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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 · Sunday, 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 · Monday, 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 · Tuesday, 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 · Wednesday, 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 · Thursday, 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 · Friday, 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 · Saturday, 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 · Sunday, 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 · Monday, 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 · Tuesday, 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 · Wednesday, 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 · Thursday, 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
⚠️
Please read both documents before registering.
The Pre-Contractual Information Document contains legally required information: payment terms, cancellation policy (100% fee applies from the moment of booking, subject to a grace period), your rights under EU Directive 2015/2302, and the full list of included and excluded services. You will be asked to confirm you have read both documents before completing your registration.

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)