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Our links: Catania's airport ½ Palermo's airport ½ Sicily tourism board ½ Province of Catania tourism board ½ E.N.I.T. ½ BlueStone Tourism Services links
2003-2007 BlueStone Tourism Services Incoming Tour Operator and Incentive Destination Management for Sicily.
LICENCE NUMBER: 657/S11 - TUR - REA: 296693 - P.I. 04453840870.
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BlueStone Tourism Services
Tour operator & incentive destination management for Sicily
Eris Centre - Suite 309 - Via Pulica s.n.
Lotto Colle del Gelsomino - 95024 Aci S. Antonio (CT) - Italy
Tel. +39.095.7652696 (ext.309) - Fax +39.095.7652696 (ext.319)
Wine and gastronomy tour of Sicily
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"Cčlčbrčs L'Art de la Cuisine Sicilienne"
9 days / 8 nights
Palermo (1 night) Trapani country side (2 nights)
Agrigento (2 nights) Ragusa (1 night), Catania (2 nights)
Departure: GUARANTEED (with a minimum of 4 signed)
Small size group: Maximum 12 clients
Cčlčbrčs L'Art de la Cuisine Sicilienne and immerse your senses in the real Sicilian delight: This tour combines an entertaining mix of hands-on cooking classes, visits to famous wineries and olive-oil factories, food tasting, market excursions and more.
Day by day itinerary
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Day 1 - (Saturday): Palermo.
You are greeted at Palermo airport and transferred to your hotel. Upon arrival, time to unpack and rest, or own exploration of the town. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Dinner at local restaurant.(D)
Day 2 - (Sunday): Monreale Dome & Valle dello Jato Winery.
After breakfast, we will show you where the Arab-Norman art and architecture reached the pinnacle of its glory with the Dome of Monreale, launched in 1174 by William II, with its golden mosaics ceiling representing scenes from the Old and New Testaments. Then, driving across the country side, we'll soon arrive in the Valle dello Jato, an important Sicilian site where strong and rich perfumed wines are born, with their complex structure and long persistent finish. The white wines have powerful citrus fruit and floral notes on the nose, typical of the grapes of Catarratto, Grillo, Viognier and Chardonnay. The red wines are elegant and full of flavors of savory red berry fruits, which are typical of Nero d'Avola, Merlot and Syrah. On arrival, visit to the winery and tasting of local wines. Lunch at the winery. This afternoon, we continue to the Custonaci-Trapani side. Light-dinner at hotel. (BB L D)
Day 3 - (Monday): Erice, Olive Oil Factory & Cooking Experience.
Following breakfast, we will be transferred to Erice, the medieval hill town. In Erice we'll visit a lovely pastry-shop to taste local marzipan and almond-based candies, made from recipes developed generations ago. Then, we continue to a great Olive Oil Factory, to visit the oil mill and enjoy an olive oil tasting. Later, we'll meet the Country-Chef. The Chef will teach us how to prepare some of the most representative recipes of the culinary tradition of the province of Trapani, such as "Pasta alla Trapanese & Involtini alla Siciliana". All of us will help preparing the dishes for the light-lunch. (BB L)
Day 4 - (Tuesday): Salt Way Road, Marsala & Menfi Winery.
This morning, we'll drive across the romantic Salt Way Road, where we'll admire the saline-saltpans and the huge windmills. We soon arrive in Marsala, home of the world-famous Marsala Wine and main town for wine-production. Transfer to an important Sicilian winery for visit and wine tasting. Then we'll continue to Menfi to reach a Sicilian Baglio-Winery. The
BlueStone Tourism Services
Tour Operator for Sicily
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Address
Eris Centre - Suite 309
Via Pulica s.n.
Lotto Colle del Gelsomino
95024 Aci S. Antonio (CT)
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Telephone & Fax numbers
Tel. +39.095.7652696 (ext.309)
Fax +39.095.7652696 (ext.319)
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Web sites & E - Mail
Wine & gastronomy tour holidays...
Margherita del Belice. Light-lunch will be in the Baglio. In the afternoon, we depart to Agrigento whose history dates back to 580 BC. Tonight we will enjoy a panoramic tour to the Temples Valley by night, a unique and stunning view of the magnificent cluster of Greek ruins. (BB L)
Day 5 - (Wednesday): Sant'Angelo Muxaro & the Pane Cunsatu and Country Pizza.
This morning we will depart to the country town of Sant'Angelo Muxaro. Obviously, one who has never been here can't but be surprised and pleasantly awed when, from the provincial road that from Agrigento meanders into the inland along curves, twists and bends between mountains and hills, will find himself almost immediately in front of a unique and spectacular view. On a lonely hill, in the centre of the valley of the river Platani and surrounded by wild and harsh vegetation, a handful of houses lie on the sheer slope of the hill itself: this is the small town of Sant'Angelo Muxaro. On arrival, we meet Donna Concetta. She will teach us Pizza and Bread preparation. Simple light-lunch to taste Sicilian Pizza and Pane Cunsatu, a typical home-made bread with olive oil, pecorino cheese. During the afternoon, brief visit to the little city centre and local shops to admire the elderly men who weave the traditional straw-fruit-baskets. In the afternoon, back to Agrigento. (BB L)
Day 6 - (Thursday): Piazza Armerina & Caltagirone.
This morning departure to Piazza Armerina, a spectacularly sited town lying inland in central Sicily. Here, we visit the famous Roman hunting lodge from the 4th century B.C. Its fine mosaics, displayed inside the villa, are the most spectacular in Sicily. Then, we continue to Caltagirone, famous for Sicilian pottery. Time at leisure for shopping. Later on, departure to Ragusa, the heart of Sicilian baroque. Tonight, dinner at local trattoria, to taste the local Ravioli alla Ragusana (BB D)
Day 7 - (Friday): Ragusa, Chocolate in Modica & Baroque in Val di Noto.
This morning, walk in the historical town of Ragusa Ibla, which hosts a wide array of Baroque architecture, including several stunning palaces and churches. Later we depart to Modica. The
homonymous land lying to the north-east of Menfi, runs the San Vincenzo River. The Baglio is surrounded with 12 hills contained between the Belice valley natural reserve and the Carboj valley, degrading towards the Mar d'Africa. The landscape is characterized by the alternation of vineyards, olive groves, citrus orchards, brooms and daisies, carobs and a valuable variety of prickly pears from Santa
will see a chocolate cooking demonstration and tasting. Light-Lunch will be at local restaurant. This afternoon we will continue to the lovely Noto, famous for its fine honey colored buildings of the early eighteenth century, considered among the main masterpieces in the Sicilian baroque style. Time at leisure. Later departure to Catania. (BB L)
Day 8 - (Saturday): Taormina & Etna Winery.
In the morning, transfer to Taormina. On arrival, own visit to explore the town or time at leisure for shopping. During afternoon we drive across the country side, and we reach the largest volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world. Much of the surrounding landscape is covered with solidified lava. Thanks to this lava and the volcano minerals, the wine in this area is really unique and different from other Sicilian wines. On arrival, transfer to a local winery: this estate also produces a local preserve and a great olive-oil with lemon/garlic/pepper. Enjoy a delicious Farewell Cocktail & Sicilian Snacks. Later, back to Catania. (BB FC)
Day 9 - (Sunday): Catania.
Time to say goodbye to Sicily while as we are transferred to Catania Airport (CTA) for our return flight. (BB)
MEAL LEGEND: BB Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner FC Farewell Cocktail.
Tour rates
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PRICES ARE EUR PER PERSON, IN DOUBLE OCCUPANCY.
Euros 1699.00 per person in double/twin occupancy.
Euros 1950.00 per person in single occupancy.
Included services in our rates
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Private Airport Transfers for services done from h 8:00PM to h 7:00PM.
Eight nights accommodation in first class properties.
Buffet continental breakfast daily.
Three visit to Sicilian cellars and tasting Sicilian wine.
Deluxe Van/mini-coach with Air Conditioning.
English speaking Tour Director/Driver as per program.
Welcome Dinner at local restaurant with group set-menu, Ľ lt. local wine.
One light dinner at hotel with set menu.
One visit to Sicilian Olive Oil and tasting.
Farewell Cocktail and Sicilian Snacks at winery.
One light lunch at winery-farmhouse in Menfi.
One cooking course in Trapani province followed by a light lunch.
One pizza and pane-bread cooking demonstration in Sant'Angelo Muxaro.
One dinner at trattoria in Ragusa, set menu.
One chocolate demonstration and one light lunch at restaurant, set menu.
Admission fee included for all sites and other activities as per itinerary.
Hotel & City Taxes.
Natural mineral water at included meals.
Not included services in our rates
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Intercontinental Flight.
Gratuities to Tour Director and Driver.
Tips.
Porterage at airport.
Luggage handling fee at hotel.
Gratuities to Local Guide.
Beverages and meals not mentioned in the program.
Travel Insurance.
Airport Transfer done h 8:00PM to h 7:00AM clients have to pay the night-use supplement Euros 20.00 per person each way.
Tour highlights
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Palermo: Sicily's vibrant capital.
Monreale: Gold mosaic's scene from the Old and New Testaments.
Valle dello Jato: Winery.
Erice: Medieval Hill Town, Sicilian Marzipan.
Trapani district: The Olive Oil Factory, Cooking Experience.
Marsala: Salt Way Road & Winery.
Menfi: Winery.
Agrigento: Panoramic View to the Temples Valley by night.
Piazza Armerina: Ancient mosaics into the Roman Villa del Casale.
Caltagirone: Sicilian Pottery.
Ragusa: Capital of Sicilian Baroque style.
Modica: Extraordinary Chocolate from Aztec Recipe.
Val di Noto: Masterpieces in the Sicilian Baroque.
Taormina: Best Sicilian Site.
Mount Etna: Active Volcano & Winery.
First class hotels during the tour
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Palermo: Hotel ai Cavalieri.
Trapani province: Villa Zina Park Hotel.
Agrigento: Colleverde Park Hotel.
Ragusa: Hotel il Barocco.
Catania: Hotel Katane Palace.
Hotels may be substituted with other hotels of similar category.
First class wineries during the tour
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Valle dello Jato: Cantine Calatrasi.
Trapani Province: Donnafugata, Cantine Florio, Pellegrino, Rallo.
Menfi: Cantine Planeta, Lanzara-Baglio San Vincenzo.
Etna: Cantine Murgo-Tenuta San Michele, Benanti, Antichi Vinai.
Wineries may be substituted with other of similar category.
Download the tour program
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You can download our escorted tour program in Microsoft Word or PDF format by clicking the icons below.
city is situated in the Iblean Mountains and, along with Val di Noto and Ragusa; it is part of UNESCO Heritage Sites in Sicily. The economy of the area is principally based on the dairy cheese & agricultural producing olives, carobs, legumes, cereals; an extraordinary and unique product is the famous Chocolate of Modica, produced with an ancient and original Aztec recipe. On arrival, transfer in a local restaurant where we
Escorted Sicily tours
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Wine & food activities
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Incentive and events
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