8-Day Sicily Self-Drive Wine Tour

Discover Sicily, the biggest island in the Mediterranean with this 8-day self-guided wine tour. Sicily is a melting pot of cultures, where Greek and Arab influences can be found in the architecture, in the ancient ruins from different civilizations and in the unique cuisine. Sicily is also a land that offers an incredible variety of excellent vintages, ancient cellars and vineyards. You will enjoy typical dishes and traditional foods rediscovered in their original style.

Day 1: Upon arrival check in to your hotel in Palermo and settle in. Enjoy a welcome dinner dedicated to the products of the Slow Food Movement of Sicily.

Day 2: Discover Marsala, the city renowned for its production of the wine of the same name. Visit Rallo winery, a splendid structure from the 19th century and enjoy a wine tasting. You will have some free time to stroll through the centre of the old town before enjoying a delicious lunch in a typical local restaurant. Next you can travel to Erice, a magnificent medieval city in a spectacular setting. Walk through the streets of the town centre and visit the Pasticceria Maria Grammatico, an old pastry shop that offers recipes from the Antico Convento. Try some of the typical local delights such as almond pastries filled with candied lemon, Cannoli, Zibbibo (local wine) and the famous “brutti ma buoni” (“ugly but tasty”) biscuits.

Day 3: Travel to Pollina to visit Agriturismo La Manna. Enjoy a lunch based on the local Madonie cuisine and visit the farm. Learn the extraordinary story of how the ancient pastries and desserts were prepared with the Manna (Slow Food Movement) and enjoy some samples. Return to Palermo for some free time to stroll around the streets in the centre of the city. You can try the pastries at the Pasticceria Scimone, one of the oldest in the city that sells the famous cannoli, and visit the Bottega dei Sapori and the Saperi della Legalità di Libera shop that sells the produce cultivated on lands confiscated from the Mafia, such as legumes, preserves and wines.

Day 4: Depart for Agrigento for a visit of the old city. Enjoy lunch at the typical Trattoria Terra in the centre. In the afternoon enjoy a guided tour of the amazing Valley of the Temples, testament to the ancient Greek civilization in Sicily.  

Day 5: Discover Ragusa and visit the city built in a region that has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its Sicilian style baroque architecture. The city is divided into two parts: the old city (called Ibla) and the new city. Proceed to Noto, the architectural capital of the Baroque cities of the Val di Noto, now also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Noto area is famous for the high quality of its almonds, so visit a local producer. Return to Syracuse and enjoy a dinner of traditional dishes and local wines in a charming local restaurant in the historical town centre of Ortigia.

Day 6: Tour the city of Syracuse, one of the most important and strategic political centres in ancient Greece. Visit the archaeological park and walk around the heart of the old city Ortigia. Travel to Taormina, stopping en route to visit the Azienda del San Michele of the Baron Emanuele Scammacca del Murgo, where prestigious wines are produced, a real find in terms of wines from Etna. Enjoy a tasting accompanied by local produce.

Day 7: In the morning, a guided tour to discover Taormina, the small medieval village called "the pearl of the Ionian Sea" and visit to the Roman-Greek theatre. Spend a leisurely afternoon shopping and walking through the tiny streets.

Day 8: Breakfast and check out of your hotel at your leisure.