Self drive Sicily: art, food and culture in 10 days

Sicily's culinary culture is the result of 25 centuries of food traditions from the Greek, Roman, Arab and Norman times. 

The result is a delicious fusion, and Palermo is the ideal place to discover it! Your guide will meet you at the hotel for a 4 hour intense culinary and cultural experience. During the stroll we will see and experience Palermo highlights such as the Capo Market, one of the lively street markets, with its colorful stalls (here you will taste some typical famous street food, for example "panelle", "arancine" and "crocchè"), the Cathedral Square with the beautiful UNESCO Arab-Norman XII century Church, and the Ballarò Market which the largest and oldest - at more than 1,000 years old - street market in town! 

During the tour you will stop for several food tastings, some of them only for brave people (for instance the "pane 'ca meusa", the "stigghiola", the boiled octopus... ). Your food tour will conclude at the Santa Caterina Monastery with its Pastry Laboratory: it's time for a cannolo!

You may hardly be hungry after your Palermo food tour, but still may like to have a walk to discover Palermo at night... and to digest! From your hotel, head to the Vucciria, one of the capital’s historic markets (you already visited it with your guide, and it's close to your hotel). 

At night the market square and the alleys are crowded with people drinking and celebrating. and it's a very nice and safe place to have a walk. 

Welcome to Sicily Dolce Vita!  

This six hours private tour combines the best historical jewels of Palermo and a visit to fascinating Monreale. 

Close to Palermo, Monreale hosts one of the most amazing Sicilian Jewels: Monreale cathedral and its byzantine mosaics. The Cathedral of Monreale is one of the most beautiful churches in all of Sicily, a masterpiece of Byzantine art not to be missed, with its finest mosaics famous throughout the world and more than 1800 kg of pure gold used to tell the story of Christianity. 

Since July 2015 it has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, along with the Arab-Norman Palermo circuit. Your private guide will meet you at your hotel and drive up to the beautiful UNESCO Medieval town of Monreale where you will admire the fabulous Cathedral full of Byzantine mosaics. 

On the way back, you will enjoy a spectacular view of Palermo seen from up above the hill. We will return to Palermo, park and visit the marvelous Palatine Chapel, built in the same period as the Cathedral of Monreale. 

Then, after a short break for lunch, you will visit the Cathedral of Palermo, the typical city center streets and finish by the famous "fountain of the shame".

Close to Palermo, Monreale hosts one of the most amazing Sicilian Jewels: Monreale cathedral and its byzantine mosaics.

The Cathedral of Monreale is one of the most beautiful churches in all of Sicily, a masterpiece of Byzantine art not to be missed, with its finest mosaics famous throughout the world and more than 1800 kg of pure gold used to tell the story of Christianity. Since July 2015 it has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, along with the Arab-Norman Palermo circuit.

These are the larger byzantine mosaics in Italy, even larger than the San Marco ones in Venice.

Legend says that in 1171 the Norman king William II, very devoted to the Madonna, was seized with sudden fatigue during a hunt and fell asleep under a carob tree. That sleep, besides restoring his tired limbs, was the source of an incredible revelation. In fact the Madonna appeared to him in a dream and revealed to him that right under that tree there was a treasure of inestimable value. When he woke up the king had the tree cut down, he dug deeply and when he was found the gold decided to have a church built in honor of the Madonna.

A short distance from Palermo, Mondello is Palermo's main beach. 

The setting is gorgeous and the sea is still warm enough to swim even in spring and in fall. It's a perfect place to relax after your visits and to have an aperitivo or a fish dinner in one of the many beach restaurants.

After your breakfast and maybe a last stroll in Palermo, collect your car (the car rental agency is just 10 minutes from the hotel, ask the concierge to call a taxi for you).

The road from Palermo to Trapani is easy and offers some great viewpoints were to stop, relax and enjoy the scenery. Don't miss the one vith the view on the coast, roughly forty minutes drive from Palermo.

You will get to Trapani after roughly 1:30 hors driving. Baglio Soria is just a few km away.

The first thing you will notice is the temple. On the plateau, between the two peaks of the mountain, in the V-IV century BC, stood the ancient city; of this city today we can still visit the Temple, the Theater and the Sanctuary of the Mango.

The Doric temple, a magnificent structure in an outstanding position, ennobles the surroundings. For the remarkable artistic quality and stylistic features, the temple can be dated in the last three decades of the V century, between 430 and 420 BC.

Erice is a gorgeous medieval village, perched on a rocky cliff at more than 750 meters above sea level. It offers a magnificent view of Trapani, the Aegadian Islands and San Vito Lo Capo. It’s one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Sicily. You can easily visit it on your own in a couple of hours. 

To discover Erice, start from Porta Trapani and walk through the alley streets and the squares, bordered by churches and palaces that, in open spaces, reveal majestic landscapes. 

Erice’s symbol is the Venus Castle (Castello di Venere), built by the Normans who used materials from the temple of Venus in Erice, from which the castle takes its name. The castle was surrounded by towers and beside them there is the Balio, a wonderful garden from which you enjoy an extraordinary panorama.

Erice is famous for its numerous churches, indeed it was known as the city with a hundred churches. The ones not to be missed are the Church of San Martino, in Norman style, and the Church of Sant’Albertino degli Abbati, we will highlight the oldest, the Mother Church, dedicated to the cult of Santa Maria Assunta. 

If you don't want to drive, you can get there from Trapani with a very convenient cable car. A round trip costs 9€ and it takes around 10 minutes to arrive in the village. 

In Erice just follow the signposted walk to discover the must-sees. Of course, don't miss the castleon top of the cliff. 

Many restaurants, cafés, souvenir shops and sweet shops "pasticcerie" in the village. The most famous is Maria Grammatico’s, which offers marzipan sweets, cannoli and the complete range of Sicilian pastries. 

The old streets are steep, Erice village can be tiring if you are not in good shape.

Wine tastings are a key activity at the Firriato Baglio Sorìa Resort & Wine Experience.

They are an oeno-sensory journey into Sicilian excellence, a story made up of wine, work and Sicilian land. A flavoursome experience to experience Firriato estate wines, and attentive speakers presenting them and their terroirs of reference. 

This tasting will see you combine six wines—of which one will be a passito—with six different types of traditional, high-quality, Sicilian produce.

It is a journey of discovery into the scents and flavours of sunny Sicily, where the typical Sicilian produce from the land and sea meet their ideal wine. Organic Firriato extra-virgin olive oil will also be available to taste, a real treat for connoisseurs.

Approximate duration (including a visit to the vineyard) is about 2 hours

Baglio Soria restaurant offers fantastic views and an exquisite cuisine, which takes inspiration from Trapani typical cuisine. 

Here, a marriage is made between history and tradition, and the flavors of a chef who carefully and creatively enhances the local sea and land products, creating exclusive dishes that will delight you. 

Free day to explore either the island of Favignana (1 hour away), San Vito Lo Capo beach and cliffs, Trapani historical town, the Marsala Salt Pans or to have a cooking lesson at your resort.

In case you would prefer more guidance, we can organize private tours based on your interests.

Located one hour's drive from Trapani you will find one of the most beautiful beaches of mainland Sicily: San Vito lo Capo. 

San Vito lo Capo is renowned not just for its Caribbean-like sea, but also to be the main place to eat the famous Cous Cous alla Trapanese - a local fish adaptation of the Arab cous cous dish.

Trapani has the shape of a sickle - Drepanon in Greek - and an enviable geographic location: between the two seas, at the foot of Mount Erice, near the archaeological site of Selinunte, and in front of the Egadi Islands and the salt marshes. 

Walking through the old town, the signs of the passage of various civilisations over the centuries are immediately evident, and all left architectural, artistic and monumental evidences. It's a perfect hub to explore the region.

Marsala salt pans are among the largest in Europe and are a really amazing place to visit, especially if you are travelling with kids.

The Saline (salt pans) reserve extends between Trapani and Paceco and comprises a coastal strip of almost 1000 hectares. Much of the reserve, consists of privately owned salt pans where salt is extracted according to traditional techniques in use for centuries.

The many wind mills and the scattered salt mounds make the landscape even more impressive. July to September are the best months to visit, but the salt pans can be accessed all year round. As the sun sets behind the Egadi Islands, the entire landscape gets colored in red, orange and yellow in contrast to the white of the salt, offering a magical and unforgettable view.

Favignana is one of the 3 islands of the Aegadian archipelago, along with Levanzo and Maretimo, .

You can get to Favignana by ferry from the port of Trapani.

Once in Favignana, your best option to visit the island is to rent a bike. On foot, you wouldn’t be able to do much, apart from visiting the village and its surroundings. 

There are 2 historic buildings to see on the island:

• The Palazzo Florio, housing the town hall
• The famous tonnara, the old tuna products factory.

Needless to say, the main attractions are the gorgeous beaches and coves, with spectacular turquoise water and white sand: Cala Rossa, Lido Burrone, Cala Azzurra, Cala Rotonda.

After breakfast and check out, drive towards Agrigento. It's a beautiful route, with many nice views of the sea and the Sicilian countryside. 

Estimated travel time: 3 hours

When in Agrigento take a drive of just 15 minutes along the western coast to Scala dei Turchi. 

It's an enchanting white cliff on the deep blue water of the Mediterranean. Erosion has modelled this pure white stone in the shape of a staircase. That's why we call this place 'The Stair of Turks'. Popular legends tell of Turkish pirates landing in the small bay nearby, to make incursions in the near villages. 

Choose an early morning to go there and take the time to climb up to the top of the cliff. You will be walking in absolute beauty, between the deep blue of sea and the pure blue of sky. 

Note that Scala dei Turchi was temporarily closed to tourists in July 2020, so far it can be admired but not accessed.

Join your guide on a private tour to discover these perfectly preserved Greek Temples, dating back centuries B.C. 

The 'Valle dei Templi' (Valley of the Temples) is one of the most extensive, representative and best preserved archaeological sites of classical Greek civilization, granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1997. The archaeological area corresponds to the remains of the ancient Akragas, the original nucleus of modern Agrigento. Along a long rocky scarp, chosen as the southern limit of the town, are still sited the great Doric temples dedicated to the gods. 

Within the area of the ancient city there is also the Pietro Griffo Regional Archaeological Museum, which houses over 5,000 finds that illustrate the history of the territory from prehistory to the end of the Greco-Roman age. This is Sicily's most enthralling archaeological site, which encompasses the ruined ancient city of Akragas. 

The tour will show you the stunningly well-preserved Tempio della Concordia, the "Tempio di Hera", the "Tempio di Eracle", "Tempio di Zeus Olimpico" and the Sanctuary of the "Divinità Ctoniche". 

Then you will discover the lovely Kolymbetra Garden. About 2,500 years ago, the tyrant Theron had a system of tunnels and hypogea designed to feed this small valley with water. A century later it was buried and gave rise to a very fertile garden comparable to Eden. This area is now a precious example of Mediterranean maquis rich in citrus plants, pistachios, carob trees, nuts, mulberries and pomegranates. Your tour lasts around 3 hours.

Try to have an early breakfast and drive to Syracuse, one of the highlights of your trip (so that you can spend more time there!) 

Estimated travel time: 3 hours

Visiting the Archeological Park, which is your first step, will be like going back in time. You will feel the atmosphere of ancient times thanks to important Greek and Roman monuments and stories of some interesting characters linked with this place. You will have a chance to sit on the steps of the Greek theatre and to enter the Ear of Dionysius, an impressive large cave made by ancient Greeks.

Our second step will be the Ortigia island (this is where your hotel is located), a magic place rich in history, art and traditions.

The tour in Syracuse lasts approximately 3,5 hours, with about 10/15 minutes to get from Neapolis to Ortigia (depending on the traffic).

Ortigia, Syracuse's historical city center, is a fascinating place to spend your evening. 

There are many restaurants to choose from, either in the tiny city centre streets or on the Lungomare Alfeo, just a few steps from your hotel. Here you can taste local delicacies, including excellent seafood dishes.

Today you'll experience all the wanders of this area: nature, history, baroque... and chocolate! 

You will start by exploring Cava d'Ispica, a naturally valuable canyon which shows prehistoric tombs, Paleo-christian catacombs, rocky churches and troglodyte dwellings that were inhabited from the Middle Ages to the 1950s. 

The tour will start from the Archaeological Park of Cava Ispica to reach the rocky dwelling of the Sicanian Castle together with the prehistoric necropolis of Calicantone. 

In the afternoon, you will go to Modica to visit its Baroque and late Medieval monuments and to taste the incredible sweetness of its fine chocolate.

Modica, like the other towns in the Val di Noto, was badly damaged in the 1693 earthquake and largely rebuilt in Sicilian Baroque style. 

It is divided into two parts, “higher” Modica and “lower” Modica, which are connected by numerous flights of steps. Palazzi and houses rise from the bottom of the gorge seemingly stacked one on top of the other. Magnificent churches, with their inspiring domes, bell towers and intricate facades, punctuate the red-tiled roofs and one is struck by the uniform beauty of the whole.

The centrepiece is undoubtedly the beautiful Church of San Giorgio, though the “Castello dei Conti”, surveying the town from atop a rocky outcrop, is also very impressive.

The chocolate in Modica is made with a very old recipe, none other than from the Aztecs. If you are wondering what the Aztecs have to do with Sicily, think about the Spanish conquistadors in South America and you will see that the same Spanish have dominated this island for a couple of centuries.

It was precisely the Spanish who brought to Modica the “xocóatl”, a product that the people of Mexico obtained from cocoa beans crushed on a stone called “metate”, so as to release the cocoa butter and obtain a grainy paste.

Modica Chocolate is processed in the same way the Aztecs did at the time of the Spanish conquistadors, and technically can be defined as “cold” chocolate and it is grainy and crumbly.

In cold processing, the cocoa does not pass through the phase of conching: the cocoa paste is processed at 40° with added granulated sugar; failing to melt or blend, the sugar gives the chocolate of Modica the characteristic “rough” appearance of the grainy texture.

Once you have finished with Modica, if you are not too tired do dedicate a couple of hours to Ragusa Ibla, just 15 Km from Modica. 

You may consider to have there a light dinner to enjoy this wonderful town at night.

Ragusa is a joy to wander, its labyrinthine lanes weaving through rock-grey palazzi to open onto beautiful, sun-drenched piazzas. It's easy to get lost but you can never go too far wrong, and sooner or later you'll end up at Piazza Duomo, Ragusa's sublime central square.

Ragusa Ibla is a UNESCO heritage site and is often used as a set for Italian and international movies and serials.

After breakfast and check out, drive east towards Taormina, one of the highlights of your Sicilian trip. 

On your way, notice the huge silhouette of mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe, and one of Sicily Landmarks. Estimated driving time: 1 hour 30 minutes.

The overwhelming feeling of being on such a high ground, the breathtaking panorama and the fusion of nature and art at its best have made Taormina an exclusive travel destination. 

A former Greek settlement, the city was then conquered by Romans and Byzantines and the splendor of that golden Era has lasted throughout the years. Here in fact, the beauty of the nature has been enhanced by human hands and culminated in the Greek Amphitheater which dominates the scenes.

The vibrant center of the city is Piazza IX Aprile, beautifully adorned by the 17th century Sant Agostino and San Giuseppe´s churches; once you cross Porta di Mezzo (literally “middle door”), you will enter the ancient part of the city where the Clock Tower was erected over 300 years ago.

Taormina is not only a captivating historical site – it’s beautiful coastal line, its marine grottoes and faraglioni (rocks) have enchanted numerous generations and they are only a cable way ride away from the city center.

The Etna Top Crater tour is a perfect full day experience to discover the highest active volcano in Europe.

The base camp is at 1.800 m above sea level. Here starts the ascent by 4x4 Jeeps equipped for off-road use on volcanic trails up to an altitude of 2800m, where the volcanic landscapes look like you were on the moon. 

• Duration: The self-managed ascent can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours, depending on how fast you walk and how much time you spend exploring at the top. The group tour with a 4x4 bus typically takes around 2.5 hours.
• When it can be done: The Etna cable car and 4x4 bus tours operate year-round, but the weather can be unpredictable at high altitudes, so it is best to check the forecast before you go. The cable car is typically closed in very bad weather, such as high winds or snow.

Self-managed ascent:

1. Drive to the Etna cable car station at Rifugio Sapienza.
2. Purchase a ticket for the cable car to the upper station (2500 meters).
3. Take the cable car to the upper station.
4. From the upper station, you can walk to several of the lower craters and viewpoints. Be sure to stay on the marked trails and do not wander off the path.
5. If you want to go higher, you can take a 4x4 bus to the Torre del Filosofo (2920 meters). This is the highest point that you can reach without a guide.
6. From the Torre del Filosofo, you have a panoramic view of the volcano and its surroundings.
7. To return, take the 4x4 bus back to the upper cable car station and then take the cable car back down to Rifugio Sapienza.

After your breakfast, and depending on your flight schedule, drive to Catania Fontanarossa Airport, where you will return the car and catch your flight back home.

The airport is just one hour drive from Taormina.