Stunning Sicily – WineWalking the Strazzanti Way

SUMMARY

Dates: Monday 19th June to Monday 26th June 2023

Guide and Hosts: Oriana owner of Villa Antica, Emilia Strazzanti who set up Strazzanti with her sisters in 2015. They produce their own line of premium Sicilian ingredients and products inspired by the Sicilian land and their grandparents’ family recipes. We love supporting sisters in business!

You will meet lots of local wine makers and producers during your stay as well as walk this beautiful island.

Walking Grade: 1 Goat. This holiday is a special holiday to experience Sicily through the eyes of our local Sicilian women hosts. There will be time to explore but also to relax, rest and revive. June can be quite hot so walks will be adapted accordingly.

Base: A luxury boutique hotel in the lovely small town of Scicli – Hotel Borgo Hedone, Via Loreto,51 Scicli. The hotel has 2 swimming pools with 1 indoors and 1 on the terrace overlooking Scicli in the garden area. The Hotel is located in a very quiet part of the historic town of Scicli up stairs at the top of the canyon with stunning views overlooking the town.

Getting there: Catania Airport is the closest airport at 1 hour 30 minutes away by car. You will be met for the flight arriving at 12.15pm from Luton. Departure will be for the 12.50 flight from Catania to Luton.

If you cannot travel on the Luton flight please arrange to arrive around 12.15pm and depart around 12.50pm as there will be one group transfer 

Price: £1,800 per person

• Ensuite room for solo occupancy
• All breakfasts at the hotel
• Lunches except on free day
• Wine tastings and cultural visits and some meals included.
• Local transport for walks and tours to explore the island fully
• Experienced Guides, wine makers , local hosts – all english speaking.

Food is lovingly prepared using local Sicilian products

Not included:

• Travel to Catania, Sicily
• Meals not included above
• Any additional activities

DETAILS

Sicily has become an even more sought after destination having been the location for the recent TV series White Lotus. And before that The Godfather , Indiana Jones and many more. We see the glistening sea, the ancient traditional towns , the sunshine , blue skies and a life we want to see.

But we don’t want to join the crowds flocking in to the well known places. We want to give you a tranquil experience and one that you can experience Sicily through the eyes of locals – and in our case local women.

Emilia Strazzanti has put together a holiday programme especially for WalkingWalking. You can read a little about their passion for Sicily here ..

https://www.olivemagazine.com/travel/europe/italy/10-things-we-love-about-sicilian-cuisine/

Of course there is time to visit some of the more well known sites too and we can help arrange extensions to your trip if you would like to add on more time on the beach or in the city of Palermo.

ITINERARY

Itinerary – could change depending on the weather and at the discretion of our local hosts/guide. You will be briefed each evening about the next days activities.

Monday 19th June :

• Arrival at Catania airport
• Airport transfer to Scicli – approx 1.5 hours.
• Arrival and settle into to the Luxury Hotel
• Dinner in Local restaurant in Scicli

Tuesday 20th June:

• Breakfast at the Hotel
• A morning walking tour around the UNESCO town of Scicli with Emilia – meeting the locals so you are orientated and know where to find cafes.restaurants, places to but picnic foods..

• Cooking class & lunch with Emilia in Scicli with paired wine tasting
• Time to explore and walk around Scicli after lunch and walk to the top of San Matteo with beautiful views across Scicli and on a good day you can see the sea.

Wednesday 21st June:

• Breakfast at the Hotel and the morning to relax
• A day out for a guided Trek to a nature reserve with natural springs and waterfalls (around 9 hours), female english speaking guide

Thursday 22nd June:

• Breakfast at the Hotel
• Morning/Day trip to Arianna Occhipinti Winery for tour with wine tasting. Arianna is one of the most renowned women wine makers based in Sicily.
• Lunch at Baglio Occhipinti (the older sister of Arianna) with wine, Emilia will accompany as your guide.

Friday 23rd June:

• Breakfast at the Hotel
• Day out trekking with packed lunch (approx 5 hours), with female english speaking guide

Saturday 24th June:

• Breakfast at the Hotel
• Free Day with lovely walks from the Villa to Sampieri beach, Fornace Penna & Covo dei Contrabbandieri, coffee and cake at Hokey Pokey and sea view lunch at PataPata (all optional)

Sunday 25th June:

• Breakfast at the Hotel and the morning to relax
• Join a Sicilian style Sunday lunch with Emilia

Back to the Hotel to relax and pack

Monday 26th June: Departure day

• Breakfast at the Hotel
• Car transfer back to Catania airport