Day 1 - Arrive Noto

Upon arrival at Catania airport, you are met by your Guardian Angel and transferred by private vehicle with driver to your hotel where you are assisted with check-in. The balance of the day is yours at leisure.

Sitting in the southeast of Sicily, the Val di Noto region is endowed with an abundance of Baroque splendors that has earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is in this exceptional setting where you discover Il San Corrado di Noto. Once home to Prince Nicolaci, it is now an idyllic, environmentally conscious resort. Olive, orange and almond trees create a timeless fresco that instantly inspires a sense of well-being, while the architectural style of the hotel is a celebration of Sicilian tradition — a decor masterfully sculpted by local woodworkers, exteriors paved with Modica stone and the green Guatemalan marble lining one of the many sublime pools. Moreover, just a few kilometers away, the hotel’s Beach Club is the ideal place to relax, offering a breath-taking view of one of the most beautiful panoramas to be had of the Italian coastline.

Overnight: Il San Corrado di Noto

Day 2 - Noto

Explore the culinary and architectural treasures of south-east Sicily today. Head first to Noto, a Baroque town so rich in heritage and beauty that it has earned UNESCO World Heritage listing. Among the dramatic, honey-colored facades adorning the streets, you meet a master pastry chef famed for his creations throughout the island. Delight in seeing a genius at work, as you witness the unique inventions involving gelato, cream and jam, the ideal way to work up an appetite. Visit the city of Ragusa for a 2-hour walking tour with your local guide, exploring Ragusa Ibla – the ancient and more tranquil part of the city. Discover why it is often referred to as the most atmospheric town in the region. Continue to the delightful town of Modica, where you experience a chocolate-making demonstration and tasting.

Overnight: Il San Corrado di Noto

Meal Plan: B

Day 3 - Noto

In the countryside between Ragusa and Scicli lies the Russino family farm, which over the years has become a reference point for chefs, gourmets and lovers of good food throughout Italy for the 200 species of aromatic and medicinal plants cultivated on the farm. Enjoy a multisensorial journey through the farm today, culminating in a delicious lunch of local products. The route winds through dozens of aromas, ornamental plants and medicinal herbs chosen for their singularity. Discover new and unexpected flavors: pineapple sage, stevia, lemon thyme, orange geranium and bergamot mint are just some of the varieties that it is possible to see, smell, touch, and in some cases taste. Your exceptional host, Enrico Russino, enhances your journey with his scientific knowledge of the plants and pleasing anecdotes before your final stop in the kitchen-garden.

Your experience ends with a mouth-watering countryside aperitif and lunch.

Overnight: Il San Corrado di Noto

Meal Plan: B,L

Day 4 - Noto

The city of Syracuse, birthplace of Archimedes, was once described by Cicero as "the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all". What began as a small Greek outpost would eventually become one of the most prosperous and powerful states in the entire ancient world. Explore the city on board an Ape car (similar to a tuk tuk) and get to know the city’s local delicacies during your street food tour. This afternoon is yours at leisure back at your hotel.

Overnight: Il San Corrado di Noto

Meal Plan: B

Day 5 - Noto - Taormina

Check out from your hotel this morning and travel north to Taormina. En route stop in Piazza Armerina, a graceful old town set in forested countryside. Here you discover the remarkable Villa del Casale, an Ancient Roman site that is considered one of the finest examples of aristocratic dwellings from the Western Roman Empire. Over 3,500 square meters (37,600 square feet) of perfectly preserved mosaics stretch out across the floors, depicting scenes of mythology, hunting stories and the day-to-day lives of the Roman community in exquisite detail.

Afterwards, you make your way to Caltagirone, a symbol of Sicilian culture due to its famed ceramics production. Originally used for pharmaceutical reasons and as simple tableware, the medieval pottery industry eventually blossomed into one where stunning decorative designs adorned the homes of the locals’ rich and noble individuals. The bright colors instantly catch your eye when you reach its magnificent 142-step staircase. Each step is decorated with vibrant ceramics, a wonderful piece of art that transforms the town.

The Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo in Taormina is set high in the rocky hills on the east coast of Sicily and has long been known as one of Italy's most glamorous retreats. This luxury hotel overlooks the bay of Taormina and the famous Mount Etna. The 70 rooms and suites are stylishly decorated with Italian flair. Guests can choose to stay in the hotel or, for added privacy, in Villa Flora, a delightful country house just 50 meters from the main building. The restaurant serves Sicilian and Mediterranean cuisine; you can choose a table on the beautiful terrace or in the elegant dining room. In the shade of a cool pergola, next to the swimming pool, there is a lunchtime snack bar, serving light dishes. There is also a wellness center and a well-equipped gym. This hotel is perfect for the guest seeking a stunning location with incredible views.

Overnight: Grand Hotel Timeo

Meal Plan: B

Day 6 - Taormina

Perched atop a high cliff, Taormina appears to float above the azure waters of the Bay of Naxos. The air in Sicily’s most glamorous spot is perfumed with the scent of orange and lemon blossoms, and here you find narrow streets full of local colors and flavor. Explore this little corner of paradise as you stroll through Taormina’s main street, Corso Umberto, revealing chic stores and plenty for history buffs. Visit the Greek Theatre, whose unparalleled position offers spectacular views of Mount Etna and the surrounding landscape. Later, continue to the medieval village of Castelmola di Sicilia, amazingly founded on a crag high above Taormina. Castelmola retains its medieval character, layout and its position, both tranquil and peaceful, offering the perfect spot for enjoying the locally produced almond wine. After your half day, you are privately transferred back to your hotel.

This afternoon is yours at leisure in Taormina.

Overnight: Grand Hotel Timeo

Meal Plan: B

Day 7 - Taormina

Meet in the lobby and get ready for an exciting day out in Sicily with vintage cars! Discover the two small villages of Savoca and Forza d’Agro which were made famous by The Godfather movie. Head first to Savoca to see Bar Vitelli, where Michael Corleone (played by Al Pacino) discussed his proposed marriage to Apollonia with her father, the owner of the bar, aptly named Vitelli in the film. The somewhat ramshackle bar remains much is as it appears in movie. You also see the Chiesa Santa Lucia, the film location for the wedding scene.

Your tour then takes you along another steep road to the village of Forza d’Agro, which features in the second and third films. Today there’s even an Il Padrone restaurant, with the Godfather profile of Marlon Brando as its logo. Here, you can picture the scene where the young Vito Corleone (played by Robert DeNiro) was chased in a gun battle after stabbing a rival who had ordered his father killed. On the main street is the church of Maria Annunziata Assunta, which set the mood of old Sicily in the film. Built in the 15th century and rebuilt after an earthquake in 1648, its interior includes a famous wooden cross from the 12th century.

Overnight: Grand Hotel Timeo

Meal Plan: B

Day 8 - Taormina

This morning transfer to the port and enjoy an excursion along the coast by boat. Head out into the glorious bay of Giardini Naxos today for a relaxing half-day on a private luxury yacht. You sail through the crystal-clear waters towards the headland of Capo Taormina and discover where a natural pool is enclosed. The nearby islands hide some wonderful treasures of their own and you next make your way to Isola Bella, given as a gift to the town of Taormina in the early 19th century, to find these for yourself. The lush vegetation of the outcrop is a pleasant surprise in itself, but the real treat is the Grotta Azzurra.

Afterwards, venture towards the bays of Mazzarò and Spisone, with their long sandy beaches between traditional fishing villages along the coast. As you return towards the shores look up to see the Sant’Alessio Castle perched high up on the clifftop above you. Enjoy lunch at your leisure and free time this afternoon.

Overnight: Grand Hotel Timeo

Meal Plan: B

Day 9 - Taormina - Zafferana Etnea

This morning you are met at your hotel and privately transferred to Bronte, the capital of Sicilian pistachios, to enjoy a visit of a family running farm producing pistachios since several generations. Planting pistachios is a tradition handed down from father to son without interruption. The peasant culture says that thanks to “rest”, the plant absorbs from the lava soil substances needed to produce richer aromas and an unmistakable taste. After a tour of the farm with the explication of the production, you enjoy a tasting of some pistachios and a croissant filled with pistachios’ cream.

Continue to Riposto where you meet your chef for a visit of the local market and 3-course cooking lesson. During your lesson you have the chance to learn how pistachio ganache is prepared together with a spaghetti with pistachio pesto and a main course with pistachio sauce. At the end of your lesson enjoy a tasting of the fruit of your labor before continuing on to your hotel in the countryside beneath Mount Etna.

Monaci delle Terre Nere is an eco bio-certified 25-hectare estate, which fully subscribes to the Slow Food movement and where all detergents are homemade and do not contain additives or chemicals. Organic farming is the cornerstone of the estate’s restaurant, located on a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The menu and the traditional cuisine are based on fresh and 0km products of the organic farm. During breakfast, a full buffet is served in the old wine press or outside on the sea-view terrace with freshly-baked homemade cakes and tarts, homemade Sicilian bread using local flour, homemade jams, cold meats, local honey, cheeses, organic eggs from our hens, organic fruits from our own gardens and freshly squeezed juices, made to order every day.

Rooms, suites and villas are scattered over the 25 hectares of the estate, either located inside the main 18th-century manor house or across the gardens, orchards and vineyards. They are a mix of carefully renovated historic farm houses and sustainably built villas and suites. Each historic room is the result of a careful restoration project aimed at conserving and celebrating original elements, such as exposed, wood-beamed ceilings and lava-stone walls. All the suites and villas on the estate combine informal luxury hospitality and a sense of intimacy and can be reached by the estate’s golf cart or private car, though there is nothing more enchanting than following the scenic paths on foot.

Overnight: Hotel Monaci delle Terre Nere

Meal Plan: B,L

Day 10 - Zafferana Etnea

Today is yours at leisure to enjoy your luxury accommodation. Monaci delle Terre Nere is passionate about slow living. From the sunrise drinks on the terrace to the herb route where guests can take a stroll in the herb garden, the slow pace of each experience at Monaci has been thought to give you a precious gift: time.

Overnight: Hotel Monaci delle Terre Nere

Meal Plan: B

Day 11 - Zafferana Etnea

Enjoy an exhilarating journey on board your private jeep, exploring the northern side of Mount Etna. After crossing the villages of Piedimonte Etneo and Linguaglossa, travel off-road, passing through a pine wood in order to reach a lava cave called Grotta del Corruccio. Here, you are led through by torch light. Afterwards, continue to the Sartorius craters that originated during the 1865 lava flow. Here you take a 40-minute walk until you reach the top of them. From this vantage point at 1,800 metres above sea level, gaze at the spectacular volcanic landscape surrounding you. You then proceed by Jeep in the direction of Dagala, an area of forest surrounded by the most recent lava flow. Here your guide shows you a wonderful variety of flora and fauna which populates this unique environment. Upon your return to the hotel, the remainder of the afternoon is yours at leisure.

Overnight: Hotel Monaci delle Terre Nere

Meal Plan: B

Day 12 - Depart Zafferana Etnea

Check out from your hotel today and transfer to Catania airport to check in for your departure flight.

Meal Plan: B