Island of Volcanoes
Marble
acropolis and slowly crumbling
temples confide the ancient history of Sicily, a narrow strip of land
struggled over by Greece and Italy for centuries.
Sicily’s
olive trees, laden with fruit, sway in Mediterranean breezes as we wander
medieval streets and discover labyrinthine markets of Vuccirea and Il Capo. We
visit Palermo’s famous Cathedral, Palazzo Reale and Piazza Pretoria and rest in shady piazzas. Our afternoon exploration takes us into
the green heart of the island to Gangi, where we stay in a converted 14-century
Benedictine abbey.
In
the Madonna Mountains, we sample wine and cheese made using generations-old
methods. We walk a ridgeline with panoramic views of Madonie National Park,
speckled with wildflowers and ancient castles. We descend to picnic and explore the tunnels and chambers of
the Norman castle in Sperlinga.
A
cooking demonstration sends us on our way to the Aeolian Islands, enchanted
Mediterranean archipelago. We walk from seaport to volcano crater, ferrying
between islands on a large wooden fishing boat. Mythical castles with historic Roman baths and fertile caper
plantations intersperse with quaint fishing villages, their white-washed homes
flanking volcanoes and the black sand beaches beneath.
Taormina’s
cascading flowers line narrow streets descending steeply to the sea. We
discover the treasures of ancient castles in hidden byways off pristine
piazzas. From terraces overlooking
the Ionian Sea, we sip the areas famous almond wine served icy-cold.
An
early morning trip to Mt. Etna offers an adventurous walk among citrus groves
to oak, beech and chestnut forests. We cross hardened lava flows on our way to
a mountain hut. Mt. Etna, Europe’s largest Volcano, provides a backdrop for our
final views of Sicily.
Days/Nights: 8D/7N
Meeting
Location: Palermo, Sicily
Ending
Location: Catania, Sicily
Comfort
Notes: 2-3 star comfortable family-run hotels