logo

TOURS: Sicily & Salina 2023

05/12/23 – 05/22/23

Sicily is the largest Mediterranean island and nature has certainly endowed it land with all its wonders… mountains, hills and the crystal-clear sea! Rich in history, art and culture, Sicily is bursting at the seams with artistic and architectural gems.

Join Palmer’s on this one-of-a-kind travel experience to Sicily! We’ll take part in touring (and tasting) the finest cheese, wine, chocolate, and pastries. You’ll also have a chance to explore local villages, dine in neighborhood restaurants, cook a traditional Sicilian meal with some of the top chefs, shop on cobbled streets and explore the magnificent Norman & Arabic 12th-century chapels and cathedrals of Palermo.

We customize our adventures with a brilliant balance of free time & guided activities.  Guests should anticipate walking 1-3 miles throughout a day and be prepared for steep steps, often without handrails, and uneven cobblestone streets. (It’s part of Sicily’s charm!) We will have guided walking tours of some of the cities we visit, and we build in time for our guests to explore on their own as well. The more curious and open-minded you, are the more you’ll enjoy your experience.

Our guests are adults of all ages, and we encourage the single traveler.  We do not charge a single supplement fee! We keep the groups small, at 12 guests maximum. All of our tours have a Palmer’s host as your guide, as well as one guide from our tour partner. We feature local experts daily, to bring even more richness and information to the experience.  Be sure to bring an extra suitcase, a generous appetite and a spirit for adventure!

Secure your spot on this tour by downloading the Reservation Form. Send all completed forms to cindy@palmerstours.com.

10 DAYS IN SICILY*
05/12/23 – 05/22/23
*12 person maximum
$7,250 per person

TOWNS: Palermo, Erice, Trapani, Marsala, Sciacca, Ragusa, Siracusa, Frigintini, Marina di Ragusa, Modica, Enna

PRODUCERS:
Wine, Cheese, Chocolate, & Pastries

HIGHLIGHTS:
– Cooking class with top chef
– Street Food Excursion
– Guided Tours of Palermo, Siracusa, and Salt Flats
– Shopping
– Beaches, and Greek Ruins

MEALS INCLUDED:
Breakfast Daily
05 Lunches
05 Dinners

ITINERARY

05/12/23 – 05/21/23
DAY 1

PALERMO
Friday, May 12th

Morning arrival into Palermo Airport*. Gioacchino will pick you up and bring you to your hotel,  Hotel Qunito Canto.  An exclusive hotel located in the heart of the historic center of Palermo, surrounded by the most fascinating architectural beauties of the city!

Our first group dinner will be at the hotel’s Restaurant Osteria Ballaró.

*Please send flight information to cindy@palmerstours.com so we can arrange transportation to/from airport for you. Due to time difference, all flights should be made 1 day prior to the itinerary start date.

DAY 2

PALERMO > ERICE > TRAPANI
Saturday, May 13th

After breakfast at the hotel, we will be taking an excursion to Erice where we will enjoy the beautiful medieval village and lunch on your own. 

From Erice we will then continue on to Trapani where we will check into the Palazzo Gatto Hotel and Spa, where you will have free time to rest, enjoy the hotel spa, and  then attend dinner at the exquisite Michelin Star Restaurant Osteria Il Moro!

DAY 3

TRAPANI > MARSALA > TRAPANI
Sunday, May 14th

After breakfast, we’ll take a short drive to beautiful town of Marsala where we will explore in a guided tour of the Salt Flats and Museum.  For lunch, we’ll visit wine producer, Cantine Fina in Marsala, where we will taste some delicious Italian wines and enjoy the gorgeous views from the veranda.

As we make our way back to Trapani, this afternoon you’ll have free time to enjoy the city and dinner on your own.

DAY 4

TRAPANI
Monday, May 15th

After breakfast today we’ll begin preparations for a day of cooking!  We’ll take to the markets and tour the companies and purveyors while purchasing the ingredients needed for tonight’s meal.  We’ll have a light lunch at the country house restaurant of Serisso 47, where their chef and his team will assist us in preparing a traditional Sicilian meal.  Of course, for dinner, we will then get the chance to sit down and enjoy the fruits of our labor!

 

DAY 5

TRAPANI > NISCEMI > RAGUSA
Tuesday, May 16th

After breakfast at the hotel, we will begin our journey to Ragusa with a stop in Niscemi for lunch and wine tastings at the exquisite wine cellars of Feudi del Pisciotto.

This afternoon, upon arrival to Ragusa, we will check-in at the historic 18th-century hotel Relais Antica Badia – San Maurizio 1619, that overlooks the Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista.  You will have time to yourself to relax and enjoy dinner on your own.

 

DAY 6

RAGUSA > SIRACUSA > FRIGINTINI > RAGUSA
Wednesday, May 17th

After breakfast, we will check out the historic and popular city of Siracusa where we will explore and take a Guided Tour of the stunning architecture and Greek archaeological sites!  After working up an appetite, we will take a short jaunt over to Restaurant Le Magnolie in Frigintini for lunch. 

Dinner will be on your own in Ragusa.

DAY 7

RAGUSA > MARINA DI RAGUSA > MODICA > RAGUSA
Thursday, May 18th

This morning after breakfast at the hotel, we will take to the beach!  We will relax and enjoy some free time on the beautiful beach of Marina di Ragusa where we will lunch on our own.

In the afternoon we will visit the historic chocolate producer, Antica Dolceria Bonajuto where we will explore, learn, and taste the chocolates of Modica, Sicily!  We will then enjoy dinner at Restaurant Fattoria delle Torri before returning to the hotel in Ragusa.

 

DAY 8

RAGUSA > ENNA > PALERMO

Friday, May 19th

While we breakfast at the hotel, our luggage will be collected and we will then begin our journey to Enna where we will take a break for lunch and tastings at cheese producer. 

When we arrive to Palermo, we will check in at Hotel Villa Lampedusa.  The afternoon will be yours to enjoy and explore in Palermo.

DAY 9

PALERMO
Saturday, May 20th

This morning after breakfast at the hotel, we will begin with an art historical walking tour of the Arabic-Norman influence on Palermo, taking in the stunning chapels and cathedrals gilded in Byzantine style geometric stone and gold mosaics.

We will taste our way through the local market for lunch, and have the afternoon free to relax or explore the city some more on your own.  Dinner will be on your own in Palermo.

 

 

DAY 10

PALERMO
Sunday, May 21st

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll visit the Tre Erre Ceramic Store and Workshop to see how these classic Italian ceramics take shape, and possibly buy a dish or two! 

We will then discover the top Sicilian desserts at Pasticceria Sciampagna, an artisan pastry shop that has been named the one the the 50 Top Patisseries in Italy under chef Carmelo Sciampagna.

The afternoon will be yours, free to relax and pack.   We will come together for one last time for a farewell dinner at Restaurant Palazzo Branciforte, before our trip back home in the morning!

 

 

DAY 10

PALERMO > PALERMO AIRPORT
Monday, May 22nd

After breakfast, we’ll leave Palermo to Palermo Airport where we will all say our goodbyes.

Ciao for now!

 

*THIS SCHEDULE COULD CHANGE DUE TO WEATHER.*

YOUR TOUR GUIDE

Gioacchino Passalacqua

Guide and co-owner of aTTavola, Gioacchino Passalacqua, is an artisanal Italian food exporter, gastronome and native Sicilian who divides his time between Sicily, Italy and New York. As a native Mediterranean, Gioacchino has developed relationships with food producers, restaurateurs, olive oil companies, chocolatiers, vintners and confectioners. He has traveled the world in his business as an importer/exporter, taking part in food shows from Paris and San Francisco to Chicago and New York City.

Gioacchino has a keen sense of quality foods and wines which he passionately shares through his unique tours, tastings, and products. You’ll be pleased to know, every one of our guests has rated him a 5 star tour guide!

CONTACT US