DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
Day one - Arrive in Palermo
You travel on the British Airways flight departing London at 08.20 and landing in Palermo at 12.15 . From here there is a private coach transfer from the airport to Palermo , ( journey time about 45 mins ) where we check into our first hotel . The Tasca D ’ Almerita family have owned a vast agricultural estate in the centre of Sicily since 1830 . The land reforms of the ‘ 50s saw their lands reduced from 1200 hectares to just 500 but the family have concentrated on making some of the most iconic wines of the island and won the first of their many wine awards in 1871 ! They were very forward thinking in planting international varieties as early as 1979 – and we will taste a range of their wines such as the classic white Nozze D ’ Oro made from Inzolia and Sauvignon Tasca , and their rich voluptuous reds this evening over dinner at their property in Palermo .
Day two - Monreale and Palermo
After breakfast , there is a short drive the Conca d ’ Oro to the hilltop town of Monreale , where the remarkable Norman Cathedral stands . Thanks to the enlightened William II , the Cathedral is a wonderful blend of Arabic , Byzantine and Norman architecture has a truly impressive luminous set of mosaics from the 12th century . The cloisters are also worth a visit for the 228 columns and intricate carvings . The rest of the day is free for exploring Palermo at your leisure . A wonderful chaotic mixture of the ancient art and modern life , Palermo is a city of contrasts showing the hallmarks of a series of invaders across the centuries . There are a host of UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Palazzo dei Normanni , with its frescoes and the beautiful Palatine Chapel with its wooden carved ceiling and the golden mosaic of Christ . Or simply explore Palermo ’ s individual quarters , discovering the Pretoria Fountain , or the largest opera house in Italy , the Teatro Massimo , or simple enjoy the winding alleyways and street markets between Baroque palazzi . Early evening , you are welcome to join your Tour Manager at the hotel , so you can have a chat about recommended local restaurants for your dinner choice at leisure . Although there are lots of traditional Sicilian trattorias , there are quite a few vibrant modernist Chefs who are taking Sicilian produce and reinterpreting classic dishes with an inventive twist . Palermo is also famous for street food , so you could chose to simply stroll around one of the food markets such as Vucciria or Capo , where delights such as chickpea fritters , sfincione ( local pizza ) or arancini ( rice balls ) are cooked in front of you
Sicilian olive trees
on stalls that line the narrow streets .
Day three - Rapitala visit and Marsala
After breakfast , we check out of our hotel in Palermo and leaving the island ’ s capital behind , we head to the hinterland , which is home to the prestigious producer Rapitala . At their winery in the Valle del Belice in the west of the Sicily , they produce a tempting range of wines from the traditional varieties as well as the noble French varieties such as a spicy Syrah and a delightful late harvest wine . The estate was given a renaissance by a French Count who married into the Palermitano aristocracy , blending the best of French & Sicilian passion for wine ( and food !), which today is continued by their son , Count Laurent . After a visit to the cellars , we enjoy a tasting of their wines with a traditional Sicilian lunch . We continue to Marsala , where we check in to our next hotel . This evening , we dine together at our hotel which enjoys views at sunset across to the Egadi islands . There will be a buffet of Sicilian salamis , cheese and salads with which will be paired a selection of wines from the island including its typical grape varieties such as Grillo and Nero d ’ Avola .
Day four - Marsala and Donnafugata
This morning there is an opportunity to visit the town of Marsala itself , with its cathedral dedicated to St Thomas of Canterbury , where there are 16th century Flemish tapestries . Marsala came to represent wine for the
English , but it was hugely important in the Carthaginian era , before it was conquered by the Romans . You could visit the Baglio Anselmi museum with its Roman Mosiacs and a Punic shipwreck . It is just a short hop to our next visit at the Donnafugata cellars in the centre of Marsala . Owned by the Rallo family , they took the decision to concentrate on ‘ table wines ’ rather than fortified Marsala and helped revolutionise the Sicilian wine trade . Today , their multi award-winning wines show how elegant and complex the wines of Sicily can be , such as the engaging white from Catarratto grapes or the beguiling Mille e una Notte , named after Scheherazade , a spicy deep blend of Nero D ’ Avola , Petit Verdot and Syrah . We taste these wines paired with a light lunch . We head just outside of Marsala to take the 6-minute ferry ride to the Phoenician city of Mozia , on the island of San Pantaleo , and today home to the Whittaker museum . We sail pass the salt pans and windmills that dominate this corner of Sicily , before having time to visit the archaeological museum with its collection of Greek and Punic artefacts including the famed Greek statue of ‘ a youth from Mozia ’, – or simply take a stroll around this small island of only 40 hectares . This evening , we dine in the hotel ’ s attractive courtyard , where a Sicilian menu will be paired with wines from the west of the island .
Day five - De Bartoli
After breakfast and check out this morning , we have a tasting visit at of one of the most respected names of Marsala , Marco de Bartoli . A visit to their cellars illustrates to
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