Western Sicily: A Taste and Culture Odyssey

Departure is an exciting time for many travellers. It marks the beginning of an adventure. Today you will start to be part of a community, which will give you a rewarding travel experience. You will have the opportunity to turn a simple trip into an opportunity for personal growth, cultural enrichment, Globest welcomes you in Palermo. After your welcome at the airport, we will head to the Hotel to present the rich and exciting program of the week. Typical dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we will dedicate the morning to visit Segesta a place where history and nature merge in a timeless embrace, here the past resounds through the stones with a breathtaking landscape. The symbol of Segesta is undoubtedly its majestic Doric temple, an unfinished work that stands alone on a hill. Its imposing columns, carved with millenary precision, tell of an era in which art and architecture reached peaks of extraordinary beauty. Its incompleteness, paradoxically, increases the charm, leaving room for imagination and contemplation. A short distance from the temple, you will find the Ancient Theater, carved into the rock that will offer you a panoramic view of the valley and the Gulf of Castellammare. Continuation to Erice where you will have lunch in a typical trattoria to taste the Trapanesi Busiate, a type of local pasta made by hand seasoned with the famous Pesto alla Trapanese, all completed by Cassatelle served hot, an indescribable experience! In the afternoon you will visit Erice, a medieval village, suspended between sky and sea, in a splendid panoramic position in silence among the clouds, a place where history and legend merge into a magical and suggestive atmosphere. You will probably be enveloped by the fog, walking through the cobbled streets you will reach the Castle of Venus, a real inspiration. Every stone, a story; every panorama, an emotion. Walking through its historic center, typically medieval, made of small squares, narrow and winding streets with beautiful flower courtyards, you will find a village animated by shops of typical crafts: with ceramics finely medliate, colorful carpets and hand-woven, and especially the traditional desserts based on almond and candied fruit. In the afternoon you will continue to Palermo to reach your hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast you will leave for Marsala, a city rich in history, which has seen the passage of Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs and Normans. You will visit its historic center, with its baroque churches, the noble palaces and the paved streets, the Archaeological Museum Baglio Anselmi, where you can admire the remains of a Punic ship, testimony to the ancient history of the city. Marsala is also synonymous with wine, a Sicilian excellence known throughout the world. A historic cellar, keeper of ancient secrets and traditions, will open its doors to let you discover the scents and flavors of this precious nectar. You can taste different varieties of Marsala, from sweet to dry, and let yourself be conquered by their complexity and refinement. From Marsala, passing by a coastal road, you will cross the Stagnone Reserve, a protected area that extends over about 2,000 hectares, including a salt lagoon, four islands (Mozia, Santa Maria, Schola and Isola Grande) and the coastal saltworks, a unique ecosystem that hosts a great variety of flora and fauna, including numerous species of migratory birds, such as flamingos, herons. You will embark to the island of Mozia, located in the center of the lagoon, a real open-air museum. Founded by the Phoenicians in the 8th century BC, Mozia was an important commercial and cultural center. You will see the remains of the ancient city, including the necropolis, the Tophet and the Whitaker Museum, which houses important archaeological finds. The Stagnone Reserve is a place that will leave an indelible mark on your heart. Its magical atmosphere, its millenary history and its natural beauty will accompany you for a long time, as a precious memory of an unforgettable journey. Free lunch.

Following the coastal road from Marsala to Trapani, along windmills and tiny archipelagos, you will reach the salt pans of Trapani, a place where nature and human ingenuity merge into a unique and evocative landscape. You will reach the Salt Museum where you will discover one of the oldest arts in history, the production of salt in a mill of 1700. You will be illuminated by the blinding white of salt and regenerated by the scent of the sea.  The evaporation tanks, coloured in pink and white, create a surreal and evocative landscape that changes continuously according to light and seasons. You will discover your inner strength among the wonders of this magical place. The visit is a unique and different spectacle, every time of the year. Continuation to the area of Selinunte, dinner and overnight.

After breakfast you will visit the archaeological park of Selinunte, immersed in a wild and uncontaminated nature, today considered the largest and most impressive in Europe: 1740 square km with numerous temples, shrines and altars.  You will walk among the ruins of an ancient Greek city, where time seems to have stood still and history comes alive between the imposing Doric columns and the remains of majestic temples. The temples, with their imposing Doric columns and carved pediments, are an open-air work of art.  The acropolis, located on a hill overlooking the sea, offers a breathtaking view of the coast and the surrounding countryside. You can walk through the remains of the walls, admire the temples and shrines, and imagine the life of the ancient inhabitants of this ancient civilization. Stop for lunch in a farmhouse where you will sit under a pergola and taste Sicily: juicy olives, aromatic cheeses, fresh pasta with ragout and crunchy cannoli. A triumph of authentic flavors, among the scents of the countryside. After lunch you will leave for Agrigento, to visit the Valley of the Temples, where history merges with beauty. Every column, a symbol of tenacity; every temple, a message of hope. The ancient ruins, witnesses of a glorious past, stand proudly against the blue sky, creating a magical and suggestive atmosphere. The Temple of Concord, with its majestic grandeur, is a symbol of harmony and balance, a work of art that enchants the eye and raptures the heart. The Temple of Heracles, with its golden columns, is a hymn to strength and power, a tribute to the greatness of ancient Akragas… To end this wonderful day you will reach your hotel in the region of Agrigento.

After breakfast you will leave for Palazzo Adriano, a city where different cultures and traditions meet. Founded in the fifteenth century by Albanian refugees, the village has preserved its roots over time, while integrating with the Sicilian culture. You will visit the main square, the beating heart of the village, a meeting place and party. You will admire the Mother Church, with its baroque facade, and the Municipal Palace, a historic building that houses the civic museum. You will listen to the Arbëreshë language, admire traditional costumes and taste the typical dishes of the local cuisine, a mix of Mediterranean and Balkan flavors. Continue to Corleone, city made famous by the movie “The Godfather”. A city whose name evokes powerful images, linked to its history, marked by a difficult and controversial past. His fame, unfortunately, has been clouded by the events related to the mafia, which have made his name synonymous with crime and violence. However, the city has a rich and varied historical and cultural heritage. You will walk in its historic center, rich of old churches and noble palaces, testimonies of a glorious past, among its narrow alleys, with the laundry laid out to dry outside the balconies, and the local citizens sitting on the benches chatting with their typical cups, you will have the impression of being on the movie set. You will visit the Civic Museum of Corleone and the Museum of Legality, which in particular, will offer an interesting insight into the history and culture of the city. Free lunch. Continuing north you will be immersed in the green heart of Sicily, in the Ficuzza Forest that will envelop you with its majesty: centuries-old trees, hidden paths and the charm of the Royal Hunting Lodge, an ancient royal residence built in the 18th century by Ferdinand I of Bourbon, which will enchant you with its elegant architecture and refined interiors, taking you back in time, At the time of kings and nobles. The Forest of Ficuzza is a place that will leave an indelible imprint in your heart. Its magical atmosphere, its millenary history and its natural beauty will accompany you for a long time, as a precious memory of an unforgettable journey. Continuation to the area of Cefalù. Dinner and overnight.

After breakfast you will visit the charming medieval village of Cefalù, located in the Madonie Park. In a hill dotted with olive trees, lush vineyards and orchards, faraglioni and small gulfs along a coast marked by centuries-old pine trees, rises Cefalù, a stop not to be missed for those who want to enjoy a real taste of art, landscape and colors Sicilian. You will be regenerated by the crystal-clear sea, inspired by the Norman Cathedral and surprised by the picturesque streets. Every landscape, an emotion; every glimpse, a discovery. You will discover the wonders of this seaside village: you will lose yourself among the labyrinthine streets dotted with souvenir boutiques, antiques and local handicrafts, you can climb the Rocca, imposing cliff overlooking the city, and that will make you appreciate a breathtaking view of the coast and the Aeolian islands. After this unforgettable experience, we will proceed to the Madonie Park. You will stay in a farm where you will make a true journey of taste through a thousand different flavors… from hot ricotta cheese, spicy cheeses, fried vegetables, olives, typical bruschetta… real delights for the palate. After a short lunch stop in Castelbuono, a medieval village nestled among the mountains of the Madonie, where history merges with unspoiled nature and authentic flavors of Sicilian tradition. You will stroll through the alleys of the old town, a maze of cobbled streets, artisan shops and stone houses. You will breathe the fresh and fragrant air, listen to the sound of bells ringing from churches and admire breathtaking views over the surrounding valley. Every corner of Castelbuono tells a story, an anecdote, a fragment of a bygone era. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, together with a specialized guide, you will leave for Monreale, an oasis of beauty suspended between heaven and earth. Here you will be impressed by the majesty of the Duomo. The guide will illuminate you by its 6800m2 of golden mosaics and will inspire you with its history. Every corner, a work of art; every detail, a message of hope. We will continue the tour to discover the capital of Sicily, city of contrasts and beauty. You will be inspired by the colorful markets, the historic buildings, by its liveliness that without noticing it, will push you to dream and to exceed your limits. Every road, an adventure; every corner, a message of hope. Our guide will make you discover the Cape Market, rich in colors and perfumes, with counters overflowing with delicacies, true ephemeral works of art, with vendors, who with their lively speech and their theatrical gestures, are the guardians of an ancient tradition, and storytellers of flavors and fragrances. You will visit the beating heart of the historic center with the Churches of Martorana, San Cataldo, the Cathedral, the 4 Canti… and then at the table! You will have lunch with street food specialties, an explosion of flavors, a sensory experience that will immerse you in the soul of the city. Each bite will be a journey through the history, culture and traditions of a people who have been able to merge different influences into perfect harmony. You will taste the panelle, crispy and golden, a symbol of poor cuisine that knows how to turn humble ingredients into delicacies, the arancini, with their heart of rice and sauce, an ode to conviviality, the sfincione, with its intense aroma of onion and tomato, A warm and enveloping embrace, a comfort for the soul. In the afternoon you will have some free time in town to go shopping or just to enjoy the magical atmosphere of the city sitting in total relaxation on a terrace of a bar in the center.

Return to hotel in the afternoon for dinner and overnight.

On this day of return, nostalgia for the places visited and enthusiasm for returning home mix. After breakfast we will leave for the airport to help you with boarding logistics. Today a chapter is closed and a new one opens, we will say goodbye, but you are part of our Community, you will carry with you the promise of new future adventures even more extraordinary. As you wait for your flight, reflect on the extraordinary experiences of your journey: from delicious dishes to natural wonders along the way. You will be prepared to face the daily routine with new energy. Have a good trip home.