommodations: or similar Segesta’s ancient Greek heritage, the columns
Activity Note: Today includes about a 3-hour of a well preserved (and unfinished) Doric
private motorcoach journey, with stops along temple still stand proudly in a remote hilltop
the way. Our visit to Monreale requires a walk location.
up almost 100 steps to reach the cathedral. Our
We depart Segesta around 3pm, reboarding
hike in Segesta is along a country road and we
our private motorcoach for a 1-hour journey
will view the ruins from an adjacent hillside.
on to Mazara del Vallo. We’ll arrive at our
Breakfast: Served at the hotel starting at hotel around 4pm, at which point we will
7:30am, with Sicilian and limited American check in and get our room assignments for
options available. our three-night stay. Depending on where we
stay, our hotel may feature on-site amenities
Morning: We’ll check out of our hotel in Cefalù including a bar and a restaurant. Typical rooms
around 9am and board our private motorcoach may feature air-conditioning and a private bath
to for a 3-hour drive to Mazara del Vallo. Along with a hair dryer.
the way, we’ll make two stops—the first being
Monreale, a town perched on hills overlooking The rest of your afternoon is on your own.
Palermo and the lush valley known as La Conca You’re free to relax and get settled into your
d’Oro (the Golden Shell). At about 10:15am, a room, or to explore the area on your own.
local guide will take us on a walking tour of the
Dinner: At our hotel around 7pm, featuring
town. Among its highlights is a twelfth-century
local cuisine.
Norman cathedral, where we’ll see Byzantine
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
14Evening: Free for your own discoveries. You a visit to his farm, you’ll enjoy a peaceful ride
can retire to your room for the night or ask your on the grounds, followed by a conversation
Trip Experience Leader for recommendations. with Cimarosa himself about his life. Plan to
spend approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour
Freedom To Explore: During your three days in
at the farm.
Mazara, you have freedom to explore the city
on your own during your free time. Below are • How to get there: A 30-minute taxi ride,
a few recommended options for independent about $35 USD one way.
explorations: • Hours: By appointment only.
• Cost: About $29 USD.
• Familiarize yourself with local avian species
• Journey into the world of wine at Gorghi
during a visit to the Museum of Ornithology:
Tondi Estates: Covering more than 320
Situated in the Baroque-style square of Piazza
acres and bordering the Mediterranean Sea,
della Repubblica, this ornithological and
Gorghi Tondi Estates is located on mostly flat
taxidermal museum contains more than 500
land comprising of medium-textured soil
species of birds both native to Sicily, as well
characterized by depth and permeability. The
as from around the world. Here, you have the
grounds are located close to four small lakes
opportunity to learn about each species and
in the Lake Preola and Gorghi Tondi Nature
their habitats as you peruse the museum’s
Reserve, which are contained within a karst
various exhibits. Please note: The museum
depression that formed due to erosion. This
has been experiencing temporary closures. If
distinctive environment is not only suited for
you find it is closed at the time of your visit,
sustainable viticulture, but it gives the grapes
your Trip Experience Leader will recommend
a unique flavor. A visit to Gorghi Tondi begins
a similar activity. Plan to spend approximate-
with an introduction to the land, an overview
ly 20 minutes exploring the museum.
of production, and culminates with a wine
• How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi tasting. Visitors also have the option to have a
ride, about $30 USD one way. meal here. The experience lasts approximate-
• Hours: 9am-1pm & 4pm-7:30pm, daily. ly 1.5 hours.
• Cost: Free. • How to get there: A 30-minute taxi ride,
• Go horseback riding at the farm of Giuseppe about $35 USD one way.
Cimarosa: Born into a Mafia family, Cimarosa • Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9am-1:30pm
has spent his entire life trying to forge a new & 2:30pm-6pm; Friday, 9am-1:30pm &
path for himself. His grandmother’s brother 2:30pm-5pm.
is the infamous Matteo Messina Denaro— • Cost: About $18 USD.
Italy’s most wanted Cosa Nostra godfather,
on the run since 1993. Cimarosa has always
denounced the Sicilian crime syndicate, even
doing so publicly in 2015, when he stood on
a national stage in Palermo and professed
his opinions to the Sicilian equivalent of the
Democratic Party. Over the years, Cimarosa
found his life’s calling in the equestrian
arena, eventually specializing in both horse
therapy and even equestrian theater. During
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
15Day 6 Mazara walking tour • Tunisian homes of some local families. This is a unique
Kasbah • Home-Hosted Lunch opportunity to learn more about life in the
region—so come hungry for your home-cooked
• Destination: Mazara del Vallo
meal, and bring plenty of questions for your
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner generous hosts.
• Accommodations: Berlingeri Resort
or similar Lunch: Around 1:15pm, our small group will be
welcomed into the house, apartment, or small
Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: This afternoon we’ll
villa of a local family to enjoy a traditional
venture into the home of a family in Mazara,
Sicilian lunch. O.A.T. is the only travel company
where we’ll enjoy a Home-Hosted Lunch.
that includes a Home-Hosted Lunch in this
This is a special opportunity afforded to us
unique city so strongly influenced by North
by our small group size and made possible
African culture. While Mazara del Vallo has
by the regional connections of our local Trip
Phoenician origins, we’ll see during this meal
Experience Leaders. During our shared meal,
that the city’s modern-day cuisine owes much
you’ll learn more about daily life in the region
to the Arabs, who ruled Sicily from 827 to 1061.
from these residents, and take part in the
As we dine with our hosts, we’ll slip seamlessly
customs and culinary traditions of the region.
into daily life here, as well as gain insights into
Read more about this experience below.
how the city’s identity continues to evolve.
Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at Long one of Italy’s most vital fishing centers,
7:30am, with Sicilian and limited American Mazara has faced a shift in recent years, with
options available. fewer workers interested in the industry and
continued debates with neighboring countries
Morning: Around 9am, we’ll either walk or over fishing rights. Our hosts are connected
drive (depending on our hotel) approximately to the fishing industry (mainly retired
20 minutes to Mazara’s city center, where fishermen and their housewives), giving us
our Trip Experience Leader will take us on a the opportunity to learn about this historically
1.5-hour walking tour of the city’s historic significant, yet slowly disappearing profession.
Kasbah quarter. Here, some 3,000 Tunisians During our time here, we’ll enjoy the company
and other Maghreb Arabs live and work. of at least two generations of family members,
During our explorations, we’ll learn about the providing a wide-ranging perspective of life
challenges and opportunities encountered in the region. Our meal will consist of typical
while intermingling Sicilian and Arab western Sicilian fare, including a traditional
cultures, and the co-existence of Muslim and seafood dish (vegetarian options will also be
Christian faiths. available), pasta with prawns, and couscous.
For dessert, we might enjoy Muccunetti
At around 11am, we’ll stop to visit the Museum
(meaning “morsels”), which consist of
of the Dancing Satyr, home to a mysterious
pumpkin, almond, sugar and eggs. Of course, it
Greek bronze statue with a noteworthy past. In
wouldn’t be an Italian meal without the wine:
1998, local fishermen brought the treasure to
Accompanying our home-cooked feast will
land, after it had spent 2,000 years resting on
be local wines such as Grillo, Nero D’Avola,
the seabed off Sicily’s southwestern coast.
Cataratto or Zibibbo.
Then, at around 12:45pm, we’ll break into
smaller groups of less than five and transfer
approximately 30 minutes by car to the
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
16Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll drive back to historic photos of salt workers, highlighting
our hotel, departing around 3pm and arriving the division of labor between the skilled elders
back at the hotel around 3:30pm. You are who maintained the windmills to the young
free to enjoy approximately 2.5 hours of free apprentices who hauled water.
time—check with your Trip Experience Leader
Around 10:30am (weather permitting),
for suggestions.
we’ll then board a small boat for a bracing
Around 6:15pm, we’ll embark on a short walk and windswept 20-minute ride to the small
or a 30-minute drive to a local restaurant, island of Mothya. Some 2,700 years ago, the
depending on where we dine. Phoenicians built a settlement here, and it was
once a thriving trade outpost. We’ll delve into
Dinner: At a local restaurant around 7pm,
the island’s history while our Trip Experience
featuring authentic regional cuisine.
Leader takes us on a walking tour of the
Evening: Free for your own discoveries or island and its ancient fortress. Included in our
relaxation. Your Trip Experience Leader will discoveries will be insight into the ingenious
be happy to share their recommendations, if causeway with which the island—now only
you’d like. accessible by boat—enjoyed easy access to the
mainland.
Day 7 Museo del Sale visit • Boat ride to Around 11am, we’ll also visit the Giuseppe
Mothya Island Whitaker museum, which houses numerous
• Destination: Mothya Island ancient artifacts, including the fifth century
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Motya Charioteer sculpture. Believed to have
been commissioned by a wealthy chariot racer,
• Accommodations: or similar
it was constructed by a leading Greek artist in
Activity Note: Weather permitting, today’s the period following the defeat of the Persians.
journey to Mothya Island will include a
20-minute ride on a small boat. We’ll also walk Lunch: At about 12:15pm, we’ll make the most
along uneven footpaths during a one-mile of the island’s scenic views and settle in for
walk on the island. Depending on where we a light picnic lunch, featuring a variety of
stay, dinner may be in our hotel or at a local Sicilian dishes.
restaurant.
Afternoon: Around 1:30pm, we’ll explore the
Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at island in greater detail with our Trip Experience
7:30am, with Sicilian and limited American Leader, this time via a 1-mile walk along a
options available. network of footpaths connecting Mothya’s
interior to the shore. Along the way, we’ll
Morning: Around 8:30am, we’ll board our witness the ongoing excavation projects that
private motorcoach for a 45-minute ride along continue to reveal new insights into how the
a windmill-dotted landscape. Our destination island’s relatively small amount of real estate
is Museo del Sale, a semi-working salt museum was developed and used to its full potential.
in the province of Trapani. Upon arrival at the
museum’s 17th-century mill, a member of the We’ll depart the island around 2:30pm for the
museum staff will tell us how the region has 20-minute ride back to the mainland, at which
been shaped by the age-old Trapani tradition point we’ll reboard our private motorcoach for
of salt production and refining. We’ll also view
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
17a 45-minute ride back to our hotel. The rest of of the neighboring hillsides, where homes and
the afternoon is free to relax at the hotel or do agricultural plots form a patchwork display of
some independent exploring. green, brown, and white.
A little before 7pm, we’ll gather at the hotel for We’ll then take a 15-minute ride via private
a short ride via private motorcoach to a local motorcoach to a local restaurant around
restaurant (or at the hotel’s restaurant for 12:30pm.
travelers staying at the Berlingeri Resort).
Lunch: Around 1pm, at a local restaurant in
Dinner: Tonight’s meal features regional Agrigento, featuring regional fare.
Sicilian fare served around 7pm.
Afternoon: We resume our private motorcoach
Evening: The evening is yours beginning ride around 2:30pm, traveling another two
around 8:15pm, with the freedom to enjoy your hours deep into the Sicilian hinterlands to
final night in Mazara as you’d like. Ask your Piazza Armerina. Next, we will reach our
Trip Experience Leader for recommendations. adventure’s agriturismo—this time it will be
our home for the night. We’ll check in and get
Day 8 Valley of Temples • Agrigento • our room assignments upon arrival, which
gives us a few free hours to enjoy the space
Overland to Piazza Armerina
before dinner. Depending on the agriturismo we
• Destination: Piazza Armerina
stay in, typical rooms contain a television
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and private bath. Perhaps you will relax in
• Accommodations: or similar your room or take in the expansive views
Activity Note: We will travel a total of about of surrounding mountains, forests, and
four hours on a private motorcoach today, farmland. Or, enjoy the farmhouse’s amenities,
with stops along the way include walking which may include an outdoor pool and
through ruins, stone steps, uneven paths, and outdoor terrace.
archaeological sites.
Dinner: Around 7pm, in the agriturismo’s
Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at restaurant, with cuisine that features locally
7:30am, with Sicilian and limited American grown ingredients.
options available.
Evening: On your own—you’re free to explore
Morning: We will depart our hotel around the agriturismo and its amenities as you wish.
8:30am as we begin our journey inland, toward
Sicily’s center. After about two hours of travel Day 9 Overland to Villa Romana
via private motoroach, we’ll stop at the Valley del Casale • Mortilla Winery Tour •
of Temples, situated just outside the city of Overland to Ragusa
Agrigento. Agrigento was once the Greek city of
• Destination: Ragusa
Akragas, one of the most culturally advanced
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
cities of the ancient world. Here in the Valley
of Temples, we’ll set off by foot with a local • Accommodations: or similar
guide to explore the archaeological remains Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at
of the Greek temples, each built between 510 7:30am, with Sicilian and limited American
and 430 BC. In addition to the honey-colored options available.
architecture, the area provides sweeping views
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
18Morning: At about 8:30am, we’ll board our Afternoon: We’ll reboard our private
private motorcoach for a 30-minute ride to the motorcoach around 2pm for an hour-long
ruins of Villa Romana del Casale. Constructed ride to Ragusa. This city with ancient roots
in the middle of the fourth century AD as was devastated by an earthquake in 1693, and
a hunting lodge, the villa was covered by a the aftermath changed the city significantly.
landslide in the twelfth century. Nearly 800 Wealthier members of the population decided
years later, 20th-century excavations began to to build their new town higher up a cliff,
reveal some of the finest examples of Roman while the rest of the inhabitants rebuilt on the
mosaics in all of Europe—scenes range from original site, at the bottom of a gorge. These
Homeric escapades to insightful depictions two distinct towns remained separate entities
of daily life. The villa is now a UNESCO World until 1926, when the higher and lower sections
Heritage Site. became one (along with a jumble of homes and
churches that cling to the walls of the ravine
Around 11:15am, we’ll depart for an
that divide them).
approximately 30-minute ride to Mortilla
Winery, a family-run estate. There, we’ll meet We’ll arrive at our hotel around 3pm, at
the Mortilla sisters, Angela and Valentina, which point we’ll check in and receive our
who inherited the business from their father room assignments. We stay for three nights
(whom inherited the business from his father). in Ragusa. Depending on the hotel we stay
Wine-making is a male-dominated industry in, it may feature a bar, lounge, and Wireless
in Sicily; therefore, when it came time for their Internet. Typical rooms may include a minibar,
father to retire, the sisters were unsure whether safe, satellite TV, and private bath with
or not they would carry on the family legacy. hair dryer.
Emboldened by their cherished childhood
You’ll have a few hours free to settle into your
memories on the estate, they decided not to
room or explore as you wish before we gather
part ways with it, and today, the business
at 6:30pm for a 30-minute orientation walk
thrives under their strong, progressive
around the vicinity of the hotel. This is a great
leadership. In fact, even the bottle packaging
time to ask your Trip Experience Leader for
was reimagined to represent womanhood
restaurant recommendations.
and link it with Sicilian mythology. Since the
transfer of leadership, the winery has won Dinner: On your own around 7pm. Check with
numerous awards, and the sisters have grown your Trip Experience Leader for ideas.
empowered by guiding the winery into a new
era. During our time here, we’ll embark on a Evening: Your evening is on your own—you
2-hour guided tour of the grounds and learn are free to rest in your room for the evening,
about the evolution of the family business. begin to discover the city’s charm, or people
We’ll even see the homes of the families, which watch from an outdoor table at one of Ragusa’s
are also located on the estate. cafés. You can also ask your Trip Experience
Leader for recommendations on things to do
Lunch: At approximately 12:45pm, we’ll enjoy in the area.
a wine tasting and lunch at Mortilla, during
which we’ll have the opportunity to personally
experience its renowned products.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
19Freedom To Explore: During your two days • Visit Maristella’s Shop and witness the art
in Ragusa, you have the freedom to explore of Sicilian Sfilato: Step into La Bottega di
on your own during your free time. Below are Maristella and learn about a style of embroi-
a few recommended options for independent dery unique to Ragusa. This ancient technique
explorations: is applied to linen and cotton materials to
make everything from tablecloths, blankets,
• Visit an elegant 19th-century palazzo:
pillowcases, bed sheets, and more. Meet
Tour the Palazzo Arezzo di Trefiletti to see
Maristella and watch as she brings this 14th
well-preserved period furniture and learn
century art to life right before your eyes.
about the palace’s history from its charming
Unfortunately, the tradition of sfilato is
landlord. Step into a world of historic ele-
slowly beginning to disappear, as the younger
gance as you enjoy a guided tour of the prop-
generations turn to modern consumer
erty, meandering through opulent ballrooms,
practices rather than making things by hand.
banquet halls, and private quarters adorned
During your visit, perhaps you’ll choose
with detailed ceiling frescoes. You will also
from the wide variety of handcrafted items
listen to anecdotes about the nobility that
for sale and bring this treasured, age-old art
have lived in the palace over the course of
home with you.
its lifetime and learn the history of Sicily’s
famous hedgehog emblem, which has ties to • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute walk.
the upper class family who once resided in • Hours: Monday, 3:30pm-7:30pm;
the palazzo. Tuesday-Sunday, 3:30pm-7:30pm.
• Cost: Free.
• How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute walk.
• Hours: 11:30am-1:30pm and 4:30pm- Day 10 Old Town Ragusa • Fiat ride
7:30pm, daily.
through Modica
• Cost: About $5 USD.
• Destination: Ragusa
• Meet local artists at Rosso Cinabrio: Visit
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
this artists’ workshop to learn about Sicily’s
• Accommodations: or similar
longstanding arts tradition, and see artwork
listed in the UNESCO List of Intangible Activity Note: This morning’s walking tour
Cultural Heritage at this creative mecca. The includes numerous flights of steep steps—we
practice of painting carts originally began to will take our time and include several stops
protect them from the elements, but has since along the way.
evolved into an ornate form of expression
Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at
and a hallmark of Sicilian creative traditions.
7:30am, with Sicilian and limited American
Watch artists at work in their cave-like
options available.
studios as they adorn these carts or peruse the
finished masterpieces in the on-site museum. Morning: At 9am, we’ll set off on a 3-hour
• How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute walk. walking tour with a local guide to discover
• Hours: 9am-1pm and 3:30pm-6:30pm, the Baroque splendor of Ragusa. Ragusa is
daily. home to one of Sicily’s best-preserved old
• Cost: Free. towns—Ragusa Ibla—and O.A.T. is one of the
very few travel companies to include this
special locale. As we explore this UNESCO World
Heritage Site, we’ll behold richly ornamented
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
20You can also read
